Iran-the pillar of the east?
The Arab world is a "problem child."  Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia are all tottering and quasi-stable at best.  But they are the precipice of 
bizarro world, not quite in its bosom, as the Arabs 
are.  Turkey is our western bulwark against 
bizarro-Islam-perhaps non-Arab Iran could be our eastern wall?  Thomas Friedman 
thinks perhaps.  Time is on our side.  Cross your fingers.