[Keith]

As smart as this sounds, what the f*** is he saying? I love these guys who are so clever in their analysis, so damning in their criticism, but also so lacking in answers.

[l33t]

The author's primary purpose is to help the reader understand the Middle East vis a vis the United States and the West. While he does not offer an explicit prescription for a course of action the US should pursue, if you read carefully the last paragraph you can see what he favors.