The problems posed by Afghanistan are only multipled in the cases of Syria, Lebannon, Saudi Arabia, and Iran.Afghanistan was a special case. I am referring to your claim that there is a general longstanding security interest in the Middle East because of oil.
There is no getting around the fact that we cannot turn back the clock on terrorism, or the regimes responsible for it - which happen to be some of the largest oil producers as well.
In order to effectively reduce terrorism, we must change the forms of government responsible for misrule. That means installing responsible and accountable regimes. It thus boils down either to installing a more pallatable version of the Shah (from everyone's point of view) - i.e. a singular dictator heading all aspects of the state -, or a democracy. Since it's unlikely the dictatorship route will work at all, democracy is the best choice. But, unfortunately, that democracy must be imposed - because it isn't about to come except at gunpoint.