Trevor Thrall fears so:
The U.S. media doesn’t pay much attention to foreign affairs in the best of times these days, but the Arab Spring’s timing could hardly be worse. The United States has just entered its quadrennial "quiet period" on foreign policy as the nation spends a year or so navel gazing to elect a president. This year’s ritual inward turn may have especially unfortunate consequences for the U.S. foreign-policy agenda and for the world. During the most critical period of modern Middle Eastern history, the United States is taking its eyes off the ball and will play a less important role in helping shape positive outcomes there than it should.
The Dish 
