iZen, I hear you. I know what you mean and your concern is valid. Having said that South East Asia does not have the same socio-political structure as Middle East. America always had a strong interest in middle-east and they will do anything to protect their interest in that region however the situation is quite different in South East Asia. With China and India aboard US will/can play as much as it can however it will not dare to go against and US will have minimal effect compared to what they have now. US will do "what ever" to have access to its market share in that region; it will do it anyways like any other country would. Especially with China and India aboard (in SAARC), if US is included US can play its role in internal politics like you have said, but has US ever played aloof of internal politics, anywhere? I think not. The "big-brother" is everywhere, it is scary but we have to face it intelligently rather than being hostile about it, after all it is still a superpower. It is up to us to work together along with other nations which can only have mutual benefit. Does it mean we have to have US as a member? No it does not. All I am saying is that the benefit outweighs the shortcomings. I will let the middle-east and America hash out their differences, themselves as far as I am concerned we will need to work with everyone but of course with caution!