The caveat is that there is no other viable ally of the US in the region, period.  therefore, we are stuck with supporting Israel, like it or not.

I don't agree with that at all.  We have many allies there, and those allies could help us out with our current situation a lot better than Israel can.  They may be Islam, so we have to deal with that, like it or not.  ;D

Who is a viable ally in the Middle East?  I certainly hope you dont claim any of the usual suspects such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, or Quatar.  These are all allies of convenience, we share no common values.  I dont have a problem with Islam as a religion I just dont think there are any other nations in the region that would or could make allies worth us having.  Saudi has been a bust, our alliance with Saudi Arabia cost us three thousand lives and billions of dollars in New York alone.  It is obvious that the Saudi People love us.  (Sarcasm intended)