We don't know that Bob does want the Middle East to be relevant. Israel is still relevant, but the rest of it doesn't have to be. It will be relevant to the third-world, where they can't invest in Fusion Power at the same level as the first- and second-world. But, there won't be nearly as much money flowing into the Middle East.
Personally, I think reducing the importance of the Middle East would be an interesting direction to further differentiate the IST world from our own.
Personally, I think reducing the importance of the Middle East would be an interesting direction to further differentiate the IST world from our own.