Tensions and wars in the Middle East hurt Asia because these make the price of oil shot up and, in our particular case, add to the miseries of our OFWs there.

But we in Asia are affected in a larger way: Middle East troubles prevent America from paying more attention to our continent which needs America.

Read Robert D. Kaplan’s “The Middle East Distraction” on the opposite page. STRATFOR’s Global Affairs expert explains how this possible new Hamas-Israel war in Gaza is not good for America and for Asia.

It distracts America from focusing its attention on our region, which, Mr. Kaplan avers “should be front and center on America’s strategic map, not only because of the region’s current importance, but because its stability cannot be taken for granted.

“The fact of Asia’s current importance needs little belaboring. To the extent that the world’s economy has a geographic center, it is Asia. To the extent that the great sea lines of communication coalesce anywhere it is Asia. To the extent that any place is the global demographic hub, it is clearly Asia. Moreover, by virtue of its own geography, the United States is a Pacific country. To wit, many of the wars the United States fought in the 20th century — in the Philippines, World War II, Korea and Vietnam — were fought in Asia.

“But the more profound reason that Clinton and the Asia specialists are right [in wanting US attention on Asia more than any any other] is because they all know that the region’s stability can no longer be taken for granted. For decades Asia has been primarily an economic story: whether it be the rise of China, the rise of Vietnam, the emergence of Indonesia or stagnation in Japan. In other words, it has been a Forbes, Fortune, Bloomberg or generic business channel story…

“But what if Asia erupts? In its own way, of course; not in the way of the Middle East. This is what the Asia specialists -- and, I suspect, Clinton — are worried about. They are concerned with all of us being asleep in the quiet years while Asia slowly unravels. They are concerned that we’ve all been taking Asian stability for granted.”