It Has to Start With Them

In Friedman's article "It Has to Start With Them" he talks about pulling out troops from afghanistan, and how the war is a hopeless front. But the part of the article I'm interested in is his idea that it has to be their own. When he says this he means that People will always work harder, and be more motivated in what they are doing if it is their own idea, not something suggested to them. he gives examples that most of the times that there has been improvement in the middle east, it is when they do something themselves without american intervention or support. Various rebellions, uprisings, or military withdrawals. Friedman also uses the rule of three to help convey his ideas when he says "When does the Middle East make you happy? How did the cold war end? What would Ronald Reagan do?"