Lost?

I invite your analysis and interpretation of the latest Economist cover.

Still, I couldn’t help jumping the gun with my own Middle East A, B, C’s.  (Yes, letters courtesy of The BAG.) Primarily, I question the assertion that Uncle Sam is lost at all.  Not if A is Iraq, B is Lebanon and C is Iran (where the folks that hijacked Sam are looking for the big bang).  In this scenario, the labyrinth is merely a artifice making it seem like the ends were reached in spite of the best efforts and intentions.

… By the way, doesn’t Sam look a little dark? 

(illustration: unattributed.  The Economist.  North American edition. August 12, 2006.  Cover.)