Wow.  If you're like me and you agree with Thomas Friedman's "Golden arches theory of conflict resolution." (From his book, Lexus and the Olive Tree). Then this is bad news:

McDonald's to Close 175 Restaurants (Including pulling out of three countries in the Middle East!)

  The Golden arches theory goes something like this; no two countries with McDonalds have gone to war, because they have too much to lose by fighting and seek some non-violent resolution.  Yikes.

5:41:50 PM