The middle east is also southwest Asia.

Thanks for the info! In the early 20th c. “The Middle East” was defined as the land between India and the Ottoman Empire. The term has since changed to not include Iraq and Afghanistan. During the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, the US government used the term “Greater Middle East” to encompass those two countries. That’s where my confusion lies. Learn something new every day.

Most Americans couldn't locate it on a map in either case.

I dunno, the TV showed sand and camels and that's the only thing I understand to exist in the middle east.