What are the chances that the ME could settle back down once this blows through the region?

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Hard to predict

First you have several countries with different populations and different leaders.

Next, in 1979, when the Shah was admitted into the US to be treated for cancer. Ayatollah Khomeini returned from his exile in Paris. It began with student protests in Tehran. Which spread including the US Embassy and the hostages. You have have protest one day and it escalates without warning.

Finally, there is the Al Quaeda factor. There is some substance to the group's desire to infiltrate as many countries as possible for the goal of challenging, if not outright attacking, this country. Are there numbers to show how much success they've had?

I don't think there's much information to help us predict what will happen next in any of the countries that have unrest.