The US and the Middle East

Paper Summary:

This paper explores US policy in the Middle East over the last half-century. Several factors that have influenced American diplomatic policy in the region are considered, including the threat of communism and the US reliance on oil. Special consideration is given to the end of the Cold War and its impact on US policy toward Israel and the Arab nations. The paper cites the delicate diplomacy the United States must employ in the region, between appeasing the oil-rich Saudi kingdom, rooting out international terrorism, and maintaining ties with Israel, a democratic ally.

From the Paper:

"The Soviet Union's dissolution caused a seismic change in the world geopolitical scene, as it spelled the decline of the bipolar balance of power in the world. However, although it called into question a number of the polices of the United States, it could be argued that the collapse of the Soviet Union, ideologically, had less of an impact upon the Middle East than the rise of Islamic fundamentalism. Communism had never been a formidable force in the Middle East, unlike Latin America. But it is true that in practical terms of foreign aid, the coming to prominence of fundamentalist regimes in the Middle East in Iran was partially enabled by the decline of Soviet influence, cash and power backing up some regimes, as in Afghanistan. Renegade groups and states in their wrangling for power in the region often used old Soviet weapons, now traded on the black market."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Eisenhower, Dwight. "The Eisenhower Doctrine on the Middle East, A Message to Congress, January 5, 1957. From The Department of State Bulletin, XXXV1, No. 917 (January 21, 1957), pp. 83-87. [26 Aug 2006] <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1957eisenhowerdoctrine.html>
• Isserof, Ami. "Support for the State of Israel." MidEastWeb for Coexistence. 2003 [26 Aug 2006] http://www.mideastweb.org/us_supportforstate.htm
• Richman, Sheldon "Ancient History: U.S. Conduct in the Middle East Since World War II and the Folly Of Intervention." Cato Policy Analysis. No. 159. August 16, 1991. [26 Aug 2006] http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa-159.html

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