America and the Middle East: Oil, the Cold War, and the First

Gulf War

I. Introduction

• From Periphery to Center Stage

• Globalism and Localism

II. The View from Washington

A. The Centrality of Oil1. Cold War Considerations

2. Domestic Considerations

B. Other Factors

C. Consequences

III. 1945-1971: Partnership With Britain and Saudi Arabia

A. The US-Saudi Alliance1. The "50-50 Deal"

B. Alliance with Britain1. Middle Eastern Command (1952)

2. Problems

III. 1945-1971: Partnership With Britain and Saudi Arabia

C. Counterrevolution

D. The Baghdad Pact (1955)1. Failure

E. Impact

IV. Israel and the Two Pillars Policy: 1971-1981

A. Alliance with Israel1. Problems

B. The "Two Pillars"

C. Problems

V. Revolution, War, and Terrorism: 1981-1990

A. Iranian Revolution

B. Messy Little Wars1. Afghanistan

V. Revolution, War, and Terrorism: 1981-1990

C. Iran-Iraq War, 1980-19881. Causes

2. Attrition

V. Revolution, War, and Terrorism: 1981-1990

3. American Policy—Tilt Toward Iraq

4. Tanker War

5. Resolution

6. Legacy

VI. The Gulf War

A. Iraq’s Claims

B. American Reaction

C. Invasion of Kuwait, August 1990

VI. The Gulf War

D. Operation Desert Shield, Fall 1990

E. Operation Desert Storm, Jan-Feb 1991

F. Husayn Overthrown?

G. Double Containment

VI. The Gulf War

H. Aftermath1. Containing Iraq

2. Sanctions• Oil for Food Program

VI. The Gulf War

3. Permanent Military Presence

I. Victory . . . or Defeat?

Dhahran

Marine BarracksBombing, 1983

Saddam Husayn

Iran-Iraq War

Gulf War I

KurdishRefugees

VII. Conclusion

• Unintended Consequences

• Storm Clouds