History 102SY The United States and the Middle East 1900 to the Present

Nixon and Kissinger

Gamal Abdel Nasser vs. King Hussein

May 1967—Nasser moved forces into Sinai, requested withdrawal of UN peacekeepers, and reinstated blockade of Strait of Tiran

War fever swept Arab world

King Hussein and Nasser signing mutual defense pact

June 1967—Israel launched preemptive strike against Egyptian air force; took Sinai Peninsula and Gaza Strip from Egypt, West Bank from Jordan, Golan Heights from Syria

Israel took Sinai Peninsula and Gaza Strip from Egypt; West Bank from Jordan, Golan Heights from Syria

New wave of Palestinian refugees

Eisenhower’s and Johnson’s different approaches

Called for land-for-peace deal but was vague on specifics and procedure November 1967—UN Security Council passed Resolution 242

Nixon and Kissinger

Under Nixon, relationships that Lyndon Johnson had established with Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Israel became even more firmly established

Nixon was determined to direct US foreign policy from the White House

He charged National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger with maintaining control over foreign policy bureaucracy

Secretary of State William Rogers

Swingin’ Henry

Extract from July 16, 1973, conversation between Kissinger and Ardeshir Zahedi, Iran’s ambassador to the United States

Recognizing the limits of US power

July 1969—In Guam speech Nixon declared that other nations must contribute more to their own defense; idea became known as “Nixon Doctrine” Nixon with returning Apollo 11 astronauts, July 1969

Speech primarily directed at South Vietnam, but was eventually applied in ME as well Nixon with returning Apollo 11 astronauts, July 1969

With Britain’s imminent departure from Persian Gulf region, Nixon built up Shah as regional proxy Nixon Doctrine: Iran

Nixon vastly increased military aid to Iran and turned blind eye to Shah’s human rights abuses Nixon Doctrine: Iran

Nixon also built up Saudi Arabia, encouraging it to use “petrodollars” to purchase arms from US Nixon Doctrine: Saudi Arabia Nixon and Kissinger with King Faisal

Nixon also built up Saudi Arabia, encouraging it to use “petrodollars” to purchase arms from US Nixon Doctrine: Saudi Arabia Nixon and Pat Nixon hosting Faisal at White House

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

Early OPEC meeting, Baghdad, 1960

Arab-Israeli Conflict —Nixon gave Secretary of State William Rogers primary responsibility for Arab-Israeli issue

Arab-Israeli Conflict Legacy of the 1967 War

After 1967 war Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) emerged as independent force PLO chairman Yasser Arafat

Attack on 1972 Munich Olympics

December 1969—Rogers issued Rogers Plan, which called for Israeli withdrawal from Arab lands and Arab recognition of Israel

Rogers vs. Kissinger

Late 1969-early 1970—Rogers Plan was undermined by Nixon and Kissinger and rejected by Egypt and Israel Nasser Israeli PM Golda Meir

September 1970—death of Nasser

February 1971—Anwar Sadat, Nasser’s successor, said he would make peace with Israel if it withdrew to pre-June 1967 lines

Rogers vs. Kissinger

When Sadat got little response from US, began planning for war with Syrian president Hafiz al- Asad SadatAsadQaddafi

Sadat vs. Asad

October 6, 1973—Egypt and Syria launched attacks against Israeli positions in Sinai and Golan Heights

Brent Scowcroft

US sent major airlift of arms to Israel (Soviet Union did same for Egypt and Syria)

Late 1973-early 1974—Oil producing Arab states embargoed oil shipments to West, causing major spike in gas prices and in general inflation rate

October 1973—Kissinger went to Moscow and worked out cease-fire with Soviets

With Sadat After war, Kissinger launched “shuttle diplomacy” With Israeli PM Golda Meir

— Kissinger negotiated partial Israeli pullback in Sinai, paving way for Camp David Agreement of late 1970s

August 1974—Nixon resigned; Vice President Gerald Ford became president