1. AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY IN THE MIDDLE EAST
The linkage between oil, authoritarianism, Islamism, and terrorism against us
The guiding goals of US policy in the region:
Protect Israel
Keep the oil flowing
Prevent the spread of Islamism
Democratization?

2. US Foreign Policy towards Iran
19th- & 20th C: A British and Russian plaything
1946: The outbreak of the Cold War started as the Russians refused to leave Iran, heightening US and CIA interest
1951: Muhammad Mossadeq: Nationalism, instability & Iran’s oil (of which the British had an 85% share)
1953: A CIA-sponsored coup (Operation Ajax) & the support for the brutal Shaw ($68 million immediately, $1.2 billion in the decade following)
1979: Carter, the Iranian revolution, sheltering the Shaw, &the hostage crisis
: The US role in the Iran-Iraq War… lots of intelligence, aid, and even chemicals to Baghdad
1985: Israel, Iran, & the US: Irangate
Present issues:
How stable is Iran’s government?
How much do we care about their human rights?
Why can’t they have nuclear weapons?
Support for the Palestinians, terrorism, pan-Islamism, and attacks against Israel

3. US FOREIGN POLICY TOWARDS IRAQ
1920: Iraq carved out of the Ottoman empire; oil split among WWI victors and monarchy installed
1948: War with Israel…but 1956 Baghdad Pact
1958 Revolution: The coup looks like Egypt’s Nasser all over again
1961: 99.5% of the oil concessions nationalized
A Russian proxy or non-aligned against the US in the region?
1963: General Kassam overthrown by the pan-Arab Bathists
Significant CIA assistance (including lists of targets for murder); complete joy over results
Bathists still warm to USSR because of our ties to Iran
1968: The US supports another coup on behalf of the Bathists
1979: Hussein becomes president; we have no problems

4. US FOREIGN POLICY TOWARDS IRAQ
: The US supportive role in the Iran-Iraq War, US approves chemical and biological dual use materials that are used as weapons
1981: Israel bombs nuke plant with no US objections
1990: The invasion of Kuwait and the our response: 100th dead; 300th wounded. Why did it happen?
1991, 1992: Kurds revolt, US establishes no fly zone over Iraq
: UN sanctions over WMD programs lead to mass suffering but no revolts
1993: Iraq attempts to kill Bush, Sr. in Kuwait
2001: 9-11 and the neocons’s moment
2003: 23 Tomahawk Missiles go after Saddam, 150th US troops occupy the country
Present issues:
How much is at stake for the US in Iraq?
Do we really want a democracy and self-determination?
What are the regional implications of the war? How has it helped or hindered US interests and the GWOT?