Robert J. Pauly, Jr examines the history of US foreign policy toward the Greater Middle East in general and focuses specifically on the fundamental economic, military and political causes of the 1990-1991 Persian Gulf crisis. He investigates to what extent these causes were internal and external in origin, looks at the principal actors in the crisis, and determines whether and how these actors have continued to drive unfolding events in the Persian Gulf ever since. The volume explores in detail the role of American leaders since 1989, including how far the US should collaborate with Europe to pursue both American and collective Western economic, military and political interests in the Gulf. It also considers the prospects for the future of American-led nation-building operations in Iraq and the outlook for the eventual liberal democratization of the Greater Middle East.

Contents: Introduction; The United States and the Persian Gulf: a historical overview; George H.W. Bush administration and the Persian Gulf, 1989-1993; William J. Clinton administration and the Persian Gulf, 1993-2001; George W. Bush administration and the Persian Gulf, 2001-2004; Safeguarding US interests in the Persian Gulf: policy prescriptions; Conclusions; Bibliography; Index.