Custom essays on U.S. in the Middle East

From a number of reasons the Middle East region is becoming increasingly important for the implementation of U.S. foreign policy strategy, therefore, Washington’s policy in the Middle East is aimed at strengthening its influence in the region, primarily – by consolidating its military presence here on a permanent basis.
The main components of American policy in the countries of the region are geopolitics (security sector), geo-economics and democratization in accordance with the American recipe of “democratic standards”. U.S. policy in the region is defined by the desire to dominate the world, characterized by – in spite of pragmatism and effectiveness – the contradictions and double standards, ignoring the local political realities and socio-cultural specificity.
At this stage, the U.S. military presence in Middle East is aimed at ensuring security in the region. With some adjustment of goals, objectives and methods of implementing the U.S. policy at this regional direction, this policy can and should help to stabilize and improve the situation in the countries of the region and in the world. Such goals are particularly important in the U.S. due to the acute problem of world security.
International terrorism has always been a world security threat, but the tragic events of September 11, 2001 have dramatically changed the nation’s focus and resolve on terrorism. The new US foreign policy in the Middle East since then was aimed to promote democracy in the Middle East , and that has become a national security priority.
The terrorist attacks of September 11 clearly demonstrated that U.S. policy in the region was far from successful. More importantly, the terrorist attacks helped to realize the danger that may be from such unstable countries as Afghanistan and potentially some of the Middle Asian states, as a breeding ground for international terrorist organizations operating against the U.S.
For the national interests of the United States it is vitally important to significantly improve relations with Middle Asian countries and help them find ways to implement political and economic reforms required for long-term prosperity and stability.
The public opinions of foreign countries about the U.S. policy is raised believing that America really is the enemy. Unless the U.S. acts to change these perceptions, it will continue to face image and security problems in the future.
The level of popularity of the U.S. in the Arab world is extremely low, the result of it are difficulties faced by the United States in foreign policy, international trade, etc. As a result, the U.S. started a major struggle for “hearts and minds” of Arabs.
Anti-American sentiment in the Arab world emerged long before the formation of Al Qaeda and the Islamic Revolution in Iran – they began in the 1950’s, not by Islamists but by nationalists, who preferred the socialist path of development of the Arab civilization.
Commission of the U.S. Congress to investigate the causes of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 has come to an exponential conclusion: “If the U.S. does not act aggressively, explaining the Islamic world its intentions and actions, then this job for us will do the extremists.” (Levin)
Robert Satloff, director of the Institute for Near East Policy, in his book “The Battle of Ideas in the War on Terror: Essays on US Public Diplomacy in the Middle EFTA” shares Muslims into three groups:
– The smaller group really hates the U.S., this group includes the extremists and terrorists;
– The other group consists of supporters of evolutionary changes, which outraged some aspects of American foreign policy. It is unlikely that U.S. foreign policy will fundamentally changed, so Satloff offers to insure access of this part of the population to objective information about the U.S. and to various points of view.
However, tens of millions of Muslims are indifferent to foreign policy and US ideological view, because they live below the poverty line and spend all their energy on survival. Therefore, U.S. policy should promote economic and social infrastructure, so that these people could be included in political processes. Satloff said that the struggle of ideas was going on within the Muslim community, so the U.S. should support the moderate forces and common people in the fight against extremists. (Levin)