ABSTRACT
Hitherto,Americanactivityhadtakenplaceindependentlyof theUSgovernment.Thenaturalisolationismofthelatterhadnever regardedtheArabworldasanarenainwhichtochallengeanyofthe interestsofthegreatpowersofEurope.Itwasonlyafterthewar, whentheimportanceofoilasastrategicweaponwasfully recognized,thattheUSgovernmentbecamedirectlyinvolvedin challengingBritain'sholdovertheoil-producingregionsofthe world.
