Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book discusses US strategic policy in the Middle East by focusing on the creation of a regional pro-West defense pact, specifically the seminal 1955 Baghdad Pact, the role of the United States in its formation, and the repercussions of its consummation. It examines the Syrian crisis of 1957 and the associated complex political environment of the Middle East in the 1950s. The book then discusses the motivations, ideological commitment, and interests of Soviet policy toward the Middle East during the cold war era and the transformation of this policy in the post–cold war world. It also outlines the Oslo and Madrid peace processes through the failed Camp David meeting in July 2000 and critically examines the roles played by each of the principal players, including the United States.