ABSTRACT
Since 1957, the US presence has been the major influence shaping the Middle East region. Though one of the chief characteristics of US presence and policy, especially from an Arab and Iranian perspective, is its close alignment with Israel, the USA's initial regional interests had little to do with Israel, and were not particularly supportive of Israel's policies. US interest in the Middle East began as an off-shoot of the Cold War as the influence of the old colonial powers waned. The 1956 Suez crisis formed the first watershed in US policy. US policy has from time to time been crystallized in a Doctrine, usually presented in a Presidential speech. The Eisenhower Doctrine in 1957 expressed US concern about Soviet aims and influence in the Middle East. Beyond the policies and actions of the USA, there is another dimension to US influence, which is more general, popular-cultural level, in Hollywood movies, international electronic news media and the internet.
