ABSTRACT
The objectives of United States (US) policy in the Middle East have been formulated with the benefit of a remarkable degree of domestic consensus. US strategic doctrine in the Middle East might be supposed to mirror the US comprehensive global strategy of deterring Soviet threats, blocking efforts to expand Soviet influence, and ensuring "extended deterrence" for allies, friendly states, and vital interests. The record of US policy in the Arab-Israeli conflict since the Yom Kippur war highlights the continuity of that policy over several administrations, as well as its growing public acceptance. The original guidelines for the creation of the Rapid Deployment Force called for the development of an ability to fight a minor war without detracting from the readiness of US and North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces to fight a major war in Europe-lest the Soviets attempt to open another front in order to take advantage of a US commitment to the Gulf.
