ABSTRACT
In recent years the Middle East has been changing rapidly and the shocks administered to American policy makers have been occurring at a startling pace. Only since the onset of the Carter administration American leaders have had to adjust to such events as the Egyptian-Israeli peace process, the continuing disintegration of Lebanon, the overthrow of the Shah, the hostage episode in Iran, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, disturbing incidents inside Saudi Arabia, the wars between the Yemens and between Morocco and the Algerian backed Polisario over the future of the former Spanish Sahara, between Somalia and Ethiopia and between Iran and Iraq. The two most devastating challenges to the Carter approach to foreign affairs came in Southwest Asianear the end of 1979—the takeover of the American embassy in Iran and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Toward the Iranian hostage situation the administration gravitated between a policy of confrontation and one of conciliation.
