ABSTRACT
This chapter is divided into two main parts. The first gives a brief description of the vision of the US ‘new conservatives’, or neo-cons of former President Bush’s administration, on the role of the United States in the world. This will help build an understanding as to why and how this vision has impacted on Middle Eastern politics, bearing in mind that the Middle East has long been the focal point of international concern, particularly post-9/11. Also, reference is made to the importance of NATO in the US foreign policy agenda. The second part, concisely, reviews developments in US policy towards NATO’s cooperative mechanisms, particularly MD and ICI, before and after 9/11. Thereafter more focus is given to reviewing and analysing the extent and limits of NATO’s role with regards to regional issues in the Middle East. The aim is to ascertain whether or not this role has developed in full consistency with the objectives of US foreign policy. This is aided by examining two contemporary crises: Iraq and Darfur.
