ABSTRACT
The budget conscious Dwight D. Eisenhower administration knew that large amounts of military aid would immediately win over the hearts of the Arabs, but the obstacles to this basically remained in the wake of Dulles' trip. When the Eisenhower administration came to power in January 1953 there existed much optimism in the Arab world that American policies might change in its favor. This was based largely on Eisenhower's and Secretary of State Dulles' known disposition to direct foreign policy in the Middle East on a more even-handed basis between Israel and the Arabs. Adib al-Shishakli's meeting with Dulles had the expected effect in Syria of opening up the regime to further criticism from opposition groups labelling him an instrument of the West. Shishakli had gained enough of a false sense of security from his political manipulation during the summer of 1953 to the point of encouraging American officials to continue to pursue economic and military aid agreements with his country.
