Guardians of the Gulf: A History of America's Expanding Role in the Persian Gulf, 1833-1992

The East's riches and untapped markets in the late eighteenth and nineteenth century, and its strategic and geopolitical assets in the twentieth century, have continually attracted American interest and investment to the countries of the Persian Gulf. Describing a complex two-century-old relationship, Michael Palmer tells the illuminating story of our nation's steadily escalating involvement in the region despite our ongoing resistance to active guardianship of its stability and security. Initially, American commercial activity basked in the protection of British military prowess. But as Yankee merchants successfully displaced the declining empire's influence, the United States was forced to assume increased responsibility for the volatile nations of the gulf. Relying heavily on the Shah as a surrogate police power in the ensuing decades, we actively intervened in Iranian politics to sustain his rule. The United States was finally compelled to assume the mantle of guardianship, which we had long avoided, when he fell from power in 1979. Today, our military presence ensures the continued existence of Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Oman. Tracing the trajectory of American influence and engagement in the Persian Gulf, Palmer reveals the recent war with Iraq to have been a logical culmination of our past history. The limited objectives sought reflected our traditional reluctance to be militarily engaged in foreign lands and to incur postwar commitments. The gross over-estimation of Iraqi capability by President Bush and Generals Powell and Schwarzkopf continued a long-standing misperception of the realities of the gulf countries and their military and politicalpotential. Exploring the issues raised by our presence in the Persian Gulf and our role as protector of this unstable region, Palmer reveals American ambivalence toward the responsibilities, risks, and costs of guardianship. His historical analysis provides an essential primer for our present and future policies in the area.