Why does the United States have an inconsistent policy in the middle east - Essay Example

(1). Since independence in 1776, the United States of America has followed a policy in the Middle East that is marked by its independence from its colonial master in the form of the British, and the other European allied powers, like France. However, it is the American policy in the Middle East that is crucial to the region, because of the strong influence it has in the region, though it has been a late entrant to the happenings in the Middle East. There is strong criticism that the inconsistent policies followed by the Americans, marked by self-interest have had a strong influence on the poor state of affairs in the Middle East. (2) United States Policy in the Middle East since 1776 and its Reasons American policy in the Middle East has been more at loggerheads with the earlier influential colonial powers till around the formation of Israel.

The growing economic might of America meant that it would have a strong influence on the course and consequences of the First and Second World Wars. Yet, even though the Americans went to war in Europe in favor of its allies, the then President of USA Woodrow Wilson refused to declare war against their enemy Turkey, despite the genocide that was occurring in Armenia, due to Turkish actions. (3). The Suez Crisis of 1956 is another marked example of the US differing with its European NATO allies on the Middle East.

Britain and France believed that Nasser was inimical to the interests of the Western world. While America agreed with this evaluation, it was against any use of force against Nasser to prevent opening the door to the Soviets. America worked against British and French action. (4). America has thus demonstrated its desire for influence in the Middle East, even to the extent of upsetting its European NATO allies. This desire is a reflection of the self-interest that America has in the region. (2).

The allurement for the Middle East for America is based on its national interests including control of a region with abundance of oil. Yet, America has used diplomatic, economic or military power towards this end. In other words, economic appeasements and use of the military might have been the main weapons used by America to appease its national interests in the Middle East. This has led to the charge of inconsistencies in American policy in the Middle East. America has used economic and diplomatic means to draw to it national leaders with whom it believes it can deal with from strength and acted to use economic and military might to overthrow or marginalize national leaders that it does not like.

Such inconsistent policy stems from its belief in its moral superiority that came with the “Pilgrims at Plymouth” and its attraction to an exotic Middle East that it sees as “the mysterious, menacing Orient”. (1). Israel in the Middle-east has been a fixture in American policy in the Middle East and the reason for its inconsistent policies in the Middle East that runs against its grain of liberty and justice. The strong pro-Israeli has both political and religious basis. The political basis is reflected in the words of President during the formation of Israel and the strong American backing “I have to answer to hundreds of thousands who are anxious for the success of Zionism.” (1). This can be construed to mean that at there are many more Jews in America than Muslims from the Middle East.

The religious entanglement in American policy in the Middle East comes from missionary zeal in attempting to change the Middle East to mirror its liberal and Christian values, such that the land that it is attracted to changes in its eyes for the better. (1). The political and religious basis of American policy i