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

Palmer, Michael A.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0029238439 ISBN 13: 9780029238431

Publisher: Free Press, 1992

Synopsis

Traces the development of American commercial interests in the Persian Gulf and the resulting growth of political involvement

About this title

From Library Journal:

Although the Persian Gulf was rediscovered in recent times--first with the Iran hostage crisis and then with the war for Kuwait--U.S. involvement in the region dates back to the 1830s when commercial contacts were established with Omani seafarers. Since then, Washington assumed increasingly large security responsibilities for the area as Britain's presence waned. Palmer meticulously traces this relationship, describing how U.S. reluctance to commit its military resources to defend commercial interests led the United States to support the Shah of Iran and later to the Reagan administration's contradictory policies, in which Washington condemned Iran for its support of terrorism while authorizing the sale of advanced weapons systems, all for strategic reasons. That the United States failed to realize what price it had to pay for this policy was apparent only in the late 1970s when President Carter assumed the burden--through his 1980 doctrine--for our long-term involvement in the area, a development likely to spread well into the next century. A highly recommended volume for its erudition and cogency.
- Joseph A. Kechichian, Rand Corp., Santa Monica, Cal.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Publishers Weekly:

In an enlightening analysis, Palmer maintains that the Gulf war must be accounted a great victory: "Routing such a large army while taking so few friendly casualties was an incredible achievement." It accomplished the limited goals set by the Bush administration, but also reflected Washington's traditional reluctance to risk deeper political and military involvement in the region. Palmer, who teaches history at East Carolina University, argues convincingly that Operation Desert Storm was the culmination of a process that began when the British made themselves protectors of the Persian Gulf two centuries ago. Describing how WW II highlighted the growing importance of petroleum to the West and exposed Britain's strategic weakness, he explains how the United States replaced that nation commercially, economically and militarily in the area. Palmer's description of Operation Desert Shield/Operation Desert Storm is the most succinct and clarifying yet published.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Free Press
• Publication date: 1992
• ISBN 10: 0029238439
• ISBN 13: 9780029238431
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 320