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

It is argued that United States foreign policy should reflect the national values and the goals set up by the founding fathers of the U.S (Oren, pp.23). The united states have been on the receiving end towards its policies in the Middle East, a situation that has shifted from the last 200 years (Schuler, para.2). This paper therefore explores the reason for United States foreign policy inconsistency in the Middle East. Interest of United States in Middle East One of the reason the United States keep shifting goal post when it comes to foreign policy towards Middle East is that it has a legitimate interest in the region.

 The presence of United States in Middle East commenced during the American civil war when the Ottoman Empire and the United States entered a treaty on trade and maritime law and this was merely to get oil from the region (Schuler, para.6). The motive of foreign policy that was aimed at oil shipment and other trade suffered setbacks when there were major shake ups in Saudi Arabia and Iran and this led to the shift of the policy to safeguard the interest of the United States. The situation was further aggravated by the Iraq-Iran War which interfered with Gulf Shipment and this lead to changes in the foreign policy.

The incoherent and inconsistent foreign policy towards Middle East is also a way of securing access to the region that has vital oil resources. United States seeks to ensure a constant supply and open flow of oil and this has led formulation of foreign policy that supports corrupt and repressive royal family of Saudi Arabia who violate human rights in the country. The need for open flow of oil also meant that United States up to 1970s supported the corrupt and repressive shah of Iran (Kamrava, pp.198). This has led to the breeding of leaders that are not welcomed at home although United States strongly support them so as to accomplish its interest.

The issue of balancing the national and domestic political interest has also resulted in conflicting foreign policy in the Middle East. This has made it difficult for the United States government to formulate consistent policies towards the Middle East Region. For example, due to the differences between the white house advisers and officials in the state department and pentagon led President Truman to formulate a reactive and inconsistent policy towards Palestine in 1947-1949 a situation that contributed to escalated tensions in United States relations with both Israel and the Arab Community (Hahn,pp.45).The level at which United States administrators have succeeded in safeguarding United States interest in the Middle East has therefore largely depended on the incumbent president.

Securing Territorial Boundary in Middle East United States foreign policy has not been inconsistent in terms of maintaining the status quo of the Middle East territorial boundary (Oren, pp.35). This has led to support of other nations while sidelining others. For instance, there has been unqualified support for Israel with a view of maintaining the territorial boundary between Palestine and Israeli. United States is offering economic and military assistance to Israeli and these incoherent policies have created perceptions in the Middle East that is the main cause of injustices in the region.

 Currently, majority of the Middle East countries view United States and Israel has having mutual interest or that Israel is a tool of United States foreign policy (Kamrava, pp.197). Global Superpower The position of United states globally especially after the Gulf war and the Cold war also led to the development of various foreign policies which were inconsistent and some of them generated anger and resentment in the Middle Ea