American Oil Diplomacy in the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea

"An excellent study of U.S. policy on creating and maintaining a state of energy security."--Hafeez Malik, Villanova University The United States is the world's largest oil consumer and importer. Here Gawdat Bahgat examines the nation's growing dependence on fossil fuels--particularly oil--and the main challenges it faces in securing supplies from two energy-rich regions, the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea. He argues that long-term U.S. energy strategy must be built on diversity of both the fuel mix and the geographic origin of that fuel. It should include a broad combination of measures that would stimulate domestic production, provide incentives for conservation, promote clean technologies, and eliminate political barriers to world markets. Bahgat also contends, however, that the goal should not be energy independence, but finding new ways of managing dependence on oil supplies from abroad. He maintains that despite increasing reservoirs of oil and natural gas throughout the world, including the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf will continue to be the main source of U.S. fossil fuel. Bahgat analyzes both recent and historical challenges to the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil producer and exporter, including the Arab-Israeli peace process. He also discusses the hostility between the United States and Iraq and the tense relationship between the United States and Iran, including such sensitive topics as the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and terrorism, as well as developments in the wake of September 11, 2001. In his assessment of the underdeveloped Caspian Sea reservoir, Bahgat suggests that energy experts and policy makers have exaggerated the region's potential, citing logistical, economic, and political obstacles that must be overcome before the region plays a major role in producing fossil fuels. These obstacles include domestic ethnic divisions, disputes over the legal status of the Caspian, disagreements over the most cost-effective transportation routes, and changes in the region in the aftermath of the war on terrorism. Gawdat Bahgat, director of the Center of Middle Eastern Studies at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, is the author of The Gulf New Economic and Political Realities; The Future of the Gulf; and The Persian Gulf at the Dawn of the New Millennium. The United States Is The World's Largest Oil Consumer And Importer. Here Gawdat Bahgat Examines The Nation's Growing Dependence On Fossil Fuels - Particularly Oil - And The Main Challenges It Faces In Securing Supplies From Two Energy-rich Regions, The Persian Gulf And The Caspian Sea. He Argues That Long-term U.s. Energy Strategy Must Be Built On Diversity Of Both The Fuel Mix And The Geographic Origin Of That Fuel. It Should Include A Broad Combination Of Measures That Would Stimulate Domestic Production, Provide Incentives For Conservation, Promote Clean Technologies, And Eliminate Political Barriers To World Markets.--jacket. U.s. Energy Security -- The Global Energy Scene -- Managing Dependence: American-saudi Oil Diplomacy -- The United States And Iraq: Continuity And Change -- The United States And Iran: Prospects For Rapprochement -- The Geopolitics Of The Caspian Sea. Gawdat Bahgat. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [179]-206) And Index. Gawdat Bahgat also contends, however, that the goal should not be energy independence, but finding new ways of managing dependence on oil supplies from abroad. He maintains that despite increasing reservoirs of oil and natural gas throughout the world, including the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf will continue to be the main source of US fossil fuel. Bahgat analyses both recent and historical challenges to the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil producer and exporter, including the Arab-Israeli peace process. He also discusses the hostility between the United States and Iraq and the tense relationship between the United States and Iran, analysing such sensitive topics as the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and terrorism, as well as developments in the wake of September 11, 2001 The United States is the world's largest oil consumer and importer. This work examines the nation's growing dependence on fossil fuels - particularly oil - and the main challenges it faces in securing supplies from two energy-rich regions, the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea. The author argues that long-term US energy strategy must be built on diversity of both the fuel mix and the geographic origin of that fuel. It should include a broad combination of measures that would stimulate domestic production, provide incentives for conservation, promote clean technologies, and eliminate political barriers to world markets Table of Contents......Page 6 List of Tables vii......Page 8 List of Maps ix......Page 10 Preface xi......Page 12 List of Abbreviations xv......Page 16 1. U.S. Energy Security 1......Page 18 2. The Global Energy Scene 24......Page 41 3. Managing Dependence: American-Saudi Oil Diplomacy 43......Page 60 4. The United States and Iraq: Continuity and Change 72......Page 89 5. The United States and Iran: Prospects for Rapprochement 103......Page 120 6. The Geopolitics of the Caspian Sea 140......Page 157 Glossary 175......Page 192 Notes 179......Page 196 Bibliography 193......Page 210 Index 207......Page 224