America's challenges in the greater Middle East : the Obama Administration's policies

Barack Obama has faced many challenges in reversing U.S. policy on the Middle East. This book highlights points of resistance to Obama's efforts regarding U.S. foreign policy and what lessons may be learned from this experience for the remainder of his presidency and his potential second term in office. Barack Obama has faced many challenges in reversing U.S. policy on the Middle East. This book highlights points of resistance to Obama's efforts regarding U.S. foreign policy and what lessons may be learned from this experience for the remainder of his presidency and his potential second term in office Front Matter....Pages i-vii Obama in the Middle East: Failure to Bring Change....Pages 1-9 Iraq: Policies, Politics, and the Art of the Possible....Pages 11-29 Saudi Arabia: A Controversial Partnership....Pages 31-51 GCC States Under the Obama Administration....Pages 53-70 Egypt: From Stagnation to Revolution....Pages 71-88 Israel and the Palestinian Authority: Resigning to Status Quo....Pages 89-103 The Maghreb: Strategic Interests....Pages 105-132 Somalia: Unwanted Legacy, Unhappy Options....Pages 133-159 Iran: From Engagement to Containment....Pages 161-175 Pakistan: A New Beginning?....Pages 177-194 Afghanistan: Grim Prospects?....Pages 195-216 Central Asia: Pragmatism in Action....Pages 217-235 Turkey: A Neglected Partner....Pages 237-254 Back Matter....Pages 255-276 "The Middle East has been the centerpiece of American foreign policy for decades. As President Barack Obama faces continuing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the nuclear debate in Iran and the ever-present Israeli-Palestinian conflict the future of this region is once again firmly in the international spotlight. America's Challenges in the Greater Middle East charts U.S. policy towards key Middle Eastern states and evaluates the impact of the current Administration's policies. This edited volume brings together scholarly opinion from a diverse range of world-recognized experts and is the definitive text on the Obama Administration's engagement with this volatile, yet politically vital, part of the world"--Provided by publisher Cover 1 Half-Title 2 Title 3 Copyright 4 Contents 5 Acknowledgments 7 1 Obama in the Middle East: Failure to Bring Change 8 2 Iraq: Policies, Politics, and the Art of the Possible 17 3 Saudi Arabia: A Controversial Partnership 36 4 GCC States under the Obama Administration 57 5 Egypt: From Stagnation to Revolution 75 6 Israel and the Palestinian Authority: Resigning to Status Quo 93 7 The Maghreb: Strategic Interests 108 8 Somalia: Unwanted Legacy, Unhappy Options 136 9 Iran: From Engagement to Containment 163 10 Pakistan: A New Beginning? 178 11 Afghanistan: Grim Prospects? 196 12 Central Asia: Pragmatism in Action 218 13 Turkey: A Neglected Partner 237 Selected Bibliography 255 List of Contributors 266 Index 270 Machine generated contents note: Iraq / Judith Yaphe -- Iran / Shahram Akbarzadeh -- Saudi Arabia / Tom Lippman -- Gulf sheikhdoms / Christian Koch -- Pakistan / Touqir Hussain -- Afghanistan / William Maley -- Somalia / Kenneth John Menkhaus -- Egypt / Michele Dunne -- Israeli-Palestinian dispute / Beverley Milton-Edwards -- Central Asia / Martha Brill Olcott -- Maghreb / Yahia Zoubir