Us Versus Them, Second Edition : The United States, Radical Islam, and the Rise of the Green Threat

In this important new book, Douglas Little explores the political and cultural turmoil that led U.S. policy makers to shift their attention from containing the "Red Threat" of international communism to combating the "Green Threat" of radical Islam after 1989. Little analyzes America's confrontation with Islamic extremism through the traditional ideological framework of "us versus them" that has historically pitted the United States against Native Americans, Mexicans, Asian immigrants, Nazis, and the Soviets. The collapse of the Soviet Union seemed to signal that the doctrine of containment had served U.S. interests in the Middle East well, preserving Western access to Persian Gulf oil while protecting Israel and preventing communist subversion. Yet, although many Americans hoped that the end of the Cold War would enable the United States to redefine its diplomatic relationships in the Middle East and elsewhere, Little demonstrates that from Operation Desert Storm in 1991 to America's battle against ISIS today, U.S. foreign policy has been governed by "us versus them" thinking, with Islamophobia supplanting the threats of yesteryear. Reviews Shows the links between this era and attitudes evident at the time of the Native American removal, the fears of African Americans, immigrants, the so-called 'yellow peril' of the wartime years, through Cold War communism to the current predicament.--International Affairs Little accurately captures, first, the United States' relations with the Islamic world, and second, the transfer of a reflexive, and to a larger extent unavoidable, polarized paradigm for the conduct of US foreign policy.--Glenn L. Carle, Middle East Journal Douglas Little's cogent, perceptive, and well-reasoned work emerges as one of the best books on recent U.S. diplomacy across the Middle East. Moving energetically through twenty-five years of U.S. diplomacy, Little's compelling and memorable thesis will draw more visibility and attention to his work than that enjoyed to date by any other book on this subject.--Peter Hahn, Ohio State University Us versus Them is a marvelous read on a hot topic. With crisp and witty prose, the book is by far the liveliest read in its field, and Little demonstrates a mastery of sources with the sure hand of a mature historian who knows not only the topic of U.S. relations with the Middle East, but also the broad sweep of U.S. history. No book presently on the market commands the strengths of Us versus Them.--Frank Costigliola, University of Connecticut In This Important New Book, Douglas Little Explores The Political And Cultural Turmoil That Led U.s. Policy Makers To Shift Their Attention From Containing The Red Threat Of International Communism To Combating The Green Threat Of Radical Islam After 1989. Little Analyzes America's Confrontation With Islamic Extremism Through The Traditional Ideological Framework Of Us Versus Them That Has Historically Pitted The United States Against Native Americans, Mexicans, Asian Immigrants, Nazis, And The Soviets. The Collapse Of The Soviet Union Seemed To Signal That The Doctrine Of Containment Had Served U.s. Interests In The Middle East Well, Preserving Western Access To Persian Gulf Oil While Protecting Israel And Preventing Communist Subversion. Yet, Although Many Americans Hoped That The End Of The Cold War Would Enable The United States To Redefine Its Diplomatic Relationships In The Middle East And Elsewhere, Little Demonstrates That From Operation Desert Storm In 1991 To America's Battle Against Isis Today, U.s. Foreign Policy Has Been Governed By Us Versus Them Thinking, With Islamophobia Supplanting The Threats Of Yesteryear. Introduction. Us Versus Them : America And Islam In The Age Of Terror -- Genesis : Containment And Cold War In The Muslim World -- George H.w. Bush And The End Of The Cold War : Beyond Containment In The Middle East -- Bill Clinton And The Middle East : From Enlargement To Dual Containment -- Containment On Steroids : George W. Bush And Rogue State Rollback -- The Obama Doctrine : Contagement And Counterterrorism In The Muslim World -- Revelations : Contagement, Islamophobia, And A New Cold War In The Middle East. Douglas Little. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. In this important new book, Douglas Little explores the political and cultural turmoil that led U.S. policy makers to shift their attention from containing the "Red Threat" of international communism to combating the "Green Threat" of radical Islam after 1989. Little analyzes America's confrontation with Islamic extremism through the traditional ideological framework of "us versus them" that has historically pitted the United States against Native Americans, Mexicans, Asian immigrants, Nazis, and the Soviets.

The collapse of the Soviet Union seemed to signal that the doctrine of containment had served U.S. interests in the Middle East well, preserving Western access to Persian Gulf oil while protecting Israel and preventing communist subversion. Yet, although many Americans hoped that the end of the Cold War would enable the United States to redefine its diplomatic relationships in the Middle East and elsewhere, Little demonstrates that from Operation Desert Storm in 1991 to America's battle against ISIS today, U.S. foreign policy has been governed by "us versus them" thinking, with Islamophobia supplanting the threats of yesteryear.

n this important new book, Douglas Little explores the political and cultural turmoil that led U.S. policy makers to shift their attention from containing the "Red Threat" of international communism to combatting the "Green Threat" of radical Islam after 1989. Little analyzes America's confrontation with Islamic extremism through the traditional ideological framework of "us versus them" that has historically pitted the United States against Native Americans, Mexicans, Asian immigrants, Nazis, and the Soviets. The collapse of the Soviet Union seemed to signal that the doctrine of containment had served U.S. interests in the Middle East well, preserving Western access to Persian Gulf oil while protecting Israel and preventing communist subversion. Yet, although many Americans hoped that the end of the Cold War would enable the United States to redefine its diplomatic relationships in the Middle East and elsewhere, Little demonstrates that from Operation Desert Storm in 1991 to Obama's battle against ISIS today, U.S. foreign policy has been governed by "us versus them" thinking, with Islamophobia supplanting the threats of yesteryear. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 12 INTRODUCTION: Us versus Them: America and Islam in the Age of Terror......Page 20 CHAPTER ONE: Genesis: Containment and Cold War in the Muslim World......Page 30 CHAPTER TWO: George H. W. Bush and the End of the Cold War: “Beyond Containment” in the Middle East......Page 68 CHAPTER THREE: Bill Clinton and the Middle East: From “Enlargement” to “Dual Containment”......Page 106 CHAPTER FOUR: Containment on Steroids? George W. Bush and Rogue State Rollback......Page 144 CHAPTER FIVE: The Obama Doctrine: “Contagement” and Counterterrorism in the Muslim World......Page 188 CHAPTER SIX: Revelations: Islamophobia, the Green Threat, and a New Cold War in the Middle East?......Page 226 Notes......Page 262 Bibliography......Page 292 A Note on Further Reading and Historical Sources......Page 308 A......Page 312 B......Page 313 C......Page 314 F......Page 316 G......Page 317 H......Page 318 I......Page 319 K......Page 320 M......Page 321 N......Page 322 O......Page 323 Q......Page 324 R......Page 325 S......Page 326 T......Page 327 W......Page 328 Z......Page 329 Acclaimed historian of U.S.–Middle East foreign relations Douglas Little examines&8239;how American presidents, policy makers, and diplomats dealt with the rise of Islamic extremism in the modern era. Focusing on White House decision-making from George H. W. Bush to Barack Obama, Little traces the transformation of the Cold War–era'Red Threat'into the'Green Threat'of radical Islam. Analyzing key episodes from the 1991 Persian Gulf War and Bill Clinton's mishandling of the Oslo peace process through the 9/11 attacks, George W. Bush's decision to invade Iraq, and the showdown with ISIS, Little shows how the threat posed by Islamic'others'shaped the Middle Eastern policies of both Democratic and Republican presidents. This second edition includes a new afterword that carries the story through the Trump administration and into the Biden presidency, focusing particularly on Afghanistan, a major trouble spot in the Muslim world that will command global attention for many years to come. Cover -- Contents -- Acknowledgments -- INTRODUCTION: Us versus Them: America and Islam in the Age of Terror -- CHAPTER ONE: Genesis: Containment and Cold War in the Muslim World -- CHAPTER TWO: George H.W. Bush and the End of the Cold War: "Beyond Containment" in the Middle East -- CHAPTER THREE: Bill Clinton and the Middle East: From "Enlargement" to "Dual Containment"--CHAPTER FOUR: Containment on Steroids? George W. Bush and Rogue State Rollback -- CHAPTER FIVE: The Obama Doctrine: "Contagement" and Counterterrorism in the Muslim World -- CHAPTER SIX: Revelations: Islamophobia, the Green Threat, and a New Cold War in the Middle East? -- Notes -- Bibliography -- A Note on Further Reading and Historical Sources -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- Q -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W -- Y -- Z Analyzes the reasons that the United States shifted its attention after 1989 from the containment of communism to a policy of combatting radical Islam, exploring the political and economic tensions that created a foreign policy fueled by Islamophobia. --Publisher's description.