It has become common to observe that the Islamic World and the United States relations are generally bad these days. They seem to be dragged into an intense cycle of political and cultural conflicts, and the most prominent source of this rivalry is the deep unsettled nature of American relations with the Muslim Middle East. In matters related to the Persian Gulf geopolitics, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the ‘war on terror’.
America has always wanted to maintain ‘control’ and ‘stability’ in the Middle East region, using the veil of the honest ‘broker’. However, the U.S policy preferences and its systematic and organized violence caused repression and the desire of change. The result is an atmosphere of doubt, distrust, and disrespect which further troubled the already displaced relationship between Americans and the Islamic World.
This work seeks to examine the U.S interests and presence in the Middle East region, offering an economic and political approach, which appears to be the most logic based on justified analysis, especially with a particular attention to issues such as the ‘divine mission’ (George W. Bush’s words) as a cover for exploitation and imperialism, the United States involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict –supporting Israel in its inhuman actions and always finding absurd justifications for its hypocrisy- which can be seen as one of the major causes of the this conflict. Examining U.S inclined attitude towards Israel due to their shared interests. And the so-called ‘War on Terror’; waged on terrorist groups such as Taliban, Al-Qaeda and other organizations that were/are funded by the same part that waged war on them. Fighting terrorism was used as a curtain to conceal the real aim which is global dominance and control of valuable oil resources.
Table of Contents
Introduction
PART ONE The United States as a “broker”
1-The Persian Gulf geopolitics
2-The Israeli-Palestinian conflict and U.S involvement
PART TWO The War on Terror and Media Manipulation
1-The War on Terror
2-Media Manipulation
Conclusion
Objectives and Core Themes
This work examines the complex and often contentious relationship between the United States and the Muslim Middle East. It aims to analyze the primary drivers of this conflict, moving beyond the narrative of a purely cultural or religious dispute to investigate economic and political motivations, specifically the U.S. desire for control over energy resources, its strategic involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the role of the "War on Terror" as a mechanism for achieving global dominance.
- Geopolitics of the Persian Gulf and energy dependence.
- U.S. foreign policy bias in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
- The strategic misuse of the "War on Terror" narrative.
- The role of mass media in shaping perception and manufacturing public consent.
- Imperialism and the pursuit of global hegemony.
Excerpt from the Book
1-The Persian Gulf geopolitics
As it is known, the Persian Gulf is not only one of the –if not the most- important oil areas in the world, but also a home to some other energy resources. Of course this is more than a reason to tackle other countries greed and interest for this mine of energy resources. The U.S presence, both direct and indirect, in the Persian Gulf indicates that much of the U.S foreign policy is focused on that area, which in turn creates a conflict with the countries that are the legitimate inhabitants of that land.
From the perspective of the mid-1990s, the Gulf would appear to be one of the potentially most unstable regions in the world, given the combination of economic resources, militarized tension, internal and external political instability. Yet beyond this evident instability it is worth examining in what difficulties consist. As far as international questions are concerned, one can identify some of the explicit areas of tension: territory, ethnic and religious minorities, oil, and conflicts in foreign policy orientation. The challenges that make the Persian Gulf such a troubled area are by no means a recent development. Washington’s involvement in the region is no news either.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This chapter establishes the scope of the work, identifying the unsettled relationship between the U.S. and the Islamic world, and introduces the central argument regarding U.S. economic and political interests behind regional conflicts.
PART ONE The United States as a “broker”: This section investigates the strategic importance of the Persian Gulf and the history of U.S. involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a source of grievance.
PART TWO The War on Terror and Media Manipulation: This section explores how the "War on Terror" was utilized to justify military interventions and examines the role of media in influencing public opinion and aligning it with state agendas.
Conclusion: This final chapter synthesizes the findings, arguing that the U.S. must adopt an unbiased stance and prioritize human rights over hegemony to resolve regional tensions.
Keywords
United States, Middle East, Persian Gulf, Islam, War on Terror, Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Media Manipulation, Hegemony, Energy Security, Imperialism, Geopolitics, Foreign Policy, Radical Islam, Political Conflict, Human Rights.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The work focuses on the multifaceted conflict between the United States and the Muslim Middle East, exploring how political, economic, and media factors contribute to regional instability.
What are the central themes discussed in the book?
The themes include the strategic importance of oil resources, U.S. policy in the Middle East, the bias in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, and the systemic manipulation of public perception through mass media.
What is the core research question or objective?
The objective is to reveal that the conflicts in the Middle East are primarily driven by U.S. interests in global dominance and energy security, rather than the stated goals of spreading freedom or fighting terrorism.
Which scientific or analytical methods are applied?
The work employs a political and economic analysis of historical events, policy documents, and media coverage to critique U.S. foreign policy and its long-term impact on the region.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers the geopolitics of the Persian Gulf, the historical U.S. support of Israel, the tactical use of the "War on Terror," and the influence of mainstream and alternative media on public opinion.
Which keywords best characterize this study?
Key terms include American foreign policy, Middle East geopolitics, oil hegemony, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and mass media manipulation.
How does the author characterize the U.S. role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
The author argues that the U.S. has abandoned its role as an "honest broker" and instead provides tacit, unwavering support for Israeli policies, which fuels anti-Western sentiment.
What impact did Al Jazeera have on the coverage of the war in Afghanistan?
Al Jazeera provided a unique, alternative perspective from within the conflict zone, challenging the official U.S. narrative and forcing Western media to address questions that would otherwise have been ignored.
- Quote paper
- Mohamed Achraf El Bouhssini (Author), 2015, Inside of The American-Muslim Conflict, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/339111
