The Eisenhower Doctrine and its Implementation in Lebanon - 1958
Abstract
In May 1958, President Camille Chamoun of Lebanon sent an urgent cable to U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower requesting military aid under the terms of the Eisenhower Doctrine, to put down civil unrest in Lebanon. Chamoun claimed communist supported, Syrian arms and men were crossing his borders and leading his political opponents in armed insurrection against his pro-American government. The Eisenhower Administration was wary of committing U.S. troops to Lebanon initially due to the American impression that Chamoun was requesting aid purely in order to support his personal (and illegal) bid for reelection in the upcoming Lebanese elections. Although Eisenhower felt he couldn't justify using American military force at that time under the auspices of the Eisenhower Doctrine, he eventually approved sending U.S. Marines into Lebanon in July 1958, after a bloody revolution in Iraq overthrew the pro-Western government in favor of the socialist Ba'ath Party.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA408984
Entities
People
- David N. Wilson
Organizations
- University of Texas at Austin