The Persian Gulf States: Issues for U.S. Policy, 2006

Abstract

The U.S.-led war to overthrow Saddam Hussein has virtually ended Iraq's ability to produce weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and to militarily threaten the region, but it has produced new and unanticipated security challenges for the Persian Gulf states (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates). The Gulf states, which are all led by Sunni Muslim regimes, fear that Shiite Iran is unchecked now that Iraq is strategically weak. The Gulf states strongly resent that pro-Iranian Shiite Muslim groups and their Kurdish allies (who are not Arabs) have obtained preponderant power within Iraq. This has led most of the Gulf states, particularly Saudi Arabia, to provide only halting support to the fledgling government in Baghdad. The new power structure in Iraq has had repercussions throughout the Gulf region: some Gulf Shiite communities have been emboldened by events in Iraq to seek additional power. Sunni Muslim militants in Iraq are reportedly infiltrating the Gulf states to attempt attacks against Gulf regime and Western interests. Continuing instability in Iraq also requires the United States to maintain a larger military presence in the Gulf than would have been required had Iraq stabilized quickly, although some believe the United States should retain a large Gulf presence to counter the growing power of Iran. The concentrated U.S. focus on Gulf security during the 1990s is giving way to an emphasis on broader, nonsecurity issues. Domestically, all of the Gulf states are undertaking substantial but gradual economic and political liberalization to satisfy U.S. calls for reform. However, the reforms undertaken or planned do not aim to restructure power in any of the states. The Bush Administration advocates more rapid and sweeping political and economic reforms as key to long-term Gulf stability and to reducing support in the Gulf states for terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda. The Administration also is funding civil society programs there.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 20, 2006
Accession Number
ADA476192

Entities

People

  • Kenneth Katzman

Organizations

  • Library of Congress

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Counter WMD
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Anti-Tank Missiles
  • Department Of State
  • Governments
  • Iraqi-War
  • Law
  • Military Personnel
  • Military Science
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • Political Systems
  • Short Range Ballistic Missiles
  • Terrorism
  • Terrorists
  • Warfare
  • Weapons Of Mass Destruction

Readers

  • Nuclear Non-Proliferation and International Security
  • Political Violence and Terrorism Studies.
  • Strategic Security Studies