Searching for a Post-Saddam Regional Security Architecture
Abstract
There has been a great deal of discussion and controversy over U.S. policy toward Iraq and what that country's future might be. One important neglected issue is how an altered Iraq might affect regional security in the Persian Gulf. This article discusses past U.S. policy toward the area and proposes ideas for future efforts to promote regional peace and prosperity. U.S. strategy and policy in the region since 1991 have operated on three assumptions: (1) the need for access to reasonably priced oil, (2) the need to ensure that no hostile force control the region and its oil supplies or so intimidate other states so as to coerce supplier states into taking actions inimical to consuming nations, and (3) a commitment to use force if necessary to protect and further these interests. The U.S. security architecture in the region is largely based on these key premises. In terms of defining the critical elements of the architecture, the United States has over the decades defined U.S. vital interests in the Gulf, developed a strategy to protect and further those interests, formulated policy to implement that strategy, and committed the political and financial resources to operationalize this policy in the region. During the 1990s, the United States did reasonably well following this logical process in establishing a security architecture that served its interests. In strictly military terms, that architecture had a number of main elements: forward deployed U.S. forces engaged in ongoing operations, access to host nation facilities, prepositioned equipment, sales of defense equipment to promote the self-defense capabilities of American allies, and regional military engagement through exercises and training. The issue facing the policy community today is whether this existing security structure will be relevant to the post-Saddam period and whether it will continue to protect and promote U.S. interests and those of its allies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA484828
Entities
People
- James A. Russell
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School