Strategic Geography and the Changing Middle EastWith the breakup of the Soviet Union and the growing links between the Caucasus, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East, a strategic map of the region is emerging with far-reaching implications for the United States and other major powers. Geoffrey Kemp and Robert Harkavy argue that increasing demand for Persian Gulf and Caspian Basic energy, especially from the booming Asian economies, ensures that the Middle East will remain a global strategic prize and source of continued rivalry. At the same time, radical changes in conventional military technology and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, along with the specter of megaterrorism, present ominous future possibilities--in relation to both warfare scenarios involving the Arab-Israel, Iran-Iraq, and India-Pakistan conflicts and the potential need for U.S. interventions. The authors likewise signal the region's positive potential. The Middle East has the capacity to move toward a more constructive and peaceful future. Intra-regional proposals already exist for joint infrastructure projects, shared oil and gas pipelines, and improved transportation and communication grids linking the region to Europe. These proposals could usher in a new era of prosperity and cooperation. A wealth of information is made very accessible through the use of 36 maps detailing the region's history, geography, energy resources, military conflict zones and basing infrastructure, as well as roads and rail and water routes. |
Contents
Part Two Sources of Conflict and Energy Security | 65 |
The Persian Gulf | 109 |
Part Three Military Operations and Planning | 157 |
Copyright | |
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Strategic Geography and the Changing Middle East Geoffrey Kemp,Robert E. Harkavy No preview available - 1997 |
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Afghanistan air force aircraft airpower Arab Arab-Israeli areas armored arms army attack Azerbaijan Baghdad billion bombing border canal capability Caspian Sea Caucasus chemical weapons China coalition combat conflict Cordesman countries crisis defense Desert Storm economic Egypt energy Europe export facilities factors fighting future geography geopolitical Golan greater Middle East Gulf War Ibid important increase India infrastructure International involving Iran Iran and Iraq Iran-Iraq Iran-Iraq war Iran's Iranian Iraq Iraq's Iraqi Islamic Israel Israeli Jordan Kazakstan Kuwait Lebanon Libya logistics major miles missiles mountains nations natural gas naval Navy North nuclear weapons offensive oil and gas operations Pakistan peace percent Persian Gulf pipeline political population possible potential power projection problems region resupply route Russia satellite Saudi Arabia scenarios ships Sinai South Soviet Union Strait submarines Syria tactical targets terrain territory threat tion Turkey Turkmenistan United vulnerable warfare Western