The Decline of the Anglo-American Middle East, 1961-1969: A Willing Retreat

In this book, the author provides an extensive study of the common British and American interest in the Middle East under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. Contrary to recent scholarly opinion, the author argues that the loss of influence to the Soviet Union and Arab radicalism in the Middle East was not the result of lack of power but lack of will. Britain, during the period of Harold Wilson's Labor government (1964-1970) withdrew from its Middle Eastern bases for ideological reasons-namely a distaste for imperialism and colonialism. The United States, while placing great store in a continued British presence east of Suez, was unable or unwilling to prevent the British withdrawal. And as the British withdrawal gathered momentum, American disinterest toward the Middle East increased.