Refining the U.S. Force Posture in the Gulf
In the series Refining the U.S. Force Posture in the Gulf, AGSIW helps frame the larger debate on U.S. defense posture in the Gulf and explores options for restructuring the United States’ policy goals and military presence in the region. Through written analysis and conversations with scholars, experts, and practitioners, the series explores new conceptual frameworks and searches for constructive ideas for a more realistic, effective, and pragmatic approach to reshaping the U.S. force posture in the region.
What Does U.S. “Withdrawal” From the Middle East Mean?
The debate on U.S. policy in the Middle East needs to move away from abstractions like “commitment” versus “withdrawal” and engage with the real questions of just what interests in the Middle East justify the presence of U.S. military force and what threats justify its use.
The Debate Over the U.S. Military Role in the Gulf
Maximalist proposals calling for near-total withdrawal or expanding the U.S. military footprint are unrealistic. The task is to find effective ways of doing as much, or more, with less.
