Middle East Misconceptions

Gamal Abdel Nasser has done at least one thing in his decade of power in Egypt: He has brought the Middle East into a prominence that it has never hitherto enjoyed. Some of this prominence might be termed notoriety, and much of it has been painful to us and to our allies; and no doubt to the Soviet Union as well. But aside from Nasser the Middle East has a legitimate claim to global significance.

There is no doubt that this area is important. Suez. The Turkish Straits. Oil. These very words underline the physical significance of the Middle East to both the East and the West. If we add such words as Israel, refugees, nationalism and Communism we can easily arouse in ourselves and others a whole gamut of upsetting emotions.

CL

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Carl Leiden

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Gamal Abdel Nasser has done at least one thing in his decade of power in Egypt: He has brought the Middle East into a prominence that it has never hitherto enjoyed. Some of this prominence might be termed notoriety, and much of it has been painful to us and to our allies; and no doubt to the Soviet Union as well. But aside from Nasser the Middle East has a legitimate claim to global significance.

There is no doubt that this area is important. Suez. The Turkish Straits. Oil. These very words underline the physical significance of the Middle East to both the East and the West. If we add such words as Israel, refugees, nationalism and Communism we can easily arouse in ourselves and others a whole gamut of upsetting emotions.