Storm Clouds in Mideast

In recent times, the world’s attention has naturally been focused on three main areas of tension: Central America and the Caribbean; southern Africa; and the Near East (mainly Lebanon). Almost unnoticed, however, signs have been accumulating that point to a dangerous crisis brewing up in the Middle East—that vast area between the Gulf and India.

A moment’s thought will show that there are pressing strategic and economic motives for the Soviets to give top priority to this region. For one thing, just as Central America and the Caribbean constitute America’s backyard, so the Middle East is the Soviet Union’s—and a vast backyard at that. By the same token, just as the U.S. enjoys short lines of communication to Central America and the Caribbean, while the Soviets are far away, in the Middle East it is the U.S. that faces the logistical handicap of conveying supplies over vast distances, while Moscow enjoys the major advantage of internal lines by land routes.

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Brian Crozier

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In recent times, the world’s attention has naturally been focused on three main areas of tension: Central America and the Caribbean; southern Africa; and the Near East (mainly Lebanon). Almost unnoticed, however, signs have been accumulating that point to a dangerous crisis brewing up in the Middle East—that vast area between the Gulf and India.

A moment’s thought will show that there are pressing strategic and economic motives for the Soviets to give top priority to this region. For one thing, just as Central America and the Caribbean constitute America’s backyard, so the Middle East is the Soviet Union’s—and a vast backyard at that. By the same token, just as the U.S. enjoys short lines of communication to Central America and the Caribbean, while the Soviets are far away, in the Middle East it is the U.S. that faces the logistical handicap of conveying supplies over vast distances, while Moscow enjoys the major advantage of internal lines by land routes.