U.S. Foreign Policy and the Arab World

Late last month, the online magazine The Globalist ran a great three part series on U.S. foreign policy and the Arab world. The three, short, easy-to-read articles were written by former Ambassador Chas. W. Freeman.

Freeman, a distinguished diplomat and author, was U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia and now serves as president of the Middle East Policy Council among other responsibilities. In these articles, Freeman gives a 101 overview of the challenges America faces in the Middle East. I highly recommend reading the series:

• Part One examines the many things the people of the Arab world and the United States share in common. Freeman then begins spelling out American interests in the Middle East.

• Part Two continues the look at U.S. interests including our commitments to Israel and the need to reduce anti-Americanism in the region.

• Part Three looks at the extent of American ignorance regarding Arabs and Islam. Freeman concludes with an overview of the sources of Arab alienation from the United States.