Troubled Waters: Future U.S. Security Assistance in the Persian Gulf

Knights (of the Washington Institute) provides recommendations for the future shape of US military strategy in the Persian Gulf region that are based on the following principles: the US should seek to expand basing agreements and military partnerships with the "friendly, conservative Arab monarchies" of the Gulf Cooperation Council, encourage formalized multinational cooperation in the region, and encourage the GCC to address social drivers of insecurity. These principles lead him to recommend that the US build intelligence- sharing networks, greater land-border security initiatives, maritime patrolling competencies, and counters to low-level Iranian pressures among the military forces of the GCC. To reduce Iranian perceptions of threat from these steps, he also recommends supporting a Gulf security forum that includes the Iranians and all regional states for addressing bilateral and multilateral issues, with the exception of "broader regional issues" involving the Israelis. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)