At the height of the Cold War, the US sought to maintain power and influence in the Greater Middle East - the region from Morocco to India -in the context of a growing threat from Russia and the decline of British imperialism. This original and important study illuminates this tense period in international relations, offering many new insights into the global situation of the 1950s and 1960s._x000D_ _x000D_ Roby Barrett casts fresh light on US foreign policy under Eisenhower and Kennedy, drawing on extensive research in archives and document collections from Kansas to Canberra and numerous interviews with key policy makers and observers from both the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations. He explores the application of the Cold War containment policy through economic development and security assistance, highlighting the fundamental similarities between the goals and application of foreign policy in the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations as well as the impact of British influence on the process. And in the process this book draws some unexpected conclusions, arguing that Eisenhower's policies were ultimately more successful than Kennedy's, and offers an important and revisionist contribution to our understanding of the Cold War and the Middle East._x000D_ _x000D_ 'This is a breakthrough book because of its super research. The central drama is not unlike today: a sustained crisis in the Middle East, including the violent overthrow of the Iraq Government, causes tsunami waves throughout the international political system. It is a must-read history for anyone grappling for a perspective on prospects of the Middle East and the US role there.' - Allen L. Keiswetter, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Near East.