| Summary: | Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. === The Persian Gulf region is, in all likelihood, going to remain
crucial to American interests through the next several decades. The
world depends on the petroleum reserves of the Gulf region to fuel
its economic engine. The recent history of the region has been rife
with conflict, and the U.S. has had to intervene militarily on
several occasions to ensure its vital interests were protected.
This thesis examines the strategic circumstances in the Gulf region
and ways in which American political, diplomatic, and military
policy can help shape the environment to conform to its interests.
Several scenarios are developed which attempt to forecast the
results of different environments on regional stability. The thesis
reaches the conclusion that the United States must take a proactive
role if its short- and long-term interests are to be protected. The short-term goal of U.S. policy must be to maintain a balance of
power and regional correlation of forces which serves to deter any
would-be aggressor nations. In the long run, the United States must
seek a comprehensive regional peace. Various methods of achieving
these goals are examined. === http://archive.org/details/strategicplanfor00ward === Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy
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