The Persian Gulf: Issues for U.S. Policy, 2002

Publication Date: August 2002

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: International relations

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Abstract:

The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States have expanded the security challenges facing the United States in the Persian Gulf region, although no major confrontations or crises have occurred in the Gulf since 1998. Since U.N. weapons inspectors left Iraq in December 1998, the United States has feared Iraq might reconstitute its banned weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs. In the aftermath of September 11, the Bush Administration has expressed particular concern that Iraq might join forces with Islamic terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda or with other anti-U.S. groups, and might provide these groups with WMD expertise or technology.

Iran’s tacit cooperation with the United States against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan after September 11 had appeared to forecast an improvement in U.S.- Iran relations. However, the expected improvement did not materialize because of Iran’s stepped up support to Palestinian and other groups that are using violence against Israel. There is substantial U.S. concern about Iran’s WMD programs and the potential for Iran to transfer that technology or materiel to the terrorist groups it supports, although Iran has not been politically close to Al Qaeda. The lack of tangible moderation in Iran’s policies has led U.S. officials to lose hope that engaging Iran’s President Mohammad Khatemi would be productive.

The September 11 attacks have shaken U.S. relations with some of the Gulf states, particularly Saudi Arabia; those relations previously had been on relatively sound footing. Fifteen of the nineteen September 11 hijackers were of Saudi origin, as is Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden himself. Some of the funding for the September 11 attacks apparently was transferred from financial institutions in the United Arab Emirates, and several Islamic charities operating in the Gulf and the broader Islamic world have been accused of providing funds to Al Qaeda and other terrorist movements. However, the Gulf states, despite public sentiment that sympathizes with some aspects of Al Qaeda’s anti-U.S. views, have been supportive of the U.S. military effort against the Taliban and Al Qaeda. Several of them have allowed U.S. combat missions to be launched from their territory. The Bush Administration has credited the Gulf states with helping shut down some of the financial networks used by Al Qaeda.

The United States is applauding and encouraging political reform initiatives by some of the Gulf states that it hopes will encourage greater support for U.S. and Western values over the longer term. At the same time, greater political openness in the Gulf has made Gulf governments more aware of popular sympathy for the Palestinians in the context of ongoing Israeli-Palestinian violence. That sentiment could complicate future defense cooperation between the United States and the Gulf states and has already contributed to Gulf state opposition to possible large scale U.S. military action against Iraq.

This report will be updated, as warranted.