US troops and Mideast

President Donald Trump’s surprise decision to withdraw United States military forces from Syria has generated intense controversy, and encouraged Turkey’s incursion seeking to destroy Kurd forces. Analysis benefits from placing developments in historical context.

The security of Israel along with regional stability have been sustained by U.S. foreign policy priorities. The interests of our two nations have not always coincided, yet the partnership endures.

In 1973, military and diplomatic efforts of the Nixon administration were crucial to Israel’s successful defense against a combined attack by Arab states. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger led efforts to ease tensions in the region.

This was followed by major peace agreements. President Jimmy Carter’s determination and discipline achieved the historic 1978 Camp David accords between Egypt and Israel.

In March 1991, following expulsion of Iraq’s army from Kuwait, President George H.W. Bush addressed Congress. His speech emphasized the goal of achieving lasting stable peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

Secretary of State James Baker demonstrated extraordinary energy and dedication in sustained diplomacy that followed. The Madrid conference at the end of October 1991 led to the Oslo accords between Israel and the Palestinians, and a Palestinian state, confirmed at the start of the Clinton administration. This in turn facilitated the peace treaty between Israel and Jordan in 1994.

Bush and Baker deserve enormous credit for exceptional energy, discipline and intelligence dedicated to defeating one nation’s military aggression.

They did not destroy the Iraq government, did confirm America’s regional leadership, and established a partially independent Palestine territory.

The 1956 Suez Crisis remains particularly important and instructive. President Dwight Eisenhower used economic leverage and astute diplomacy to end a secretly planned old-style colonial military invasion by Britain, France and Israel to recapture the Suez Canal, which had been nationalized by Egypt’s new military regime, and seize the Sinai Peninsula.

Approximately two years after the Suez disaster engulfed Britain, France and Israel, Eisenhower intervened directly in Lebanon with a sizable military force. Given the volatile nature of the region generally, and armed conflict then taking place in Lebanon, the intervention was regarded with unease.

After the Suez crisis, the Soviet Union cemented ties with Arab states.

All of the above ended with the Cold War, except for Syria, and Bush and Baker established U.S. leadership.

Trump has abandoned that leadership.