The Missing Elements of U.S. Middle East Policy

U.S. rhetoric about the war against terrorism creates many contradictions. While we criticize the fundamentalist Taliban regime in Afghanistan, we ignore the excesses of the Saudi Arabian theocratic dictatorship. U.S. foreign policy creates extremists. The more we militarize the Middle East, the less secure it becomes. Instead of relying on arms sales and air strikes, the U.S. should pursue a Mideast policy based on human rights, international law, and sustainable development.