Sandstorm: American Blindness in the Middle East

Hadar provides a sweeping re-examination of the conceptual bases of American policy and calls for strategy of 'constructive disengagement' from the region, a policy of benign neglect as a way of promoting the interests of the United States as well as those of the people of the Middle East. Continued American presence and involvement in the Middle East has tremendous political and economic costs that outweigh the benefits. There is a need for regional states to take increased responsibility for security, economic growth, and political stability. The European Union should also play a greater role due to its geographical proximity, economic ties and demographic links to the region. The time has come for a serious debate on the future involvement of the United States in the Middle East.

Table of Contents:
September 11: The Collapse of Cost-Free Pax Americana in the Middle East; The Second Intifadah: The Perils of American Hyperactive Diplomacy; Post-September 11: An Alternative History; Post-9/11: Neoconservative Ascendancy and the Second Gulf War; Neoconservative Fantasies: A Democratic Empire in the Middle East; The American-European Conflict Over the Middle East; America, Europe and Russia: The Evolution of the Northern Alliance; The Road Toward U.S. Constructive Disengagement in the Middle East

About the Author :
LEON HADAR is Research Fellow in Foreign Policy Studies at the Cato Institute, USA.

Review :
"Hadar writes with a flair not often found in foreign-policy writing, borrowing heavily from pop culture for his chapter titles and using the perspectives of sociology and the hard sciences to explain and illuminate his points. This style has the effect of pushing the reader outside the worn-out language of the Arab-Israel conflict and the Middle East peace process, and the conventional terminology of foreign policy. His style complements the boldness of his suggestions and the strength of his argumentation in achieving his primary objective: stimulating new thinking about the U.S. role in the Middle East." --Middle East Policy "Leon Hadar's fine book Sandstorm starkly outlines differing U.S. and European interests in the Middle East. His prescription for U.S. disengagement from the region is sound, well argued, and based on an incisive reading of legitimate U.S. national interests. His argument for greater European involvement -- if only for self-defense -- seems irrefutable. Given the internal security and immigration disasters the EC has fastened on Europe, it will be interesting to see if Mr. Hadar's advice is followed or if, as usual, the Europeans are content to hope the alligator eats them last." --Michael F. Scheuer, author of Imperial Hubris: Why the West is Losing the War on Terror "You don't have to agree with every observation or proposal in Leon Hadar's book to applaud the bravery and importance of his analysis. The United States needs a fundamental reconsideration of its approach to the Persian Gulf and the Middle East. 'Sandstorm' is a big help in this effort." --James Fallows, National Correspondent, The Atlantic Monthly "Leon Hadar's Sandstorm provides a tour-de-force of America's past and current engagement in the Middle East and correctly argues that neither neoconservative idealism nor left-ish sentimentalism will fix America's hemorrhaging Middle East problem. He suggests an alternative course - a hard-nosed, interest-driven strategy which would be good for American interests but also good for Europe, Israel, and the broader arena of nations in the Middle East. I highly recommend it." --Steven Clemons, Executive Vice President, New America Foundation "Hadar makes the lucid and much needed argument that Americans have better choices in the Middle East than the commonplace Beltway establishment options of 'Empire' and 'Empire Lite.'" --Scott McConnell, Executive Editor, The American Conservative "Leon Hadar bravely predicted many of the consequences that would flow from U.S. involvement in the first Gulf War and was almost alone is doing so. Now he has written another bold book on Middle East issues. He should be read, in part because so few others are willing to explore the issues he tackles." --Charles William Maynes, President, Eurasia Foundation