A Policy of Patchwork Responses: Islamic State, the Syrian Crisis, & the Role of the U.S. in the Middle East

Abstract

The Obama administration has developed a piecemeal approach to the Middle East, addressing issues on their merits, instead of seeing them as being interconnected. This patchwork is most visible in the case of the Syrian conflict, the Islamic State and the Iran nuclear deal, as Washington has opted to take each issue on its merit as a way to limit foreign policy failures. This risk averse attitude and a desire to work with everyone is ill-suited for a region that is unstable. The paper therefore seeks to encourage U.S. policymakers to first develop a grand strategy for the region; and, take some tough decisions and see them through.

Keywords: U.S. foreign policy, Syria, Iraq, Middle East, Islamic State, Iran nuclear deal