"The greatest danger to America's peace and prosperity, notes Middle East policy analyst Pollack, lies in the political repression, economic stagnation, and cultural conflict within Arab and Muslim nations. By inflaming political unrest and empowering terrorists, these forces pose a direct threat to America's national security. The impulse for America might be to turn its back in frustration over the Bush administration's mishandling of the Iraq War and other engagements. But such a move, Pollack asserts, will only exacerbate problems. He counters with the idea that we must continue to make the Middle East a priority in our policy, but in a humbler, more humane, more realistic, and more cohesive way. He argues that the greatest problem has been Washington's persistent unwillingness to make the sustained effort needed to help the people of the Middle East overcome the crippling societal problems facing their governments and societies." Publisher's description.

Foreword / Strobe Talbott -- Preface -- Introduction: Why a grand strategy for the Middle East? -- PART I. AMERICA'S INTERESTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST: Oil -- Israel -- America's Arab Allies -- Nonproliferation and noninterests -- PART II. THE PROBLEMS OF THE MODERN MIDDLE EAST: A sea of socioeconomic problems -- The crisis of Middle Eastern politics -- PART III. THE THREATS WE FACE FROM THE MIDDLE EAST: Political Islam -- The threat from instability and internal strife -- The threat of terrorism -- PART IV. THE CORE OF A GRAND STRATEGY FOR THE MIDDLE EAST: Enabling reform -- Meeting the challenges of reform -- Principles for encouraging reform in the Middle East -- Trade offs -- PART V. A REGION OF CRISES: The dilemma of Iraq -- The challenge of Iran -- The importance of the Arab-Israeli Conflict -- Other security problems -- PART VI. LOOKING FARTHER DOWN THE PATH: Enter the dragon -- Conclusion: The path before us.