An area vital to US interests, the Gulf has long been a volatile region. The vulnerability of Western interests is illustrated by such destabilizing influences as the political power of OPEC, the fall of the Shah of Iran, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and the Iran[1]Iraq War. The contributors to this volume examine the causes and effects of instability in the region and US policy response, focusing on patterns of regional conflict, Soviet interests, Islamic fundamentalism, and US long-term policy for facing threats to its interests. Discussing the options open to government planners, the contributors analyze the viability of alternative political and military strategies for the Gulf in the future.