jordan pulse -

​By Dr. Izzat Jaradat
​Introduction
Following the conclusion of World War II, the United States initiated strategic planning to fill the power vacuum in the Middle East, aiming to prevent the former Soviet Union from establishing regional dominance prior to its eventual collapse in the early 1990s. Washington's strategy was built upon two foundational pillars:
First, establishing a widespread presence of military installations across strategic locations globally.
Second, extending foreign financial aid under the premise of fostering regional stability and economic development—a system in which more than a third of allocated funds returned directly to the U.S. economy through technical assistance, consultancy services, and training contracts.
​Declared Objectives
As regional circumstances evolved and Middle Eastern nations achieved varying degrees of growth based on their individual capacities and national priorities, the regional balance of power underwent significant shifts:
The United States sought to preserve the existing order of the "old" Middle East, as maintaining the status quo facilitated its leverage and strategic dominance over the region.
Conversely, both Israel and Iran shared an interest in perpetuating regional instability. Israel exploited ongoing instability to seize further Palestinian territory, eventually leaving a mere 20 to 22 percent of historic Palestine to form the occupied territories designated for a hypothetical Palestinian state. Meanwhile, Iran focused on exporting its revolutionary model and empowering its regional proxies—which Tehran firmly labels as "allies"—ultimately securing military, political, and operational influence across four Arab capitals.
​What Is "New"?
The revised American framework for a "New Middle East" centers on securing energy resources, guaranteeing Israeli security, and preventing major regional wars following the 1973 conflict, which was once characterized as the "last war."
​Through these policy choices, the United States has preserved its core interests in the region while utilizing the Palestinian cause as a convenient pivot for diplomatic or military intervention whenever advantageous. Washington has refrained from advancing a meaningful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, choosing instead to endorse and sponsor new regional alliances under the banner of a restructured Middle East.