The Gulf Crisis and Its Global Aftermath

American studies of the Kuwait Crisis tend to dwell almost exclusively on American aspects: "Iraqgate," the leadup to war, the efficacy of air force bombing, the morality of using force. This introspective gazing leaves lots of room for others, and fourteen talented Israeli scholars (plus two Americans) take advantage of the opportunity to combine and provide an original, important survey of the Crisis' effects. They look at Israel (a subject covered in more detail by the Jaffee Center's War in the Gulf: Implications for Israel, reviewed in ORBIS, Winter 1993), the rest of the Middle East, the powers, and other subjects (arms exports, oil, the media).

Jacob Goldberg's discussion of Saudi Arabia contains what may be the most interesting analysis. He collects statements by Saudis from the time of crisis to the effect that their country will never be the same again. No more relying on a handful of soldiers; a military draft will be imposed. Egyptian and Syrian forces will help secure the Persian Gulf. Money will be better spent. Some kind of parliamentary representation will come into being. Society will open up in a host of ways, from press freedom to mingling of the sexes. But as soon as the fighting stopped, all these resolutions went out the window. "Once conditions return to normal, promises are largely forgotten," Goldberg concludes. "Essentially it was back to 'business as usual.'" Of course, things never return quite the way they once were. The Saudi pressure-cooker is yet hotter than before and we'll all know when the top flies off.

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