Iraq and the Continuing Middle East Crisis

This is an appraisal of Iraq's current actions within the context of the last 30-plus years of the history of the Middle East, focusing on three key factors which form a triangle of forces around Iraq - Muslim fundamentalism, oil and the Palestinians. The development and influence of each of these is traced against a background of Arab nationalism, prevalent throughout the region, particularly since 1956. The framework thus provides a matrix within which other events may be viewed.