'This engaging, ambitious and sometimes disturbing volume brings home the complexity of the challenges the United States faces as it tries to define and promote US interests amidst the ambiguity and contradictory pressures of the Middle East . . . Compelling reading.' - Australian Journal of International Affairs 'The experts collected here appraise U.S. policy ... Read moretoward the vast array of countries from the Maghreb to Afghanistan, covering essentially the first two years of Barack Obama's presidency and comparing his performance and policies with those of his predecessor. More comprehensive than most such works, the book includes the often overlooked Central Asian states and Somalia.' - Foreign Affairs 'In Akbarzadeh's compilation, the United States' strategic relationships in the Middle East are evaluated in light of recent events, from the beginning of Obama's presidency to the revolutions which characterized the 2011 Arab Spring. The articles bring together a wide range of scholars who write about subjects as diverse as the challenges confronting the Obama Administration in Afghanistan, the risk of the US losing its moral appeal in Central Asia, and the decisions the US must make in supporting Egypt's transition to democracy.' - Middle East Journal 'This insightful overview of the U.S. struggle to redefine its position in the Middle East after the end of the Cold War shows that a new coherent policy is still work in progress at best.' - Marina Ottaway, Director, Middle East Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Show Less