tered around "the issue of the control of oil" (Ferrara, 1983, p. 19). Oil is a vital aspect of America's domestic economy. In addition, it is necessary for maintaining U.S. military superiority. Therefore, access to oil supplies is a strategically important element in both domestic and foreign policy. Despite efforts to develop alternative energy sources in the United States, oil is still "the single most important fuel source" at this time (p. 31). This fact makes the Persian Gulf strategically important because the majority of the world's known oil supplies are located there (p. 31). Most of the nations of the Western World, including the United States, are dependent upon the oil resources of the Persian Gulf. The United States, for example, must import more than 40 percent of its total oil needs (Cook, 1991, p. 53). A great deal of this imported oil comes from the Persian Gulf. The importance of oil to the United States causes it to be a strategic interest. Therefore, a vital policy issue can be found in the need for maintaining security in the region of the Persian Gulf. In order to maintain security in the Persian Gulf, the United States must control the waterways there while protecting against invasion by outside forces. As noted by one commentator, "the defense and protection of this vulnerable oil corridor has become the most important issue in American foreign policy (Ferrara, 1983, p. 32).
In addition to oil, the United States has had other strategic concerns in the Persian Gulf region. For example, in the past, U.S. policy was largely concerned with the threat of Soviet expansion in the area. However, since the Soviet reform movement of the 1980's, this threat has been diminished somewhat. The fear of U.S. policy-makers regarding Soviet activity in the Middle East reached its peak in the 1970's. By that time, Great Britain had removed all of its troops from the region of the Persian Gulf. This left the nati...