Palmer traces the history of America' s involvement in the Gulf from 19th-century commercial activity to the Gulf War. He argues that the Gulf War was the logical outcome of America's escalating involvement, but that the prosecution of the war reflected US uncertainty in the region. The book shows how once Britain's influence had declined America was compelled by astrategic and economic considerations to fill the power vacuum. It initially exercised ints influence through the the Shah of Iran, but after his fall in 1979 was forced to take a more active and direct involvement to guarantee the survival of friendly states. The Gulf War was the logical out come of this development. However, the fact that the war was fought only to attain limited objectives reflects US reluctance to get too deeply involved in the politics of the region.