Power, Faith and Fantasy: America in the Middle East, 1776 to the Present

The first comprehensive history of Americas involvement in the Middle East from George Washington to George W. Bush. Beginning with the Barbary Wars of the eighteenth century and extending to the conflicts of today, the United States has been profoundly involved in the Middle East. America fought its first foreign war there and established its navy to meet a Middle Eastern threat. The Middle East, in turn, inspired works by some of Americas preeminent artists, lured prominent leaders, and attracted generations of Americans seeking to educate, modernize, and proselytize its peoples. Power, Faith, and Fantasy tells the remarkable story of Americas 230-year relationship with this crucial area, reconstructing the diverse channels through which the United States has interacted with the Middle East. The book also examines Americas artistic legacy in the Middle East, exploring the dynamic ways in which popular culture in the United States has portrayed the region and its peoples. By distinguishing the recurrent themes in Americas Middle East involvement and by tracing their evolution over the course of more than two centuries, the book reveals the continuity that binds this vital narrative in the nations history.