A Study On U.S. Policy Towards Iraq From 1958 To 1960

In January 1958,the Eisenhower administration adopted NSC5801/1,which established the support for the Hashimite regime and other conservative Arab pro-Western regimes as a way to limit the growing influence of Nasser and the Arab nationalists.In 1958,the revolution of July 14 successfully overthrew the rule of the Hashimite Kingdom in Iraq.In order to prevent the Soviet Union from further expanding its influence on the Middle East and threatening the interests of the United States in this region,the Eisenhower Administration adopted NSC5820/1 in November 1958,Eisenhower government abandoned the plan of restricting Arab nationalism in NSC5801/1 and began to seek effective cooperation with nationalists,trying to guide them to the track beneficial to the west,and to adjust the U.S.policy towards Iraq from the support to the Hashimite regime to the “wait and see” policy to the Qassem Regime.Since 1960,with Qassem gradually consolidating his regime and taking actions to restrict the development of the domestic Communist Party,the relationship between Iraq and the West has shown signs of easing.NSC6011 reaffirmed the “wait and see” policy towards Iraq,and tried to exert influence on Iraq imperceptibly through personnel and information exchange activities,and get Iraq back on more neutral keel.The adjustment of American policy towards Iraq from 1958 to 1960 was rooted in the confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union.The Soviet Union supported Arab nationalism and tried to weaken the existence of western countries in the Middle East.The U.S.government restricted the expansion of Soviet influence and hoped to maintain the stability of the Middle East so as to guarantee the supply of oil to Western European countries.Negative views on Nasser and the Arab nationalists within the Eisenhower administration have limited further reconciliation and cooperation between the United States,Egypt and Arab nationalists.Qassem established friendly relations with the Soviet Union and used the power of the Iraqi Communist Party in the struggle with the pro-Nasser elements in the country,which caused the Eisenhower government to worry about the "communist crisis".The continuous unrest in Iraq makes it difficult for the Eisenhower administration to find a way to solve the Iraqi problem.It can only rely on Nasser to indirectly exert influence on the situation in Iraq.All of these factors contributed to the adjustment of Eisenhower administration's policy towards Iraq from 1958 to 1960.The Eisenhower administration's “wait and see” policy towards Iraq promoted the temporary detente between the Qassem regime and the West.The Arab nationalist movement is in a relatively quiet stage in a short period of time.However,because the United States did not take measures to further improve the relationship with Iraq,which restricted the further development of the relationship between the United Statesand Iraq,leading to the re tension of the relationship after a short period of easing.The U.S.“wait and see” policy towards Iraq made Iraq not completely lean to the side of Soviet Union.The Soviet Union's Middle East policy changed its focus to support Iraq and then to support Egypt.Iraq did not achieve the goal of economic development with the support of the Soviet Union,which led its rulers to rely on the support of the military to consolidate the regime,which store up trouble for the future development of Iraq.The adjustment of U.S.policy towards Iraq from 1958 to 1960 has certain reference and enlightenment significance for China's diplomatic activities at the present time.