358 ChaPter^7
space, then it could just as easily launch a nuclear warhead that could reach
U.S. soil. Eisenhower did not panic over Sputnik, though the media and
Democrats blasted him for creating a “missile gap” which hurt the U.S. In
reality, the president knew that the Soviet ICBMs were not accurate and, more
importantly, by 1960, the U.S. possessed 7000 strategic nuclear warheads
[designed for mass destruction, like a nuclear missile], and over 13,000 non-
strategic, or tactical [a conventional, high-explosive warhead] warheads, a total
of over 20,000. The Soviets, on the other hand, had 372 strategic warheads
and 1200 tactical, or less than 10 percent of the U.S. arsenal. Apparently, by
the end of Eisenhower’s time in office, much of the world still hung on that
cross of iron.American Power, and Problems, in the Middle East
After the successful overthrow of Mossadegh in Iran in 1953, the U.S. began
seeking greater power and control in the Middle East, an area of increasing
importance because of the need for oil, especially as the Cold War and arms
race grew more intense. Oil was vital for the industries producing military
materials and for transport in areas vital to American interests or where con-
flict took place. The U.S., however, was not as involved in the region as much
as other western powers, so took measures to catch up quickly. Consequently,
the U.S. did become the dominant outside power in the Middle East, but at a
cost, one that would be most terrifyingly evident on September 11th, 2001.
The Europeans, particularly the British and French, had more influence and
interest in the Middle East in the early 20th century, and the U.S. would not
become as deeply involved in the region until after World War II, the point
at which control of global oil resources overwhelmingly became the most
important factor in international politics and economics. The Middle East, as
we all know, has the greatest oil reserves in the world, and it was crucial to
the West, especially the U.S., to maintain control over them and to keep them
out of the “wrong” hands, like Communists or even the leaders of those
Middle Eastern countries themselves who had nationalist ideas. In fact, the
first confrontation of the Cold War between the U.S. and Soviet Union was
a conflict over oil, in Iran. In 1946, the Russians had kept occupation troops
in Iran, hoping to get oil contracts, or concessions, just as the U.S. and Britain
had. The U.S. claimed that the Soviets were trying to destabilize Iran and help