Research Book Post #1 Pages 1-20

     When Americans think of their country's involvement in the ill-defined region known as the Middle East, they will likely call to mind the events of 9/11 and the Iraq War. But America has had constant and significant interaction with the Middle East almost since our nation's origin. Our exchanges with the region, which includes West Asia and much of North Africa depending on who you ask, have resulted in such important events as the creation of the U.S. Navy and the drafting of the Constitution. Michael B. Oren contends that there are three primary factors in these exchanges: power, faith, and fantasy. The American government has pursued its interests in the Middle East through use of power, whether that power be political, financial, or militaristic. Many interactions between the Middle East and the US have been based on religion. Some of the earliest American travelers to the region were missionaries and zionists. Lastly, the fantastical depictions of the Arab world found in A Thousand and One Arabian Nights drew drew adventure-seeking explorers. 

Image source: 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Thousand_and_One_Nights