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After successful completion this course, students will be able to:

• Discuss the growing involvement of the United States in the affairs of the Middle East, a consequence of America’s global power.

• Assess Middle Easterners’ ongoing quest for political independence and self-mastery, including the rise of indigenous resentment.

• Identify underlying forces in the rise of modern terrorism.

• Discuss U.S.-Middle East relations, not only in political terms but also in cultural, economic, and social terms. Therefore, while we will of course look closely at official U.S. policy toward the Middle East and of Middle Eastern countries toward the United States, we will also look at other official and unofficial forms of relations. Cultural relations, as represented by films, cartoons, and other media, will be of particular importance in this regard.

• Analyze and evaluate historical material.

• Examine and assess U. S. presidential leadership and other national security and military decision makers associated with the Middle East, 1914-2006.

• Evaluate the impact of the Iraqi War upon our nation, our diplomatic relations with the Middle East.

• At the conclusion of the course, students should be able to identify the major problems in this subject; identify and explain the principal scholarly disputes about those problems; and make a reasoned appraisal of the strengths and weaknesses of the relevant arguments in each case. In particular, they should be able to assess the significance of the War on Terror in its World context.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

1. Map Quiz: Students will be given a blank map, and will have to identify each country, major cities, and a few regional geographic features. They will have the list available when taking the quiz.

2. Mid-Term Examination:
A mid-term examination will be given on Tuesday, March 2, 2010. The exam will cover all class notes and readings up to that time. The instructor will provide students with a comprehensive study guide ten days prior to the exam.

3. Quizzes:
There will be five unannounced quizzes over the course of the semester. They will consist of multiple-choice questions and test students' knowledge of assigned readings for a given topic area. Note: No Make-up Quizzes.

4. Book Reviews:
Each student must two book reviews (David Farber, Taken
Hostage: The Iran Hostage Crisis and America’s First Encounter with Radical Islam and John Lewis Gaddis, Surprise, Security, and the American Experience). These reviews should be no less than 750 words no more than 1,250 words approximately three-to five-typewritten, doubled-spaced pages).

5. Oral Final Exam:
At the end of the semester, students will meet with me for a 25 minute period. During these sessions, I will ask individual questions and expect individual responses. I reserve the right to ask about anything we have covered in the readings, movies, and discussions. Each person will be asked at least 2 questions and possibly 3. Each student will have 2-4 minutes to respond to the questions. Failure to show up for your appointment results in an F. Why am I doing this? In the real world you will be challenged to think on your feet whether it is in the business, law, policy, scientific, or academic communities. The exam prepares you for law and graduate school and many other careers you may choose.

6. Class Participation:
The most subjective of categories includes faithful and attentive attendance and classroom interaction. All students are expected to come to class ready to participate in meaningful dialogue and discussion of the lecture and assigned readings. This category evaluates the level of effort put into this course rather than academic success. It also takes into the account the fact that the content of the course material is not merely academic, but also spiritual in nature and hence the overall goal is to apply it our lives in a way which pleases our Lord.

Deadlines: Papers are due in class on the assigned date! No excuses.

Grade Distribution:

Map Quiz	35 points
Mid-term Examination	100 points
Quizzes	100 points
Final Exam	100 points
Book Reviews	200 points
Class Participation	50 points

Attendance:
ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY. YOU ARE ALLOWED TO MISS CLASS ON FOUR (4) DAYS. STUDENTS WHOSE CUTS EXCEED FOUR WILL RECEIVE A GRADE OF XF (FAILING DUE TO ABSENCES). IN LIGHT OF THIS POLICY, I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO DROP THIS COURSE IF YOU DO NOT PLAN TO BE IN CLASS.

Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is copying from a source without acknowledging it. It is academically dishonest and should not be tolerated in any course. Plagiarism will result in an F for the assignment and could well jeopardize your grade for the course.

Course Textbooks and Materials

Helpful Websites and Online Newsletters:

Al Bawaba: The Middle East Gateway
ArabNet
Saudi-U.S. Relations Information Service
GulfWire Digest