This video traces the historical roots of the United States' involvement in the Middle East, beginning with the arbitrary borders drawn by European powers that set the stage for modern conflicts. It details how the US, recognizing oil's strategic importance post-WWI, established its initial economic and military foothold in Saudi Arabia in the 1930s. This "oil bromance" led to the creation of American communities and bases, which, while lucrative for the Saudi monarchy, bred significant resentment among many Saudis due to the perceived Western influence on holy land. The narrative expands to cover US Cold War interventions, such as overthrowing Iran's democratically elected government, and its unwavering support for the newly formed state of Israel, which further exacerbated regional tensions and led to significant backlash from oil-producing Arab nations. A central focus is the story of Osama bin Laden, whose family prospered from US infrastructure projects but who grew increasingly radicalized by the US presence. His eventual rejection by the Saudi monarchy in favor of US military intervention against Iraq's Saddam Hussein in the Gulf War solidified his resolve to fight against Western superpowers, leading to the formation of Al-Qaeda and the planning of "world-changing" attacks. The video concludes by emphasizing that the US presence in the region has evolved beyond oil to become an entrenched aspect of its foreign policy and military doctrine, making extrication challenging.
How the U.S. Stole the Middle East: A Historical Overview
0:00:06 - The Middle East's Foundation: The video introduces the Middle East as the birthplace of civilization, whose modern borders were arbitrarily drawn by European colonial powers (French, British, Russians), ignoring local ethnicities and languages.
0:01:17 - US Strategic Pivot to the East: In the 1930s, the US, recognizing oil as vital for global power after WWI, shifted its focus to the Middle East, initiating a presence that grew into a complex network of alliances and military operations.
0:03:50 - Discovery of Oil in Saudi Arabia (1938): A Californian company, taking a significant risk, struck immense oil reserves in Saudi Arabia on March 3, 1938, marking the beginning of a substantial American presence in the conservative kingdom.
0:04:10 - American Enclaves and Military Bases: American oil workers and their families created Western-style communities in Saudi Arabia, introducing behaviors (e.g., women driving, alcohol) that angered many Saudis. The US later established its first military landing strip near the oil fields, agreeing not to fly the American flag on Saudi soil.
0:06:05 - The Rise of Mohammed bin Laden's Company: The construction company responsible for building much of the US infrastructure in Saudi Arabia was founded and run by Mohammed bin Laden, a detail highlighted as crucial to the unfolding story.
0:08:19 - US Cold War and Israel Support: In the 1950s-60s, US involvement expanded to counter Soviet influence (e.g., orchestrating the overthrow of Iran's democratically elected leader to install a pro-US dictator). The US also began providing significant financial and military support to the newly declared state of Israel, triggering strong backlash and an oil embargo from Arab nations.
0:10:19 - Osama bin Laden's Growing Disillusionment: By the 1970s, Osama bin Laden, one of Mohammed's 54 children, became deeply disturbed by the American presence in the holy lands, dedicating his life to fighting against foreign superpowers.
0:11:30 - Bin Laden Fights Soviets in Afghanistan (1979): Osama bin Laden traveled to Afghanistan, contributing his family's wealth and construction expertise to join rebel fighters against the Soviet invasion. Simultaneously, the US-backed dictator in Iran was overthrown in a religious revolution, leading to an anti-US government.
0:13:03 - Formation of Al-Qaeda & Saudi Rejection: After a decade of brutal war against the Soviets, a battle-hardened Osama bin Laden returned to Saudi Arabia to establish Al-Qaeda, a group committed to violently defending Islam. When Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, Osama offered his fighters to defend Saudi Arabia, but the royals, valuing their partnership with the US, rejected him, noting the lack of "caves in Kuwait" to fight a modern army.
0:16:16 - US Military Intervention in the Gulf War: Instead of Bin Laden, Saudi Arabia invited US forces (led by Dick Cheney) to intervene. The US, with 37 allied nations, swiftly defeated Saddam, solidifying the US-Saudi alliance and leaving a significantly increased American military footprint in the kingdom.
0:17:28 - Osama Bin Laden's Final Turn: Feeling betrayed and rejected by his own country in favor of the "great satan" (the US), Osama bin Laden left Saudi Arabia and began coordinating precise global attacks against the United States, planning an event that would "change our world forever" (implicitly, 9/11).
0:18:50 - The Enduring US Presence: The video concludes, noting that this is only the first half of the story. The US presence in the Middle East has become deeply embedded in its foreign policy and military doctrine, moving beyond just oil, making it difficult to envision its future without this presence.