Eisenhower on communism in the Middle East (1957)

In January 1957 President Dwight Eisenhower addressed Congress and spoke about the development of nations in the Middle East. He sought Congressional backing to resist the encroachment of communism in the Middle East:

“The Middle East has abruptly reached a new and critical stage in its long and important history. In past decades many of the countries in that area were not fully self-governing. Other nations exercised considerable authority in the area and the security of the region was largely built around their power. But since the First World War, there has been a steady evolution toward self-government and independence. This development the United States has welcomed and has encouraged. Our country supports without reservation the full sovereignty and independence of each and every nation of the Middle East.

The evolution to independence has in the main been a peaceful process. But the area has been often troubled. Persistent cross-currents of distrust and fear, with raids back and forth across national boundaries, have brought about a high degree of instability in much of the Middle East. Just recently there have been hostilities involving Western European nations that once exercised much influence in the area. Also, the relatively large attack by Israel in October has intensified the basic differences between that nation and its Arab neighbours.

All this instability has been heightened and, at times, manipulated by International Communism. Russia’s rulers have long sought to dominate the Middle East. That was true of the Czars and it is true of the Bolsheviks. The reasons are not hard to find. They do not affect Russia’s security, for no one plans to use the Middle East as a base for aggression against Russia… The Soviet Union has nothing whatsoever to fear from the United States in the Middle East, or anywhere else in the world, so long as its rulers do not themselves first resort to aggression. That statement I make solemnly and emphatically…

The reason for Russia’s interest in the Middle East is solely that of power politics. Considering her announced purpose of communising the world, it is easy to understand her hope of dominating the Middle East… International Communism, of course, seeks to mask its purposes of domination by expressions of good will and by superficially attractive offers of political, economic and military aid. But any free nation, which is the subject of Soviet enticement, ought, in elementary wisdom, to look behind the mask…

International Communism needs and seeks a recognisable success. Thus, we have these simple and indisputable facts:

The Middle East, which has always been coveted by Russia, would today be prized more than ever by International Communism.

The Soviet rulers continue to show that they do not scruple to use any means to gain their ends.

The free nations of the Middle East need, and for the most part want, added strength to assure their continued independence…

There is general recognition in the Middle East, as elsewhere, that the United States does not seek either political or economic domination over any other people. Our desire is a world environment of freedom, not servitude. On the other hand many, if not all of the nations of the Middle East are aware of the danger that stems from international communism, and welcome closer cooperation with the United States to realise for themselves the United Nations’ goals of independence, economic well being and spiritual growth.

Under these circumstances, I deem it necessary to seek the cooperation of the Congress. Only with that cooperation can we give the reassurance needed to deter aggression, to give courage and confidence to those who are dedicated to freedom and thus prevent a chain of events which would gravely endanger all of the free world… The program I suggest deals with all three aspects of this matter and thus with the problem of indirect aggression… And as I have indicated, it will also be necessary for us to contribute economically to strengthen those countries, or groups of countries, which have governments manifestly dedicated to the preservation of independence and resistance to subversion…

The occasion has come for us to manifest again our national unity in support of freedom and to show our deep respect for the rights and independence of every nation – however great, however small. We seek, not violence, but peace. To this purpose, we must now devote our energies, our determination, ourselves.”