--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Oil shaped U.S. decisions about the…" description: "\"“Oil shaped U.S. decisions about the Middle East during both Democratic and Republican presidencies. The administration of President Jimmy Carter, a li..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc5/howard-zinn-576_middle-east_oil-shaped-u-s-decisions-about-the-middl_2117167.jpg" --- # Oil shaped U.S. decisions about the Middle East during… ![“Oil shaped U.S. decisions about the Middle East during both Democratic and Republican presidencies. The administration of President Jimmy Carter, a liberal Democrat, had produced the “Carter Doctrine.” Under this doctrine, the United States claimed the right to defend its interest in Middle…” quote by Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc5/howard-zinn-576_middle-east_oil-shaped-u-s-decisions-about-the-middl_2117167.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc5/howard-zinn-576_middle-east_oil-shaped-u-s-decisions-about-the-middl_2117167.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc5/howard-zinn-576_middle-east_oil-shaped-u-s-decisions-about-the-middl_2117167.jpg) > ““Oil shaped U.S. decisions about the Middle East during both Democratic and Republican presidencies. The administration of President Jimmy Carter, a liberal Democrat, had produced the “Carter Doctrine.” Under this doctrine, the United States claimed the right to defend its interest in Middle Eastern oil “by any means necessary, including military force.” In”” [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote critiques U.S. foreign policy, asserting that oil interests have driven military actions across political parties, exemplified by the Carter Doctrine. **In simple terms:** Oil drives U.S. Middle East policy. Key Takeaway Recognize resource‑driven motives. Themes politics energy military intervention Mood critical serious inquisitive Type historical political When to use this quote - policy analysis - historical study - activism Key Concepts geopolitics national interest Questions to Reflect On - How does oil influence foreign decisions? - What alternatives exist to resource‑driven policy? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex geopolitical factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Middle east](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-east/) [President jimmy carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-jimmy-carter/) ## Related quotes > [During a recent press conference, former President Jimmy Carter said he could never run for president today because he doesn't have a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/during-a-recent-press-conference-former-president-jimmy-carter-said/) [Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/) > [President Jimmy Carter was a citizen soldier. 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Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) ## More by Howard Zinn > [“A black man, Benjamin Banneker, who taught himself mathematics and astronomy, predicted accurately a solar eclipse, and was appointed to plan the new city…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/a-black-man-benjamin-banneker-who-taught-himself-mathematics-and/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/there-is-no-flag-large-enough-to-cover-the-shame-of-killing-innocent/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [“a good education is a synthesis of book learning and involvement in social action, because each enrich the other. The accumulation of knowledge, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/a-good-education-is-a-synthesis-of-book-learning-and-involvement-in/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [The mountain of history books under which we all stand leans so heavily in the other direction-so tremblingly respectful of states and statesmen and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/the-mountain-of-history-books-under-which-we-all-stand-leans-so/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [Let's face a historical truth: we have never had a "free market", we have always had government intervention in the economy, and indeed that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/let-s-face-a-historical-truth-we-have-never-had-a-free-market-we-have/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [I can UNDERSTAND pessimism, but I don't BELIEVE in it. It's not simply a matter of faith, but of historical EVIDENCE. 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So when the British military commander in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/george-washington-had-turned-down-the-requests-of-blacks-seeking/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) [Explore all 461 Howard Zinn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) ## More Jimmy carter quotes > [No doubt the ridiculous politicians are right to like politics. They have found careers in which success can be achieved by being ridiculous. Imagine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/no-doubt-the-ridiculous-politicians-are-right-to-like-politics-they/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Look at what Jimmy Carter did. Look at the risks he took for a country that wasn't his. 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