Since the advent of the first oil crisis, the United States and its allies have recognized the strategic importance of the Persian Gulf-Indian Ocean area, The second oil crisis. followed by the seizure of American diplomats in Iran, and then by the Iranian-lraqi War, reinforced the importance of this area in Western minds. Along with increased Western interest, American and allied defense analysts began to focus their attention on military developments within the important oil-producing countries of Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait
