Why Gulf states might want to shut down US bases

Why Gulf states might want to shut down US bases

For decades, U.S. policy toward the Middle East has revolved around a simple premise: the forward deployment of U.S. military power would deter adversaries — chiefly Iran — and, if necessary, defend host states from attack. Today, that premise is increasingly difficult to sustain. A series of Iranian strikes and threats against critical infrastructure has underscored a widening gap between the promise of protection and the reality of exposure. F…