	Introduction

Over the last few years, nowhere have tensions between the United States and its Europeanallies and friends been more evident than on a range of issues related to the Middle East. This is largely because Europeanperspectives on the region have been shaped over time by common elements unique to Europe'shistory and geostrategic position. Some Bush Administration officials and Members of Congress are concerned that the recentvitriolic disputes between Washington and a number of European capitals on Middle East issuescould constrain U.S. policies, and erode the broader transatlantic relationship and U.S.-Europeancounterterrorism efforts in the longer term. The 9/11 Commission Report notes that nearly everyaspect of U.S. counterterrorism strategy relies on international cooperation, including with Europeangovernments and multilateral institutions such as NATO and the European Union (EU). Someprovisions in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 ( P.L. Underlying Drivers of European Views

Many analysts argue that the United States and Europe share common vital interests in theMiddle East: combating terrorism; halting proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD);promoting Middle East peace and stability; ensuring a reliable flow of oil; and curtailing Islamicextremism. In contrast, the Bush Administration stresses that terrorism and weaponsproliferation must be confronted to ensure U.S. national security, and that the conditions for peaceand stability in the Middle East will not be possible until these twin threats are removed. They are wary of the use of preemptive force not sanctioned by the internationalcommunity. Growing EU Ambitions

Some experts assert that the EU's aspirations to play a larger role on the world stage have alsoheightened recent U.S.-European tensions. (10) The EU has had somesuccess in forging consensus on its approach to the Middle East peace process, and how best to dealwith Iran. Key policygaps exist in U.S. and European efforts to deal with Iraq, address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,manage Iran and Syria, and counter terrorism. (35) 
European governments reportedly played a key role in ensuring that the June 2004 G8Summit initiative on the Broader Middle East and North Africa took into account theIsraeli-Palestinian conflict as part of any push to encourage political, economic, and social reformsin the region. However, policies have often differedsharply. Theyassert that each side of the Atlantic will likely continue to engage in the region through its ownexisting policy instruments, such as the U.S. Middle East Partnership Initiative and the EU'sEuro-Mediterranean Partnership. 108-458 ) seek to promote Middle East development and reform and improveinternational collaboration against terrorism. Several factors will likelyinfluence how deep and lasting the damage from the dispute over Iraq and subsequent policies in theMiddle East will be to the broader transatlantic relationship. One key determinant will be whetherthe United States and its European allies and friends can cooperate more robustly in the future inrebuilding Iraq. Others fear that U.S.-European disputes over the Middle East could spill over into U.S.-EUtrade relations.
Managing policy differences on a range of issues emanating from the Middle East posesserious challenges for the United States and its European allies and friends. The most vitriolicdispute has centered on the conflict in Iraq. However, divisions over how best to approach theongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, manage Iran and Syria, and combat terrorism also persist. TheBush Administration and Members of Congress are concerned that continued disagreements betweenthe two sides of the Atlantic could both constrain U.S. policy choices in the region and erode thebroader transatlantic relationship and counterterrorism cooperation over the longer term. TheU.S.-initiated Broader Middle East and North Africa partnership project seeks to encourage reformsin the region and U.S.-European cooperation in tackling Mideast problems. This initiative waswelcomed by the 9/11 Commission, which recommended that the United States "should engage othernations in developing a comprehensive coalition strategy against Islamist terrorism." TheIntelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 ( P.L. 108-458 ) contains elements thatseek to promote Middle East development and reform and enhance international cooperation againstterrorism.
Many analysts assert that the United States and Europe share common vital interests in theMiddle East: combating terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; promotingMiddle East peace and stability; ensuring a reliable flow of oil; and curtailing Islamic extremism. U.S. and European policies to promote these goals often differ considerably. Although the Europeangovernments are not monolithic in their opinions on the Middle East, European perspectives havebeen shaped over time by common elements unique to Europe's history and geostrategic position. Many Europeans believe the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should be a priority. They view it as a keydriver of terrorism, Islamic extremism, and political unrest among Europe's growing Muslimpopulations. In contrast, the U.S. Administration stresses that terrorism and weapons proliferationare the primary threats and must be pro-actively confronted; peace and stability in the region will notbe possible until these twin threats are removed. A number of other factors, such as divergentperceptions of the appropriate role of the use of force and growing European Union (EU) ambitionsto play a larger role on the world stage, also contribute to the policy gaps that have emerged.
How deep and lasting the clash over Iraq and subsequent Middle East policies will be totransatlantic relations will likely depend on several factors, including whether Washington andEuropean capitals can cooperate more robustly to rebuild Iraq; whether Europeans perceive arenewed U.S. commitment to revive the Middle East peace process; and whether differences overMideast issues spill over into NATO or impede EU efforts to forge a deeper Union. This report willbe updated as events warrant. For more information, see CRS Report RL31339 , Iraq: U.S. RegimeChange Efforts and post-Saddam Governance ; CRS Issue Brief IB91137, The Middle East PeaceTalks ; CRS Report RL32048 , Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses ; CRS Issue Brief IB92075, Syria: U.S. Relations and Bilateral Issues ; and CRS Report RL31612(pdf) , European Counter-terroristEfforts: Political Will and Diverse Responses in the First Year after September 11 .