ROBERT I. BROUGHAM

The Israeli’s had earlier been urged by America to give control of the Suez Canal back to Egypt. The Israeli’s held control of the Canal so that the Egyptians could not cut off ships from reaching Israel. The US had in exchange guaranteed that Israel would have free and unfettered access and to the sea. Egyptian dictator Gamal Abdul Nasser had just closed the Red Sea straights to the Israeli’s and the US was working on rolling that action back. However, some of the American oil companies privately were urging President Johnson to reneg on our commitments to our ally in order to ensure the profits of the oil companies. Johnson did not abandon Israel. ARAMCO made more money than ever. America was not finished in the Middle East.

The Israeli’s had earlier been urged by America to give control of the Suez Canal back to Egypt. The Israeli’s held control of the Canal so that the Egyptians could not cut off ships from reaching Israel. The US had in exchange guaranteed that Israel would have free and unfettered access and to the sea. Egyptian dictator Gamal Abdul Nasser had just closed the Red Sea straights to the Israeli’s and the US was working on rolling that action back. However, some of the American oil companies privately were urging President Johnson to reneg on our commitments to our ally in order to ensure the profits of the oil companies. Johnson did not abandon Israel. ARAMCO made more money than ever. America was not finished in the Middle East.