Figure 1-4.-Middle East and Southwest operation. Asia area of support when operating outside the range of land- base aircraft. Second, logistics support is generally supplied by their merchant fleet vice their navy. Middle East and Southwest Asia The Middle East and Southwest Asia (fig. 1-4) area of operation includes northeast Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and the area of Asia bordering the Persian Gulf. The large geographic area of the region provides for extremes of topography and climate. It has mountains higher than 24,000 feet and deserts below sea level. Temperatures range from 130°F or more to below freezing. This region has many different cultural, ethnic, and religious groups. At present six major languages and hundreds of dialects are spoken in that region. The region and people have a history of conflict dating back to the Sumarians and the ancient city of Ur in southern Babylonia (southern Iraq). CHOKE POINTS. —The Middle East and Southwest Asia are the principal sources of oil for the industrial countries. Located in the Persian Gulf region is 55 percent of the world’s known oil reserves. Oil from this area becomes more important as the use of oil grows and the world’s reserves decrease. Hostile countries could use the Strait of Gibraltar or the Suez Canal as choke points. That would disrupt international shipping between the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean or between the oil-rich gulf states and the rest of the world. About 10 percent of the world’s sea trade passes through the Suez Canal at the choke point of Babel Mandeb. Most of the Persian Gulf oil passes through the choke point at the Strait of Hormuz. Persian Gulf states are expanding overland oil pipe routes to lessen the importance of commerce through the Straits of Hormuz. The overland oil pipes will connect to terminals out- side the Persian Gulf. POSSIBLE ADVERSARIES. —The United States’ major goals in this region are to provide stability and unrestricted seaborne commerce and to ensure Western access to regional oil supplies. The United States also has strong ties to Israel and is committed to ensuring it remains strong and independent. Recent examples of the willingness of the United States to commit assets to the region include ship escorts from 1987 to 1988 during the Iran-Iraq war. In August 1990 the United States committed a substantial naval force to the area in support of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The goal of these operations was to deter Iraq from attacking Saudi Arabia and to convince Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait. Total force commitment to Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm included 6 carrier battle groups and 450,000 combat personnel. CONTROL OF SHIPPING. —U.S. naval presence in the Middle East and Southwest Asia includes the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea, naval units of the Sixth and Seventh Fleets in the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf, and U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces. During peace- time our forces in the Mediterranean consist of 1 or 2 aircraft carriers, with roughly 100 embarked aircraft, or a battleship; supporting cruisers, destroyers, and frigates; amphibious ships; supply, fuel, and service ships; and nuclear sub- marines. The  Sixth  Fleet  also  includes  a 2,000-member Marine Expeditionary Unit (special operations capable). USCENTCOM naval forces in the region, under Commander Middle East Forces, routinely include a command ship and four combatants. Additional forces available for USCENTCOM include 5 Army divisions and 2 brigades; 1 Marine Expeditionary Force (1 division and air wing); 21 Air Force tactical fighter squadrons;    B-52 bombers; 3 carrier battle groups; 1 battleship surface action group; and 5 maritime patrol aircraft squadrons. 1-8