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