The air strikes by Western forces on Libya have triggered speculation that the West's real intention is to get hold of the country's vast oil resources. Although France and the United Kingdom led the "action against Libya", the United States has played the dominant role in the air campaign.

Some argue that since the oil from the Middle East and North Africa meets only a part of the US energy demand, Washington has few reasons to target Libya. The US' overall strategy for the Middle East may indicate that it is swaying - that is, trying to balance its conflicting concerns of its moral values and real self-interest.

The Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attack has made the US pay extra-special attention to the Middle East. Over the past decade, it has opened up anti-terrorism battlefronts in Afghanistan and Iraq, and tried to prop up pro-US governments and help bring about "democratic" reform in the region to defend its national interests.