Micro Strategy of the U.S. in the Middle East: A Sense for Interaction of Soft Power and Hard Power

Soft Power theory is a definition of power which many governments have used it consciously or unconsciously long time before its exposure in states relations. However the importance of this theory is because of its new definition by which we can study behaviors and the manner of governments in the domain of international affairs.
This is to say that the contrast exists in this theory on power concept, could be considered as a scale for the governments facing with interests and aspirations that they have defined it before for themselves.
Now, if we consider the United States main strategy in the Middle East with this view and the U.S. soft and hard power, we can find three special periods since new century up to now. During these three periods, gradually the importance of soft power has been increased against the hard power.
The reason for the hard power declines is because of the limitations that U.S. has had in the Middle East from the beginning of his presence in this region. Therefore, the U.S. is left with no choice but to use soft power as a tool to overcome the hard power limitations.