---
title: "U.S. Goal in the Middle East: Keeping Oil Prices Low"
description: "Two-thirds of the public say keeping oil prices low should be a top priority for the U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East."
date: "2011-04-19"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2011/04/19/u-s-goal-in-the-middle-east-keeping-oil-prices-low/"
---

# U.S. Goal in the Middle East: Keeping Oil Prices Low

Fully 67% of Americans say that keeping oil prices low should be a very important priority for U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. Another 23% say keeping oil prices low should be a somewhat important priority, while just 9% say it should be not too important (6%) or not at all important (3%). Three-quarters of Republicans (75%) say keeping oil prices low should be a very important goal for U.S. policy in the region, compared with 65% of Democrats and 63% of independents. Keeping oil prices low is viewed as very important by more of those with low incomes (77% of those with family incomes of less than $30,000) than those with higher incomes (57% of those with incomes of $75,000 or more). However, an equal proportion of Americans (67%) say preventing attacks on civilians should be a very important U.S. goal in the Middle East, while far more say preventing the spread of terrorism should be a very important goal (81%). But far fewer rateencouraging democracy (42%) or helping to protect Israel (39%) asvery important priorities for U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. [Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/pubs/1950/poll-fewer-see-goal-libya-policy-goals-middle-east-terrorism-oil-democracy-israel)