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Middle East Conflicts

Middle East Conflicts. Iraq Iran 1980 Soviet Afghan 1980 Persian Gulf War 1991 Taliban – US invasion 2001 US invasion of Iraq 2003. IRAQ Ottoman Empire Arab Saddam controls the gov’t = Sunni Muslim Ba’th Party - secular. IRAN Persian Empire Persians Shiite Muslim

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Middle East Conflicts

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  1. Middle East Conflicts Iraq Iran 1980 Soviet Afghan 1980 Persian Gulf War 1991 Taliban – US invasion 2001 US invasion of Iraq 2003

  2. IRAQ Ottoman Empire Arab Saddam controls the gov’t = Sunni Muslim Ba’th Party - secular IRAN Persian Empire Persians Shiite Muslim Fundamentalist Shiite gov’t under Ayatollah Khomeini Iran Iraq War 1980-88

  3. Iraq Iran War 1980 - 88 • 1979 – Saddam comes to power in Iraq • 1979-80 - Iranian Revolution • The US-backed Shah is out; Ayatollah in • Iranian Hostage Crisis (US diplomats taken hostage) • 1980 - Iraq invades Iran • Uses the excuse that SW Iran, which is mostly Arabs, rather be a part of Iraq not Iran • Really wanted control of Shatt al Arab

  4. Iraq Iran War 1980 - 88 • The US backed Iraq • We had US diplomats being held by the Iranian gov’t • Saddam uses chemical weapons on the Kurds – gasses entire villages in the north • Murders many Shiites in the south as a part of the war • After 8 years the UN intervenes and sets up a cease fire agreement • Both countries go back to pre war boundaries

  5. Soviet Afghan War 1980-88 • Soviets invade in an effort to support the PDPA(People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan), which is a Marxist party trying to control the country • Mujahideen rebels from the country side resist Soviet occupation • US backs the Mujahideen • Soviets were not prepared for the guerilla warfare of the Mujahideen (or US weapons) • over 15,000 Soviets died and 1 million Afghans died • Soviets withdraw 1988 amid pressure from home

  6. Persian Gulf War 1991 • Aug 1990 – Iraq invades Kuwait • After talks break down over oil production and debt repayment • Saddam declares Kuwait is the 19th province of Iraq • US & Saudis believe that Iraq will invade Saudi Arabia next due to their vast oil supplies • UN places economic sanctions in the form of a trade embargo on Iraq • Saudis asks Pres Bush for troop protection & he agrees = Operation Desert Shield

  7. Persian Gulf War 1991 • Saddam continues troop build up and ignores a UN resolution demanding him to withdraw from Kuwait • Jan 1991 – Congress approves war against Iraq • Feb 22 - UN demands that Iraq withdraw within 24 hours; if not, troops will be sent • Feb 23 – Saddam doesn’t withdraw

  8. Persian Gulf War 1991 • US ground troops sent in on Feb 24; known as Operation Desert Storm • It took 4 days to defeat Saddam • As the Iraqi army retreats, they set fire to all oil wells creating an environmental disaster that will be felt for years to come • Saddam uses this opportunity to crack down on Shiite and Kurds – more killed

  9. Persian Gulf War 1991 • Official cease fire signed on April 6th • US sets up no fly zones in the north and south to try and protect Kurds (north) and Shiites (south) – see map • Saddam is not ousted from power • The objective was to get him out of Kuwait not take him out of power • Bush did not want to deal with that mess! (taking a leader out of power)

  10. Taliban in Afghanistan (play video) • Who are the Taliban? • Students of Islamic Knowledge Movement (primarily Sunni Muslims) • A group of Mujahideen that formed during the Soviet occupation • How did they come to power? • After Soviets leave the communist gov’t fell to the Mujahideen • Too many warlords trying to take over = civil unrest • Taliban emerges as the strongest group & take control of Kabul in 1994

  11. Taliban in Afghanistan • Imposed very strict Islamic law • Men required to grow beards • Women couldn’t leave the house without a male relative escorting them • Public beatings for indiscretions • No TV, radio, internet or KITE FLYING! • Gave safe haven to well known terrorists • Can you say Osama bin Laden???

  12. Taliban – US invasion • Civil war breaks out due to harsh rule, famine, internal factions between warlords • Biggest threat to the Taliban was the Northern Alliance • 2001 Taliban kills N. Alliance leader • Sept 01 – US pressures Taliban to give up bin Laden and they refuse, so we invade! War on Terror begins (play video – “war on terror”) • US enlists the help of Northern Alliance (friendly mujahideen fighting against the Taliban) to try and find bin Laden

  13. No LUCK…bin Laden escapes! • But the US is successful in deposing the Taliban and installing a friendly regime • Hamid Karzai becomes acting President in 01 • Elections are held in 04 and 09 - Karzai wins • Taliban deposed, but not gone! • Taliban reemerge ‘09 – US refocuses the War on Terror to Afghanistan

  14. US War in Iraq 2003 • UNFINISHED BUSINESS!!! • War on Terror shifts focus to Iraq • US claims Iraq • Is a hub for terrorists including bin Laden • has WMD, which was not far fetched considering Saddam kicked out IAEA inspectors in the 1990’s • No evidence of either was ever found – blamed on bad intelligence • Most credible reason – Saddam was a brutal dictator that killed many of is people (Shiites & Kurds)

  15. US War in Iraq • US could not get the UN to back the war • “Coalition of the Willing” – 49 countries said they supported our efforts to take down Saddam • A multinational force led by the US invaded Iraq in March 2003 • Operation Iraqi Freedom • Only 4 of the 49 supplied troops for the invasion • UK, Poland, Australia, and Denmark

  16. US War in Iraq • Saddam was captured by US forces in Dec. 2003 • Put on trial by Iraqi judiciary, convicted, and hanged • Led to counter-insurgency – al Qaeda in Iraq • led by al-Zarqawi, who would later be killed by US troops • Responsible for most US & UK casualties – IED • Interim Iraqi government is created • Made up of Sunnis, Shiites, Kurds • Elections held in 2005 & 2010 • Suspected fraud in the 2010 elections lead to an outbreak of violence

  17. President TALIBANI Chief of military & Head of state Kurd, Sunni Muslim Pres since 2005; reelected 2010 Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki Head of Government Shiite Muslim (majority) Political party is Islamic oriented Financial support from Iran Iraqi & Leadership

  18. US Withdraw from Iraq • US War in Iraq very unpopular at home • The Taliban gain momentum in Afghanistan • Obama pledges US withdraw from Iraq starting in August 2010 • US troops leave Iraq, but many are redeployed to Afghanistan to face the increasing threat from the Taliban

  19. The Battle for Influence • US & NATO troops vs. Taliban • US & NATO trying to rebuild Afghan infrastructure and show farmers effective farming techniques • Taliban trying to convince farmers to grow poppies that will be used to make opium • Drugs funding terror (Sound familiar?)

  20. Fueling Terror – Poppy Farming

  21. “WE GOT HIM” • May 1, 2011 - US Navy Seals locate bin Laden living in Abbottabad, Pakistan • Bin Laden, surprised and unarmed, is shot in the head and chest. His body is dumped at see within 24 hours. • DOES THIS END THE JIHADIST WAR AGAINST THE WEST OR FUEL IT? • WILL THIS PUSH THE US TO WITHDRAW FROM AFGHANISTAN?

  22. How much did the Pakistani government/ military know about bin Laden’s whereabouts?

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