Current Issues and Background

Current and Recent Conflicts

War in Afghanistan 2001-2014

War in Iraq 2003-2010

Arab Spring 2010-2011

War in Syria 2011-

War in Afghanistan

Began as a result of 9/11 attacksSeptember 11, 2001Four hijacked planes in the U.S.Two crashed into World Trade

CenterOne crashed into PentagonOne crashed in a field in

Pennsylvania

War in Afghanistan

U.S. (with support from the United Nations) attacked the Taliban, the government of Afghanistan, for allowing Osama bin Laden to operate Al Qaeda terrorist training camps there

Afghanistan Background

• Once controlled by Persians and Mongols

•In 19th century, British and Russia tried to control

• Independence from Britain in 1919, ruled by kings until 1973

• Republic (unstable) until 1978

Capital is Kabul

Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan

Dec. 1979—Soviets invaded to establish/ support communist government –never established firm control

Rebels called mujahadeen, backed by the US, fought against the communists

Soviets left in 1988; civil war continued

Mujahadeen organized into Taliban, controlled country from 1994-2001

Background to War in Afghanistan

World Trade Center bombing (1993) Bomb in parking garage of WTC, 6 people killed

U.S. Embassy Attacks in Kenya & Tanzania (1998) Bombs went off at embassies within 15 minutes of each other; planned by Osama bin Laden

U.S.S. Cole (2000) US Navy ship was attacked by suicide bombers in a boat in Yemen; 17 sailors killed; planned by Al Qaeda under direction of Osama bin Laden

Operation Enduring Freedom

The Taliban was overthrown and a new democratic government established.

War formally ended in December 2014. Some troops remain (noncombat).

2356 US troops have died in this conflict as of January 19, 2015

Why did the war in Afghanistan last so long?

After the overthrow of the Taliban , the U.S. remained to help support elected Afghan government until it was strong enough to provide security alone

The U.S. remained to fight insurgents (rebels or terrorists) who were trying to overthrow the elected government; insurgents include members of the Taliban

War in Iraq

Began in 2003 as a result of the threat of weapons of mass destruction

Saddam Hussein was the president of Iraq

Background conflict

1980-88 War between Iran and Iraq. The U.S. supported Iraq.

Saddam Hussein used chemical weapons against the Kurds, an ethnic minority in northern Iraq

Persian Gulf War, 1991—The U.S. and coalition forces went to war against Iraq after Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. The war lasted 6 weeks.

Weapons of Mass DestructionAs part of the peace agreement, Saddam

Hussein had to allow the United Nations to conduct inspections for Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Saddam Hussein tried to avoid these inspections regularly for 12 years Nuclear weapons—Iraq was not accused of having

these Biological weapons (ex.—anthrax or other deadly

diseases that could be used against millions of people) Chemical weapons (ex.—mustard gas or cyanide--

chemicals that cause severe burns, suffocation, death)

Operation Iraqi Freedom

The U.S. attacked Iraq in 2003 because of the belief that Saddam Hussein was hiding weapons of mass destruction.

No such weapons have ever been found.

Baghdad is the capital of

Iraq.

Outcomes in Iraq Saddam Hussein fled from Baghdad. He was

later found and arrested, put on trial for crimes against his own people (killing 148 Shiites), found guilty and hanged.

Iraq had its first democratic elections in 2005.

In summer 2007, civil war erupted between Sunnis and Shi’ites, both trying to control Iraq.

President Bush sent thousands more troops to try to end the violence in Iraq and establish peace and security. Most people agree the troop surge was successful in ending the civil war.

Outcomes in Iraq

US combat operations officially ended in August 2010

A full withdrawal took place in December 2011. About 200 U.S. military personnel stayed in Baghdad as members of the U.S. diplomatic mission.

Renewed threat: last summer Kurds provided military aid to minorities being targeted by ISIS (Islamic State). The US supported this effort with airstrikes against ISIS—the first US military combat action in Iraq since 2010

4,489 U.S. troops have died in Iraq, 2003-14.

Terrorism

Definition: Violent, illegal acts designed to intimidate civilians, influence government policy by intimidation, or affect the conduct of government by mass destruction or assassination

Munich Olympics (1972) Palestinian terrorists entered Israeli athletes’ barracks; killed two, and took 9 hostages. All nine were eventually killed.

US Embassy, Iran (1979) Islamic revolutionaries, led by Ayatollah Khomeini, attacked US embassy. They kept 52 hostages for 444 days.

Terrorist Organizations

Palestine Liberation Organization

Hamas Hezbollah Al Qaeda ISIS Boko

Haram

Guantanamo Bay Prison

Prison on US Naval Base in Cuba for terrorists from Afghanistan and Iraq

Status of prisoners debated: criminals, prisoners of war, ???

Prisoners initially held without trial or lawyers; US officials accused of cruel interrogation techniques

Of the 780 people who have been detained at the United States military prison at Guantánamo, 649 have been transferred to other countries and 122 remain. In addition, nine detainees died while in custody.

Arab Spring

Starting in Tunisia in Dec. 2010, and then Egypt, uprisings led to the overthrow of dictators in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen in 2011.

Major protests also took place in Bahrain, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, and Sudan

Characterized by civil protests and the use of social media; governments have frequently reacted with violence, leading to violence by protesters as well

Civil War in Syria

Rebels oppose oppression by Bashir al-Assad

Bashir al-Assad is accused of using chemical weapons against rebels and civilians

Growing role played by ISIS Conflict is spilling into Iraq Refugees have fled to

Turkey, Lebanon and other neighboring countries. Inside Syria, 6.5 million are displaced

Refugees

People who flee their countries due to war, natural disaster, political oppression

Neighboring countries often can’t handle large numbers of refugees and therefore house them in refugee camps

Examples: Palestinians, Afghanistan, Central American children (?), Syria

Religious Conflict

Iraq: Sunnis vs. Shiites

Israel: Jewish vs. Muslim (Palestinians)

India/Pakistan: Hindu vs. Muslim

US: Muslim vs. Christian?

OIL

OPEC: Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

Venezuela, Ecuador, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Libya, Algeria, Nigeria, Angola

Cartel united to control oil production and oil prices throughout the world

Implications in Iran-Iraq War, Persian Gulf War, and US-Iraq war

Developed/Developing Nations

Division between wealthy and poor nations

Characterized by gaps in health care, life expectancy, education, industry, technology, food production, environmental health, population stability, human rights