Current Problems in the Middle East

Conflicts and WarsCultural Issues

Lesson #7

What was happening in Iran in 1980s?

THREE EVENTS in IRAN, 19791.Shah overthrown2.Islamic Revolution3.American Hostages

The Shah of IranDictator of Iran up to 1979Iran was modernizingBut…

HE WAS A DICTATOR!

Conservative Religious people did not like the fast modern changes

The Shah of IranWhy we liked him

Ruthless dictatorKilled protestorsCreated instability

Pro-WesternWanted to modernizeFriendly to USAMore into gender equity

Why we didn’t like him

The Islamic Revolution in IranJanuary, 1979Shah overthrown by a combination of two groups1. Conservatives, who hated the modernization2. Modernists, who hated his dictatorial waysTwo weeks later, Ayatollah became supreme leader

American Hostage CrisisUSA refused to recognize the revolutionIranian students stormed the US embassy52 Americans captured – held hostage 444 DaysAll diplomatic ties were cut off by new Iranian governmentAmericans were LIVID

The New Iran, post 1979

Became an Islamic dictatorship

Women must be covered

click

Meanwhile… in Iraq…

Iraq also had a shift in leadership• General Saddam

Hussein • Military coup 1979• New government ran

by dictator Saddam• Enormously powerful• Repressive• Immediately attacked

Iran

Iran-Iraq War

1980-1988Iraq invaded Iran

REASONS:1. Saddam saw Iran

in chaos 2. Arabs vs. Persians3. Control oil4. Control Gulf

American RoleAMERICAN GOALS:• Openly support Iraq• Keep the new

dictatorships fighting• Secretly support Iran

– Iran-Contra sale of weapons

War ended 1989No clear winner1 million Iranian deathsIraq lost billions of $$

Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait1990 – new war, new enemyIraq suddenly invaded KuwaitReasons:• Kuwait was stealing oil

from Iraq• Kuwait was land that

should be Iraq• Kuwait was not supportive

enough in Iran-Iraq War• Kuwait drove down price

of oil – Hurt Iraqi economyclick

Know as “The Gulf War” (1989-1990)• Iraq invaded Kuwait• Kuwait asked for our help• Saudi Arabia asked for our

protection • US demanded Iraq get out• Iraq refused• USA took a hard line

against Iraq– Al Qaida disgusted that

USA was “invading” region

Describe the picture

What you think Saddam is trying to show is happening?

What actually is happening

American Response• Operation Desert Shield• 500,000 Americans sent to Saudi Arabia (to protect those Saudi oil fields, and prepare invasion of Iraq)• 37 nation coalition• Demand: get out of Kuwait

Operation Desert Shield (1989-1990)

• US built coalition of nations (support)

• US shifted 500,000 troops to Saudi Arabia– To protect oil

• Islamists angered by American meddling

Operation Desert Storm• American invasion of

Kuwait• Reasons:

– Iraq was HORRIBLE to Kuwaitis

– Iraq could control oil market if it owned Kuwait

• Expectation: months of horrible fighting, American deaths

American victory• Almost no American

casualties• Iraqi army surrendered

to anyone• Iraq was humiliated

• Islamists hated that Americans didn’t leave

Gen Norman Schwarzkopf

New problem: TERRORISM1990s:Things seemed to be all calmThen… 9-11American was back at war1. Al Qaeda in Afghanistan2. Saddam in IraqAMERICANS WERE ANGRY AT MIDDLE EAST

New War: Global War on Terror

GOALS1. Find terrorists2. Deny terrorists funds3. Destroy terrorist

networks

(GWOT)

Two wars1. Afghanistan (2001-present)

– Goal: Find those responsible for 9-11– Dismantle terrorist groups responsible for 9-11– Help create stability in Middle East

2. Iraq (2003-2012)– Eliminate terrorist support structure– Remove Saddam Hussein– Help create a stable, lawful Iraqi government

NEW GENERATION OF WAR

America fights back

GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR1. Operation Enduring Freedom2. Operation Iraqi Freedom

Operation Iraqi Freedom• Saddam was supporting

terrorists• Saddam may have been

creating WMD• Tons of chemical

weapons disappeared• Invasion into Iraq 2003• Saddam was to be

replaced with a democratic government

Goal: remove Saddam

Replace him with a democratic government

Purpose in Iraq• Remove Saddam Hussein• He had been supporting

terrorists• He was building forces

back up after Iraq War

Success in Iraq• Problem: recreate a

democratic government• First election in 2005 –

formed new government– Women voted– Protected “real” elections

• First real election in January 2010

Purpose in Afghanistan• Remove Al Qaeda

terrorists• Taliban government

fought our efforts• New goal: remove Taliban

government

• US Troops to leave in 2014

Other Modern Issuesin the Middle East

Rack and stack

Choose the most pressing three issuesExplain which you chose each of the threeCreate a solution to each of the three issues

Arab-Israeli Crisis

Arab-Israeli Crisis

• Israel is always on the defensive

• Terrorist strikes• Threats from neighboring

countries• USA sends Billions of $$ to

help keep the peace

Oil

Oil• USA totally dependent on oil for all

industry, factories, electricity, heating, and, yes, for gas in the car

• Most oil comes from the Middle East• Middle East could dictate price of oil

just by decreasing supply

Extremists (Islamists)

Extremists

• Religious leaders sometimes encourage extreme behavior

• Mobs often chant “death to America!”

• With enough $$ and power, another 9-11 could happen

• We are still THERE, in need of oil from their home turf

Disparity of

Wealth

Disparity of Wealth

• A few people live VERY well• Most people live in Third-world

poverty and filth• Most people lack any real

education• Is there hope for future for the

poor?

Disparity of Education

Disparity of education

• Education is the key to progress• Only the most wealthy get a decent

education• Most of the poor can’t afford

education, and can’t afford to lose farm hands

• Will they ever get a chance? How?

Iranian Nuclear program

A nuclear Iran

• Iran is still an official enemy of USA• They are trying to build a nuclear

weapon• They HATE Israel more than US• Should be try to stop them? How?

Instability(civil wars)

Instability - wars

• Current threat: ISIS• Wars cause more poverty and

inequality• Wars can benefit some people• Wars breed hatred• Wars create refugees