Recent Conflicts in SW Asia

Iran/Iraq War• 1980’s conflict—8 years

• Conflict between Sunni and Shiite groups

• Iran had a Islamic Revolution—became hardcore Islamists

• Iraq took over some land and didn’t want a revolution spreading to their country

• Ended in draw—US gave $ and aid to Iraq (Saddam Hussein)

Persian Gulf War

• Iraq (S. Hussein) invaded Kuwait in 1990 to take control of oil

• US and UN push them out of Kuwait, wells set on fire and huge losses of $

• Sanctions place on Iraq—no selling oil until stopping WMD’s—this hurt civilians

2003 US Invasion of Iraq• US believed Saddam had

weapons of mass destruction—invaded as part of the war on terrorism

• Saddam was captured, tried and executed

• Country is in chaos and civil war

• We are trying to rebuild, but it has become a breeding ground for terrorists

Terrorism• Small groups of extremists

trying to disrupt life with use of fear and violence

• Goals are to eliminate Israel, create Islamic states, get rid of western influence

• US targeted because of support of Israel

• Bombings, rocket attacks, hostage taking, sniper attacks

• Target civilians to get media attention

• Not just in SW Asia