Transcript Morocco Police

WORLD HISTORY D
Iran and the Islamic Revolution, The Iran-Iraq
War, and The First Gulf War
ORIGIN OF ISLAM
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610 A.D. = Muhammad
(Messenger of God)
Had overpowering revelation
of the words of God  Quran
(recitation) + 1st Islamic
community
Muslims believe in
1.
The Quran
2.
The prophet’s hadith
(interpretations)
3.
The Sunnah – customs and
practices believed to be the
will of God
4.
The 5 pillars of Islam
SUNNI MUSLIM AND SHIITE MUSLIM
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Sunnis (Sunnites) = majority of Muslims in the
world
Majority in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Yemen,
Pakistan, Indonesia, Turkey, Algeria, Morocco,
Tunisia
Believe in the hadiths of those capable of the job
(the first four caliphs/successors of Muhammad)
Shiites (Shia) = 10-15% of all Muslims
Majority in Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, and Azerbaijan
Believe in leadership based on the bloodline of
Muhammad – Ali (4th caliphs) and 12 Imams
(direct descendents)
IRAN AND THE ISLAMIST REVOLUTION
Early 20th century = Britain and
Russia’s spheres of influence
 Natural gas and oil reserves
 1921: Reza Khan Pahlavi= Shah
 Reforms and modernization –
- Reorganization of the military,
modern weapons and training
- Limitation to power of the clergy
- Replaced Sharia laws with
Westernized judicial system
- Economy – comprehensive system of
monopolies + rapid industrialization
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IRAN AND THE ISLAMIST REVOLUTION
(CONT.)
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WWII – Mohammad Reza Pahlavi = Shah
Continued reforms and modernization
Less secure hold on power
1951: Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadeq
Nationalization of Iranian oil industry
‘throughout its territory and without exception… in order to ensure
the happiness and prosperity of the Iranian people and to
safeguard world peace’
Western powers (UK and US) = plot to depose
Mossadeq + restored Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Domestic repression and reliance on Western powers
White Revolution (1963) – radical westernization
program
IRAN AND THE ISLAMIST REVOLUTION
(CONT.)
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Problems of the White Revolution
Massive military spending
Rural-Urban migration (Teheran: 1 million  5 million)
The gap between rich and poor widened
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Oppositions to the Shah
Impoverished middle class
Merchants
Clergy
Intellectuals
Graduates
The increasing number of poor
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Mosques and Islam became the central means for mobilization
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IRAN AND THE ISLAMIST REVOLUTION
(CONT.)
Black Friday (Sept. 1978) =
demonstrations (2000 casualties)
 Shapour Bakhtiar = PM
 Shah (cancer)  exile
 Bakhtiar allowed entry of Ayatollah
Khomeini
- Cleric and philosophy teacher
- Formed coalition to overthrow the shah
 Islamic Revolution (1979)  Islamic
Republic of Iran
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IRAN AND THE ISLAMIST REVOLUTION
(CONT.)
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Islamic Republic of Iran
Wholesale purge of former political, economic and cultural
leaders
Government = Theocracy
Own version of secret police
Control of media
Women’s rights
Against all foreign powers
IRAN-IRAQ WAR
IRAQ
 Majority = Shiites
 Sunnis = dominated the
political and economic life
 Saddam Hussein
(dictatorship)
- Wanted the Shatt-el-Arab
waterway
- Iranian Revolution =
Saddam’s chance
 September 1980: Iraq 
war against Islamic Iran
IRAN-IRAQ WAR (CONT.)
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US supported Iraq
International arms sale embargo to Iran
Strengthened the Iranian government
Iranian’s jihad (religious duty of Muslims)
June 1981: Mujaheddin e-Khalq (MEK) –failed
attempt to seize power  government = more
repressive and gained more control
US involvement
‘Arms-for Hostages’ Operation
Sold arms to Iran via Israel in exchange for hostages
held in Lebanon
IRAN-IRAQ WAR (CONT.)
Iran-Iraq Armistice
 1987: Saddam agreed to accept a
UN resolution calling for a ceasefire
 Aug 1990: Iraq announced troops
withdrawal and Iran announced
an end to hostilities with Iraq
 Saddam’s decision
- Kurdish minority insurgency in
Iraq
- End of war = suppressed the
Kurds (50,000-10,000 deaths)
THE FIRST GULF WAR
1st conflict of the post-Cold War
environment
 IRAQ
- After 8 years of war with Iran
- $80 billion of debt (war and
related destruction)
- $208 billion military spending
- Lower oil revenues
- 1.5 million soldiers returning
home (Majority = Shiite Muslims)
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THE FIRST GULF WAR (CONT.)
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Decision to invade Kuwait
Small but oil-rich neighbor of Iraq
Could negate debt
Delay demobilization of soldiers
Hegemony over the Gulf – Iraq can influence oil
prices and quota ‘
Post-WWII British decline in strength
THE FIRST GULF WAR (CONT.)
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2 Aug. 1990: Saddam launched a
full-scale invasion of Kuwait,
occupying the entire country and
proclaiming its formal annexation to
Iraq.
Industrialized countries = concerned
UN Security Council
Worldwide trade embargo
Operation Desert Shield (Britain,
France, Egypt, Syria, and Saudi
Arabia)
 Operation Desert Storm
27 Feb 1991: Liberation of Kuwait
and cease-fire
THE FIRST GULF WAR (CONT.)
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Why did the West keep
Saddam Hussein?!?
UN only authorized for the
liberation of Kuwait
Would have left Iran =
dominant power
Shiites Muslim in Iraq may
join with Iran
Kurds would have gained
autonomous state 
threaten Turkey (US ally)