Transcript The Middle East: Iraq

The Middle East: Iraq
Why is the U.S. Involved in Iraq?
• Region must be stable: U.S. & world
economies depend on the oil that is an
abundant resource there.
Saddam Hussein
A ruthless dictator.
* 1991 Iraq invades Kuwait.
* Hussein kills thousands of ethnic Kurds
who live in Northern Iraq. (1980’s)
Using biological weapons – gas.
• 2003 – It was thought Iraq possessed
“weapons of mass destruction” and was
close to developing a nuclear weapon.
• 2003 – it was believed Iraq was supporting
and funding terrorist organizations.
Contemporary Issues in Iraq
• U.S. investment in trillions of dollars and
thousands of injured and killed soldiers in two
wars: 1991 & 2003.
• How to establish and maintain a functioning
democracy and stable government in the
midst of tribal/ethnic conflicts that have
existed for many, many years.
• How to broker peace between Sunni & Shiite
Muslims and ethnic Kurds in the North.
• Oil! Access and wealth distribution to Iraqi’s.
U.S. Foreign Policy : Nation Building
• Assist countries with emerging democracies.
• Five Keys to this strategy
Keys to a successful modern
democracy.
• Popular sovereignty – The core principal of
any democracy. The citizenry as a whole is the
ultimate authority of the nation. A nations
citizens together hold power over all elected
government officials.
• Free and fair elections: It represents the will of
the people.
• Universal suffrage: The right to vote to all
citizens of a certain age.
Keys to Democracy continued.
Rule of Law: The principal of equal treatment
before the law. All citizens are subject to the
same laws in the same way. Money, power,
status, have no bearing. (ideally!)
Freedom of expression, information, and
association. These freedoms enable citizens to
speak, move, educate, and organize themselves
without interference from the government.
Iraq: What to watch for
• Any stability or sustainability of a democracy.
• U.S. troops/advisors, continued presence and
at what levels.
• A U.S. And Iran partnership in Iraq?
• Sunni and Shiite civil war with influences from
terrorists organizations – ISIS, Al-Queda.
• Theocratic form of government evolves.
• Who controls vast regions of oil fields!
Shiites Muslims: minority branch of
Islam, but 60% of Iraq’s population.
Sunni Muslims: majority branch
worldwide, minority in Iraq , but
dominated the politics of the region
for years.
Insurgents: Anti U.S. fighters wishing
to overthrow American backed
government.
Middle East Part ll. The Ottoman
Empire.
Middle East ruled by Ottoman empire
• Turkish influence in area since the 13th
century! (Turkey remains today)
• After WW l Middle East divided up
between France & England
• One independent Arab state created:
Saudi Arabia on the Saudi peninsula.
• Iraq under influence of the English.
Saudi Arabia & Oil
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Total annual production: Rank 1st
Total world reserves: Rank 1st
Southern 1/3 of Arabian peninsula ?
World’s largest continuous sand body,
250,000 square miles of sand!
• Called the “empty quarter”
The Empty Quarter
United Arab Emirates
Iran
Iran: Persia prior to 1935
• A theocratic republic. (Shiite Muslim)
• 1979: held U.S. hostages (444 days)
overthrew U.S. friendly regime- The Shah
of Iran.
• Muslim extremists take over. No formal
relations by U.S. gov. since this time.
• Currently seeking nuclear power
(weapons) Grave concern by world.
• May help U.S. in Iraq?
Ayatollah Khomeini
Persian Gulf: Key Strategic area.
Middle East: Israel
U.S. Foreign Policy in this region is
governed by three major interests.
• Support of Israel (1948)
• Oil: Lifeblood of world economy -2/3
of proven oil reserves in Persian Gulf
region.
• Anti Terrorism (prior to 1991: anti
communism).
U.S. is a major ally and supporter of
the country of Israel. Why ?
• Cultural and religious ties.
• A moral obligation after the holocaust
(WW ll.)
• Israeli government is the only true
democracy in the Middle East.
Jerusalem
Jerusalem: Home to three major
religions.
• Christianity
• Islam
• Judaism
ISRAEL
• Established May 14th, 1948.
• Many Arabs refuse to recognize an
independent country.
• Before 1948: area was called
Palestine and inhabited by Arabs.
• Jews had controlled this territory in
biblical times, and believe this land is
rightfully theirs , bestowed by God.
The Holocaust
After W.W. ll
• Many nations believed the Jews
needed their own homeland.
• After WW ll , U.S., Britain, France,
supported this issue.
• Since 1948, Arabs from Syria, Jordan,
Iraq, Egypt, and Lebanon, have
fought in six major wars, and
countless skirmishes.
Israeli Air force
Israeli Wars
• 1967 – Arab countries (Syria , Jordan ,
Egypt ) suffer humiliating defeat from
Israel. “The six day War”.
Yom Kippur War: 1973
• Egypt & Syria; a surprise attack.
U.S. Foreign aid
Israeli Hotspots: Gaza Strip
The West bank
Lebanon