History of the Modern Middle East The

History of the Modern Middle East

The Arab League Definition: an organization of 22 Middle Eastern and African nations where Arabic is the spoken language that promotes political, Additional Information: economic, cultural, and social relations • among members founded in 1945 • council of representatives from member states work to settle disputes peacefully • has had difficulty living up to goals

O. P. E. C. Definition: an association of 12 countries that depend heavily on oil exports for their incomes and work together to increase Additional Information: revenue • from oil exports. by Iran, founded in 1960 Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela • OPEC nations produce 40% of world’s oil • OPEC nations possess 70% of world’s oil

Saudi Arabia • Birthplace of Islam • Has the world’s largest amount of oil reserves and largest exporter of oil in the world • Government: Monarchy • Current Leader: King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz • Law Code: Sharia Law (strict Islamic law)

United Arab Emirates • UAE is a federation of 7 emirates (sovereign state) • Great Britain expand influence in 1800’s and early 1900’s • Independence in 1971 • Economy dominated by oil exports (70’s, 80’s, 90’s) • Economy hurt by 2008 -09 global Market • Economy: Open recession and banking crisis (growing economy) • Result: call of political & economic reforms • Government: constitutional

Iran-Iraq War • Began Sept. 22, 1980 when Iraqi President Saddam Hussein orders invasion of Iran • Ended Aug. 20, 1988 with a cease-fire agreement Additional Information: • longest war between two nations in the 1900’s • Reasons for the war: - Iraq thought Iran was in a weak state - Iraq (and other Arab nations) feared

Terrorism • Definition: The unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing Types: societies or govts. • State Sponsored • Domestic • Religious

Hamas • Definition: Islamist political party that currently governs the Gaza portion of the Palestinian territories Additional Information: • founded in 1987 during the 1 st Intifada • ideals are based on the principles of Islamic fundamentalism • carry out suicide attacks, rocket attacks, and guerilla warfare

Hezbollah • Definition: Shi’a Muslim group and political party based in Lebanon; known as a resistance movement of the Arab & Muslim Additional Information: world; currently hold seats in Lebanon’s • emerged in 1982 as result of 1 st government Lebanon War • carry out suicide attacks & rocket attacks against Israel • armed & funded by Iran and Syria

Al Qaeda • Definition: militant Islamist organization Additional Information: • created in 1988 in Saudi Arabia by Osama bin Laden • labeled as a terrorist group by the U. S. , U. N. , European Union, NATO, Australia, India, Japan, Russia, Turkey, South Korea, others • Goal: Jihad against the United

Map of major attacks attributed to al-Qaeda 1. The Pentagon, US – Sep 11, 2001 2. World Trade Center, US – Sep 11, 2001 3. Istanbul, Turkey – Nov 15, 2003; Nov 20, 2003 2 1 4. Aden, Yemen – Oct 12, 2000 5. Nairobi, Kenya – Aug 7, 1998 6. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – Aug 7, 1998 3 4 6 5

The Persian Gulf • Began in response to President Saddam War of Kuwait on Hussein and Iraq’s invasion Aug. 2, 1990 • U. N. coalition (Desert Shield) began bombing Jan. 17, 1991 • Coalition forces launched ground attack (Desert Storm) into Kuwait and Southern Iraq Additional Information: in February • first international crisis after • U. N. coalition ended military operations Feb. 28, 1991 Cold War • tested U. S. and Russia’s ability to cooperate • split Arab world between Iraq

Iran: Background • Known as Persia till 1935 (Reza Pahlavi becomes Shah-monarch-) • 1979 Iranian Revolution (Ayatollah Khomeini overthrows Shah and establishes a theocratic-Islamic- government) • 1979 Iranian Hostage Crisis (radical students storm • 1980 -1988 Iran-Iraq War (Saddam Tehran orders Iraqi U. S. embassy in Hussein and held 52 hostages forinvasion of Iran) 444 days) • 2005 -2012 Mahmoud

Iran: Current Issues

Iran: Current Issues

Afghanistan: Background • Problem: Afghanistan is “TRIBAL” - Created by the West placing various ethnic groups together as one nation Ethnic groups: 42% = Pashtun 4% = Aimak 27% = Tajik 3% = Turkmen 9% = Hazara 2% = Baloch Fact: 9% = Uzbek 4% = “-stan” means “land. Other of”

Afghanistan: History • 1747 Founded in modern Afghanistan in 1747 • Mid-1800’s British expand influence from Pakistan • Durand Line creates boundary between Afghanistan and Pakistan dividing Pashtuns. ands un L asht P • 1919 Afghanistan sovereign from British influence

Afghanistan: History • 1978 communist govt. created • Mujahideen fighters (Muslim Afghan opposition youth groups trained in Pakistan) • 1979 -1989 Soviet Union invades Afghanistan • 1989 -1996 • Afghan Civil War = Taliban seizes 1996 -2001 Taliban rule of control of Afghanistan • Taliban (Islamic militant political group created from • Strict Islamic law = Human rights religious schools for Afghan refugees in Pakistan) violations • Al-Qaeda based in Afghanistan since 1997 • 2001 Operation Enduring

The Iraq War • Began March 2003 when the U. S. and coalition of 39 nations launched an invasion of Iraq • Mid-April 2003 Saddam Hussein and Iraq’s govt. fell Operation Iraqi Freedom: • U. S. President George 2003 to August 2010 • May W. Bush ends combat operations May • 1, 2003 2004 Sunni violence against Shia Iraqi govt. and U. S. forces • 2007 U. S. adds troop build-up • Aug. 31, 2010 U. S. ends combat operations

Arab Spring Definition: revolutionary movement via civil uprising (protests)in the Arab world against their governments Additional Information: • Began in Tunisia on December 18, 2010 • Nations affected: Tunisia. Egypt, Yemen, Oman, Libya, Bahrain, Syria, Algeria, Jordan,