Israel the Gulf War Al Queda Afghanistan and

Israel, the Gulf War, Al Queda, Afghanistan, and Iraq

Islam World Religions • a religion in which the people found the word of God (Allah) through the prophet Mohamed. The Koran is the book that teaches about Islam. People who practice Islam are known as Muslims. Islam is mostly found in the Middle East and also in Indonesia. Over 1 Billion people are Muslim.

Ancient History • Muslims, Jews, and Christians have not always gotten along well • The Crusades- 1098 -1291 A. D. Christians invaded Holy Land four times in an attempt to regain important religious sites. Fighting was bloody and cruelty was common

More Recent History • Jews were murdered in the millions during World War 2 (1939 -1945). Many left Europe and settled in an area that belonged to them thousands of years ago. Israel. The U. S. and Britain helped them. The Arab Muslims that lived there did not want thousands of Jews moving into the area and a series of wars broke out.

Modern Israel • Israel won against the Arabs and took possession of Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip- many Arabs stayed in these areas but were not treated as well as Jews. • Some Arabs began terrorist strikes against Jewish civilian targets in Israel, Jews respond with military strikes • Cycle of violence continues 1967 - present • U. S. has given billions of dollars to Israel in foreign aid

• Saddam Hussein attacked and captured oil-rich Kuwait. • Kuwait is a U. S. ally • United Nations military attacked Iraqi troops in Kuwait and pushed them back to Iraq • Saddam was not removed from power

Saddam Hussein • Came to power in 1978 as a result of killing off his opponents • Brutal dictator that killed thousands of his own people but also kept Iraq united • Captured in 2003 and given over to his own country.

• Born into a wealthy Saudi Arabian family but hated the corrupt Saudi Gov’t • Went to fight against Russians when they invaded Afghanistan in 1979. He worked for and was trained by the CIA

• OBL wanted Arabs to deal with Saddam in 1991. When U. S. led forces stayed in the Muslim holy lands of Saudi Arabia he claimed it was an insult to Islam. He saw the war of 1991 as another crusade. • The U. S. has supported Israel and has been friendly with corrupt governments like Saudi Arabia. • He feels our society is godless and immoral

• 1998 - U. S. Embassies in Kenya, Tanzania hit by bombs. At least 200 killed. • 2000 -U. S. S. Cole (a Navy gunboat) is hit by a small boat with a bomb. Several sailors killed. • Sept. 11 th, 2001 - hijacked airliners attack targets in U. S.

September 11, 2001 • Four Planes were hijacked. • Two went to the Twin Towers. • One went to the Pentagon. • One crashed into a Pennsylvanian field.

• OBL and other terrorists were hiding in Af. with the Taliban • The Taliban was the Islamic fundamentalist government of Af. • U. S. troops attack and defeat Taliban in 2001 but OBL was not found. U. S. is still fighting in Af. • OBL was obtained and killed May 1 st 2011

Why? • U. S. believed Iraq had Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD’s) and might be giving them out to terrorists (none were found) • Saddam is a ruthless dictator and a threat to the world • Iraq is harboring members of Al Queda (never was proven) • Bush used concept of pre-emptive strike to justify attack

Road to War • Saddam was supposed to allow WMD inspections as a result of 1991 war but he eventually refused to allow them • U. S. asked UN to use military force against Iraq but it did not. • U. S. decided to attack Iraq mostly on it’s own.

The War • U. S. forces took Iraq with little resistance at first • Bush declares end to major combat operations May 2003

• Some Iraqis and Al Queda members began using terrorism in Iraq to harass U. S. forces. Road side bombs, suicide bombings. At this time, 4, 000 U. S. soldiers have been killed and thousands of Iraqis died as well.

Iraq has adopted a more democratic system And U. S. Troops have almost completely left Did Iraq really have WMDs?