Today’s Warm Up

Turn in your homework.Answer on your warm up/exit ticket sheet:

In your opinion, can there/will there every be peace between Israel and Palestine? Briefly explain.

Conflicts in the Middle East

Today’s LEQ: How have regional issues contributed to conflicts in the Middle East?

Main Idea…

Over the last few decades major conflicts have erupted in the Middle East

Regional issues contributing to these conflicts: Conflict between Israel and its neighbors Growth of Islamism Disputes over natural resources

Growth of Islamism

Islamism = a movement to reorder gov’t and society according to Islamic laws Islamists believe Muslim countries

strayed away from the path of true Islam Anti-Western

Extremists have used violence to bring about the changes they want

Revolution in Iran

By the 1970s, Iran was modernized

The shah had close ties to Western governments and oil companies

Anti-Western Islamists opposed the shah

Revolution in Iran

Protests were led by Shiite religious leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini Sunni vs. Shiite Muslims – differ on who was

to lead the Muslim nation after the death of Muhammad

Sunni = majority (85%); Shiite = minority (15%)

By 1979, the shah fled Iran Iran became an Islamist republic with

Khomeini as its leader Enforced strict social and religious values

Iranian Hostage Crisis

In 1979, the shah went to the U.S. for medical treatment

Iranian revolutionaries took 66 Americans hostage and demanded the shah be returned to Iran for trial Held for over a year!

Conflict in Iraq

Saddam Hussein assumed control of Iraq in 1979 Supported secular government over sharia (rule by Islamic law)

Feared Khomeini would gain support from Iraq’s majority Shiite population and overthrow his regime

Also at odds with Iran over the Shatt al-Arab waterway

Iran-Iraq War In 1980, Iraq

(Saddam Hussein) attacked Iran

Iran was an enemy of U.S. b/c of hostage crisis; we supported Iraq

Turned into a war of attrition – 500,000 dead on both sides

Iran and Iraq agreed to a cease-fire in 1988; ends in stalemate

Happy Monday

Grab a textbook and turn to page 562-563

Start working on Iranian Revolution Document Based Investigation

Complete questions for Documents 1-4 (skip essay question)

Oil in the Middle East

Oil wealth allowed economic development but also major source of conflict Some governments used

oil revenues to build up military and threaten their neighbors

Led outside nations to become involved

Soviet-Afghan War

1978, Afghanistan in a civil war between Afghan communists and Islamists

Soviet Union feared overthrow of a friendly, communist neighbor and invaded

Rebel forces led by Osama bin Laden fought to take back control (armed by weapons from the U.S.)

By 1988, the Soviets left; series of civil wars ensued with the Taliban taking control by 1996

Persian Gulf War

Early 1990, Iraq deep in debt from Iran-Iraq War – largest creditor was Kuwait, which had huge oil reserves

Hussein accused Kuwait of drilling in Iraqi oil field & launched invasion in August 1990

Persian Gulf War

UN & U.S. intervened

War only lasted Jan. to Feb. of 1991.

Retreating Iraqi’s set fire to oil wells in Kuwait

War on Terror

After attacks on 9/11 Pres. Bush declared “Global War on Terror” Term to describe military, political,

diplomatic, and economic measures employed by U.S. and other allies against those committing terrorists acts

Unconventional conflict – no boundaries, specific enemy, or clear end

War on Terror – Invasion of Afghanistan

9/11 terror attacks linked to Al Qaeda who received aid and shelter from Taliban regime in Afghanistan

October 2001, U.S. and coalition forces invaded Afghanistan to capture bin Laden, destroy Al Qaeda, and overthrow the Taliban

War on Terror – Invasion of Afghanistan

Results? In May 2011, Bin Laden was found and killed

in Pakistan Taliban overthrown; Afghanistan had first

presidential election in 2004 Taliban still poses serious challenges for

newly established Afghan government Obama recently announced withdrawal of all

U.S. troops by 2014 Your opinion – Should we have invaded? What is

Afghanistan’s future?

War on Terror – Invasion of Iraq

In 2003, the U.S. suspected Iraq of hiding weapons of mass destruction that could be supplied to terrorist

Hussein failed to fully comply with UN search, so U.S.-led coalition invaded Iraq

War on Terror – Invasion of Iraq Results?

Invasion was extremely controversial – no ties to Al Qaeda or weapons of mass destruction found; support for George W. Bush and War on Terror declined

Hussein caught, tried, and executed in 2006 Constitutional government set up with universal

suffrage; most recent election was in 2010 U.S. troops were removed by December 2011

Your opinion – Should we have invaded? What is Iraq’s future?

Today’s Exit Ticket

Answer on your warm up/exit ticket sheet:

List and briefly describe three major sources of conflict in the Middle East Creation of Israel: Islamism: Oil: