Republic of Iraq Revised by: Kristie Benton 2013.
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Transcript of Republic of Iraq Revised by: Kristie Benton 2013.
Republic of Iraq
Revised by: Kristie Benton 2013
Map of Middle Eastern Countries
Where is Iraq?
Geography• Continent: SW Asia (Middle East)• Landforms: Desert, mountains• Waterways: Persian Gulf, Tigris
& Euphrates Rivers• Famous Landmarks:
Mesopotamia, also called “Fertile Crescent”
• Climate: Desert
Desert Insects
Mesopotamia means “land between the
rivers“
Waterways
Lies between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers,
also called “Fertile Crescent”
• What happens when you plant crops in the same soil repeatedly for years?
• Desertification - the process by which fertile land becomes a desert as a result of drought, deforestation, or overuse of agriculture.
Human-Environment Interactions
• From earliest times Iraq was known as Mesopotamia—the land between the rivers. An advanced civilization existed by 4000 B.C. It was the location of the ancient city of Babylon. Since then, many wars were fought causing governmental powers to change hands several times in its history.
• In World War I, Britain occupied most of Mesopotamia. The British renamed the area Iraq and recognized it as a kingdom in 1922. In 1932, Iraq achieved full independence as a monarchy.
• Iraq became a charter member of the Arab League in 1945, and Iraqi troops took part in the Arab invasion of Israel in 1948.
• The leaders of Iraq were assassinated in 1958 in a revolution that ended the monarchy and brought to power the military. The new leader reversed the monarchy's pro-Western policies and began to form alliances with Communist countries. A leading producer of oil in the world, Iraq used its oil revenues to develop one of the strongest military forces in the region.
Ancient History
• Iraq was known as Mesopotamia - the land between the rivers, advanced civilization existed by 4,000 B.C., had ancient city of Babylon.
Ancient History - Notes
• In 1979, a new president named Saddam Hussein took charge. He became a dictator, whose regime developed an international reputation for human rights abuses and terrorism.
• War with Iran - A long-standing territorial dispute over control of the waterway between Iraq and Iran broke into full-scale war on Sept. 20, 1980, when Iraq invaded western Iran. The eight-year war cost the lives of an estimated 1.5 million people and finally ended in a cease-fire in 1988. Poison gas was used by both Iran and Iraq.
Modern History
• In the summer of 1990, dictator Hussein asserted territorial claims on Kuwait and Iraqi troops invaded.
• On Jan. 18, 1991, UN forces launched the Persian Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm), liberating Kuwait in less than a week.
• During the Persian Gulf War, an alliance of countries, including the U.S., conquered Iraq.
• During this time, an Afghan group known as the Taliban took control of Afghanistan and other Middle Eastern countries.
Modern History
September. 11, 2001
• On September 11, 2001, Middle Eastern terrorist groups crashed 2 planes into the World Trade Center buildings in down town New York killing over 3,000 people. Two other planes had targets, one hit the Pentagon, and the other went down over Pennsylvania.
• This was the worst foreign attack on U.S. soil since Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.
Modern History• After the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks, President Bush began calling
for a “regime change” in Iraq, describing the nation as part of an “axis of evil.”
• Iraq's alleged links to terrorism, and Saddam Hussein's power and human rights abuses were the major reasons for war.
• Hostilities continued, and on March 17, 2003, President Bush delivered an ultimatum to Saddam Hussein to leave the country within 48 hours or face war.
Iraq War
• On March 20th, the war against Iraq began.• In the fall of 2003, President Bush described Iraq as
“the central front” in the war against terrorism. • Continued instability in 2003 kept 140,000 American
troops as well as 11,000 British troops in Iraq.
• By April 9, U.S. forces took control of the capital, signaling the collapse of Saddam Hussein's regime. Although the war had been officially declared over on May 1, 2003, Iraq remained enveloped in violence and chaos. Iraqis began protesting almost immediately against the delay in self-rule and the absence of a timetable to end the U.S. occupation.
Even though many people are very poor, don’t think that there’s no money in Iraq…
Some of Saddam’s palaces
• Saddam Hussein's Tikrit Presidential Site. Photographs Taken April, 2003 as US forces entered during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
• Palace Main Gate: Standing over 100 feet tall, this is the only building readily visible. Most of the buildings are hidden from public view behind 12 foot walls surrounding the compound.
• There are over 100 individual buildings inside the Presidential Site. The main building is the largest, measuring over 1,000 feet in length.
• Twin Saddam Statues at Main Gate. Combat engineers from the 4th Infantry Division demolished these statues in the summer of 2003.
• The metal was melted down and used to build the 4th ID memorial, now located at Fort Hood, TX.
Iraq War
• The dictatorship of Saddam Hussein collapsed on April 9, 2003, after U.S. and British forces invaded the country.
• After eight months of searching, the U.S. military captured Saddam Hussein on Dec 13, 2003.
• With the help of U.S. military forces aiding in security, sovereignty (government free from external control) was returned to Iraq on June 28, 2004.
• Hussein was convicted of war crimes by an Iraqi court and executed on December 30, 2006
Saddam Hussein: President & prime minister of Iraq (1979- 2003).
Iraq War
• Gained independence in 1932, revolution led to military takeover. Iraq fought against Iran, then invaded Kuwait starting the Persian Gulf War (U.S. won).
• On Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists attacked the US, Iraq War began in 2003. Hussein captured then executed in 2006.
• US troops occupied Iraq helping them set up a new gov’t. Violence and terrorism still common.
Modern History - Notes
Past Governments:• Monarchy• Military rulers• Dictator: Saddam Hussein led country in human
rights abuses and terrorism
Government Today: US troops helping to set up new democratic gov’t• President: Jalal Talabani (2005)• Prime Minister: Nuri al-Maliki (2006)
Government
Present Day Iraq• Most Iraqis expect to face at least several more years of violence
and instability.• The general plan is to create a central government in Baghdad that
shares power with the Kurdish, Sunni and Shiite regions.• Iraqis fear there are many more years of fighting before it is decided
how power will be divided.
An Iraqi sheep herder goes about his daily life as tanks move down the road.
Almost a year after the war, which brought liberation to Iraqis, there is widespread violence and an escalation of violence against women.
Four Iraqi Schoolchildren Killed in Bombing
U.S. Military Successes in Iraq• When the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division arrived in Iraq's
once infamous "Triangle of Death," violence there and in neighboring Baghdad was so intense that hundreds were dying every day and the country was virtually in a state of civil war. Now as the division heads home at the end of May, the region stretching south from Baghdad and across central Iraq has become a showcase for what the U.S. military hoped to achieve in Iraq.
• "When we first arrived here 15 months ago there was nothing but violence, al-Qaida, Shiite extremists," the division commander Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch said. There is pressure on Iraqi leaders to make movement on political goals, such as reconciliation between the country's Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds.
American Troops try to keep the peace.
• The U.S. military says violence across Iraq has reached its lowest level in more than four years after successes this year in breaking al-Qaida's and other Sunni insurgents' hold in Iraq. "I just don't see sectarian violence anymore," Lynch said. "In our area, people kept talking about Sunni versus Shiite. I don't see that now. Everywhere I go, people identify themselves as Iraqi. That is their identification —
“I am not Shiite, I'm not Sunni, I'm Iraqi.”
• Furthermore, military successes in Iraq have nearly crippled al-Qaeda's ability to produce battlefield propaganda, hampering for now its ability to recruit fighters and raise money, the U.S. military and analysts say.
• Looking ahead, ,Gen. Keane, a retired four-star general in the U.S. Army still considers a robust American ground force "the secret to success" in Iraq. "It is a myth for people to assert that by pulling away from the Iraqis that somehow allows them to do things that they would not do because of our presence. That is wrong. It is our presence that is helping Iraqis move forward.”
U.S Soldiers also aid in humanitarian efforts for the people of Iraq.
War requires a high cost• Since the war in Iraq began (March 19,
2003), 4,245 U.S. soldiers have died and more than 100,000 have been wounded. Iraqi deaths are over 1,000,000.
• 1st Lt. Tim Cunningham graduated from West Point and joined the Army in May 2006. The infantry officer completed U.S. Army Ranger school and earned a Parachutist Badge. He was serving his first tour of duty in Iraq along with his older brother. Tim was killed while trying to save a fellow soldier under his command. He is survived by his parents, wife, and 1 yr. old daughter.
He was 26.
Dressed in formal military uniform, 1st Lt. l Tim
Cunningham poses with President George W. Bush following graduation from West Point in 2006. The former Alvin resident was killed in Iraq on
April 23, 2008.
"If I could sum up Tim's life, it would be that he lived and died all out for others," his mother wrote. His pastor said, "He loved his family, his country, his fellow soldiers and his God, He died as he lived, giving himself for others. I am very grateful I had the privilege of knowing him."
Economy
• Monetary Unit: U.S. dollar • Population: 31 million • Capital City: Baghdad (5 mil)• Industries: Agriculture, Oil
OPEC• Iraq Exports $65 billion in crude oil (84%). It is a founding member of
OPEC: • Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries• OPEC is an organization, created at the Baghdad Conference in 1960, by
five Founding Members including Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. They were later joined by nine other countries.
• OPEC's mission is to stabilize oil markets and secure a regular supply of petroleum and a fair price for consumers.
• More than ¾ of the world's oil reserves are located in OPEC Member Countries, with the bulk in the Middle East, amounting to 72% of the OPEC total. OPEC's oil reserves currently stand at well above 1,000 billion barrels. There are 42 gallons in a barrel.
• Literacy rate: recently improved from 40% to 78%
• Languages: Arabic (official), Kurdish
• Arab - ethnic group in North Africa & Middle East
Culture
Culture
Religion: • Islam or Muslim 97%
– two types include Shiite 60% and Sunni 37%
• Mosque – Muslim place of worship
Muslim Beliefs• Muslims worship a god called Allah. They
follow the teachings of the prophet Muhammad.
• They follow the Pillars of Islam which include: – praying five times a day facing Mecca
(their holy city)– Fasting (refraining from food and drink)
during the month of Ramadan– Making a pilgrimage to Mecca at least
once in their life.
Holidays:• Baghdad Liberation Day (April 9) – celebrates when the
US troops finally conquered Baghdad and captured Saddam Hussein during the Iraq War in 2003
• Ramadan (July-Aug) – time to purify & refocus on religious ideas
• Iraqi Independence Day (Oct 3) – celebrates independence from Great Britain in 1932 when Iraq became its own country
• Islamic New Year (Nov 26)
Culture
• Food: Mezza (salad), Kebab, lamb, falafels, pita bread, dates• Sports: Soccer, basketball, kickboxing• London 2012 Olympics – The Year of the Woman:
– 1st time all Olympic teams included female athletes– 1st year female athletes were permitted to compete from
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, & Brunei– 1st Iraqi female flag bearer at the opening ceremonies
Culture
