1

THE MODERN MIDDLE EASTCh. 31 Sec. 4

2

3

Diversity Brings ChallengesKurds divided when Europeans drew borders Lived Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey today

1991 Kurds set up their own government in northern Iraq with military support from Britain and US

4

5

Israel is Founded Britain supported a Jewish national

homeland Holocaust gave Jews worldwide support

1947 UN drew up a plan to divide Palestine into an Arab and a Jewish state Jews agreed/Arabs rejected it

1948 Britain withdrew from Palestine- Jews proclaimed the land Independent state of Israel

Arabs started the first of several wars Israel attracted Jews from all over the

world

6

7

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Due to oil fields Iran attracted attention

from British, Soviets, and Americans Backed by Western powers Shah

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi faced nationalist opponent Mohammad Mosaddeq (1951 elected Prime Minister)

1953 US helped Shah Pahlavi oust Mosaddeq- Outraged many Iranians

With American support, shah held power for the next 25 years

8

Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi

Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddeq

9

Islam Confronts Modernization

To strengthen Iran and quiet unrest- shah used oil wealth to build industries Redistributed land to peasants, extended rights to

women Shah’s secret police terrorized critics and sent many

into exile 1970s shah’s foes rallied behind Ayatollah

Ruhollah Khomeini He condemned Western influence & accused shah of

breaking Islamic law Drove the shah into exile Proclaimed Iran an Islamic republic- Theocracy

10

VS

Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini

11

Oil, Religion, and Threats to Stability

Saudi Arabia has the world’s largest oil reserve Also included Islam’s Holy Land

Joined OPEC oil embargo in 1973, then returned to relations with the West

To build support, Royal family backed fundamentalist religious leaders Protested relations with the Western world

Opponents of the kingdom adopted violent (terrorist) tactics

Kuwait, Qatar, & UAE face similar threats

12

CONFLICTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Chapter 32 Section 3

13

Arabs and Israelis Fight Over Land United Nations Partition Plan formed Israel 1948 As Arab nations fought against Israel- new

nation expanded Took territories- West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the

Gaza Strip, Sinai Peninsula, and Golan Heights 1960s- Formation of the Palestinian Liberation

Organization (PLO) headed by Yasir Arafat PLO called for destruction of Israel

Palestinians opposed Israel through intifadas Very harsh fighting back and forth

14

15

Seeking Peace US, UN, and others pushed for peace Golda Meir- Israel’s first female Prime Minister

tried to make negotiated peace when Palestine attacked

1979- Israel and Egypt signed a Peace agreement Israel returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt

Talks between Israel and Syria failed over the issues of: Security Recognition of Israel Control of Golan Heights

16

17

Seeking Peace Continued 1993 Yasir Arafat and Israel Prime Minister

Yitzhak Rabin signed Oslo Accord Planned to give Palestinians in Gaza Strip and West

Bank limited self rule under Palestinian Authority PLO recognized Israel and agreed to stop terrorism Yasir Arafat assumed responsibility of Palestinian

Authority 2000- radical Palestinian groups stepped up

terrorist attacks Palestinian suicide bombers and Israeli reprisals

brought fear and bitterness

18

19

Overcoming Obstacles to Peace

Despite distrust and fear, other obstacles remained: Land claims- many Palestinians want right to settle

anywhere in Israel “Right of Return” Future of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories Jerusalem- home of religious sites to different religions Many Arabs were unwilling to recognize Israel’s right

to exist 2000s- US devised a new plan “Road Map” to

peace- called for two states of Israel and democratic Palestine to exist side by side

20

Overcoming Obstacles to Peace 2004 Israel planned to withdraw

settlements from Gaza Plan angered some Israelis and did not

satisfy Palestinians 2004-Yasir Arafat died- democratically

elected successor pledged to stop Palestinian terrorist attacks 2005 Israel released hundred of Palestinian

prisoners

21

Civil War Ravages Lebanon The government depended on a delicate balance

among Arab Christians, Sunni Muslims, Shiite Muslims, and Druze (Related to Islam) Christians held most power because they had the largest

group at independence, but Palestinian Muslims fled to Lebanon when Israel formed and outnumbered the Christians

1975 religious tension plunged Lebanon into civil war Israel invaded southern Lebanon to stop cross-border

attacks Syria occupied eastern Lebanon to secure its borders

1990- civil war ended

22

23

Iraq’s Long History of Conflict Conflict in Iraq partly due to oil wealth and

ethnic diversity- during Cold War Iraq’s oil was fought over by SU and US Began to develop close ties with SU

1979- Saddam Hussein seized power in Iraq and ruled as a dictator

1980- Hussein tried to take advantage of Islamic revolution in Iran Triggered a prolonged war Hussein used chemical weapons on Kurdish

civilians

24

25

The Gulf War Brings Defeat 1990 Iraq invaded Kuwait to control its vast oil field

and gain greater access to the Persian Gulf US said Hussein’s move was illegal but also a

threat to oil resources of the Persian Gulf region President George H.W. Bush formed a coalition of

Western and Middle Eastern nations- launched a counterattack against Iraqi forces 1991

1991 Gulf War led by US operated under the UN banner- quickly liberated Kuwait and crushed Iraqis

Despite defeat- Hussein remain in power

26

27

Defeat of Saddam Hussein US, Britain, and France had to set up no-fly

zones to protect Kurds and Shiites UN tried to keep Hussein from using oil wealth to

build Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) Hussein disregarded no-fly zones and did not

work with the UN inspectors 2002- US and Britain charged Hussein had WMD

US President George W. Bush accused Iraqi government of supporting terrorists

2003- Iraq War- coalition forces toppled Saddam Hussein and occupied the country

28

Iraq Tries to Rebuild Efforts to rebuild were limited by guerilla

attacks and suicide bombings Insurgents targeted foreigners and Iraqi

citizens- especially those cooperating with foreign troops

2005 National elections held for first time in history

Shiite majority won control of government- faced attacks by different insurgent groups

Ethnic and religious divisions remained obstacles

29

SECURITY IN A DANGEROUS WORLD

Chapter 34 Section 4

30

The Power of Modern Weapons 1968 Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty

signed by US/SU/60 other countries By 2000 187 nations in total had signed Most globally accepted arms control

agreement Four nations have not signed- India,

Pakistan, Israel, and cuba Get around it by buying/selling nuclear

technology or materials but not actual weapons

North Korea and Iran are suspected of buying

31

Problem of Russia With the calming down of Cold War Russia did

not have enough finances to dispose of nuclear weapons

Fear that some Russians sold or smuggled weapons or sold intel

US and Europe have increased funding to help Russia secure its weapons

1990s US and Russia have signed multiple treaties assuring both countries security- both have backed away from these treaties since due to national security

32

Weapons of Mass Destruction WMDs include:

Nuclear: first used by US in WWII Biological: disease carrying organisms;

smallpox or toxins to be released into the air or water supplies

Chemical: chemical toxins such as nerve gas or mustard gas; first used in WWI

2000s they took a new danger- terrorist groups began to use them for their own purposes

33

Terrorism Threaten Global Security Terrorism- use of violence to achieve

political goals Examples: Bombing buildings;

slaughtering civilians, police or soldiers; assassinating political leaders

Generally terrorist have not been able to achieve their political goals with violence- just cause terrible damage and generate widespread fear

Particular terrorist groups have operated for decades all around the world

34

Terrorism and the Middle East Middle East has become training ground

and source for terrorism One reason- Western colonial domination in

the region Establishment of state of Israel sparked

anger Lebanese formed Hezbollah after Israel

invaded Lebanon Designated a terrorist group by the US and

others

35

Islamic Fundamentalism Religious belief that society should be governed

by Islamic law Developed out of a nationalist movement to oust

Europeans from the Middle East More tension grew with the creation of Israel

Was originally encouraged by a lack of basic resources in many Arab nations Made Israel and the US scapegoats for their problems

In some nations Islamic fundamentalist groups have turned to terrorism to attempt to gain power and take over their government

36

Rise of al Qaeda Means “the Base” in Arabis Leader was Osama bin Laden- son of rich Saudi

Arabian family Bin Laden helped warlords in Afghanistan drive

out Soviets in 1980s (US Supported Bin Laden- Cold War mentality)

1990s he mobilized al Qaeda to expel American business interests, political influence, and military power from Saudi Arabia Expanded to expel American power from entire

Middle East

37

Rise of al Qaeda continued Early attacks on American interests took

place in Asia and Africa Terrorists blew up two American embassies

in East Africa 1998 Damaged an American Naval vessel at port

on Arabian peninsula in 2000 Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks- Twin

Towers hit and the Pentagon More than 2,500 people were killed in the

attacks

38

The War on Terrorism 9/11 attacks started a global

shake-up Governments around the world

questioned their allies, their enemies, and their abilities to protect their citizens

George W. Bush declared war on Terrorism

39

War in Afghanistan and Iraq Osama bin Laden and other al Qaeda leaders

lived in Afghanistan in 2001 Government of that country- Islamic

fundamentalist group called Taliban- refused to surrender the terrorists

US responded by attacking Afghanistan government with the help of Afghani warlords and used military bases in neighboring Pakistan

Two years later- Bush asked Congress to declare war on Iraq- Saddam was secretly making WMDs No weapons were found- bitterly debated war in US

40

New Security Measures Take Shape Security became a top priority Creation of Department of Homeland

Security More rigorous security measures at

airports and public buildings US stepped up pressure on other

countries not to develop WMDs President Bush encouraged Democracy

as the best deterrent of terrorist groups