The War in Afghanistan. By the mid 1990’s the extremist Taliban controlled most of Afghanistan,...
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Transcript of The War in Afghanistan. By the mid 1990’s the extremist Taliban controlled most of Afghanistan,...
By the mid 1990’s the extremist Taliban controlled most of
Afghanistan, they allowed al Qaeda to live there
9/11 attacks planned in Afghanistan
Global War on Terror
• US and NATO allies invaded Afghanistan on October 7, 2001
• “Operation Enduring Freedom”
3. Much of the fighting is done in remote,
mountainous regions that the Taliban know better than the US
Train the Afghan military
Global War on Terror• Then Iraq, March 20, 2003• “Operation Iraqi Freedom”
Three main reason for extending the war on Terror to Iraq:
1.It was believed the Iraq had WMDs
2.It was believed Saddam Hussein was supporting Osama bin Laden
3.Desire to spread democracy in the Middle East
Ethnic and Religious Groups in Iraq
Sunni Arabs Shi’a Arabs KurdsMinority in Iraq
(32-37%)
Minority in Iran
Majority in Iraq
(60-65%)
Majority in Iran
Separate ethnic group (15-20%)
Most are Sunni, but identify with Kurds over Sunni
Majority in the world and in Saudi Arabia
Minority in the world and in Saudi Arabia
Want to form their own country – “Kurdistan”
Had power under Saddam Hussein
Discriminated against by Saddam Hussein
Attacked by Saddam Hussein
Mostly in the central-west part of Iraq where there is little oil
Mostly in the southeast part of Iraq where there is oil
Mostly in the northern part of Iraq where there is oil
Sectarian Violence
• Definition- fighting between sects (recognized divisions) within a specific religion or ideology
Initiated by Sunnis afraid of losing power in Iraq • Carried out Guerrilla warfare - raids, ambushes,
suicide bombers, Improvised Explosive Devices (IED’s or roadside bombs), etc…
• Coordinated attacks with Al Qaeda in Iraq-an organization created AFTER the US invasion
Creating a Democratic Iraq
• Initially Iraq was run by the US government who hand-picked Iraqi leaders to work with (Coalition Provisional Authority). Goal was to create a stable Iraq until elections could be held.
• Elections held January 2005. Shias won, Sunnis boycotted the election.
• Iraqi constitution passed September 2005• In 2006, the US begins to hand over control to
the Iraqi government.
February 2007: Launch of security surge • Amid growing US concerns about
continuing sectarian violence in Iraq the US institutes a new policy know as the “The Surge” sending an additional 30,000 troops to Iraq, most going to the area around Baghdad
Security Surge
Sunni AwakeningLate 2007: Sunnis switch sides• After 4 years of Sunnis (along with
Al Qaeda in Iraq) fighting against the US and Shia-dominated Iraqi army Sunnis switched sides and began allying with the US against Al-Qaeda in Iraq – 80,000 Sunni Muslims joined the Iraqi
army in exchange for money from the U.S.
• Sunnis also begin participating in the government
Security Pact (Status of Forces)
Late 2008: Agreement between the US and Iraq on when US forces with be withdrawn– US forces left cities by 2009– All U.S. forces removed from Iraq by mid 2011
Problems still remaining• Economic
– High unemployment rates – Lack of infrastructure (Roads, power lines, schools) – Most of the well educated people have fled the
country– Struggle over oil-rich regions
• Political– Different sects still don’t get along with each other
• Continuing violence (though at a much lower level than 4 years ago)