Great Britain, USA, USSR – Allies – Protect oil of the Middle East from Nazis – “oil is the lifeblood of the armies of WWII” 1940 – 63% of world’s oil from the USA only 5% from ME Why would the USA want to preserve their oil and use the oil in the Middle East in the future? – Increased importance of Saudi Arabia 20% of the world’s oils reserves are in SA World War II –

Cold War –

Cold War Era Cold War 1948 – 1991 United StatesVs.Soviet Union -spread democracy/capitalism and stop the spread of communism Overall Goal -spread communism and stop the spread of capitalism -gain allies and access to oil reserves Goal in the Middle East -gain allies and access to oil reserves

Cold War Era Countries that recently gained independence were feared to side with Soviet Union – Iran Elected Prime Minister (Mossadegh) in 1951 Nationalized oil Legitimate fear or ‘excuse’ to get involved?

1953 Iranian Coup Britain & US CIA involvement – Embargo on trade caused economic troubles – “Operation Ajax” False reports were planted in newspapers Violence occurred in the streets of Iran Shah overthrew Mossadegh – Received aid & military arms from US & Britain

Shah’s Rule of Iran Contradictory? – Liked many aspects of “modernism” Supported women’s rights Claimed to redistribute land from wealthy to farmers Receptive to Western policy ideas – Very authoritarian Islamic clergy’s power slowly taken away Created a one-party system Corruption

1979: Islamic Revolution in Iran Ideology: – Saw Western culture as a ‘plague’ – Traditional Islam was the only ‘liberator’ Ayatollah Khomeini – Began leading opposition against Shah in 1963 – Believed everyone & everything needed supervision by Islamic leaders, to ensure sticking to the laws of the faith

First Televised Revolution fxZ8 fxZ8

Islamic Revolution: Groups Involved Political Groups – Marxist Focused on social-class issues Islamic Groups – Followers of Khomeini Focused on cultural issues

Results of Revolution Ties between Iran & West completely severed – Shah’s Westernization reversed Women were ordered to wear head coverings and full body cloaks gangs of religious zealots roamed the streets enforcing new laws – Ayatollah rule not what was expected

Results of Revolution Some revolutionaries now seen as enemies – Even people who supported the revolution but not Kohmeini were imprisoned, beaten & killed Shah & wife left Iran in January, 1979 October 1979: Shah comes to US for cancer treatment – Hostage situation, lead by student group – Failed rescue attempt killed 8 Americans – Shah died in July 1980, hostages not released until January 1981 – – –

Hostage Situation What would you have done?! – If you were the President of the U.S. during the hostage crisis, what would you do? What are the options?

Iran-Iraq War 1980: Iran-Iraq war begins – Iraq attacks Iran – WHY?

Iraq Attacked Iran to prevent being attacked – Weak after revolution – Shia leader of Iran made Hussein nervous Lead by Saddam Hussein – Militaristic dictator – 65% of population: Shia – 32% of population: Sunni Including Saddam Hussein Openly oppressed Shia

Iran-Iraq War Who did the US support? – Why? War lasted 8 years (Sept July 1988) – Over 1 million casualties, cost $500 million for each country, neither side claimed victory

Impact of War on Iran What did the Persepolis video tell us about the war’s impact on Iranian society? – Air strikes – Strict laws – Food shortages

Impact of War on Iraq Increased ‘personality cult’ of Hussein Civilian rations Terror campaign – Fear people into supporting, fighting well – 300 Iraqi army officers killed for ‘poor performance’ in battle – Use of force against Kurds in northern Iraq Chemical weapon use, 1988 US response?

Iraq 1990: Hussein accused Kuwait of taking oil that belonged to Iraq – Iraqi army invades Kuwait US & International forces fight back – Operation Desert Storm, January 1991 – Defeated Iraqi forces, cease-fire declared in February

Results of Persian Gulf War Iraqi government remained – UN imposed economic sanctions, limiting sale of oil, created no-fly zones – UN conducted regular inspections to prevent production of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons

U.S. Relations in Middle East Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, & others felt US presence was necessary for protection – 15,000 US troops stayed Reminder to Arab world of weaknesses Angered a lot of people in Middle East

U.S. Relations in Middle East March 2003: Iraq Invasion – Operation Iraqi Freedom Bush administration believed Hussein had WMD and would use it against U.S. Did everyone in U.S. support invasion? – Hussein’s government toppled in weeks WMDs?

Who lead the attacks on 9/11? Al-Qaeda Osama Bin Laden

Founded Al-Qaeda, 1989 – Multinational, stateless – Sunni Islamic Militant Group – Dedicated to opposing non- Islamic governments with force, removing Western influence from Muslim world – Roots back to Soviet War in Afghanistan Mujahideen

Why Afghanistan? Taliban – Islamic fundamentalist political group – Ruled Afghanistan from Only recognized as legitimate political leader in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates – After Bin Laden moved to Afghanistan in 1996, groups became allies Al-Qaeda began training Taliban army forces

History of Violence 1993: World Trade Center Attack – Truck bomb was intended to destroy foundation, bringing both towers to the ground – 6 were killed; ~1,000 injured 1996: Attempt at Clinton assassination – Bomb was planted under bridge; found by secret service 1998: US Embassies in Africa were bombed – 300 deaths

History of Violence 1998: Central Intelligence Counterterrorism Center reported Al-Qaeda prepping for attack on US using hijacked planes Sept. 11, 2001: Attack on the World Trade Center – 2,977 people killed

After 9/11 October 2001: Invade Afghanistan – Operation Enduring Freedom