Cold War in the ME Scramble for post-colonial alignment Oil! Resources Non-alignment? Islam vs. the West: Communism as the Islamic alternative to American supported Israel? Military support…
Israeli/Palestinian Conflict Implications for America: Jewish lobby and political support for Israel Osama, ME terrorists, Arab countries’ condemnation of U.S. support for Israel Munich Need by American presidents to try and find a solution
Egyptian/Israeli Conflict
1967: Six Day’s War 1973: Yom Kippur War
Implications: 1973 Arab Oil Embargo and recession Success for Carter! Longest lasting peace in ME 1979: Camp David Peace Accords, Anwar Sadat (E), Jimmy Carter, Menachem Begin (I)
U.S.-Iranian Conflict
The Shah of Iran, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi Ayatollah Khomeini
Iranian Hostage Crisis Iranian Revolution
Iraq/Iran War Implications for the U.S.: Hostage crisis, on top of Vietnam, seen as failure of U.S. Foreign policy, U.S. exceptionalism, Carter admin Supported Sadaam Hussein of Iraq, against Iran in Iran/Iraq War Earned hatred of Iran, now trying to get nukes Iran has sponsored terrorism against American interests
Post Cold War Mess Post Cold War Implications: Terrorism as counter to uni-polar world Shiite vs. Sunni split Fundamentalism vs. moderates Future of Oil? Can Islam and Democracy co-exist?