Related Issues

Guantanamo Bay Prison Prison on US Naval Base in Cuba for terrorists from Afghanistan and Iraq Status of prisoners debated: criminals, prisoners of war, ??? Prisoners initially held without trial or lawyers; US officials accused of cruel interrogation techniques

Guantanamo Controversy Continues Of the 779 people who have been detained at the United States military prison at Guantánamo, 621 have been transferred to other countries and 149 remain. In addition, nine detainees died while in custody. http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/national/usstatesterritoriesandpossessions/guantanamobaynavalbasecuba/index.html http://projects.nytimes.com/guantanamo/

Patriot Act Controversial law passed after 9/11 attacks and renewed for four year in 2011 Allows government broader power for surveillance to identify and stop terrorists Supporters give examples of terrorist attacks that have been prevented Opponents argue Americans’ civil liberties have been violated

Arab Spring Starting in Tunisia in Dec. 2010, and then Egypt, uprisings led to the overthrow of dictators in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen in 2011. Major protests also took place in Bahrain, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, and Sudan Characterized by civil protests and the use of social media; governments have frequently reacted with violence, leading to violence by protesters as well

Conflicts in Middle East Civil War in Syria Israelis vs. Palestinians in Israel 1948 Formation of Israel Decades of War Yassir Arafat Palestinian Liberation Organization Hamas Gaza/West Bank

Refugees People who flee their countries due to war, natural disaster, political oppression Neighboring countries often can’t handle large numbers of refugees and therefore house them in refugee camps Examples: Palestinians, Afghanistan, Central American children (?)

Religious Conflict Iraq: Sunnis vs. Shiites Israel: Jewish vs. Muslim (Palestinians) India/Pakistan: Hindu vs. Muslim US: Muslim vs. Christian?

OIL OPEC: Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries Venezuela, Ecuador, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Libya, Algeria, Nigeria, Angola Cartel united to control oil production and oil prices throughout the world Implications in Iran-Iraq War, Persian Gulf War, and US-Iraq war

Developed/Developing Nations Division between wealthy and poor nations Characterized by gaps in health care, life expectancy, education, industry, technology, food production, environmental health, population stability, human rights, . . .