Arab Gulf States Six States- Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE & Oman.

Arab States of the Persian Gulf All significant revenues from oil and gas & low populations (except for S. Arabia) The Arab states share a regional culture. All six states are hereditary monarchies. (Bahrain & Kuwait have legislatures that are elected.)

Oil Reserves by Country

Allies with the U.S. President Obama & King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. The U.S. helped the Kuwaitis during the Persian Gulf War! The U.S. has good relations with all of the Arab Gulf States.

Modern Beautiful Cities Oil wealth has allowed most of the Monarch/Leaders invest in infrastructure, and build modern cities in these countries

Dubai, UAE

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Manama, Bahrain

Kuwait City

Why no Arab Spring? There are three reasons for the Gulf states’ staying power: Governments here don’t derive their power from fear and brutality; The nations have little history of political activism; Oil wealth allows the regimes to effectively buy popular support. Finally, oil wealth has allowed governments to shower their subjects with perks such as universal health care, tax-free living, scholarships for study abroad, and generous cash gifts.

Wars & Conflicts near the Arab States? What are the important wars or conflicts that the U.S. has been involved with as well?

Saddam Hussein took power of Iraq in 1979

Causes – long- standing disputes over territory; Hussein wanted to stop Iran’s support of Iraqi Shiites; Iraq invaded Iran Iran-Iraq War

Effects – U.S. supported Iraq because of Iran’s Islamic fundamentalist gov’t; 8 years long; over 1 million died; No clear winner led to U.N. cease fire; Huge debt

Causes – Huge debt from Iran-Iraq War; Kuwait had oil, larger route to Persian Gulf & was part of Iraq in Ottoman Empire; Iraq invaded Kuwait Persian Gulf War 1990

Effects – U.S. established a trade embargo; U.S.-led UN coalition removed Iraq from Kuwait (Jan-Feb 1991); U.S. left Iraq;

UN Security Council (UNSC) required Iraq to destroy weapons of mass destruction & long-range missiles & to allow UN inspections.

Causes - Iraq would not allow full inspections, violating the treaty from Persian Gulf War Operation Iraqi Freedom

Effects - As a result of non-compliance and reports that Iraq had WMD (weapons of Mass Destruction), the U.S. invaded Iraq in March 2003

Iraq’s Future Saddam Hussein was captured and brought to trial, found guilty of crimes against his own people, and hanged U.S. has tried to help establish a stable democratic government

The last U.S. combat brigade has left As Iraqi Security Forces take responsibility for securing their country, U.S. troops will move to an advise-and-assist role All U.S. troops left Iraq by the end of 2011 However, they had to return in summer 2014 WHY?