Iraq A History

Background Created at the end of WWI –Treaty of Versailles –Combined 3 ethic groups Kurds (North) Sunni’s (Central) Shia (South)

What’s the difference? Shi’ite When Muhammad died  believed Islams leader should follow his blood line Portraiture main decoration 10% of worlds Muslims Sunni When Muhammad died  believed Islams leader should chosen Blamed for death of Muhammad’s Nephew Calligraphy (quotes from Koran) main decoration 90% of worlds Muslims

Sunni’s/ Shi’ites Sunni Central Iraq Little oil or water 20% population Has controlled the area for over 1200 years Lost power with removal of Saddam Hussein Shi’ite Southern Iraq Great wealth of oil 60% of population Close connection with Iran –Iran is a Shi’ite nation Political social vengeance

Kurds –Northern Iraq –17% of population –Little Oil Wealth –Mostly Sunni Muslims Different ethnic group Different religious traditions –Persecuted by Saddam –Wants Separate State

Government British established a Monarchy 1958: The Kings assassination brings a military dictatorship 1968: Ba’ath Party takes control by assassination –Secularism –Pan-Arabism –Socialism

Saddam Hussein Gained power in Ba’ath Party as an assassin 2 nd in command when Ba’ath Party took control Became Dictator in 1979 Authoritarian control: –Define:

Iran- Iraq War Saddam uses Chemical weapons –Even against the Kurds in his own nation 1 million people die Saddam has 4 th largest Army in the world –Low on money from war

Aug. 1990: Iraq invades Kuwait Invades Kuwait/ places troops on Said Arabian border Saudi Arabia asks U.N. for protection –U.N. –led by U.S.- sent troops to Saudi Arabia –President Bush sets Jan as deadline for Iraq to leave Kuwait Iraq ignores the date

Persian Gulf War Jan. 16 th 1991: U.S. begins bombing forces in Kuwait and in Iraq Feb. 23- U.N. forces invade Kuwait March 3 Iraq signs cease fire Iraq agrees to: –No biological/ chemical/ nuclear weapons –Open to U.N. weapons inspections –No fly zones (to protect Kurdish, Shia Iraqi’s)