Ms. Susan M. Pojer Horace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY

The Topography of Iraq

Ethnic Groups in Iraq  Worldwide only 10-15% of Muslims are Shiite.  However, in Iraq, Shiite’s are the majority ethnicity.  Kurds- Sunni Muslims that speak Kurdish and originate from Iran  In Iraq the Shiite led government discriminates against the Sunni Kurds

Ethnic Groups in Iraq What do you notice about the distribution of ethnic groups in Iraq?

Shiite/Sunni Split- VideoVideo  Original split over who should rightfully succeed Muhammad  Decades after Muhammad’s death the Shiite leaders were killed by the Sunni’s, this was the root of the hostilities between the two sides  Over time their practices and beliefs have drifted further apart

Oil Fields in Iraq What do you notice about the location of oil fields in Iraq

Influence of Oil  As the world became more dependent on oil, Iraq became richer which made anyone who controlled the government of Iraq rich.  The Baath, a Sunni political group, led by Saddam Hussein captured all the oil fields and made many Sunni’s rich

A Young Saddam Hussein ( ?) Saddam’s identity card when he was 10 years old.  Born in Tikrit.  Peasant family with influential army relatives.  Tribal society.  Joined Sunni Baath Party at 20.  Aided in failed assassination of Qasim in 1959.

Gassing the Kurds Saddam had a mission to brutally hunt and kill all Kurdish Shiites

A Reign of Terror: Mass Graves of Saddam’s Victims

Iraq Invades Kuwait The desire for more oil and more money! August 2, 1990

“Operation Desert Storm”

Saddam Lobs SCUD Missiles Israel & Saudi Arabia: The fear of bio-chemical attacks.

Range of Iraqi Missiles

US helps Kuwait Kuwait is Liberated US helps Kuwait Kuwait is Liberated

Allies March to Baghdad Iraqis cheer Allied forces. Iraqis soldiers surrender.

“Highway of Death” Highway 80 that runs from Kuwait City to Iraq city of Basra. American forces attacked the retreating Iraqi forces destroying between vehicles and killing their occupants

400 Iraqi Oilfields on Fire An environmental disaster!

Reasons for Going to War Against Saddam (according to the U. S. and Britain)  Saddam kicked out U.N. weapons inspectors.  WMDs  Weapons of Mass Destruction.  Saddam did not obey the No-Fly Zone limitations.  He was a savage dictator.  Stop Saddam before he can launch nuclear missiles against Israel, Europe, or even the United States.

Saddam Is Captured! December, 2003

The Dictator is “Toppled”

The American Soldier: 2003

1/30/05 – The Vote! Courage at the Polls!!

1800+ American Casualties

12,000+ Americans Wounded

20,000+ Iraqis Dead!

? Iraqis Wounded!

A Growing Insurgency  The US trained a new Iraqi army and police force.  Most of these were Kurdish/Shiite  Young Shiite men joined the security forces so that they could take revenge for years of abuse at the hands of the Sunni dictators.  Shiite security forces arrested and allegedly assassinated Sunni citizens  The Sunni’s responded with hate graffiti, murders, and suicide bombing

A Growing Insurgency Former Baathists and foreign terrorists (Al-Qaida, etc.)

ISIS- Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham  Began in October of 2006 as a combination of Al Qaeda, The Mujahedeen Shura Council, Jund al- Sahhaba

The Arab Spring  December 2010, protests and demonstrations all over Northern Africa and the Middle East  Wanting democracy and free elections  Wanting an end dictators and corrupt leadership  Created civil war and unstable conditons around the Middle East- Perfect for terrorist takeover

ISIS Video

An Interim Iraqi Government is Created (June, 2004) Prime Minister Ayad Allawi

The Scandal at Abu Ghraib Prison

However, oil has also been a source of conflict. Over the last few decades, major conflicts have erupted in the Middle East. Issues that have contributed to the conflicts include the presence of huge oil reserves, the growth of Islamism, and the conflict between Israel and its neighbors. About two-thirds of world’s known oil reserved located in Middle East Reserves have been great source of wealth for Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, other countries Most members of Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries Oil in the Middle East Regional Issues OPEC attempts to regulate production of oil exports to maximize revenues Oil revenues allowed Middle East governments to modernize countries, promote industrialization, economic, social development Oil Revenues

Importance of Oil Oil as source of conflict in Middle East Some governments have used oil revenues to build up military, maintain power, threaten neighbors Oil wealth has caused internal clashes within countries, societies Region’s strategic importance as source of oil has led outside nations to become involved in Middle Eastern affairs, politics

Egypt, Iran, Iraq have seen growth of Islamism; has led to conflicts within society, government Some extremists have used violence to bring about changes, have attacked regional governments, their allies, innocent civilians Conflicts, Violence Movement to reorder government, society according to Islamic laws Islamists believe Muslim countries have strayed from true Islam, followed Western models of political, economic development Islamists Growth of Islamism

Different Kind of Conflict Different kind of conflict erupted in Iran Revolution ousted shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi Society Changed By 1970s, Iran had changed from traditional rural society Had become more industrialized, urban society Westernization of Iran Shah had close ties with Western governments, oil companies Iran westernized, foreign influence grew Islamists Opposed Shah Many Iranians felt threatened by rapid change, others felt betrayed by corrupt government Islamists opposed shah because of ties to West Revolution in Iran

Rise of Khomeini 1978, Iranians began to protest against shah’s rule Protests inspired by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Shia religious leader 1979, unable to calm unrest, shah fled Iran Iran became Islamic republic with Khomeini as leader, during Iranian Revolution

1979, Iranian revolutionaries seized U.S. embassy in Tehran, took 66 Americans hostage Iranians demanded shah be returned to Iran, stand trial Shah left U.S., but Iranians held hostages until January, 1981 American Hostages Under Khomeini, government suppressed political opposition, enforced strict social religious values Foreign policy strongly anti- Western, especially after shah went to U.S. for medical treatment Khomeini’s Reign

As Iran’s new government was dealing with the hostage crisis, it found itself at war with its neighbor, Iraq. 1980, Iraq attacked Iran because of border disputes Also Iran called for revolution among Iraq’s Shiite population War long, costly; as many as 500,000 dead on both sides Iraq used chemical weapons 1988, both sides agreed to cease-fire Iran-Iraq War After cease-fire, Saddam Hussein continued to build up Iraq’s military; already had largest army in Arab world 1990, Iraq accused neighboring Kuwait of drilling into Iraqi oil field, stealing oil Hussein used this as excuse to invade Kuwait Persian Gulf War Conflict in Iraq

Weapons After war, UN continued economic sanctions, insisted Iraq destroy chemical, biological weapons, agree not to develop nuclear weapons Inspectors had been sent to verify Iraq’s weapons had been destroyed Iraq failed to fully cooperate with UN weapons inspectors Sanctions In effort to end Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, UN passed economic sanctions against Iraq; sanctions failed Result: U.S.-led coalition launched Persian Gulf War Attacked Iraqi forces in Kuwait; Kuwait freed within weeks

Insurgent attacks by different groups from both inside and outside Iraq caused a greater number of casualties. After attacks of September 11, 2001, some U.S. leaders believed Saddam Hussein posed a greater threat to America than before Hussein might have deadly weapons he could give to terrorists UN weapons inspections did not find stockpiles of chemical, biological, nuclear weapons Iraq again did not fully cooperate Some U.S. officials convinced Hussein hiding weapons Weapons Inspections The Iraq War 2003, another U.S.-led coalition invaded Iraq, forcing Hussein out Efforts to restore peace thwarted Growing insurgency targeted coalition forces, Iraqi allies, innocent civilians Growing Insurgency

Coalition Government Meanwhile, coalition worked to create new, democratic government in Iraq 2004, power transferred to Iraqis 2005, Iraqis voted in country’s first multiparty election in fifty years –Later approved new constitution to make Iraq Islamic federal democracy Continued violence, potential for civil war made country’s future highly uncertain