1. Outcome: Understanding the Conflict
The Middle East
Outcome: Understanding the Conflict

6. Jerusalem

7. Understanding the Conflict
Setting the Stage
Fact: History has shown that humans will fight and die for what they believe in
Crossroads for three major religions
Judaism:
Israel/Palestine lie in the heart of the promised land of the Hebrews
Jewish temple in Jerusalem destroyed by the Romans
Jesus was Jewish

8. Western Wailing Wall

9. Understanding the Conflict
Christianity
Jesus was born in Bethlehem
Jesus lived in Nazareth
Jerusalem is site of Jesus’ crucifixion

11. Understanding the Conflict
Islam
Mecca and Medina are in modern day Saudi Arabia
Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem site where Muhammad arose into heaven

12. Israel and Palestine

13. Understanding the Conflict
Israel & Palestine: Conflict over land and religion
Palestine:
An area that today includes Israel and the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories, as well as part of Jordan, and some of both Lebanon and Syria.
Other names include Canaan, Zion, The Holy Lands
Palestinians:
Arabic-speaking people with family origins in Palestine
Mostly Muslim
Upset about Israeli control in Israel, West Bank, & Gaza Strip

14. Understanding the Conflict
Israel:
The worlds only predominantly Jewish state, roughly 5.7 million Jews
Following the Holocaust, Jewish survivors sought refuge from Germany & Britain

15. Understanding the Conflict
Conflict over land and religion
UN approved a partition of Palestine creating a Jewish and Arab state
Instead, the pre-Israel government, The Jewish Agency, declared independence on May 14, 1948 and named their country Israel
The following day, the armies of five Arab countries—Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq—attacked Israel, launching the 1948 Arab-Israeli War
Jews and Arab Muslims in the region have disliked each other since

16. West Bank & Gaza Strip

17. Understanding the Conflict
The West Bank and the Gaza Strip:
West Bank was originally called Judea and Samaria
Under Israeli occupation since 1967: major cause of conflict
Islamic group Hamas now rules Gaza Strip. Israel left in 2005
Hamas Flag

19. Understanding the Conflict
US Involvement
Afghanistan Then and Now
Then: The Cold War
Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979; US protest by boycotting Moscow Olympics in 1980
US secretly supplies Afghanistan freedom fighters with weapons (Film: Charlie Wilson’s War)
Afghanis were first country to beat the mighty Soviet Army
Last Soviet troops left in 1989

20. Understanding the Conflict
Now: The Taliban & Terrorism
The Taliban: Islamic Political Group that governed Afghanistan from when overthrown by US; Has revived since 2004
Very oppressive, especially to women
Fighting against the US and others with US supplied weapons
Supported by Pakistan and Iran but both countries deny involvement
Terrorism: Osama bin Laden was head of Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda; primarily trained in Afghanistan
Al-Qaeda attacked US on
Osama bin Laden was shot and killed in Pakistan in May 2011

24. George Bush Sr.

25. Understanding the Conflict
Two Iraq conflicts
The Persian Gulf War (Desert Storm) Aug 2, 1990 – Feb 28, 1991
Iraq invaded Kuwait
UN initiated a coalition force from 34 nations with purpose of expelling Iraqi forces from Kuwait
Kuwait was liberated in Feb 1991, however Saddam Hussein still ruled Iraq

28. George W. Bush

29. Understanding the Conflict
Iraq War March 2003-Present
Sent in to find Saddam Hussein’s WMD; did not find any
Changed goal to “Liberate Iraq”
Found Hussein in a bunker; Iraqi’s put him on trial and executed him
Still fighting insurgents: soldiers loyal to Saddam’s army
Trying to install a democracy; takes time

30. Shock and Awe

31. Saddam’s Hiding Spot

33. Saddam Hussein after…
He put up no resistance although armed with a pistol.
"My name is Saddam Hussein. I am the president of Iraq and I want to negotiate," he told the US troops in English, according to Major Bryan Reed, operations officer for the 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division.

35. Understanding the Conflict
Iran: future enemy?
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has not shown he is an ally of America
Ahmadinejad dislikes Israel and is a denier of the Holocaust (anti-semitic)
May be building nuclear weapons?

36. Understanding the Conflict
Result: Peace in the Middle East will not be easy to achieve. When cultures and religions clash, it becomes difficult to negotiate a compromise that satisfies all sides. With dictatorships and violent histories already in place, it may be a long time before the Middle East achieves peace.