1. SS7H2
Describe how land and religion are reasons for continuing conflicts in the Middle East.
d. Explain U.S. presence and interest in Southwest Asia; include the Persian Gulf conflict and invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.

2. Why Does U.S. Have a Strong Presence in Middle East?
Promote Freedom & Democracy
Security Interests
Relationship with Israel & Saudi Arabia
Oil

3. Why Does U.S. Have a Strong Presence in Middle East?
Promote Freedom & Democracy
American ideal of freedom
Create a Democratic Nationalism
Leads to next reason for involvement

4. Why Does U.S. Have a Strong Presence in Middle East?
Security Interest
Unstable world region
Origin of majority of terrorist groups
Fight there, not here

5. Why Does U.S. Have a Strong Presence in Middle East?
Relationship with Israel & Saudi Arabia
Close Allies
Israel: only rock solid ally in the Middle East
Saudi Arabia: Ally & owner of the final reason for U.S. involvement . . .

6. Why Does U.S. Have a Strong Presence in Middle East?
Oil
Middle East has world’s largest oil supply
Saudi Arabia holds more than 20% of world’s oil
U.S. is world’s largest consumer of oil

7. Persian Gulf War: Desert Storm
Why Did U.S. Invade Iraq in 1991?
Saddam Hussein had proved to be a dangerous & radical dictator
Iraqi army invaded Kuwait
Force Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait
Ensure stability & safety of Israel, Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf countries

8. Persian Gulf War: Desert Storm

9. Persian Gulf War: Desert Storm

10. Persian Gulf War: Desert Storm
Unique Aspects of Gulf War
Live Media Coverage
Military leaders achieve celebrity status
General H. Norman Schwarzkopf
“Stormin” Norman

11. Post September 11, 2001: Invasion of Afghanistan
Why Invade Afghanistan in 2001?
Response to September 11, 2001 attacks
Hunt Osama Bin Laden
Attack Al-Qaeda terrorist network & leaders
Remove Taliban regime in Afghanistan

12. Post September 11, 2001: Invasion of Afghanistan
On-Going
Still troops
Terrible terrain for war
Taliban fighting back
Bin Laden killed in Pakistan.

13. Post September 11, 2001: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Why Invade Iraq again in 2003?
A connection to 9/11?
A stable, more democratic Iraq
Find & eliminate Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)
Convince other countries to stop supporting terrorists
Iraqi Regime Change “Get Rid of Saddam Hussein”
Protect allies from Iraqi threats and attacks
Destroy terrorist networks in Iraq

14. Post September 11, 2001: Operation Iraqi Freedom

15. Operation Iraqi Freedom: Saddam Hussein Before & After

16. Post September 11, 2001: Operation Iraqi Freedom
War in Iraq –Military Action Ended
Public & world opinion not favorable
Over 4,000 American soldiers died

17. Post September 11, 2001: Is Iran Next?
President Hassan Rouhani
New Iranian President
At the UN General Assembly in New York to ask for lift of U.S. sanctions.
Nuclear Capability is concern world-wide

18. Palestinian Liberation Organization
Made up of several Palestinian political groups in different countries
Leader: Yasser Arafat
Formed to: Take Palestine back from Israelis
Fatah: secret armed group Arafat founded (makes attacks)

19. Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO)
PLO Expelled: from base in Jordan moved to Lebanon.
Black September: terrorist group killed 11 Israeli athletes at Munich Olympics in 1972.
Current Leader Mahmoud Abbas
2006 War: Hezbollah (terrorist) and Israel. Kidnapped 2 soldiers and killed 8 lasted a month. UN helped stop fighting.

20. Palestinian Liberation Organization