1. Related Issues

2. Guantanamo Bay Prison
Prison on US Naval Base in Cuba for terrorists from Afghanistan and Iraq
Status of prisoners debated: criminals, prisoners of war, ???
Prisoners initially held without trial or lawyers; US officials accused of cruel interrogation techniques

3. Guantanamo Controversy Continues
Of the 779 people who have been detained at the United States military prison at Guantánamo, 621 have been transferred to other countries and 149 remain. In addition, nine detainees died while in custody.

4. Patriot Act
Controversial law passed after 9/11 attacks and renewed for four year in 2011
Allows government broader power for surveillance to identify and stop terrorists
Supporters give examples of terrorist attacks that have been prevented
Opponents argue Americans’ civil liberties have been violated

5. Arab Spring
Starting in Tunisia in Dec. 2010, and then Egypt, uprisings led to the overthrow of dictators in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen in 2011.
Major protests also took place in Bahrain, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, and Sudan
Characterized by civil protests and the use of social media; governments have frequently reacted with violence, leading to violence by protesters as well

6. Conflicts in Middle East
Civil War in Syria
Israelis vs. Palestinians in Israel
1948 Formation of Israel
Decades of War
Yassir Arafat
Palestinian Liberation Organization
Hamas
Gaza/West Bank

7. Refugees
People who flee their countries due to war, natural disaster, political oppression
Neighboring countries often can’t handle large numbers of refugees and therefore house them in refugee camps
Examples: Palestinians, Afghanistan, Central American children (?)

8. Religious Conflict Iraq: Sunnis vs. Shiites
Israel: Jewish vs. Muslim (Palestinians)
India/Pakistan: Hindu vs. Muslim
US: Muslim vs. Christian?

9. OIL OPEC: Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
Venezuela, Ecuador, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Libya, Algeria, Nigeria, Angola
Cartel united to control oil production and oil prices throughout the world
Implications in Iran-Iraq War, Persian Gulf War, and US-Iraq war

10. Developed/Developing Nations
Division between wealthy and poor nations
Characterized by gaps in health care, life expectancy, education, industry, technology, food production, environmental health, population stability, human rights,