Road to 9-11

Creation of the Modern Middle East End of WWI Ottoman Empire “falls” Arab nations hope for independence Instead Allies create Mandate System & a new map of the Middle East Beginning of the “humiliation” of the Arab people

Rise of Radical Islam Reaction to Western control & influence New extremist groups emerge that advocate for the creation of independent Arab nations with strong Muslim influence Example: Muslim Brotherhood Started in Egypt & spread reject the “West” All “westernizers = infidels” A predecessor of al Qaeda Radical Islamic groups grow in popularity between WWI and WWII

Post WWII End of mandate system = independence for Middle East Israel becomes a nation Palestine was a mandate of Britain West felt guilty for the Holocaust & split Palestine into 1 Arab & 1 Jewish state

Arab Reaction to Israel & The Cold War Arab nations ANGRY about creation of Israel Leads to a series of Arab-Israeli Wars Some Arab nations turn to the “East” (Soviet Union) & U.S. increases support of Israel in response Israel repeatedly wins these wars Contributes to rising Arab humiliation Arab nations continue to blame the “West” and solidify alliances with the USSR in the 1950s & 1960s In response U.S. allies with anti-communist leaders (example: The Shah in Iran)

Creates decades of harsh & oppressive leadership in the Middle East Rise of Dictators Partly in reaction to losses against Israel Partly based upon the popularity of radical Islam Partly a response to Western policies Partly based on “discovery” of oil Oil allows dictators access to billion of dollars No need for democracy – “no taxation = no representation” Creates decades of harsh & oppressive leadership in the Middle East

Saudi Arabia Gained independence in 1932 & established a monarchy Legal system is based upon Sharia Government is run entirely by the Saudi Royal Family & their friends Official religion of the Saudi Royal family is Wahhabism Saudi Arabia is one of America’s strongest “allies” in the Middle East

Why would the U.S. have a strong friendship with Saudi Arabia?

Rise of Wahhabism Official religion of the Saudi Royal family Extremely intolerant version of Islam All reformers, modernizers, and westernizers are bad Preach “jihad” Complete contradiction of the Koran The Koran views suicide as a model sin, for which there is no forgiveness Wahhabism is spread around the world by the Saudi Royal family using oil money

Osama bin Laden Raised in Saudi Arabia under the Wahhabi belief system Ties with Royal family Joined the Muslim Brotherhood while in college Used his connection to various Saudi kings to help promote his beliefs and gain followers Osama believes that most of the problems in the Middle East are due to corrupt leaders Eventually the Saudi Royal family views him as a threat and forces him to leave the country

Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan After being kicked out of Saudi Arabia, Osama bin Laden moves to Afghanistan and befriends their leader In 1979 the USSR invades Afghanistan to try and install a pro-Soviet government Osama organizes Afghani rebel forces (the Mujahedeen) to fight against the USSR – the U.S. provides aid, assistance, and CIA operatives to help In 1989, the Soviet Union withdraws and the Taliban come into power (government supported by the Mujahedeen & Osama bin Laden)

Iraq’s Invasion of Kuwait In 1990, Saddam Hussein (the dictator of Iraq) launches an attack on the country of Kuwait In response the U.S. & Saudi Arabia come to Kuwait’s aid (The First Persian Gulf War) Osama bin Laden offers his trained soldiers to help the U.S. and Saudi Arabia – we deny him Saudi Arabia bans Osama bin Laden from their country and he moves to Sudan (later back to Afghanistan)

Osama blends together various beliefs and determines that that problems of Arab nations are based upon corrupt leaders who are able to maintain their power through the oil money and support the United States has provided - he begins to organize the al Qaeda terrorist organization.