US Conflicts in the Middle East Iran Iraq Afghanistan Lesson #7

What was happening in Iran in 1980s? The roots of our problem with Iran began during the Cold War.

Old Iran Persian Empire – an ancient culture Very powerful Very advanced Gardens, architecture, science – “paradise” Conquered by the Muslim Empire ~650 Became a Sunni Muslim region of Islamic Empire Persia shook off Sunni Muslims in 1500 Established Shia as official religion To show break with past conquerors New Persian king: “The Shah”

Iran in a modern age The Shah was forced to accept a constitution in ~1905 – A FORM OF DEMOCRACY The democracy was overthrown by Reza Khan in 1925 – remained unto the 1940s His goal: more quickly modernize Iran Suspected of supporting the Nazis, he was force to abdicate in favor of his son, Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlavi In 1961, The Shah launched the White Revolution: a broad modernization plan The conservative Muslims HATED this

The Shah of Iran HE WAS A DICTATOR! Dictator of Iran up to 1979 Iran was modernizing But… The Shah of Iran HE WAS A DICTATOR! 7m Conservative Religious people did not like the fast modern changes

The Shah of Iran Why would we liked him? Pro-Western Wanted to modernize Friendly to USA More into gender equity Why we would not like him? Ruthless dictator Killed protestors Created instability

What two very different sections of Iranian society would want the Shah gone?

The Islamic Revolution in Iran January, 1979 Shah overthrown by a combination of two groups Conservatives, who hated the modernization Modernists, who hated his dictatorial ways Two weeks later, Ayatollah became supreme leader

Questions, set A Which is something we liked about the Shah of Iran, and led us to openly support him in power, even though he was a dictator? Which is a reason we did NOT like the Shah of Iran? What did the Conservatives in Iran hate about the Shah?

American Hostage Crisis USA refused to recognize the revolution Iranian students stormed the US embassy 52 Americans captured – held hostage 444 Days All diplomatic ties were cut off by new Iranian government Americans were LIVID

The New Iran, post 1979 Women must be covered Became an Islamic dictatorship click

Questions, set B What did the Modernists hate about the Shah? What man became the leader of Iran after the removal of the Shah? USA refused to shut down our embassy. What happened next?

US and Iranian relations Our relationship with Iran in the 1980s and 1990s was non-existent - We no longer had an embassy We talked to their government through other governments Iran seemed to go backward socially since 1979 All women must wear the Chador All men must pray 5x a day Western ways were seen as corrupt USA was called “the Great Satan”

US and Iranian relations Iran went to war 1980-1988 against Iraq Iran built up military in 1990s to the strongest in the region We issued sanctions against Iran in 1979, and continued up until Jan 16, 2016 We used them to try to control Iran “Sanctions” prevent a nation from gaining international aid Most recently, we used sanctions to try to force end Iran’s nuclear weapons development and production (2006 during Bush Presidency)

US and Iranian relations The recent nuclear deal: Iran has promised to halt all Weapons production, in return, they got: Full access to $150 billion of potential revenues $1.3 billion of US tax dollars as interest payments on a $400,000 trust set up just before diplomatic relations soured in 1979

Meanwhile… in Iraq…

Iraq also had a shift in leadership Iraq was an Arab republic from WWII to the modern era. General Saddam Hussein staged a Military coup 1979 became dictator New government ran by Saddam & Ba’ath Party Enormously powerful Repressive Territorial dispute with newly formed Iranian government led quickly to a long, bloody war

Iran-Iraq War 1980-1988 Iraq invaded Iran REASONS: Saddam saw Iran in chaos Arabs vs. Persians Control oil Control Gulf

American Role AMERICAN GOALS: Openly support Iraq Keep the new dictatorships fighting Secretly support Iran Iran-Contra sale of weapons War ended 1989 No clear winner 1 million Iranian deaths Iraq lost billions of $$

Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait 1990 – new war, new enemy Iraq suddenly invaded Kuwait Reasons: Kuwait was stealing oil from Iraq Kuwait was land that should be Iraq Kuwait was not supportive enough in Iran-Iraq War Kuwait drove down price of oil – Hurt Iraqi economy click

Know as “The Gulf War” (1989-1990) Iraq invaded Kuwait Kuwait asked for our help Saudi Arabia asked for our protection US demanded Iraq get out Iraq refused USA took a hard line against Iraq Al Qaida disgusted that USA was “invading” region

Describe the picture What actually is happening What you think Saddam is trying to show is happening? What actually is happening

American Response Operation Desert Shield 500,000 Americans sent to Saudi Arabia (to protect those Saudi oil fields, and prepare invasion of Iraq) 37 nation coalition Demand: get out of Kuwait

Questions, Set C Who was the dictator of Iraq, who got power about the same time as the Ayatollah in Iran? What nation did Iraq invade in 1980? What was one of the reasons for the invasion? After the long and bloody Iran-Iraq War ended after eight years of fighting, Iraq invaded another nation just two years later. What was that nation? Al Qaida expected Saudi Arabia to turn to them for support and protection from Iraq. Instead, who did they turn to for protection?

Operation Desert Shield (1989-1990) US built coalition of nations (support) US shifted 500,000 troops to Saudi Arabia To protect oil Islamists angered by American meddling

Operation Desert Storm American invasion of Kuwait Reasons: Iraq was HORRIBLE to Kuwaitis Iraq could control oil market if it owned Kuwait Expectation: months of horrible fighting, American deaths

American victory Almost no American casualties Iraqi army surrendered to anyone Iraq was humiliated Islamists hated that Americans didn’t leave Gen Norman Schwarzkopf

Questions, Set D USA sent half a million men to support a war in the Middle East in 1990. What was that war called? What nation was Operation Desert Shield intended to protect? USA faced two new wars in the Middle East in the early 2000’s, right after 9-11. In what nations were those wars to be fought? What was the goal of the Operation Iraqi Freedom? What was the original goal of Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) After finding the government of Afghanistan to be supporting Al Qaida, what was an additional goal in Afghanistan?

New problem: TERRORISM Things seemed to be all calm Then… 9-11 American was back at war Al Qaeda in Afghanistan Saddam in Iraq AMERICANS WERE ANGRY AT MIDDLE EAST

New War: Global War on Terror (GWOT) GOALS Find terrorists Deny terrorists funds Destroy terrorist networks

Two wars Afghanistan (2001-present) 2. Iraq (2003-2012) Goal: Find those responsible for 9-11 Dismantle terrorist groups responsible for 9-11 Help create stability in Middle East 2. Iraq (2003-2012) Eliminate terrorist support structure Remove Saddam Hussein Help create a stable, lawful Iraqi government

NEW GENERATION OF WAR America fights back GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom

Operation Iraqi Freedom Saddam was supporting terrorists Saddam may have been creating WMD Tons of chemical weapons disappeared Invasion into Iraq 2003 Saddam was to be replaced with a democratic government Goal: remove Saddam Replace him with a democratic government

Purpose in Iraq Remove Saddam Hussein He had been supporting terrorists He was building forces back up after Iraq War

Success in Iraq Problem: recreate a democratic government First election in 2005 – formed new government Women voted Protected “real” elections First real election in January 2010

Purpose in Afghanistan Remove Al Qaeda terrorists Taliban government fought our efforts New goal: remove Taliban government US Troops to leave in 2017