US Presence in Southwest Asia

Standards and Elements SS7H2 d. Explain the US presence and interest in Southwest Asia; include the Persian Gulf conflict, invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. Essential Question: How has the US been involved in Southwest Asia? What interests will we be examining? What region’s conflict will we be examining? What two countries did the USA invade?

Key Vocabulary Examine To analyze or study closely. Invasion- When one country attacks another country.

something that concerns, involves, or draws the attention of Key Vocabulary Presence The physical state of being in a specific region. Interest something that  concerns, involves, or draws the attention of

US Involvement in SW Asia Oil is the USA’s main economic interest in Southwest Asia US also supported creation of Israel in 1948

Persian Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm) Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990 because they thought Kuwait was taking too much oil from a shared field. The leader of Iraq at the time was Saddam Hussein. The United Nations sent military forces to free Kuwait. The USA sent troops as well 39 countries joined in effort to get Iraq out of Kuwait by September 1991

Afghanistan On September 11, 2001 the World Trade Center was destroyed in New York City and part of the Pentagon in Washington, DC by terrorists. The USA went to war against Al-Qaeda (terrorist group lead by Osama bin Laden) in Afghanistan- 2001. Taliban- radical group of Muslims influencing government of Afghanistan allowed Al-Qaeda to hide out and recommended Osama bin Laden go to Pakistan. Osama bin-Laden was later killed in 2011, in Pakistan by US Navy Seals. Video- President Obama announcement

Invasion of Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom) 2003 US invaded Iraq because they believed Iraq was making weapons of mass destruction & helping Al-Qaeda. Iraq’s government collapsed Saddam Hussein was hung in 2006 by the Iraqi High Tribunal. The US stayed in Iraq to help the country reorganize & help with conflict between religious & ethnic groups. 2009- President Obama announces the end of combat operations in Iraq to end in 2010.

Operation New Dawn September 1, 2010 - Operation Iraqi Freedom is renamed Operation New Dawn to reflect the reduced role U.S. troops will play in securing the country. Troops begin to return to the USA.