Southwest Asia The Middle East FSMS 7th Grade Social Studies; Unit 2 Change: U. S. Military Involvement in SWA Gulf Wars I & II + War on Terror Georgia Standard SS7H2(d)

The Middle East Historical Understandings Standard SS7H2 The student will analyze continuity and change in Southwest Asia (Middle East) leading to the 21st century. (d) Explain U.S. presence and interest in Southwest Asia; include the Persian Gulf conflict, invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Middle East Historical Understandings U.S Presence and Interest cont. The War on Terror The terrorist group, al-Qaeda, carried out the 9/11 (2001) attacks on New York. Osama bin Laden led al-Qaeda and was the mastermind behind the attacks. Al-Qaeda’s interpretation of Islam calls for expelling foreigners from the holy lands (primarily Saudi Arabia). It also seeks to overthrow what it sees as corrupt governments in Southwest Asia.

The Middle East Historical Understandings U.S Presence and Interest cont. The War on Terror cont. To accomplish these goals, al-Qaeda also calls for the destruction of any government it feels supports these corrupt countries. Among the nations it hopes to destroy are Israel, the United States, and our European allies among others.

The Middle East Historical Understandings U.S Presence and Interest cont. The War on Terror cont. As a response to 9/11, President George W. Bush declared a new U.S. policy termed “the War on Terror”. Policy stated that the United States would go after foreign terrorists rather than waiting for them to attack us again.

The Middle East Historical Understandings U.S Presence and Interest cont. Terrorism in the Middle East Because SWA is filled with so much religious and political history, people there are very passionate about their beliefs. Sometimes people can take these beliefs to harmful extremes.

The Middle East Historical Understandings U.S Presence and Interest cont. Terrorism in the Middle East Terrorist groups are extremist people who believe in something so much, they are willing to use violence to achieve their goal. Terrorism is a large problem in Southwest Asia.

The Middle East Historical Understandings U.S Presence and Interest cont. Terrorism in the Middle East Here are some of the most dangerous terrorist groups. Al Qaeda (Afghanistan) Al-Jihad (Egypt) Abu Nidal Organization (Iraq) Hezbollah (Lebanon)

The Middle East Historical Understandings U.S Presence and Interest cont. Terrorism in the Middle East Al Qaeda: Its goals are to create Islamic governments all over the world and to get rid of western influences in Muslim countries. Al-Jihad: Its goal is to overthrow the Egyptian government and replace it with an Islamic state.

The Middle East Historical Understandings U.S Presence and Interest cont. Terrorism in the Middle East Abu Nidal Organization: Its goal is to create a Palestinian state in place of Israel. Hezbollah: Its goal is to gain power in Lebanon to oppose Israel & Middle East peace agreements.

The Middle East Historical Understandings U.S Presence and Interest cont. Afghanistan War Intelligence sources identified an organization known as Al-Qaeda, or the Force, as the group of terrorists that planned and carried out the attack on the Twin Towers on 9/11. Its leader, Osama bin-Laden, was born in Saudi Arabia. His family was very wealthy and he used his money to finance this organization.

The Middle East Historical Understandings U.S Presence and Interest cont. Afghanistan War cont. One of the aims of Al-Qaeda is to bring about an end to western influence in the Middle East. Intelligence sources in the United States government believed that the radical Muslim government of Afghanistan, the Taliban, allowed Al-Qaeda to hide in the mountains of their country.

The Middle East Historical Understandings U.S Presence and Interest cont. Afghanistan War cont. The United States launched a series of attacks on these mountain hideouts in October 2001 in an attempt to capture bin-Laden and destroy his organization. United States troops were also sent in and the Afghanistan government of the Taliban collapsed.

The Middle East Historical Understandings U.S Presence and Interest cont. Afghanistan War cont. Since 2001, the United States military have continued fighting in Afghanistan in an attempt to find and destroy The Al-Qaeda organization. The United States is also working to help the people of Afghanistan reorganize their government. Osama bin Laden was finally killed in a raid on his compound on May 2, 2011 by U.S. Special Forces.

The Middle East Historical Understandings U.S Presence and Interest cont. 2nd Iraq War In 2003, the United States launched an invasion of Iraq, after claiming that the Iraqi government led by Saddam Hussein, was developing nuclear weapons (weapons of mass destruction or WMD*) and offering aid to groups like Al- Qaeda. The United States called this 2nd Iraq military action “Operation Iraqi Freedom”. *Nuclear or Atomic bombs, nerve/poisonous gas, or biologic agents that cause sickness and death.

The Middle East Historical Understandings U.S Presence and Interest cont. 2nd Iraq War The government of Saddam Hussein collapsed quickly because many of the Iraqis also felt he was a cruel leader. However, problems followed as the United States did not have a plan ready to help reorganize and rebuild the country once the old government was gone.

The Middle East Historical Understandings U.S Presence and Interest cont. Iraq War cont. American forces remained in Iraq until 2011, trying to stop the fighting between; Religious groups (Sunni and Shia), and Ethnic groups (Arabs and Kurds) Each of whom are competing with each other for power as they try to organize a new government.

The Middle East Historical Understandings U.S. military casualties Deaths Est. over 100,000 Veterans that have brain damage 320,000 Iraqi civilian deaths 17,049

FIRST FIVE AGENDA Message: CDA-1 is tomorrow. Deadline for turning in late/missing assignments and/or re-taking quizzes is Thursday, Oct. 6th. Standard: The U.S. military presence in SWA including the Persian Gulf conflict and invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. E.Q. Monday; 10/3/16: Why did the U.S. invade Afghanistan in 2001? Warm Up: Why did the United Nations go to war against Iraq after it invaded Kuwait? TODAY WE WILL: Finish U.S. involvement Middle East Wars (Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, & Iraq)

ANSWERS E.Q. Answer for Monday October 3rd: An extreme religious sect known as the Taliban was rising in power in Afghanistan. The anti-American Taliban was thought to be sheltering the terrorist group Al-Qaeda and its leader, Osama bin Laden. This was the group who attacked the U.S. on 9/11. Warm-Up: The United Nations has an agreement that it will come to the aide of any country that is attacked or invaded by another country. When Iraq invaded Kuwait this agreement went into effect.

FIRST FIVE AGENDA Message: CDA-1 is TODAY. Deadline for turning in late/missing assignments and/or re-taking quizzes is Thursday, Oct. 6th. Standard: The U.S. military presence in SWA including the Persian Gulf conflict and invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. E.Q. Tuesday; 10/4/16: Explain why did the U.S. invaded Afghanistan in October 2001? Warm Up: Explain why the U.S. went to war against Iraq in 2003? TODAY WE WILL: CDA-1

ANSWERS E.Q. Answer for Tuesday October 4th: Intelligence sources in the United States government believed that the radical Muslim government of Afghanistan, the Taliban, allowed Al-Qaeda to hide in the mountains of their country. Al-Qaeda led by Osama bin Laden were behind the terrorist attack on 9/11. Warm-Up: In 2003, the United States launched an invasion of Iraq, after claiming that the Iraqi government led by Saddam Hussein, was developing nuclear weapons (weapons of mass destruction or WMD*) and offering aid to groups like Al-Qaeda.