Road to 9/11 and Beyond

Role of U. S. in Foreign Wars Iraq war (Iraqi Freedom) Afghanistan Taliban Iraq Persian Gulf War (Desert Storm) Iraq/Iran War Afghanistan/Soviet War

Operation Iraqi Freedom Current Military Action Iraq violated several UN resolutions (16) Weapons of Mass Destruction Saddam Hussein is a tyrant who must be removed Iraq has a history of employing WMDs on neighbours Reasons To UN for the invasion of Iraq

Iraq had long considered Kuwait to be a part of itself. (The old Babylonian Empire) With Iraq’s unsuccessful invasion of Iran, it thought Kuwait was an easy target Iraq claimed that Kuwaiti oil rigs were illegally tapping into Iraqi oil fields. Gulf War : Reasons for Iraqi Invasion

US policy during Gulf War A week before the war broke out, US ambassador April Glaspie met Hussein and told him: “ We have no opinion on your Arab - Arab conflicts, such as your dispute with Kuwait. Secretary (of State James) Baker has directed me to emphasize the instruction, that the Kuwait issue is not associated with America. ”

US changes its position abruptly, and condemns Iraqi invasion US launches offensive, defeats Iraq stopping at Bagdad Saddam is allowed to stay in charge to avoid sectarian violence. Forced to disarm his weapons and comply with UN restrictions (Reason we invaded in current war. He did not comply with all restrictions) US policy during Gulf War

Iran – Iraq War US backs Saddam. Iraq had a secular government and saw him more moderate and easy to work with. US backs Saddam. Iraq had a secular government and saw him more moderate and easy to work with. To fight the Iranian Khomeini regime who created a Islamic theocracy taking over our US embassy and keeping American hostages over 400 days. To fight the Iranian Khomeini regime who created a Islamic theocracy taking over our US embassy and keeping American hostages over 400 days.

US supports Iraq throughout the Iran- Iraq War US approves sale to Iraq of 5 Boeing Jetliners Removes Iraq from its list of “nations supporting terrorism” Washington extends $400 million credit guarantee for US exports to Iraq CIA establishes direct Washington- Baghdad link to provide military intelligence US “condemns” Iraq’s use of chemical weapons but doesn’t support any Council action against Iraq

Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan : 1979 : Soviet Union invades Afghanistan 1980 : Soviet establishes puppet regime (gov. run by Soviets) 1986 : US begins supplying Mujahideen Stinger missiles, enabling them to shoot Soviet helicopters (Osama bin Laden’s Group) Laden’s Group) 1988 : Soviet Union begins pulling out troops 1996 : Taliban seize control of Kabul, introduce hardline Islamism full Sharia Law Islamism full Sharia Law 2001 : Following 9/11, US invade Afghanistan, take out Taliban for not surrendering Osama Bin Laden

CIA : Coordinating In Afghanistan CIA supplied : Assault rifles, grenade launchers, mines and SA-7 light antiaircraft weapons, tons of C-4 explosives, long- range sniper rifles, anti-tank missiles Extensive satellite reconnaissance data of Soviet targets, military plans, Communications devices, targeting devices directly links to US-Navy satellites

One of the first non-Afghan volunteers to join the ranks of the mujahideen was Osama bin Laden. Osama was from Saudi Arabia. Bin Laden recruited about 4,000 volunteers and worked closely with the CIA In ’88, with U.S. knowledge, bin Laden created Al Qaeeda, a group of Islamic terrorist cells spread across at least 26 countries In ’94, a new group, the Taliban (Pashtun for "students"), emerged. The Taliban swept across most of the exhausted country finally capturing Kabul 1996 US aware of Taliban’s policies. Osama bin Laden and the Taliban

U.S. support for Taliban continues until ’98, when Washington blames Bin Laden for the bombing of the U.S. embassies in Kenya Taliban's refusal to extradite bin Laden- not its atrocious human rights record- led to UN-imposed sanctions Following 9/11, US launches war against its former allies, overthrows the Taliban and establishes a democracy” in Afghanistan. Plans to uphold UN resolutions to invade Iraq