Overview of Middle Eastern Countries

Syria  Part of Ottoman Empire until 1918  French and British take over until 1947  Independence led to Civil War / Internal Conflict  Ethnic and Religious divisions – 60% Arab Sunni Muslim, 11% Alawites Shia Muslims, 9% Arab Christians, 8% Kurdish Sunni Muslims

Syria Civil War  1970 – Present Country ruled by Alawites Shia Muslims – Bashir Al Assad dictatorship  Arab Spring began in 2010  Civil War- Sunni Rebels rise up against Assad regime  Atrocities committed by both sides  Civil War continues

Radical Political Groups and Militant/Insurgent Groups  Hezbollah- Radical Shiite group founded by Iranians influencing Lebanon, Syria, and Iran  Hamas- Extremist Sunni group involved in acts of terror and politics pushing for Palestinian Nation  Al-Qaeda- Extremist Sunni Terrorist organization with cells throughout the world  Taliban- Strict group of Sunni Muslims controlling parts of Afghanistan  ISIS / ISIL- Islamic State of Iraq and the Syria /Levant- Extremist Wahhabi Sunni Group

Afghanistan  “A place where empires go to die.”  Ethnic / religious divisions  Difficult terrain and climate  Long history of conflict

Political Unrest in Afghanistan  Towards end of Cold War  1979 invasion by Soviet Union  U.S. covertly backs Mujahideen- Strict Islamic group of Afghani rebels  About 5-6 separate rebel Afghani groups  1989 Mujahideen with CIA backing forces Soviet Union out  Vacuum of power led to ethnic conflict / civil war

Foreign Assistance to Afghanistan  U.S. Funding provided with help of Congressman Charlie Wilson  Money and weapons funneled through Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan (keep it a Cold War)  Saudis including Bin Laden go to Afghanistan for Jihad  Saudis matched U.S. financial aid with private and gov’t spending  Aid went directly to President Zia of Pakistan and ISI (Pakistan’s version of FBI and CIA)

War in Afghanistan  1996 Bin Laden moves to Afghanistan  1998 Taliban emerges from Civil War as government  Taliban aided by Bin Laden and Al Qaeda  9/9/01 Ahmad Shah Massoud (moderate) assassinated by Taliban  9/11 attacks planned in Afghanistan  2001 Taliban shelters Bin Laden after 9/11

Current Conflict in Afghanistan  2001 Taliban shelters Osama bin Laden and other members of Al- Qaeda  October 2001 U.S. forces invade and help establish new gov’t  Hamid Karzai emerges as leader.

Current Conflict  Taliban reemerges along Pakistani border  Corruption in Karzai administration  President Obama announces surge  Bin Laden killed in Pakistan  Hearts & Minds / Afghanization

Map of the Disputed Area

Iran (Shia majority)  Europeans fought over oil in early 1900s  s Reza Shah encouraged westernization leads to his exile  1979 Iranian Hostage Crisis, Ayatollah Khomeini emerged as leader  1986 Iran Contra Scandal  Currently tension between U.S. and Iran over Iraq and policies of current leader Mahmoud Ahmedinejad,

Background of Saudi Arabia  Birthplace of Islam  1916 Great Britain encourages independence from Ottoman Empire  1936 Oil discovered and the Saudi Royal Family builds ties with U.S. and Europe

Current Issues in Saudi Arabia  1990s Sided with U.S. and Kuwait against Iraq during Persian Gulf War  Currently maintains strong economic ties with U.S.  Growing problems with Muslim extremists and terrorist groups

Current Issues  Al Saud family possesses all political power  Strict censorship / No political parties  Osama bin Laden originally from Saudi Arabia  Majority of 9/11 hijackers from Saudi Arabia