1. Road to 9-11

2. Creation of the Modern Middle East
End of WWI
Ottoman Empire “falls”
Arab nations hope for independence
Instead Allies create Mandate System & a new map of the Middle East
Beginning of the “humiliation” of the Arab people

3. Rise of Radical Islam Reaction to Western control & influence
New extremist groups emerge that advocate for the creation of independent Arab nations with strong Muslim influence
Example: Muslim Brotherhood
Started in Egypt & spread
reject the “West”
All “westernizers = infidels”
A predecessor of al Qaeda
Radical Islamic groups grow in popularity between WWI and WWII

4. Post WWII End of mandate system = independence for Middle East
Israel becomes a nation
Palestine was a mandate of Britain
West felt guilty for the Holocaust & split Palestine into 1 Arab & 1 Jewish state

5. Arab Reaction to Israel & The Cold War
Arab nations ANGRY about creation of Israel
Leads to a series of Arab-Israeli Wars
Some Arab nations turn to the “East” (Soviet Union) & U.S. increases support of Israel in response
Israel repeatedly wins these wars
Contributes to rising Arab humiliation
Arab nations continue to blame the “West” and solidify alliances with the USSR in the 1950s & 1960s
In response U.S. allies with anti-communist leaders (example: The Shah in Iran)

6. Creates decades of harsh & oppressive leadership in the Middle East
Rise of Dictators
Partly in reaction to losses against Israel
Partly based upon the popularity of radical Islam
Partly a response to Western policies
Partly based on “discovery” of oil
Oil allows dictators access to billion of dollars
No need for democracy – “no taxation = no representation”
Creates decades of harsh & oppressive leadership in the Middle East

7. Saudi Arabia Gained independence in 1932 & established a monarchy
Legal system is based upon Sharia
Government is run entirely by the Saudi Royal Family & their friends
Official religion of the Saudi Royal family is Wahhabism
Saudi Arabia is one of America’s strongest “allies” in the Middle East

8. Why would the U.S. have a strong friendship with Saudi Arabia?

9. Rise of Wahhabism Official religion of the Saudi Royal family
Extremely intolerant version of Islam
All reformers, modernizers, and westernizers are bad
Preach “jihad”
Complete contradiction of the Koran
The Koran views suicide as a model sin, for which there is no forgiveness
Wahhabism is spread around the world by the Saudi Royal family using oil money

10. Osama bin Laden Raised in Saudi Arabia under the Wahhabi belief system
Ties with Royal family
Joined the Muslim Brotherhood while in college
Used his connection to various Saudi kings to help promote his beliefs and gain followers
Osama believes that most of the problems in the Middle East are due to corrupt leaders
Eventually the Saudi Royal family views him as a threat and forces him to leave the country

11. Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
After being kicked out of Saudi Arabia, Osama bin Laden moves to Afghanistan and befriends their leader
In 1979 the USSR invades Afghanistan to try and install a pro-Soviet government
Osama organizes Afghani rebel forces (the Mujahedeen) to fight against the USSR – the U.S. provides aid, assistance, and CIA operatives to help
In 1989, the Soviet Union withdraws and the Taliban come into power (government supported by the Mujahedeen & Osama bin Laden)

12. Iraq’s Invasion of Kuwait
In 1990, Saddam Hussein (the dictator of Iraq) launches an attack on the country of Kuwait
In response the U.S. & Saudi Arabia come to Kuwait’s aid (The First Persian Gulf War)
Osama bin Laden offers his trained soldiers to help the U.S. and Saudi Arabia – we deny him
Saudi Arabia bans Osama bin Laden from their country and he moves to Sudan (later back to Afghanistan)

13. Osama blends together various beliefs and determines that that problems of Arab nations are based upon corrupt leaders who are able to maintain their power through the oil money and support the United States has provided - he begins to organize the al Qaeda terrorist organization.