2. Bush II Reversal of Clinton’s policies $1.3 Trillion tax cut
Economic recession
Globalization and Y2K
Rolled back environmental protection
2000 census and multiple identities
Immigration, borders and cheap labor

3. What were the unusual circumstances of the election of 2000?
The economy prospered and the government had a budget surplus, but some Democrats were uncomfortable with Clinton’s image.
Al Gore was the Democratic nominee and he chose Joe Lieberman as his running mate.
The
Democrats
Republicans chose George W. Bush whose running mate was Dick Cheney of Wyoming.
The
Republicans
Election-night results showed that the race was hinged on the outcome in a single state—Florida.
The returns in Florida were so close that news reports changed their minds three times. A
Troubled
Election

4. Recounts and Legal Wrangling
The Election of 2000
Recounts and Legal Wrangling
A Florida recount gave Bush 300 more votes than Gore.
Democrats questioned the Florida balloting.
Thousands of ballots had gone uncounted; many ballots were rejected by the machines because voters had made mistakes.
Democrats wanted a hand recount of the ballots.
Republicans opposed a hand recount because of human error and individual judgment.
Both sides filed lawsuits aimed at forcing or preventing recounts.
Bush v. Gore
The Florida Supreme Court ordered recounts in certain Florida counties.
Bush appealed the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court
The Supreme Court ruled that a recount was unconstitutional.
After the Court’s ruling, Gore conceded the presidency.
Bush became president despite of having received fewer popular votes than his opponent.

5. George W. Bush’s domestic policy
As Bush took office the economy began to slow.
Dot.com profits failed to appear.
Stock prices were hurt by dishonest accounting practice scandals.
Bush pushed tax cuts to fulfill campaign promises and to spur the slumping economy.
New laws cut taxes, reduced the marriage penalty, and lowered the estate tax.
The economy did not improve, it went into a recession.
Tax cuts in 2003 eliminated the tax on dividends.

6. US & Globalization
The very same capitalist system promoted by the US, exported globally, brought changes to the US
Immigration to US fueled by globalization and movement of capital, search for cheap labor
Global capital left the US, wages declined, cheap goods imported, produced by lower wage workers
Attack on unions, benefits, entitlements
“Wal-Mart economy”
Small population, massive resource use & pollution
2000 Mexico was second largest trading partner
Cultural intermixture vs. fear and reaction

8. Bush’s Domestic Policy
Bush announced the No Child Left Behind Act to improve education.
States were required to develop academic standards and test students annually to ensure that the standards were being met.
Education
In 2003 Bush updated the Medicare program.
Included a benefit to help Medicare recipients pay for prescription medicine.
Health
Care
Established the White House Office of Faith-Based Initiatives to help religious community-service organizations develop greater access to federal funding.
Other
Issues

9. Bush’s Second Term
Bush ran against Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts and won re-election in another close contest.
Bush announced his plan to reform Social Security.
By late 2005, Congress had still not acted on Bush’s idea to privatize Social Security.
Bush also filled vacancies on the Supreme Court.
John Roberts was confirmed as Chief Justice. Bush named Harriet Miers to replace Sandra Day O’Connor but she withdrew her name from contention.
Bush nominated conservative judge Samuel Alito to replace O’Connor in 2005.

10. Bush’s Foreign Policy The People Colin Powell—Secretary of state
Condoleezza Rice—National security advisor
After the 2004 election, Powell resigned and Rice took over as Secretary of state
Donald Rumsfeld—Secretary of defense
Bush’s Foreign Policy
The Policy
Cancelled the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty
This caused friction between the U.S. and the Soviet Union and the U.S. and China.
Bush helped promote the so-called Middle East road map to peace.
Most important foreign-policy event was the terrorist attack of 9/11

11. World Trade Center September 11th, 2001
Attack on World Trade Center
Nearly 3,000 dead
Islamic fundamentalists attacked symbol of economic and cultural imperialism OR economic freedom and opportunity…
Bush became a “War President”
Department of Homeland Security Created
Osama Bin Laden enemy #1

12. DHS - The Core Missions There are five homeland security missions:
Prevent terrorism and enhancing security;
Secure and manage our borders;
Enforce and administer our immigration laws;
Safeguard and secure cyberspace;
Ensure resilience to disasters
(Purpose today?)

13. 1994 – 1999 – Rise of the Taliban
The Taliban movement was formed in Kandahar in 1994 by Islamic students who take a radical approach to interpreting Islam.
The Taliban captured Kabul in September 1996 from Mujaheedin regime. The government of Burhan-ul Din Rabani ousted. The Taliban government in Kabul has been recognized only by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Republic.
The Taliban regime strongly have been supported by Pakistani military regime. Anti-Taliban factions still hold about 15 percent of the country in the northern parts of Afghanistan.
The United Nations and other international communities condemn the Taliban regime because of its violation of human rights, particularly restrictions of women from outside work and freedom.
On October 10, 1999, the United States government declare political and economical sanctions against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan because of holding and supporting Saudi billionaire Bin Laden.
October 25, 1999, Taliban offer talks between Afghanistan and the US Government including the future of Osama Bin Laden.
October 28, Saudi Millionaire declared his desire to leave Afghanistan
November, 5, 1999: Bin Laden likely stay in Afghanistan
What is the difference between the Taliban and Al Qaeda?
Al-Qaeda and Taliban are distinct terrorist groups of extremist Muslims who misinterpret the tenets of Islam to further a violent agenda. While there may be some overlap in these groups, they are both different.
Al-Qaeda (also spelled Al-Qaida) is an Islamist group founded between 1988 and 1990 by Osama Bin Laden and Mohammed Atef. Worldwide attacks. Al-Qaeda has carried out attacks in the US, Yemen, India and Europe.
The Taliban (also spelledTaleban) is a Sunni Islamic group founded by Mullah Mohammed Omar, which ruled Afghanistan from Attacks focused in Afghanistan.

14. Taliban Rule Taliban isolated Afghanistan from the world
                       
                                 
                                 
Taliban isolated Afghanistan from the world
Between fighting, refugees have returned to homes burned and destroyed by the Taliban.
The United Nations has accused the Taliban of burning homes and crops to keep Afghan refugees from returning home.
The Taliban
Taliban Justice

15. 2001 – Today The War on Terrorism continues
Mohammed Omar, Taliban leader, continued to give aid and comfort to the terrorist Bin Laden.
September 11, Al Qaeda forces of Bin Laden attack the United States.
United States and her allies declare war on terrorism.
Taliban Government driven into hiding, many Taliban and Al Qaeda forces killed or captured by the United States and her allies between Present
The Taliban grip on Afghanistan and support for Bin Laden has ended.

16. Invasion of Iraq,
Bush administration tied 9/11 attacks, Bin Laden and Al Qaeda to Iraq and Saddam Hussein
No ties, no links found by intelligence sources
WMD intelligence?
Global terrorist threat and “Axis of Evil”
Remake the Middle East into pro-Western democracies favorable to the US
The invasion led to the collapse of the Ba’athist government; Saddam was captured in Dec. 2003, and executed 3 years later by a military court 
“Mission Accomplished” in Iraq
War dragged on…Where’s Bin Laden?
Death of Bin Laden in 2011 brings end to War on Terror?
(News of Raid)
(Saddam)
(Bin Laden Bio)

17. War on Terror
(Bin Laden)

18. The withdrawal of U.S. troops began in 2008 and was finished in 2011.
The power vacuum that followed Saddam’s regime and the mismanagement of the occupation forces led to widespread sectarian violence between the Shias and the Sunnis. A lengthy insurgency against U.S. and coalition forces persisted as well.
The U.S. responded with a troop surge in 2007, which reduced the level of violence and opened communication with Sunni militias.
The withdrawal of U.S. troops began in 2008 and was finished in 2011.
(Last days of Bin Laden)

19. Or Is It?
(Crash Course)

20. ISIS As Al Qaeda's influence has substantially waned, the radical Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) have now achieved what Bin Laden could not, erasing the borders drawn by the diplomats.

21. This is what the Middle East looked like in 1914 (with modern borders left in bold) - when Europe controlled huge swathes

22. This is the Sykes-Picot plan that split the region between Britain and France, with catastrophic consequences

24. Or is it? Sunnis Shi’ites 90% 10%
Believed caliph(leader) should be chosen by Muslim leaders
Believed caliph(leader) had to be a relative of Muhammed
(Sunni and Shia)

25. How Iraq and Syria could look with a new Sunni caliphate