1. The Modern Middle East

3. Middle East = Arab, Muslim, Oil-producing?
Middle East includes Arab and non-Arab states [Iran, Israel] and is also ethnically diverse [Kurds, Assyrians, Armenians]
Middle East is religiously diverse [Islam, Judaism, Christianity]
The Islamic religion is divided between Sunni vs. Shia factions
30% of the world’s oil production from M.E.
Not all Middle Eastern countries have oil

4. Sources of conflict since 1945
Ethnic and religious conflict within the region
Palestinian / Israeli conflict
Western influence and intervention
Secularism vs. religious fundamentalism often a reaction against modernity and Western influence

5. Holy City of Jerusalem The Western Wall Dome of the Rock
Church of the Holy
Sepulcher

6. Cold War competition in the Middle East
USSR supported Egypt, Syria, Iraq
U.S. supported Israel, Iran, Saudi Arabia
Switches:
Egypt 1970s
Iran 1979
Gamal Abdel Nassar nationalized the
Suez Canal zone in This almost sparked a regional war and led to Egypt-USSR alliance

7. Afghanistan
: USSR intervened in Afghanistan to support communist regime
Mujahideen [Islamic warriors] organized against USSR
Civil war continued after Soviet withdrawal
1996: Taliban proclaimed the Islamic State of Afghanistan
Overthrown 2001 after 9/11 attacks

8. Osama bin Laden From a wealthy Yemeni family in S.A.
Aided Afghans to defeat Soviet forces
Formed “al Qaeda” against U.S. influence in Middle East, particularly S.A., heartland of Islam
1998 Attacks on U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania and 2000 on U.S.S. Cole
9/ attacks on World Trade Towers

9. Afghanistan now Government attempting reforms
Reemergence of regional warlords and Taliban
Osama bin Laden killed by US forces

10. Political Islam-Fundamentalism
Opposing westernizing leaders or policies
return to a “golden age” – overstressing traditional values
Ex. putting women back into veils a reactive form of modernism, often innovative and radical tactics:

11. Iran 1940s: Britain and USSR invaded to protect supply routes
: Iran closely allied with the U.S.
Iran was highly secularized and Westernized
Shah Muhammad Reza Pahlavi

12. Iranian Revolution 1979 Revolution to overthrow the regime of the Shah
Also a cultural revolution for “revolutionary Islam”
1979: Ayatollah Khomeini established Republic of Iran
: 55 Americans were held hostage

13. Iran now Nuclear ambitions? Upset or balance power vis á vis Israel?
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

14. Iraq 1918-32 British rule 1979 Saddam Hussein took power
Saddam suppressed opposition

15. Gulf War 1990 Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait
1991 put down by U.S.-led coalition
Weapons inspections and economic sanctions begin

16. America’s “war on terror”
9/11 attacks on World Trade Towers
1991: Northern Coalition topples Taliban in Afghanistan
2003 : Invasion of Iraq on charges of WMD and aiding and abetting terrorism

17. Iraq now
U.S. forces have been in Iraq longer than they fought in World War II
Over 3000 American forces have been killed. 1 in 16 American service personnel wounded
Sectarian violence between Sunni and Shia.
al Qaeda in Iraq.