1. The United States interest in the Middle East
SS7H2d. Explain US presence and interest in Southwest Asia; include the Persian Gulf conflict and invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq

2. What's so Interesting???
In your notes, quickly write down 3 reasons why you think the United States would have interest in the Middle East..

3. Lets take a closer look….
Iraq
Persian Gulf War
Afghanistan

4. Persian Gulf War 1990 Iraq invaded Kuwait
- Reasons: Saddam Hussein wanted control over Kuwait's oil fields and more access to Persian Gulf

5. Persian Gulf War The U.S. responded as an ally of Kuwait.
Reason: to prevent Saddam from having power/ oil.
US and other nations reclaimed Kuwait in 1991.
Called: Operation Desert Storm
Air attacks and ground forces forced Iraqis out of Kuwait

6. Persian Gulf War
Before leaving Kuwait, Iraqi forces set fire to oil rigs causing a lot of economic damage to Kuwait's oil industry.
85% were destroyed

7. United Nations Responds
The UN placed embargos on Iraq when they invaded Kuwait.
They remained even after the Persian Gulf War
Removed when Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) were destroyed…
UN inspection team left in 1998
Some believed Hussein was hiding WMDs.

8. Taliban/ Al Qaeda: Attack on America
September 11th, 2001
Terrorist Attack on USA
World Trade Center, Pentagon
US government held Osama bin Laden responsible
Considered attack as an act of war

9. Afghanistan: First Stop in the War on Terror
Taliban: an extreme religious sect of Islam
The Anti- American Taliban sheltered Al Qaeda terrorist group.
Leader: Osama bin Laden

10. United Sates responds Bin Laden was found and killed May 2, 2011
November 2001
US ground forces entered Afghanistan to disarm the Taliban and find bin Laden
Taliban has retreated to Pakistan and still attacks Afghanistan
Suicide bombers
Roadside bombs
Attacks on US and international military posts
Bin Laden was found and killed May 2, 2011

11. Back to Iraq
After UN inspection, some US leaders still believed Saddam Hussein had WMD.
Saddam didn’t comply with inspectors.
2003 US, Britain, and other countries invaded Iraq.
Iraqi government fell and the war was over in less than 2 mos.
Hussein was captured, tried, and put to death

12. Back to Iraq
Temporary government was put in place until constitution was written.
2005 Iraqis took part of free elections to establish its democratic government.
December 2011: American forces withdrew from Iraq

13. Quick Review The UN inspection team left Iraq in _____.
After the UN inspection team left Iraq, some American leaders were concerned that Iraq still had __________________.
Military forces from the US, Britain, and other countries invaded Iraq in ________.
_________ was captured, tried, and sentenced to death.
Battles still rage between _______ and ______ Muslims.
Iraqis voted in free elections in ________.

14. Quick Quiz In 1990 Iraq invaded:
Iran b. Saudi Arabia c. Kuwait
Which country led the international coalition invading Iraq in 1991?
USA b. Israel c. Iran
Who imposed a trade embargo against Iraq?
UN b. USA c. OPEC
A UN inspection team was in Iraq for seven years finding and destroying these…
a. Oil Fields b. Helicopters c. weapons