Middle EastMiddle East

Friendship & ConflictsFriendship & Conflicts

IslamIslam

Followers: MuslimsFollowers: Muslims oneness with Allahoneness with Allah

Last prophet: MuhammadLast prophet: Muhammad wrote Qur’an from angel, Gabrielwrote Qur’an from angel, Gabriel

Muhammad (main prophet) died… successor???Muhammad (main prophet) died… successor??? Shi’aShi’a

Muhammad ordained his cousinMuhammad ordained his cousin 10-20% of world’s population of Muslims10-20% of world’s population of Muslims

Sunni Sunni father of Muhammad’s wife was rightful father of Muhammad’s wife was rightful

successor, according to Qur’ansuccessor, according to Qur’an 80-90% of world’s population of Muslims80-90% of world’s population of Muslims

JihadJihad

religious duty of Muslims to struggle & religious duty of Muslims to struggle & strive in the way of Godstrive in the way of God

people who carry out jihad: mujahideen people who carry out jihad: mujahideen HOLY WAR with those who are HOLY WAR with those who are

unbelievers in the vision of Muhammadunbelievers in the vision of Muhammad does not have to be through military mightdoes not have to be through military might stems from the Crusades in the 11stems from the Crusades in the 11thth C C

Saudi Arabia, Yemen (A)Saudi Arabia, Yemen (A) Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia

relationship began in 1931; gain control of oil relationship began in 1931; gain control of oil reserves; military relationship; Arabian people reserves; military relationship; Arabian people want to sever ties because of cultural want to sever ties because of cultural differencesdifferences

YemenYemen diplomatic relations started in 1946; send at diplomatic relations started in 1946; send at

least $100 million of U.S. aid & least $100 million of U.S. aid & weapons/training since 1990’s; relationship has weapons/training since 1990’s; relationship has improved; partner in War on Terror, but lax on improved; partner in War on Terror, but lax on enforcementenforcement

Israel (A)Israel (A) helped create Jewish Homeland after helped create Jewish Homeland after

WWII, gave aid ever sinceWWII, gave aid ever since $3billion/year since 1990’s$3billion/year since 1990’s Israeli-Arab WarIsraeli-Arab War

1948 set up Israel as a state & upset its 1948 set up Israel as a state & upset its neighborsneighbors

Bias or Strategic?Bias or Strategic? Obama Administration gave Israel an Obama Administration gave Israel an

ultimatum to cooperate with Palestine or ultimatum to cooperate with Palestine or not receive aidnot receive aid

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Is-wb-gs-gh_v3.png

Palestine (E)Palestine (E)

U.S. doesn’t recognize Palestine as an U.S. doesn’t recognize Palestine as an independent stateindependent state

PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) began in 1970sbegan in 1970s

U.S. urging Palestine-Israel peace talksU.S. urging Palestine-Israel peace talks Obama Administration pledged support Obama Administration pledged support

of a Palestinian stateof a Palestinian state but will we lose our friendship with but will we lose our friendship with

Israel?Israel?

Egypt (A)Egypt (A)

agrees to peace with Israel agrees to peace with Israel (Moses) in 1974(Moses) in 1974

between 1979-2003, Egypt between 1979-2003, Egypt receives $50billion in receives $50billion in military & economic aidmilitary & economic aid

Egyptian military Egyptian military cooperates with U.S., War cooperates with U.S., War on Terror, persuaded other on Terror, persuaded other Arab countries to make Arab countries to make peace with U.S.peace with U.S.

Recently, tension bc Egypt Recently, tension bc Egypt won’t send troops to won’t send troops to Afghanistan & IraqAfghanistan & Iraq

Libya, Syria Libya, Syria (Sanctions)(Sanctions)

LibyaLibya supported independence in 1951, but Gadhafi took supported independence in 1951, but Gadhafi took

over and our relationship soured (supported over and our relationship soured (supported international terrorism); once WMDs were international terrorism); once WMDs were removed from their country, relationship improved removed from their country, relationship improved until 2011 Civil War until 2011 Civil War Gadhafi overthrown Gadhafi overthrown

SyriaSyria tense relationship since 1944, CIA coup attempt to tense relationship since 1944, CIA coup attempt to

overthrow Syrian president, relations were overthrow Syrian president, relations were severed again after Israeli-Arab War; during Gulf severed again after Israeli-Arab War; during Gulf War, Syria cooperated with U.S. & assisted in the War, Syria cooperated with U.S. & assisted in the War on Terror; but did not support Iraq War; War on Terror; but did not support Iraq War; protects Palestine; wants WMDs; “safe-haven for protects Palestine; wants WMDs; “safe-haven for terrorists”terrorists”

Iraq (EIraq (EA)A)

1968, CIA supported coup to overthrow 1968, CIA supported coup to overthrow General’s regime by Ba’ath party, Hussein General’s regime by Ba’ath party, Hussein assumed power 10 years later by killing all assumed power 10 years later by killing all opponentsopponents

Gulf WarGulf War 1990s, Hussein tried to overthrow 1990s, Hussein tried to overthrow

KashmeirKashmeir War in IraqWar in Iraq

WMDsWMDs people overthrew and UN killed Husseinpeople overthrew and UN killed Hussein rebuilding the nationrebuilding the nation

Pakistan (A/E?)Pakistan (A/E?) Indo-Pakistani War 1965, Indo-Pakistani War 1965,

U.S. did not provide U.S. did not provide Pakistan with military Pakistan with military support as pledged support as pledged Pakistanis no longer trust Pakistanis no longer trust U.S.U.S.

key supporter of the Talibankey supporter of the Taliban under pressure from U.S., under pressure from U.S.,

joined War on Terrorjoined War on Terror arrested 500 Al Qaeda arrested 500 Al Qaeda

membersmembers since 2001, received since 2001, received

$10billion in aid$10billion in aid 1000s+ of soldiers & 1000s+ of soldiers &

civilians killed civilians killed Osama Bin Laden hid in Osama Bin Laden hid in

housing complex 2011housing complex 2011

Iran (E)Iran (E) relations began 1850’s; during WWII, Iran was relations began 1850’s; during WWII, Iran was

invaded by UK & USSR; Iranian leader invaded by UK & USSR; Iranian leader overthrown by CIA coup, relationship with the overthrown by CIA coup, relationship with the Shah (new leader) good until 1979Shah (new leader) good until 1979

Iran Revolution & Hostage Crisis – rebelled Iran Revolution & Hostage Crisis – rebelled against Shah (U.S. puppet) & replaced with against Shah (U.S. puppet) & replaced with Islamic Republic (new leader: Ayatollah Islamic Republic (new leader: Ayatollah Khomeini) enforcing their cultural beliefs; Khomeini) enforcing their cultural beliefs; occupied American embassy until U.S. agreed occupied American embassy until U.S. agreed to withdraw a hand in their govt.; but Iran lost to withdraw a hand in their govt.; but Iran lost business relations (billions in assets)business relations (billions in assets)

Iran-Iraq War – we armed Iraq, but condemned Iran-Iraq War – we armed Iraq, but condemned their war tactic of mustard gas; in turn Iran their war tactic of mustard gas; in turn Iran bombed U.S. embassy;bombed U.S. embassy;

Iran Contra Affair – Reagan sold weapons to Iran Contra Affair – Reagan sold weapons to Iran, profits funded Contras (anti-communist Iran, profits funded Contras (anti-communist groups)groups)

2005 Ahmadinejad becomes President, 2005 Ahmadinejad becomes President, “reelected” in 2009“reelected” in 2009

Afghanistan (E)Afghanistan (E)

diplomatic relations began in 1934; revolution in 1978 diplomatic relations began in 1934; revolution in 1978 overthrew the president & Soviets invaded Afghanistan overthrew the president & Soviets invaded Afghanistan with communist rulewith communist rule

U.S. sent aid to Afghanistan to fight U.S.S.R. & U.S. sent aid to Afghanistan to fight U.S.S.R. & communism; they won & put in Taliban govt. (Islamic communism; they won & put in Taliban govt. (Islamic fundamentalist politico-religious movement); Taliban fundamentalist politico-religious movement); Taliban attacked Iran, but UN stopped a warattacked Iran, but UN stopped a war

Northern Alliance - aka United Islamist Front – all ethnic Northern Alliance - aka United Islamist Front – all ethnic groups uniting to fight the Pashtun Taliban (Tajiks, groups uniting to fight the Pashtun Taliban (Tajiks, Hazaras, Uzbeks, Turkmen); we support the UFHazaras, Uzbeks, Turkmen); we support the UF Hazara (Shi’a) vs. Pashtun (Sunni)Hazara (Shi’a) vs. Pashtun (Sunni)

9/11 – Osama bin Laden & al Qaeda (Islamic terrorist 9/11 – Osama bin Laden & al Qaeda (Islamic terrorist organization) living there: Operation Enduring Freedomorganization) living there: Operation Enduring Freedom

Guantanamo BayGuantanamo Bay

in Cubain Cuba hold detainees from War in Iraq & hold detainees from War in Iraq &

War on TerrorWar on Terror Open since 2002Open since 2002