CONFLICT IN

THE

MIDDLE EAST

The Taliban

(Political Group)

-Sunni Islamist group

that ruled most of

Afghanistan from

1996 to 2001

The Taliban was supported by some of the religious schools of

Pakistan.

Only three countries ever

recognized it as the

government: Pakistan,

Saudi Arabia &

United Arab Emirates.

It is mostly known for their brutal treatment of women

Women are forced to wear a burka in public.

The Goal

Get Muslim countries

to live as the Prophet

Muhammad did

Mullah Omar was the first leader of the Taliban who was

selected from the Bay’ah (the imitation of the Prophet)

Al-Qaeda

(Terrorist Group)

Founded in 1988

Founded &

led by

Osama

Bin Laden

GOAL OF AL-QAEDA

To end the foreign influences in Muslim

countries, destroy Israel, topple pro-western

governments in the M.E. and create a new

Islamic Caliphate.

Bin Laden was very Anti-Jewish

Al Qaeda will continue to kill civilians and

military until the U.S. withdraw from Islamic

Countries and withdraw support from Israel

•After September 11, 2001: The United States went to

war with Al-Qaeda called the WAR ON TERRORISM

that is still going on today.

What are they doing now?

Operation Neptune Spear

Mission Results

Success!

Burial at sea

Praised by NATO & UN

Al-Qaeda vows revenge

What happened in

Iraq?

Saddam Hussein

President of Iraq from 1979 to 2003

Linked to CIA to help get power in 1963

A promoter of anti-communism

Gave women added freedoms and jobs

Created a western-style legal system;

Only country in Persian Gulf region not ruling with

the Sharia (Islamic Law)

Persian Gulf War “Operation Desert Storm”

January to February, 1991

USA helped Kuwait fight off Iraq

Major air campaign weakens military

Ground coalition to finish defeat of Iraq

Post Desert Storm

Saddam stays in power

Revenge against Kurds and Shia for rebelling

Ethnic cleansing against Kurds –180,000

Operation Iraqi Freedom

War between

Iraq and the

U.S. began

on March 20,

2003

Rationale for the

invasion by the United

States: Iraq had

developed Weapons of

Mass Destruction

Other Reasons

Suicide Bombers

Human right violations

Oil Reserves

U.S.’s Goal

To Spread Democracy

Saddam is ousted from power.

Dec. 30, 2006 Executed at Camp Justice in

Baghdad for crimes against humanity.

Celebration

The Fighting Continues

Insurgents resistance to

U.S. occupation makes

transition of power to the

new gov’t difficult.