Overview of Middle Eastern Countries
Syria
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Part of Ottoman Empire until 1918
French and British take over until 1947
Independence led to Civil War / Internal
Conflict
Ethnic and Religious divisions – 60% Arab
Sunni Muslim, 11% Alawites Shia Muslims,
9% Arab Christians, 8% Kurdish Sunni
Muslims
Syria Civil War
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1970 – Present Country ruled by Alawites
Shia Muslims – Bashir Al Assad dictatorship
Arab Spring began in 2010
Civil War- Sunni Rebels rise up against Assad
regime
Atrocities committed by both sides
Civil War continues
Radical Political Groups and
Militant/Insurgent Groups
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Hezbollah- Radical Shiite group founded by Iranians
influencing Lebanon, Syria, and Iran
Hamas- Extremist Sunni group involved in acts of terror and
politics pushing for Palestinian Nation
Al-Qaeda- Extremist Sunni Terrorist organization with cells
throughout the world
Taliban- Strict group of Sunni Muslims controlling parts of
Afghanistan
ISIS / ISIL- Islamic State of Iraq and the Syria /LevantExtremist Wahhabi Sunni Group
Afghanistan
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“A place where
empires go to die.”
Ethnic / religious
divisions
Difficult terrain and
climate
Long history of
conflict
Political Unrest in Afghanistan
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Towards end of Cold War
1979 invasion by Soviet
Union
U.S. covertly backs
Mujahideen- Strict Islamic
group of Afghani rebels
About 5-6 separate rebel
Afghani groups
1989 Mujahideen with CIA
backing forces Soviet
Union out
Vacuum of power led to
ethnic conflict / civil war
Foreign Assistance to Afghanistan
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U.S. Funding provided with help
of Congressman Charlie Wilson
Money and weapons funneled
through Israel, Egypt, Saudi
Arabia, and Pakistan (keep it a
Cold War)
Saudis including Bin Laden go
to Afghanistan for Jihad
Saudis matched U.S. financial
aid with private and gov’t
spending
Aid went directly to President
Zia of Pakistan and ISI
(Pakistan’s version of FBI and
CIA)
War in Afghanistan
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1996 Bin Laden moves to
Afghanistan
1998 Taliban emerges from
Civil War as government
Taliban aided by Bin
Laden and Al Qaeda
9/9/01 Ahmad Shah
Massoud (moderate)
assassinated by Taliban
9/11 attacks planned in
Afghanistan
2001 Taliban shelters Bin
Laden after 9/11
Current Conflict in Afghanistan
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2001 Taliban shelters
Osama bin Laden and
other members of AlQaeda
October 2001 U.S.
forces invade and help
establish new gov’t
Hamid Karzai emerges
as leader.
Current Conflict
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Taliban reemerges along Pakistani border
Corruption in Karzai administration
President Obama announces surge
Bin Laden killed in Pakistan
Hearts & Minds / Afghanization
Map of the Disputed Area
Iran (Shia majority)
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Europeans fought over oil
in early 1900s
1950-1970s Reza Shah
encouraged westernization
leads to his exile
1979 Iranian Hostage
Crisis, Ayatollah Khomeini
emerged as leader
1986 Iran Contra Scandal
Currently tension between
U.S. and Iran over Iraq and
policies of current leader
Mahmoud Ahmedinejad,
Background of Saudi Arabia
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Birthplace of Islam
1916 Great Britain
encourages
independence from
Ottoman Empire
1936 Oil discovered
and the Saudi Royal
Family builds ties with
U.S. and Europe
Current Issues in Saudi Arabia
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1990s Sided with U.S.
and Kuwait against
Iraq during Persian
Gulf War
Currently maintains
strong economic ties
with U.S.
Growing problems
with Muslim extremists
and terrorist groups
Current Issues
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Al Saud family
possesses all political
power
Strict censorship / No
political parties
Osama bin Laden
originally from Saudi
Arabia
Majority of 9/11
hijackers from Saudi
Arabia