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
Why is the U.S. so ‘interested’?
Lets take a closer look….
• Iraq
• Persian Gulf War
• Afghanistan
The 1st Persian Gulf War
• Also called OPERATION DESERT STORM
• During the video- Write down:
– When was it?
– What was the cause?
– Who was involved?
– How did it end?
• UNIT 1C US INVOLVEMENT IN ME
OPERATION DESERT STORM VIDEO
Commander_in_Chief__Inside_the_Oval_Off
ice__The_Gulf_War.wmv
Persian Gulf War
• USA has had interest in
Iraq since 1990…
– 1990 Iraq invaded Kuwait
(Persian Gulf War)
– Saddam Hussein wanted
control over Kuwait's oil
fields
– Saddam wanted more
access to Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf War
• The United States
responded as an ally of
Kuwait.
– To prevent Saddam Hussein
from having power/ oil.
• Along with other nations,
USA recaptured Kuwait in
1991.
– Operation Desert Storm
– Air attacks and ground
forces forced Iraqis out of
Kuwait
Persian Gulf War
• Before leaving
Kuwait Iraqi forces
set fire to oil rigs
causing an
immense amount
of economic
damage to
Kuwait's Oil
industry.
Analyze the Cartoon
1.How does it relate to the standard and
element?
2.Explain the symbolism of the cartoon.
United Nations Responds
• The United Nations (UN)
imposed a trade embargo
when Iraq invaded Kuwait.
– This prevented Iraq from
exporting goods
– Remained even after the Persian
Gulf War
• The U.N. would leave when WMD
destroyed…
– UN inspection left in 1998
• 85% were destroyed
• Some believed Hussein was
hiding WMDs.
Afghanistan: First Stop in the War
on Terror
• Taliban on the rise in
Afghanistan
– An extreme religious
sect of Islam
• The Anti- American
Taliban sheltered Al
Qaeda terrorist group.
– Leader: Osama bin
Laden
Taliban/ Al Qaeda: Attack on
America
• September 11th, 2001
– Terrorist Attack on USA
• World Trade Center, Pentagon
• US government held bin
Laden responsible
– Considered attack as an act of
war
United States Responds- Invasion of Afghanistan
• November 2001-Operation
Enduring Freedom
– US ground forces entered
Afghanistan to disarm the
Taliban and find bin Laden
– At first efforts were successful
and US was helping rebuild new
democracy in Afghanistan.
• Osama bin Laden was
eventually found and
executed; The Taliban has
retreated to Pakistan and still
attacks Afghanistan
– Suicide bombers
– Roadside bombs
– Attacks on US and international
military posts
Invasion of Iraq- Operation Iraqi
Freedom
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
ANSWER DURING THE VIDEO:
When was it?
What was the cause?
Who was involved?
When did it end?
How did it end?
UNIT 1C US INVOLVEMENT IN ME
Operation_Iraqi_Freedom VIDEO
CLIP.wmv
Back to Iraq: Invasion of Iraq
• After UN inspection, some US
leaders still believed Saddam
Hussein had WMDs.
– 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
• Temporary government was
put in place until constitution
was written.
• Still have roadside bombs, attacks
on US forces, unemployment,
civilian deaths and injuries, and
Sunni/ Shia battles (civil war)
• 2005 Iraqis took part in free
elections to establish its
democratic government.
– US gov’t plans to keep minimal
number troops in Iraq until Iraqi
police and soldiers can keep
country stable.
Review
•
Put these in the right order on your
paper…
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
US ground forces landed in Afghanistan
Taliban rebuilds forces in Pakistan
Terrorist attack of September 11th 2001
Taliban rises in power in Afghanistan
The United Sates helps form a new
government in Afghanistan
Quick Review
1. The UN inspection team left Iraq in _____.
2. After the UN inspection team left Iraq, some
American leaders were concerned that Iraq still
had __________________.
3. Military forces from the US, Britain, and other
countries invaded Iraq in ________.
4. _________ was captured, tried, and sentenced
to death.
5. Battles still rage between _______ and ______
Muslims.
6. Iraqis voted in free elections in ________.
Quick Quiz
1. In 1990 Iraq invaded:
a. Iran
b. Saudi Arabia
c. Kuwait
2. Which country led the international coalition invading
Iraq in 1991?
a. USA
b. Israel
c. Iran
3. Who imposed a trade embargo against Iraq?
a. UN
b. USA
c. OPEC
4. A UN inspection team was in Iraq for seven years
finding and destroying these…
a. Oil Fields
b. Helicopters
c. WMDs