6. THE COLD WAR
REACHES THE MIDDLE EAST
1940’s-1990’s: The United States vs. Soviet Union
for global control.
• Capitalism vs. Communism
• Proxy Wars (Congo, China, Vietnam, Korea, etc.)
7. MIDDLE EAST RESOURCES
-A Battle for Access to Resources.
-U.S. Goal: Protect the Middle East from Communist
Control.
8. STABILITY (OVER FREEDOM)
IN THE MIDDLE EAST
• The United States valued political stability, alliances (anyone
but the communists), and an open market for oil.
• Helped overthrow potential threats in the middle east and
helped put in place secular (non religious)
dictators/governments.
• Many of these leaders restricted freedoms in their
countries sand committed human rights violations to
maintain power.
(Mobutu: Congo) (Shah of Iran) (Mubarac: Egypt) (Hussein: Iraq) (Gaddafi: Libya)
9. THE SOVIET UNION IN
AFGHANISTAN
1979: The Soviet Union invades
Afghanistan to support the new Communist
Government.
10. MUJAHEDEEN
• “One who struggles on behalf of Islam”
• Guerilla militias who fought against Soviet involvement in
Afghanistan.
• Nationalistic in nature
• Led by Tribal Leaders
• Supported Islam’s role in society
• Had support from the United States Government/CIA
11. WHAT IS JIHAD?
This term, often associated with Islam and violence,
is open to interpretation. Scholars point out that
jihad, which literally means struggle or effort, has
two meanings. For the founder of Islam, the Prophet
Muhammad, the “great jihad” was the struggle
against one’s own moral shortcomings. The “little
jihad” was the struggle against the enemies of
Islam. Nevertheless, in recent years, the idea of jihad
and the term jihadist have been commonly used to
describe Muslim terrorists and extremists.
12. OSAMA BIN LADEN
• List important details about bin Laden’s background.
• What was his view on Islam?
• What was his view on the United States?
• What were his ultimate goals?
13. THE GULF WAR/OPERATION
DESERT STORM
1990: Iraq invades the small (oil rich) nation of Kuwait.
• Bin Laden offers to protect Saudi Arabia w/ the
Mujahedeen.
• Saudi leaders allow the US to stage troops and invade
Iraq instead.
15. AL QAEDA
“The Base”
• Formed by bin Laden in the late 1980’s.
• An organization of extremist militants who aim to rid Muslim
majority countries of U.S. influence and replace those
governments with a caliphate (a medieval term for an Islamic
state) that follows an extreme and intolerant interpretation of
Sunni Islam. (Sunnis are the largest sect of Islam.)
• Responsible for 9/11
16. THE TALIBAN
• An Islamic fundamentalist militant group that rose to power in
Afghanistan and formed a government during the 1990’s.
• Believe in Sharia Law (Strict rules from the Quran)
• Public Executions and Punishment.
• Strict Dress Codes for men & women.
• Restricted women’s rights.
• Lack of western influence.
17. THE TALIBAN &
AL QAEDA
The Taliban offered sanctuary to Bin Laden & Al Qaeda.
Al Qaeda promised military support and alliance.
Afghanistan became the unofficial home base for Al Qaeda
18. BIN LADEN DECLARES WAR
ON AMERICA
In 1996, Osama bin Laden declared war on the United States
and Israel.
19. 2002: BIN LADEN’S
“LETTER TO AMERICA”
-Attacks Muslim communities around the world (Somalia, Chechnya)
-Support of Israel.
-Support of corrupt and oppressive governments.
• Limiting Democracy around the Globe.
-Economic sanctions on Iraq.
-Military presence in Saudi Arabia.
-Exploitation of oil.
-A life style that violates the Quran: Drinking, Gambling, Separation of
Church & State, “exploitation” of women.
-Destruction of the environment.
-Limiting other countries’ access to weapons of mass destruction.
-Human Rights violations including Guantanamo Bay Prison.
-And many more…
20. 3 THREE’S IN A ROW
• To practice, test, and build your knowledge,
complete the 3x3 Boxes.
• Stand Up.
• You are the only person who can write on your
sheet.
• Ask one person each question (Initial) and
record their answer.
• Each box should be answered by a different
person.
• Discuss and work together to find all answers.
