The United States' relationship with the Middle East has been shaped by centuries of religious, political, and military conflicts between Western and Islamic powers. Key events included the Crusades, the decline of the Ottoman Empire after WWI and the establishment of nation states, and the Arab-Israeli conflict over religious claims to Jerusalem and Israel. In the late 20th century, the U.S. supported anti-Soviet mujahideen in Afghanistan and Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq war, angering Osama bin Laden. The 9/11 terrorist attacks prompted the U.S. to launch the War on Terror, beginning with the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. However, the legacy and outcomes of U

1. War on Terror:
The United State’s history
with the Middle East
By Jeremy Stevenson
EDTECH 541

2. Learning Targets
Students can explain the historical events that shaped the
U.S.’s relationship with countries in the Middle East.
Students can explain how the concept of “The enemy of
my enemy is my friend.” influenced many of the U.S.’s
decisions in the Middle East.
Students can explain how “National Self Interest”
influences the the U.S.’s choice to get involved in a region.

3. Introduction
9/11
It’s complicated
It’s messy
It goes way back
But…it can be understood!

4. Bin Laden’s Post 9/11 Press
Release
“To America….I swear by God….. neither
America nor the people who live in it will
dream of security before we live it in
Palestine, and not before all the infidel
armies leave the land of Muhammad….”

5. The Middle East

6. What event in AD 600 changed
the Middle East forever?
Muhammad’s Vision
The Koran
Islam unites Arabs
Islamic Empires

7. What was the Political state of the
Middle East from AD 700-1917?
Arab Empires
Abbasid
Umayyad
Fatimids
Turkic Empires
Seljuk
Ottoman
All Islamic Empires Click on image to view the History of Empires

8. Crusades influence relations
between “the West” & the
Middle East?
1096-1272: 200 Years of
Killing
Stealing
Raping
Cannibalism
Between
Western Christians
Mid-Eastern Muslims

9. What happened to the Middle
East after WWI?
Before WWI After WWI

10. Independence in the Middle
East

11. Arab Israeli Conflict:
Religious Claims 2000 BC
Ishmael vs. Isaac
Diaspora 800 BC – 170 AD
Zionism 1897
The UN 1947 Ruling

12. The UN & US side with Israel

13. The Israeli Side

14. The Palestinian (Arab) Side

15. Osama Bin Laden
Birth Place:
Family Background:
Education:
Original Occupation:
Final Occupation:

16. Afghanistan vs. U.S.S.R.
1979-1989
The Cold War
Russia Invaded
Afghanistan
U.S. supported the
Mujahedeen

17. Osama Bin Laden joined the
Mujahedeen

18. Iran & Iraq 1980-1988
Shah of Iran 1941-1979
Iranian Revolution 1979
US Hostages 1979
(Click on Link for more details)
Iraq proposed a War
(Click on image for more pictures)

19. U.S. Supported Iraq

20. The Gulf War 1990-1991
Iraq invaded Kuwait
(Click on link to see complete
timeline)
Iraq threatened Saudi
Arabia
U.S. forced Iraq out of
Kuwait
(Click Image for a link to a PBS Documentary)

21. Saudi Arabia’s Other Option
Bin Laden offered the
Mujahedeen
Bin Laden said the U.S.
would never leave
The Saudi Gov. opted for
the U.S. Military

22. Post Gulf War
US No-Fly Zones over Iraq
U.S. Troops stationed in:
Kuwait
Saudi Arabia

23. Terrorist Incidents against the
U.S. prior to 9/11
1993 WTC
1995 U.S. Barracks in
Saudi Arabia
1998 U.S. Embassy
Bombings
2000 U.S.S. Cole Attack

24. 9/11
World Trade Center
Pentagon
Flight 93

25. War on Terrorism
2001-Present
Afghanistan
Terrorist Cells around the
world
Iraq?

26. Liberating Iraq
War Behind Close Doors
(Click on link to watch PBS Documentary)
Why didn’t they welcome us
as liberators?
Is the U.S. better off today?
(Click on the link for answers)

27. What Now?
Did the War on Terror begin
on 9/11?
Did we win the War on
Terror?
Where do we go from
here?

28. Image References
Twin Towers:http://totallycoolpix.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10092011_remembering_9_11/nyc_029.jpg
The Middle East: http://syria360.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/before.jpg
The Kabah: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/files/2013/06/kaaba.jpg
Islamic Empires: http://pics.livejournal.com/mwgm/pic/000057r3
The Crusades: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MSkUbEk4HG0/UAOolYmRa-
I/AAAAAAAAC3I/XsC7qyzZ5fM/s1600/bloody+crusade.jpg
Before WWI: http://lostislamichistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Ottoman_Empire_1914_h.png
After WWI: http://fanack.com/uploads/pics/syria_sykes-picot_map_02.jpg
Independence in the Middle East: http://ocw.nd.edu/arabic-and-middle-east-studies/islamic-societies-of-the-middle-east-and-
north-africa-religion-history-and-culture/Images/european-colonialism-in-the-middle-east
Tank vs. Boy:https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcToO1kGE6llWzQlIG4HevRniv0GZCZnRKj0Yj6tb6I-
7yOHJcZRFA
Map of Israel and Palestine: https://encrypted-
tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRd3Ikx6cXFWss2mSiScenlfWdcQ9I9tiSCtnl9wpavH5PjlPm4

29. Image References
Osama Bin Laden: http://www.biography.com/imported/images/Biography/Images/Profiles/B/Osama-bin-Laden-37172-2-raw.jpg
Russian Invasion: http://bit.ly/P9Cehx
Bin Laden in Afghanistan: http://www.thiscantbehappening.net/sites/default/files/images/OsamaBinLaden.jpeg
Iran Iraq War: http://bit.ly/Vcr3U1
Rumsfeld & Saddam: http://therealrevo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Rumsfeld-Saddam.jpg
The Gulf War: https://encrypted-
tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRdBiclMY56U4Uxsf58_UspRntln8RY9u4x4hBfyoDb6eExIiS6Zw
Mujahedeen: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRngyJVcakLtyRRfWZxBFp4k_AG-z-
jOD74auHqyXQSd9di6jWIYw
Iraq No Fly Zone: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/images/020930-d-6570c-006.jpg
US Embassy Bombing: http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_606w/2010-
2019/WashingtonPost/2011/05/02/Foreign/Images/Embassies-edit-07.JPG

30. Image References
9/11 Collage: http://www.newslincolncounty.com/wp-
content/uploads/2013/09/911.collage.jpg
Invasion of Afghanistan: http://joshuaphilipp.com/wp-
content/uploads/2011/05/AfghanWar_SpecialTroopBattalion.jpg
US Invasion of Iraq:
http://www.dailyherald.com/storyimage/DA/20130320/NEWS/703209753/AR/0/AR-
703209753.jpg&maxw=552&maxh=370&Q=70&&updated=
Bin Laden Dead: https://encrypted-
tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSuda09ZqFyOQhX1oAyGDZjJxE6A9P0YWjbQi3X
EY-XZZ4xz6No

31. Information References
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/oct/07/afghanistan.terrorism15
http://www.mapsofwar.com/ind/imperial-history.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crusades
Israel Video: http://youtu.be/KGs75M5LpPc
http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/15/world/meast/iran-hostage-crisis-fast-facts/index.html
Iran Iraq War: http://conflictiran.blogspot.com/2006/04/iran-iraq-war-pictures.html
PBS Frontline: The Gulf War http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/gulf/
Gulf War Timeline: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/gulf/cron/
PBS Frontline: The War Behind Closed Doors http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/iraq/
The Iraq War is over. Now What? http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/iraq-war-on-terror/the-iraq-war-is-over-
now-what/