Conflict: Afghanistan and Iraq GH2/Napp
Do Now:
“Among them was the young Osama bin Laden, a wealthy Saudi Arab, who created an organization, al-Qaeda (meaning ‘the base’) in Arabic) to funnel fighters and funds to the Afghan resistance. At the time, Bin Laden and the Americans were on the same side, both opposing Soviet expansion into Afghanistan, but they soon parted ways. Returning to his home in Saudi Arabia, bin Laden became disillusioned and radicalized when the government of his country allowed the stationing of ‘infidel’ U.S. troops in Islam’s holy land during and after the first American war against Iraq in 1991. By the mid-1990s, he had found a safe haven in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, from which he and other leaders of al-Qaeda planned their now infamous attack on the World Trade Center and other targets. Although they had no standing as Muslim clerics, in 1998 they issued a fatwa, religious edict, declaring war on America.” ~ Ways of the World
Questions:
1- Who was Osama bin Laden and why was he significant? ______
2- What is al-Qaeda? ______
3- Why did Osama bin Laden become disillusioned and radicalized? ______
4- Where did Osama bin Laden find a safe haven? ______
5- What is a fatwa? ______
Notes:
I. Afghanistan
A. 1973, king deposed
B. New ruler relied on support of communists
1-Towards end of reign, purged communists
C. Communist takeover in 1978
D. Soviets invaded in 1979 and occupied until 1989
1-To protect Communist regime
E. Mujahidin formed to combat Communists
1-One group within this rebel coalition was the Islamic
Fundamentalist group known as the Taliban
F. Taliban gained control of 90% of country
1-Oppressive rules for women
2-Overthrown by U.S. forces after 9/11 due to Taliban’s protection of
bin Laden
3-Fighting continues
II. Iraq
A. Sadaam Hussein ruled Iraq from 1979-2003
B. Invaded Kuwait in 1990
1-Defeated in Persian Gulf War
C. Continued to develop nuclear weapons
D. U.S. attacked after 9/11
E. 2003, Sadaam was captured, brought to trial, and executed
Questions:
1- What happened in Afghanistan in 1979?
2- Why did the Soviets invade Afghanistan?
3- What was the Mujahidin?
4- Why did the United States support the Mujahidin?
5- How did the Cold War affect Afghanistan?
6- Who were the Taliban?
7- What happened in Afghanistan after the civil war?
8- Why did the United States invade Afghanistan?
9- Who was Saddam Hussein and why was he significant?
10- Why did the United States invade Iraq?
11- What happened to Saddam Hussein in 2003?
1. In August 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait. The United Nations response led to the Persian Gulf War of 1991. This response is an example of(1) détente
(2) empire building
(3) totalitarianism
(4) collective security
2. The governments of Augusto Pinochet, Saddam Hussein, and Slobodan Milosevic are examples of
(1) absolute monarchies
(2) oppressive regimes
(3) democratic republics
(4) Islamic theocracies
3. In Iran, both the Revolution of 1979 and the rise of Islamic fundamentalism have caused
(1) an increase in women’s rights
(2) tension between traditionalism and modernization to continue
(3) foreign control of natural resources to expand
(4) the introduction of a communist form of government
4. Most of the world’s known oil reserves are located near which geographic area?
(1) Persian Gulf
(2) North Sea
(3) Ural Mountains
(4) Gulf of Mexico
5. One way in which Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini and Afghanistan’s Taliban were similar is that they each
(1) established an Islamic state
(2) sponsored a United Nations Conference on Women’s Rights
(3) joined the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
(4) incorporated communist doctrine into their government / 6. • The people of Kashmir demand separation from India.
• The people of East Timor vote for independence from Indonesia.
• The Tibetans resent control of their country by China.
• The Kurds want to establish their own independent state of Kurdistan.
These statements are examples of the efforts of different peoples to achieve
(1) free-market systems
(2) democratic governments
(3) social equality
(4) self-determination
7. A major goal of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in world affairs is to
(1) encourage development of alternative energy sources
(2) promote international free trade
(3) provide funds for the World Bank
(4) regulate oil policies
8. ". . . The split arose from a dispute over who should succeed the Prophet Muhammad after his death in A.D. 632. Some followers believed his successor should be chosen by tribal consensus, and they named one of Muhammad’s inner circle as the first caliph, or spiritual leader. But others thought the successor should come directly from the Prophet’s family, namely his cousin and son-in- law Ali. . . ."
Source: National Geographic, June 2004
The situation described in this passage led to the
(1) pogroms in Russia
(2) fall of Constantinople
(3) division of Sunnis and Shiites
(4) tensions between Protestants and Catholics