The Iraq Wars
Transcript of The Iraq Wars
The Wars in Iraq
Ethnic Group
s in Iraq
Film
The Rise of Saddam Hussein(1937 - 2006)
Born in Tikrit: Tribal societyPeasant family with influential army relatives.Joined Baath Party at 20.Aided in failed assassination of Qasim in 1959 and forced to flee
to Syria and Egypt.In 1963, the Baath Party successfully overthrew the government and took
power which allowed Saddam to return to Iraq from exile.
A Cult of Personality• 1976, the Baath Party again gained power, Saddam rose to General in the military.
• On July 16, 1979, the president of Iraq resigned and Saddam officially took the position.• Saddam Hussein ruled Iraq with a brutal hand, using fear and terror to stay in power.
A Cult of Personality
Oil Fields in Iraq
The Kurdish Problem
The Anfal Campaign: Kurdish Genocide
From February 23 to September 6, 1988, Saddam Hussein's regime carried out the Anfal (Arabic for "spoils") campaign against the large Kurdish population in northern Iraq.
The purpose was to reassert Iraqi control over the area and to permanently eliminate the Kurds.
Men were shot and buried in mass graves. The women, children, and elderly were taken to relocation camps where conditions were deplorable. In a few areas, everyone was killed.
Hundreds of thousands of Kurds fled the area, yet it is estimated that up to 182,000 were killed during the Anfal campaign. Many people consider the Anfal campaign an attempt at genocide.
Gassing the Kurds
1987: The Iraqis used chemical weapons to remove Kurds from their villages in northern Iraq during the Anfal campaign. It is estimated that chemical
weapons were used on approximately 40 Kurdish villages killing 5,000 women, men, and children.
Ali Hasa al-Majid(“Chemical Ali”)
Persian Gulf War
Iraq had long ago claimed the land of KuwaitRich deposits of oil are on the border and Iraq claimed that Kuwaiti oil rigs were illegally tapping into Iraqi oil fields
Invasion of Kuwait
Conflict Occurs:1. In August 1990, Saddam Hussein of Iraq invaded Kuwait and seized its oil fields2. The UN demands Iraq's withdrawal from Kuwait; Hussein refuses3. UN forces led by American General Norman Schwarzkopf land in Saudi Arabia
UN Security Council Resolution UN Security Council Resolution 678678
(authorized military force to be used against Iraq.)(authorized military force to be used against Iraq.)
Operation Desert Storm
4. Operation Desert Storm begins on January 17, 1991
U.S. President George H.W. Bush
Attempt to Escalate the War
Israel & Saudi Arabia:Fear of bio-chemical
attacks.
The Scud Missile!
Attempt to Keep Israel
Out of the War
The Patriot Missile!
Kuwait is Liberated
5. UN coalition of 28 nations drove Iraq out of Kuwait (March 3, 1991-Iraq accepts cease-fire)
Film ClipIraqi soldiers surrender
UN forces have to protect an Iraqi minority, the Kurds. UN has to make sure Iraq is dismantling their facilities for nuclear, chemical, and biological
weapons
Continuing Problems
400 Oil Fields were set on fire by Iraqi Troops
Economic sanctions were imposed Dec. 1998 President Clinton suspected Iraq of stockpiling weapons and ordered the
bombing of military installations.
• Under continual monitoring and sanctions since the end of the Persian Gulf War, intelligence reports from U.S. sources sited Saddam Hussein’s attempts and possible manufacture of weapons of mass destruction.
• After U.S. claims of Iraqi violations of various UN resolutions, Congress authorizes President Bush to commence a preemptive attack on Iraq.
• The US turns to the United Nations for support, but it is not received. The UN is skeptical of claims of Iraq having weapons of mass destruction.
•The US starts the war in March, 2003 and President Bush declares Mission Accomplished in May 2003
President George W. Bush lands on board President George W. Bush lands on board the USS Abraham Lincoln (May, 2003)the USS Abraham Lincoln (May, 2003)
Anti-War Protestors
•Saddam Hussein is in hiding, but captured in December 2003•After more than 3 years of extensive searching, no WMD’s are found in Iraq.
Saddam Is Captured!
December, December, 20032003
• Saddam HusseinSaddam Hussein was held prisoner by the United States and was was held prisoner by the United States and was put on trial by Iraqi Government. put on trial by Iraqi Government.
• Saddam Hussein was executed in December of 2006.Saddam Hussein was executed in December of 2006.
•Democratic elections were held in January 2005. Some Sunnis boycotted.•The majority Shi’ite now hold power along with the Kurds. •The new government (Iraqi National Assembly) wrote a constitution for Iraq in 2005.
Former Baathists and foreign Former Baathists and foreign terrorists terrorists
(Al-Qaida, etc.)(Al-Qaida, etc.)• Insurgents, those opposed to the overthrow of Hussein and the American occupation
of Iraq, continue to commit attacks against US soldiers and Iraqi military.
A Growing Insurgency
• President George Bush orders increase of 20,000 more U.S. Troops to aggressively clear out neighborhoods with insurgents: It was a success
The U.S. Surge: 2007
4000+ American Casualties
Pulling U.S. Troops out of Iraq
• President Barack Obama pulled the last remaining troops from Iraq in December 2011 and declared victory for the United States and the Iraqi people.
The Rise of ISIS
Analyze the Causes and Effects
• Diverse Nation• Conquered in past by:–Persians, Romans, Ottomans, British
• Won Independence from Great Britain in 1919• 1978 Civil War
1979 Soviet Invasion Beat USSR in 89’ w/ USA aid
1989 – 1996 – Civil War Taliban wins
Taliban “seekers of knowledge” govt. in power•Harsh & repressive government•Radical Muslims•Drug Trade (Heroin) FamineExtreme Poverty
1989-1996: Civil War won by the Taliban, Islamic FundamentalistsTaliban “seekers of knowledge” govt. in power
Harsh & repressive governmentRadical MuslimsDrug Trade (Heroin) Famine - Extreme Poverty
1996 Osama bin Laden moves from Sudan to Afghanistan
Leader of Al-Qaeda
How does this relate to Afghanistan?
Claims responsibility for attack on USA
Taliban lets Al-Qaeda hide out in their county because they are allies.
Men who Hijacked planes
• American foreign policy towards the Muslim world – US presence in Saudi Arabia (Home to Mecca)
• US support for Israel in its ongoing “theft” of Arab land
• US support for corrupt and repressive regimes in the Muslim world (Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states).
Tells Taliban to:• deliver Al-Qaeda leaders to
USA• release all US citizens in jails• protect foreigners in
Afghanistan • Close terrorist facilities
Does the Taliban accept?
Film Clip
The 9/11 Commission Report determined that the animosity towards the United States felt by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the "principal architect" of the 9/11 attacks, stemmed "not from his experiences there as a student, but rather from his violent disagreement with U.S. foreign policy favoring Israel".[
May 2, 2011
Friend or Foe?
“Thanks Iran!”
Long dragged out conflicts with no end in sight.
Can’t tell whose an friend or foe. Not popular at home. Not popular with other governments or
their people. Not winning the hearts and minds of the
people. Fighting primitive people with nothing to
lose
Friend or Foe? Suicide Bombers IED- Improvised
Explosive Devices Taliban Aid from Iran Taliban Aid from Russia Drug Trade Flourishes
(92% of World’s Heroin) Famine Never known democracy Extreme Islamic Groups
Mountains and Terrain
Border crossing Inadequate
amount of US troops
Untrained Afghani Troops
Legitimate Government?
Civilian Casualties+3,000 Deaths
New Government in Afghanistan• Unstable however
Taliban no longer in control• Yet have re-emerged
(quadrupled in size) in SE Afghanistan & now parts of Pakistan
• NATO losing control in region Osama bin Laden Sanctuary in Pakistan? Osama
Bin Laden Killed May 1st 2011…By U.S. special forces
Declared a Failed State by U.N.Film Clip