CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST

1
CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST

• 1975-PRESENT

2
LEBANESE CIVIL WAR 1975-1990

• Influx of PLO fighters after Black September
  1970
• Fighting breaks out in 1975 between Christian
  militias and Palestinians and their allies.
• Syrian troops sent in by Arab League in 1976
  didnt leave till last year.
• Israel invades South Lebanon in 1982 aids
  Christian forces.
• Sabra and Shattila camp massacres.
• War does not end until 1990. Lebanons economy
  and its capital, Beirut, left in shambles.
• Govt. no longer dominated by Maronite Christians
  Sunnis.

3
(No Transcript)
4
PRE-EMPTIVE STRIKE

• Israel bombs Iraqs nuclear facility at Osirak
  before its completed in 1981.

5
SOVIETS INVADE AFGHANISTAN

• Pro-Soviet govt. set up in 1973.
• In trouble by 1978.
• Brezhnev sends in over 100,000 Soviet troops to
  prevent Communist loss.
• US boycotts Moscow Olympics in 1980 in
  retaliation.

6
REFUGEES

• Three million Afghans flee to Pakistan, others to
  other countries, incl. US. Millions more are
  displaced.

7
AFGHANS RESIST

• Afghan tribesmen resist Soviets, who eventually
  control only the capital, Kabul
• Starting in 1986, CIA arms these Muslim fighters
  with Stinger missiles that can shoot down Soviet
  helicopters
• Muslim fundamentalists, incl. OSAMA BIN LADEN,
  flock there to fight infidels,

8
SOVIETS LEAVE

• GORBACHEV pulls out troops in1989
• Warlords fight among themselves for control
• Group of religious students called Taliban take
  over in mid-1990s.

9
REVOLUTION IN IRAN

• Before World War I Iran (Persia) was independent
  but under influence of British and Russians, who
  kept king (Shah) in power, prevented moves toward
  democracy.
• In 1950s, new prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh,
  proposed to nationalize oil industry.
• CIA arranged a coup to overthrow him in 1953.

10
SHAH OF IRAN

• Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (1919 1980)
• Promised constitutional monarchy
• Increasingly took power from PM

11
KING OF KINGS

• Crowned himself
• Emperor in 1967
• Also crowned his wife empress
• (Note Peacock Throne-gt)

12
LEADERSHIP STYLE

• Manipulation
• Built loyal army
• Expansion of constitutional powers
• After assassination attempt
• 1949
• Secret police SAVAK
• Suppressed opponents
• Helped rich at expense of poor

13
COLD WAR

• Ally of the West
• Bordering USSR.
• US supplies billions in military aid
• Oil deal with U.S.
• Opponents critical of subservience to US

14
INCREASED OPPOSITION

• From Shiite Muslims Western moderization
• Western clothing
• Eliminated Quranic oaths Lack of democracy
• Unresponsive to public opinion
• Uneven distribution of wealth
• Land reform

15
INCREASED DISCONTENT

• In 1970s
• Islamic clerics, esp. Ayatollah Khomeini
• built on popular discontent
• Demonstrations, riots, strikes
• Tied these ideas to Islamic principles
• Called for overthrow of the Shah

16
REVOLUTIONARY IMAGES
17
REVOLUTION!

• Widespread demonstrations
• 1978-79
• Shahs govt. collapsed
• Jan. 16, 1979
• Shah fled Iran
• Went to Egypt

18
MORE..
19
AND MORE
20
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC

• Or theocracy
• govt which supports religion
• Led by Rouhollah Khomeini ..?
• Muslim ayatollah
• Based on Islamic fundamentalism

21
HOSTAGE CRISIS

• Ill and exiled Shah admitted to US for medical
  treatment
• Angry students seize American embassy in Teheran.
• Take staff hostage, hold most for 464 days.
• Begins Nov. 4, 1979, ends at midnight of Jan. 19,
  1980, when Ronald Reagan is inaugurated as US
  president
• US cuts ties to Iran, considers Irans regime to
  be major enemy in Middle East

22
IRAN SUPPORT FOR TERROR

• Iran supports Hezbollah, a Shiite militia in the
  Lebanese Civil War
• This summer, Hezbollah shelled Israel and Israel
  retaliated

23
SIGNS OF LIBERALIZATION

• Iran has popular elections, but council of senior
  clerics have the final say
• Last president, Khatami, called for reform.
• Young people also seem to want reform

24
IRANS NUCLEAR PROGRAM

• According to Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty,
  countries have a right to peaceful nuclear
  technology
• Iran has taken no steps to directly produce any
  weapons.

• Irans past support for terrorism makes its
  intentions suspect to US.
• Present Pres., Ahmedinajad, has verbally attacked
  Israels right to exist and questioned Holocaust.
  Fear of nuclear war.
• Iran has often not cooperated with IAEA on its
  nuclear program