A Terrifying Terrorist!

A Look at the War on Terror

A History of Violence

The Middle East has always had a violent history.

The Assyrians, arguably the most violent group in history, were from the region.

Egypt and Babylon fought for control thousands of years ago.

More recently, wars have broken out between Jewish people and Palestinians, Iraqis and Iranians, Syrians…..and Syrians!

Causes for the Violence

When Israel became a country (after World War II), the Palestinians began attacking Israel (see previous notes!) and America supported Israel.

The region also has much of the world’s oil reserves, sparking wars to control it.

The Persian Gulf War

For example, Iraq, led by Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait, an oil rich country.

America was allies with Kuwait so we jumped in to save them and sparked the Persian Gulf War.

America won and Saddam was told to obey UN laws.

September 11, 2001

The War on Terror began on September 11, 2001 when four American planes were hijacked by Muslim terrorists.

2 planes crashed into the World Trade Center, one into the Pentagon, and one in a field in Pennsylvania.

The War on Terror Begins President Bush

declared a “war on international terrorism” as a result of the attacks.

Al Qaeda was found to be responsible and its leader was Osama Bin Laden, a man formerly trained by the United States to fight the Soviet Union.

The Taliban

Bin Laden and Al Qaeda were based in Afghanistan.

The government of Afghanistan, the Taliban, refused to allow America access to get Bin Laden.

This prompted the invasion of Afghanistan.

The War in Afghanistan

America quickly defeated the Taliban and brought democracy (voting) to the people.

A government was established with an American-appointed president.

In spite of these accomplishments, terrorist attacks continue today in Afghanistan.

Into Iraq

After the Persian Gulf War, Saddam’s weapons were limited.

As a part of the War on Terror, America investigated Iraq for Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs).

Believing such weapons existed, America and a coalition of countries invaded Iraq and brought democracy to Iraq also.