In the Post World War In the Post World War II WorldII World

• During and after World During and after World War II many Jews War II many Jews immigrated to Palestineimmigrated to Palestine

• In In 1948 the UN created 1948 the UN created “Israel” by dividing “Israel” by dividing Palestine in half (one Palestine in half (one Jewish state & one Arab Jewish state & one Arab state)state)

• U.S. recognizes Israel U.S. recognizes Israel angeringangering MANY Arab MANY Arab nationsnations

1948

An ongoing series of “Arab-Israeli Wars”

begins.

• President Carter coordinates peace between long President Carter coordinates peace between long term enemies term enemies IsraelIsrael and and EgyptEgypt

• Israel agrees to withdraw from Israel agrees to withdraw from SinaiSinai Peninsula Peninsula

• Egypt recognizes Israel as a country Egypt recognizes Israel as a country (1(1stst Arab Arab country to do so)country to do so)

1978

• Revolution breaks out in IranRevolution breaks out in Iran

• Ayatollah Khomeini leads a Ayatollah Khomeini leads a rebellionrebellion against against the Shah who was the Shah who was supportedsupported by the U.S. by the U.S.

• Shah is Shah is overthrownoverthrown

• Shah has cancer and travels to Shah has cancer and travels to U.SU.S. for . for treatmenttreatment

• Iranians Iranians seizedseized American American EmbassyEmbassy in Tehran in Tehran

• 52 52 AmericansAmericans taken taken hostagehostage

• Iranians demand return of Iranians demand return of ShahShah

• President Carter refuses demandsPresident Carter refuses demands

• Hostages Hostages releasedreleased in January 1981 in January 1981

1979

• between dictator Somoza and between dictator Somoza and SandinistasSandinistas

• Sandinistas Sandinistas winwin

• President President CarterCarter recognizes new recognizes new government & sends government & sends $83$83 million in aid million in aid

• 1981 President 1981 President ReaganReagan fears fears SandinistasSandinistas have a have a communistcommunist connection connection

• Reagan supports Reagan supports anti-Sandinistaanti-Sandinista group: group: ContrasContras

• Congress Congress passes Boland Amendment (bans passes Boland Amendment (bans aid to contras)aid to contras)

1986

• Iran & Iraq engaged in warIran & Iraq engaged in war

• U.S. U.S. supported Iraqsupported Iraq

• 1983 Iranian 1983 Iranian terroriststerrorists take 7 Americans take 7 Americans hostagehostage

• Reagan responds by encouraging Allies to Reagan responds by encouraging Allies to stopstop selling Iran selling Iran weaponsweapons

• 1986 1986 Reagan sells Iran weapons for return Reagan sells Iran weapons for return of hostagesof hostages

• Reagan Reagan passes profit from weapons sales passes profit from weapons sales to Contras in Nicaraguato Contras in Nicaragua

• 1987 Congress investigates and members 1987 Congress investigates and members of Reagan’s staff held of Reagan’s staff held responsibleresponsible – Reagan – Reagan is is notnot

• Iraq Iraq in debt because of war with Iranin debt because of war with Iran

• In In August 1990, Saddam invaded oil rich Kuwait & moves August 1990, Saddam invaded oil rich Kuwait & moves toward Saudi Arabiatoward Saudi Arabia

• together, together, Kuwait & Saudi Arabia possess 50% of all known Kuwait & Saudi Arabia possess 50% of all known oil reservesoil reserves

• American American oil supply threatenedoil supply threatened

• U.S. launches Operation Desert Storm to liberate KuwaitU.S. launches Operation Desert Storm to liberate Kuwait

• air air assault launched in January 1991assault launched in January 1991

• February February 28, 1991 cease-fire announced28, 1991 cease-fire announced

• Kuwait Kuwait liberatedliberated

• UN UN forces have less than 400 casualtiesforces have less than 400 casualties

• Over Over 100,000 Iraqi casualties100,000 Iraqi casualties

• Iraq Iraq forced to stop production of biological, chemical, forced to stop production of biological, chemical, & nuclear weapons – U.N. has the right to inspect& nuclear weapons – U.N. has the right to inspect

1990

• After September 11, U.S. declares After September 11, U.S. declares “War Against “War Against Terror”Terror”

• It is believed that It is believed that Osama bin LadenOsama bin Laden and and al-al-QaedaQaeda are being supported by the are being supported by the AfghaniAfghani government (government (TalibanTaliban))

• U.S. begins U.S. begins bombingbombing Afghanistan Afghanistan

• Taliban are Taliban are removedremoved from power & from power & democraticdemocratic elections are held in Afghanistanelections are held in Afghanistan

• Osama is Osama is killed in 2011killed in 2011 butbut al-Qaeda is still al-Qaeda is still spread throughout the spread throughout the Middle EastMiddle East & world & world

• U.S. currently U.S. currently maintainsmaintains a military a military presencepresence in in Afghanistan (Afghanistan (Taliban have re-emerged in parts of Taliban have re-emerged in parts of Afghanistan and in PakistanAfghanistan and in Pakistan))

2001

• In 1990s Iraq breaks In 1990s Iraq breaks cease-firecease-fire agreement from agreement from Persian Gulf War – Persian Gulf War – will not allow U.N. inspectors full will not allow U.N. inspectors full accessaccess

• U.S. fears Iraq supporting U.S. fears Iraq supporting terroriststerrorists

• U.S. & U.S. & BritainBritain order order SaddamSaddam to comply with to comply with inspectors & he inspectors & he refusesrefuses

• As part of the As part of the “War on Terror”“War on Terror” coalition forces coalition forces invadeinvade in March in March 20032003

•By April, By April, SaddamSaddam defeated, but in defeated, but in hidinghiding

• December 2003 Saddam December 2003 Saddam capturedcaptured

• Saddam was put on Saddam was put on trialtrial, found guilty for crimes , found guilty for crimes against humanityagainst humanity and executed (hanged) and executed (hanged)

• U.S. troops maintain U.S. troops maintain occupationoccupation in attempt to help in attempt to help build a build a democracydemocracy & rebuild the & rebuild the countrycountry

2003

As of May 30, 2014

• Operation Iraqi FreedomOperation Iraqi Freedom• American deaths = 4,423 (only 1 new death American deaths = 4,423 (only 1 new death since 2012)since 2012)

• Iraqi deaths = 100,000 – 1,000,000Iraqi deaths = 100,000 – 1,000,000

• Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan)(Afghanistan)

• American deaths = 2,184 (about 91 new deaths American deaths = 2,184 (about 91 new deaths since 2013)since 2013)