THE MIDDLE EAST TODAY

IRAQ

OIL WEALTH AND WAR Most of the country is between the

Tigris and Euphrates rivers Farming was the main activity until the

1920’s Oil fields discovered Billions spent on development of country

(roads, hospitals, airports, universities, irrigation….)

Iraq seeking to become dominant power

Stalemate: many lives lost, no territory gained

Iraq couldn’t ship it’s oil, so had to buy weapons on credit U.S. support against Iran Iraq heavily in debt

WAR WITH IRAN 1980-1988

WHOOPS.That guy on the left? That’s Donald Rumsfeld. Twenty years after this he would orchestrate the war against Saddam.

THE FIRST GULF WAR: 1990 Hussein declared Kuwait part of Iraq

(for it’s oil) Coalition of Western forces drove them

out in 1991 Economic sanctions (can’t sell it’s oil) 85,000 dead soldiers Baghdad badly damaged

THE ARABIAN PENINSULA-MOSTS AND LEASTS

“Empty Quarter” = desert the size of Texas

No bodies of fresh water Biggest oil reserves of any country

CHANGING LIVES Before oil

Fishing on the coasts Farming and herding at the oases Bedouin nomads herded in the deserts

DISCOVERY OF OIL IN THE 30’S Enormous wealth

People move to the cities Live in modern, AC houses Executives, engineers, programmers

MODERNIZATION Much money/few people = improved

standard of living Health care is nearly free 22 Desalination plants

Seawater into freshwater

THE FUTURE Oil reserves have 30-60 years left Countries are starting to look to other

industries (banking, chemicals…) Require many foreign workers

In some countries, more foreign workers than citizens

TURKEY AND IRAN Different from other countries – Islam

but NOT Arabic Different languages, different ancestors

TURKEY Scholars and Merchants from the

Middle East introduced the Turks of Central Asia to Islam.

When the Turks began conquering the Middle East, they came as Muslim warriors.

Language and culture are Turkish, NOT Arab.

THE “FATHER OF THE TURKS” WWI ends in 1918, and winners divide

up Ottoman Empire Mustafa Kemal led a revolution against

the Sultan – declares Republic of Turkey in 1923. Modernization- separation of church and

state Outlawed fez, veils Women could vote, hold office. Everyone

could attend school

TURKEY TODAY Unstable economy since the ’60s Constant conflict between secular and

Islamic groups for control Battles with Kurdish separatists in SE

Turkey Despite this- most industrialized

country in Middle East One of the only freely elected

governments in the M.E.

ISLAM AND IRAN Persians arrived in Iran 3,000 years ago Empire was conquered by Arabs in

600’s

Part of the Islamic Empire until about 1200 AD.

Most Persians converted to Islam, but kept Persian heritage

Speak Farsi, not Arabic

MODERNIZATION 1925- Army officer Reza Khan seizes

power and declares himself Shah At this time, most were nomadic herders or

farmers Shah opens schools, builds roads/railroads,

encouraged industry and gave more rights to women

His son continued modernization

THE ISLAMIC REVOLUTION 1979- Ayatollah (religious leader)

Khomeini seizes power Rejects anything seen as “western” Westerners deported, women back to

traditional garb Strict adherence to Sharia- Islamic law

FUNDAMENTALISM LEADS TO WAR Shah tells Shi’ite minorities in all

Islamic countries to rise up against Sunni oppressors.

Leads to long, bloody, pointless war with Iraq 1980-88.

IRAN TODAY Led by President Ahmadinejad-

conservative who many have accused of election fraud

Labeled by the UN as a “State Sponsor of Terrorism”

UN Security Council calling for Iran to stop Uranium enrichment program

High rates of human trafficking, drug shipping

AFGHANISTAN Islamic Republic of Afghanistan 2/3 of land is rugged and mountainous They speak a dialect of Farsi

AFGHAN ECONOMY One of the poorest nations in the world-

near the bottom in every indicator War and instability keep economy down Biggest export is opium, 93% of the

world’s supply

AFGHANISTAN Social and communal roles are based

on kinship groups and Islamic tradition Soviet domination – Islam was the way

to express opposition 80% of the nation is Sunni

AFGHAN HISTORY Many empires have controlled this

area: Persians, Alexander the Great, Turks, Arabs, Persians again, the Mongol Hordes, Turks again, British, Russians, and finally-themselves.

THE TALIBAN Rose to power as a reaction to warlord-

ism and lawlessness following Soviet occupation. Full power by 1998

Strict interpretation of Sharia- atrocities against non-believers, minorities and women.

1990s- provided sanctuary to Osama Bin Laden and Al-Qaida

TALIBAN Bin Laden launched many terrorist

attacks during the 90’s, culminating in 9/11

After refusing to turn him over, a Western Coalition invaded Afghanistan in Oct/2001

The Taliban fell apart, and Kabul fell one month later – troubles were just starting

AFGHAN PEOPLE 85% of people work in agriculture –

many in poppy fields Many are beginning to work towards

legal crops Unemployment still around 40% Life expectancy around 44 years, high

infant mortality – although numbers are improving

U.S. support of health care and education