Transcript U.S. Policies that Shape the Middle East

Warm Up
• Why do you think there are so many
terrorist groups based in the Middle East?
• Why do you think terrorist groups have
been targeting the U.S. in recent years?
• What are some of the things our country has
done since 9-11 to fight international
terrorism?
U.S. Policies that Shape the
Middle East
Created by Mrs. Jennifer Nix
Hightower Trail Middle School
August 2004
*Information derived from a presentation by Mr. Craig M. Kauffman,
Director for the Current Events Research Library at the Southern Center
for International Studies
This Power-Point presentation
will focus on several questions:
• Why are there so many terrorist groups in
the Middle East?
• Why are they targeting the U.S.?
• Is the U.S. winning the war on terrorism?
This PowerPoint Presentation is
intended to promote class
discussion or a Question/Answer
session.
• Pay attention! This information is
relevant to our lives as citizens living in
the United States today!
Why are there so many terrorist
groups in the Middle East?
• First, understand that 9/11 was a turning point.
• Before 9/11, policy objectives included:
*dual containment (Iran/Iraq)
*preserving access to oil
*promoting democracy
• After 9/11, policy shifted to focus on changes in security
*promoting pre-emptive action
(“real and imminent threat”)
*regime change
Where do we begin?
• We must begin by looking at the War on
Terrorism because it is the lens through
which the others are viewed.
Why has the War on Terrorism
impacted the Middle East?
• There are many terror organizations
BASED in the Middle East.
• ½ of the U.S. State Dept.’s list of
recognized terrorist organizations exist
there.
The Middle East
What is a “recognized” terrorist
organization?
• No one has defined it completely…
• Basically, they:
– Use violence against civilians or non-combatants (as
opposed to gang violence or organized crime which use
specific targets)
– The purpose is to send a political message and to
induce fear
– May be state-sponsored at times (i.e. “The
Disappeared” in Argentina or El Salvador)
– Many are fighting against outside (Western)
influence in their homeland
What is the difference between a
Nationalist Movement and a Terrorist
Organization?
• A Nationalist Movement typically has an issue with
it’s own government and/or land (i.e. the Hamas
Palestinian movement in Israel) whereas the Terrorist
Organization has political interests outside the scope
of one area.
• Many times, a Terrorist Organization may be trying to
pressure Western influence out of their countries
through terrorist attacks. (Interesting Fact: The AlQueda was founded to overthrow the Saudi Arabian
government and grew to have a larger scale agenda.)
Many of the Terrorist Organizations
based in the Middle East begin with
specific goals.
• Overthrow of
Authoritarian
Governments
• To provide a political
forum for citizens for
dissent to be
expressed
• To replace current
government with
Islamic governments
• Force outside troops
to leave region
• To distance
themselves from
Western Influence
Please do not mix up your terms and
create stereotypes or generalizations!
• By no means do all
Muslims support these
groups!
• In fact, only 3-4% of
Muslims support the
beliefs of these
Muslim extremist
groups.
• Islamic Nation=a
country whose
majority religion is
Islam (Muslim)
• Islamist Group=a
merging of political
and religions systems
(the category into
which many of these
terrorist groups fit)
Why are they targeting the U.S.?
• The U.S. is perceived as “propping up” these
authoritarian regimes for our own interest.
• In the past, we have backed governments that
support U.S. interest (oil, geographic convenience
for military bases, etc.)
• The continued cry of “wanting to bring
democracy” is meaningless to some Middle
Eastern people when they look at our policies in
the region which support the Saudi Royal Family,
Egypt, Saddam Hussein until 1990, and Israel…
• There is a definite negative PERCEPTION of U.S.
policy in the Middle East.
So what do the terrorist groups
want to do?
• They want to pressure the
U.S. to remove western
influence and troops from
this region (remember:
we have troops stationed
along the border of Saudi
Arabia…home of the 2
most holy Muslim places
in the world—Mecca and
Medina).
• There is a general feeling
by terrorist groups that if
the U.S. wasn’t present in
the region, maybe the
popular opinion would
support their own
interests.
• U.S. support for Israel in
conflict with Palestinians
is against popular opinion
among many Arabic
countries.
Two challenges for combating
terrorism:
• We have the challenge of
trying to marginalize the
terrorists.
– Arab Development Index
– Young countries easily
influenced (regenerate)
– We must make it difficult
for terrorists to “sell their
message” (get rid of their
public support)
• We will have to go after
those people who are
organizing terrorist groups
– U.S. support vs. terrorism is
dependent upon public
support in that region to a
great extent
– Middle Eastern leaders have
to “tow the line” between
supporting the U.S. (keeps
them in good standing w/
United Nations) and
holding public support
(protecting Islam and
culture)
Is the U.S. winning the War on
Terrorism? You decide…Here are some
of the facts…
• Saddam Hussein is gone, but who will replace him?
• Afghanistan’s government is unstable.
• Some countries (recently Syria) allow terrorists refuge
within their borders.
• Some Middle Eastern people perceive our support of Iraq,
Saudi Arabia, Israel, etc. as support of authoritarian or
“terrorist” regimes.
• We still have troops in Germany and Japan…will we leave
troops in Iraq forever?
• Libya and Iran disarmed their nuclear weapons (but Iran is
believed to be continuing nuclear research).
What is our greatest challenge in
trying to prevent terrorism?
• Economic instability and lack of growth and
development produce these terrorist groups.
(lack of opportunity…hope in movement)
• Economic growth cannot begin without
stability within the region.
• Catch 22?
So what can we do?
• Educate ourselves and follow our country’s
political involvement in the middle east.
• Pay attention to Homeland Security’s threat
advisory level warnings.
• Support heightened security measures in our
country.
Why is there such an insurgence
in Iraq since Saddam is gone?
• MANY REASONS…
– Baathists were excluded in the new Iraq.
– The Kurds want to be a part of the new government
– Foreign insurgents (Al-Queda, etc.) look at the chaos in
Iraq as an opportunity to weaken the U.S. and take
control.
– The interim government of Iraq was appointed rather
than being elected—this offended many Iraqi people.
– Local political leaders are gaining support by opposing
the U.S. occupation of Iraq.
Did Saddam Hussein support the
Al-Queda?
• Not officially—there is no evidence that
directly links Saddam Hussein to terrorist
organizations other than his own regime
• There is evidence that Saddam told his
people not to trust such groups.
• They did, however, have a common interest:
Remove the U.S. from the Middle East
Is the Al-Queda the only terrorist
group?
• No. There are MANY different
international terrorist organizations—it just
happens to be one that has directly targeted
the United States (among other countries)
publicly for a number of years.
What about the infamous
“Weapons of Mass Destruction?”
• None have been found in Iraq at this time.
• The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) of
1972 only allowed 5 countries to research and
create nuclear weapons:
–
–
–
–
–
The United States
Russia
France
Britain
China
Now two more countries are recognized
by the NPT as nuclear nations.
• These countries include India and Pakistan.
• North Korea and Israel are also known to be
developing weapons without the NPT’s
permission, but have not been subjected to a
search yet.
• South Africa, Iran, and Libya are known to have
dismantled their weapons after “engagement”
(negotiations with members of the NPT) but Iran
is believed to be working on their nuclear program
again.
What is ultimately the answer to
stopping international terrorism?
• Opinions vary.
• Many people believe that political and
economic development will help.
• Many believe that the spread of democracy
will help.
• Unfortunately, there is no definitive answer!