Iraq in the Modern World

1. Iraq in the Modern World World History

2. Iraq is located right in the center of the region we call the Middle East. It became a British mandate after World War I and a monarchy soon after. Saddam Hussein would take control as a dictator in 1979. Iraq in the Middle East

3. There are two types of Muslims; Shiites and Sunnis. Three religious disagreement is over a thousand years old. Most of the people in Iraq are Shiite. There are also Kurds, a separate ethnic group in the North. The Religion of Iraq

4. Saddam Hussein becomes the dictator of Iraq in 1979. He killed all those who opposed him. He was a Sunni Muslim. They are the minority but held all of the power. Saddam Hussein Comes to Power

5. In 1980, Saddam Hussein will try to occupy a disputed region on the border with Iran. This will lead to a major war called the Iran-Iraq War. The US will SUPPORT Iraq in this war. Saddam goes to War

7. In 1953, the United States helped to put the Shah of Iran in power. He had many enemies, and was overthrown in 1979. He was overthrown by Islamic militants who wanted a theocracy, or completely religious country. Why Would the US support Iraq?

8. In 1979, Ayatollah Khomeini takes over Iran and creates a theocracy. The government allows the US embassy to be seized by militants and 52 Americans were held hostage for over a year. The Ayatollah takes Over

9. The US was angry with Iran for the hostage crisis. The US did not want Islamic states in the Middle East. The Soviet Union supported Iran, so the US supported Iraq. Reasons to Support Iraq

10. The war would continue from 1980 to 1988. Millions would die and no one would really win. Saddam Hussein would regularly use chemical weapons, the first time they were used since World War I. He will also use them against people he believes are against him in his own country. Iraq During the Iran / Iraq War

11. In 1990, Saddam invades his small but oil-rich neighbor, Kuwait. He wants the oil and access to the Persian Gulf. Kuwait is quickly defeated. The Persian Gulf War

12. Iraq is quickly defeated by a US led coalition. Saddam is forced out of Kuwait but remains in power. After the war, Shiite uprisings took place against Saddam and he brutally crushed them, killing and torturing huge numbers of people. The Persian Gulf War

13. No fly-zones were set up to protect the people of Iraq from Saddam Hussein. The United Nations said that Weapons of Mass Destruction must be destroyed throughout Iraq. These include chemical and biological weapons. Iraq After the Persian Gulf War

14. In 2002, The United State and Great Britain believed that Saddam still had WMD’s. The US, led by president Bush, invaded in 2003. Saddam was quickly toppled. No WMD’s have been found to this point. Buildup to a New War

15. Saddam’s government is toppled relatively quickly. He is captured and later executed by the new Iraqi government. No weapons of mass destruction have been found. Saddam is Toppled

16. Saddam’s government falls in April, 2003. New problems have emerged for the United States. Shiites and Sunnis have clashed repeatedly. Many Iraqis have also attacked US troops. Most troops have been killed by IED’s (Improvised Explosive Devises). Terrorists from other countries have also move to Iraq to attack US troops. New Problems

17. Iraq remains at the brink of a civil war between Shiites and Sunnis. The United States has large number of troops in the country. They do not plan to leave until they believe the Iraqi government can support itself without them. Iraq Today