1. Iran and Iraq

2. The Iranian Revolution With Mohammad Reza (Shah) back in power in Iran, the United States and other Western nations accepted Iran as the leading power in the Persian Gulf region. The Socialists and Islamic traditionalists opposed the shah’s ties to the West. Also an economic slump in the 1970s frustrated millions of Iranians because few were receiving aid from petrodollars. Those who opposed the shah began to follow Ayatollah Khomeini who had been banished from Iran since 1964.

3. The Iranian Revolution In 1978 discontent with the shah’s rule erupted in riots and demonstrations and the shah was forced to leave Iran in January 1979. Khomeini returned the next month and abolished the monarchy and established a Islamic republic. Iranian Revolution

4. The Iranian Revolution In exile the shah entered the US for medical treatment. On November 4th, 1979 Iranian militants captured the US embassy and took 60 American hostages. Hostage take over The militants demanded that Mohammad Reza be returned to stand trial. The shah left the US but died in Egypt in 1980. However the Iranians continued to hold the hostages until January 1981. 444 Days

5. The Iranian Revolution In September 1980 Iraq invaded Iran because it wanted control of a waterway. Little territorial gain was made by either side. Khomeini died in 1989 and more moderate leaders took over. Relations between the US and Iran remain strained today.

6. Struggle for Leadership in the Arab World Iraq The nationalist Ba’ath Party seized power in 1968. Saddam Hussein was one of the driving forces, who used execution and imprisonment to removed anyone who threatened the party. In 1979 he took control of the government. When the Kurds in northern Iraq called for a degree of self-rule, Hussein used chemical weapons against them.

7. Iraq Following the Iran-Iraq War, Iraq had the best equipped army in the Arab world. In 1990 he invaded Kuwait and annexed the country in August. Saddam next turned to Saudi Arabia.

8. Iraq To protect Saudi Arabia, a coalition of about 30 nations launched Operation Desert Shield. 600,000 were sent to defend S.A. The UN imposed economic sanctions on Iraq and set a date for Iraqi withdrawal. When the date passed Operation Desert Shield became Operation Desert Storm. After 40 days of bombing ground forces invaded Kuwait and southern Iraq. Kuwait was liberated, but Saddam remained in power.

10. Iraq Gulf War The UN ordered Iraq to stop producing weapons of mass destruction and would send inspectors into Iraq to verify Iraq was complying. Saddam would continue to resistance the inspections until the US invaded in 2003.

11. Iraq Bush Declares War Shock n Awe Saddam would be captured in December 2003 and hung on December 30, 2006. US troops remain in Iraq today.