US+and+Middle+East+Relations

[|Ronald Hatchett, PhD]

__**THE MIDDLE EAST: LAND AND PEOPLES**__


 * GEOGRAPHY:** how do you define the "MIDDLE EAST"--> term reflects British ethnocentrism (near/middle/far east)-- but the broader Middle East includes N. AFRICA, CENTRAL ASIA, AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN

Middle East encompasses approx 550 M people but the "Islamic World" represents 1.3 B people (Arabs represent approx 300 M of that figure); other geographic misconceptions---> not all deserts--> actually mostly rocky/scub brush environment; but some are pretty fertile areas.


 * WATER:** Critical resource in this region: 9 of 14 countries in this area face severe water shortage; population growths are (average birthrate is over 4/woman---> well above USA: 2.2 and European nations: 1.6)

RIVERS: ex. Nile (95% of Egyptian population live on 5% of the land because of water access); Tigris/Euphrates and Jordan River Jordan River system is a key issue in the Arab-Israeli conflict: controlling the West Bank means controlling the water

Mountain Ranges in Middle East assist with climate (Atlas Ahaggar, Hejaz, Zagros, Taurus Mountain ranges across the M.E.)--> population pressures are hitting Turkey that are leading them to want to build dams to keep waters in Taurus Mts that feed the Tigris & Euphrates Rivers


 * POP DIST:** Middle East is more urban than expected--> 190 cities; romanticized nomadic lifestyle represent less than 2%


 * PEOPLE:** many different ethnic groups with different linguistic patterns, histories and aspirations (Kurds, Arabs, Persians, Turks, Azerbaijanis, Bakhtiari etc); population migration--> immigration/emigration and internal migration play a key role

TEMPLE MOUNT: Haram Al Sharif--> many holy sites to all 3 Abrahamic faiths

__**ISLAM: FAITH & PRACTICE**__ Abraham finds a home for Hagar and Ishmael---> every so often Abraham came and visited/supported them; Kabaa built as house of worship; place of pilgrimage--> place in Arab world that predate Mohammad

Ishmael/Isaac were both there to officiate over Abraham's funeral (Allah--> Islam--> Muslim) Mohammed: starts to receive visions/messages--> you will be my final message to mankind from God; driven from Mecca to Medina (found great support their with a Jewish group: est base in Medina and begins struggles with Mecca---re-enters in 630--> follows on his promise not to destroy the city: integrates former leaders in new govt;

632: Mohammed dies--> no plan for succession: WHO SHOULD SUCCEED? Mohammed had not male heirs (3 daughters--> most favored--: Fatima--her husband Ali (2 sons Hussein/Hasan)---> many should thought the leadership should go to the bloodline; others said no--> it should go to his closes "spiritual" brother--> Abu Bakr (they prevailed)--> Sunni/Sh'ia split
 * Abu-Bakr (632-34)
 * Omar Ibn Elkhattab (634-44)
 * Othman bin Affan (644-656)
 * Ali Bin Abitalib (656-661)- He was elected but cousin of Othman was dissatisfied---> challenges Ali who is killed
 * Ummayah dynasty
 * Abbassides Dynasty 750-1258--> golden age of Arab world (Ummayah pushed to Spain

NON ARABS assume control
 * 1000 CE: Seljuk Turks
 * 1100 CE Crusader States (Krak des Chevaliers in Syria)
 * 1258 CE Mongols overrun Baghdad
 * 14th-15th centuries see Ottoman Turks replace Mongols
 * til 1922: Turkish Sultans rule as caliphs


 * SPREAD OF ISLAM:**

imam is a facilitator in the search for god
 * **SUNNI** || **SHIA** ||
 * leadership should be elected by the sunna

SCHOOLS OF SUNNI THOUGHT:

Hanafi: oldest most liberal interpretation of Islam--> interpret Islam in light of modern society

Maliki: rigid conservative school

Shaf'i: middle of road

Hanbali: strictest school (Wahabi) || leadership should pass thru bloodline of Mohammed black turban wearers claim descendancy from Muhammad Shia have an organized hierarchical clergy (ayatollahs)--> given special powers by God to interpret God's word; play a role in the political system ||

SOURCES OF ISLAMIC BELIEF

Qur'an Sharia: Islamic law as set forth in the Qu'ran Hadith: recorded Seerah: writings about Mohammed

__**6 ARTICLES OF FAITH**__
 * 1) ONENESS of God (strict monotheism)-->Jesus: miraculous being/not the son of God/not crucified, killed or suffered death--ascended alive into heaven; will return on day of judgment
 * 2) Belief in the Prophets


 * 5 PILLARS**: Profess faith; Mohammed is God's final prophet; pray; fast; zakat; hajj

Role of Women: see slides Relation with Non-Muslims: Jihad in Islam: means "to struggle" or "to strive" LEVELS OF JIHAD: struggle for self improvement; against evil in society; on battlefield Valid reasons for jihad: self defense/ response against tyranny

__**WHY DO THEY HATE US?

SOURCES OF TERRORIST HATRED**__
 * 1) **Poor quality of life issues** (23% of Muslim pop live on $2/day (issue: many founders of these mvmts are upper middle class)
 * 2) **Clash of values:** response to modernization/globalization and "western" values
 * 3) **Historical struggle:** response to history of struggle against perceived humiliation and injustices at the hands of the West (crusades, colonial rule, Israel & America)

__**ARAB-ISRAELI DISPUTE**__
 * Birth of [|Zionism]**: [|Theodore Herzl] 1860-1904: Jewish playwright in Austira; goals-->spiritual/politicl renewal of Jewish people in ancestral homeland; freedom from western anti-semitism; [|First Zionist Conference] in 1897 (SIDE NOTE: defeat of Turks in Vienna--> gateway to central Europe--> potato saved Christianity)

By WWI: Palestine still under Ottoman control (Hussein-McMahon letters, 1915--> approached the British to help get from under Ottoman control); Syke-Picot Afreement, 1916--deal with the French to split up lands under control of Turks; 1917: Balfour Declaration--> Zionist pushing for presence in Holy Land; Herzl had connections with Lord Rothschild who had connections with wealthy Jewish banking family; Balfour declaration is the opening for Jews Prince Faisal in Versailles---> Arabs get nothing from Treaty of Versailles in 1918 (2 sons of Sharif of Mecca get crowns of Jordan and Iraq but ruled in name only); beginning of large scale Jewish immigration to Holy Land;

British White Paper of 1939:

Jewish Freedom Fighters in Israel during WWII: Stern Gang/Irgun: used many of the same tactics that Arab terrorists used today (car bombs) 1947 Plans:
 * US: multi-cultural Palestine; one person one vote
 * Zionist: 2 states--> partition
 * Truman changes position....supports Partition (quote from Truman)
 * Israelis go to war in 1948--defeat Arab nations
 * From 48-56 most of the military support came from Britain and France
 * Suez Crisis in 1956
 * Six-Day War 1967 (preemptive war by Israel of Arb states)
 * UN Resoultion 242 1967: Israel needs to withdraw from occupied lands in exchange for Arab recognition of Israel
 * Yom Kippur War of 1973 (from this point on USA has totally supported Israel)

TWO NARRATIVES Palestinian: Nakba (catastrophe of 1948) 37 year occupation; spiritual connection to the Holy Land; fear of dispossession/20th century Jeish immigration

Jewish Narrative: history of persecution; Holocaust; "safe haven"; spiritual connection to the Holy Land