Conflict in Iraq Q & A

Short Response

1. Where do most Kurds, Shi'a, and Sunnis live in Iraq?

Kurds: the mountainous region of iraq known as Kurdistan

Shi'a:

Sunnis:

2. Which ethnic group(s) hold(s) power over the majority of oil reserves in Iraq?
The Shi'a control the oil reserves in the south and the Kurds control the oil reserves in the north.

3. What is the main reason Britain become involved in Iraq?
The main reason that Britain became involved in Iraq was because of the oil reserves.

4. What did pan-Arabists advocate after World War II?
They encouraged the Iraqi government to sever ties to Britain.

5. How was Saddam Hussein able to gain power and popularity in the 1970s?
He was able to gain power and popularity by modernizing Iraq's economy and implementing welfare programs. He used the money that came from the rapid increase in the price of oil to fund universal free education and create a good public health care system.

6. Why did the United States become involved in the Iran-Iraq War?
The United States got involved with the Iran Iraq war because the ydid not want a victory by Iran's Islamist government.

7. Why did President George H.W. Bush (1989-93) bring the ground portion of the First Persian Gulf War to a halt? List two reasons.

a. They were worried about how they could control a completely destabilized Iraq.

b. They objected to totally destroying Iraq's army that was retreating.


Extended Response:


8. What are the different ethnic and religious groups in Iraq? Why is it important to understand these differences?

Most Iraqis are muslim, and there are two branches of Islam practiced in Iraq. There and the Sunnis and the Shi'is. The groups are not ethnically different form each other but they split a long time ago over a disagreement over the rightful leader of Islam. The two groups interpreted the events of the life and times of the Mohammed differently, and they disagree on whether the succesion of the caliphs was legiatimate. It is important to understand the differences because it helps you understand the violence and the choices the United States are forced to make in Iraq.

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Part II Questions:

Short Response

9. What dangers did President George W. Bush (2001-09) say Iraq posed to the region and the world? Name two.

a. The weapons program in Iraq.

b. The sponsorship of terrorism.

10. What were the U.S. government's declared goals in sending troops to Iraq?

a. To End Saddam Hussein's regime.

b. To uncover WMDs.

11. List two reasons violence continues in Iraq.

a. There is an abscense of effective government protection, and the Iraqi people are taking advantage of teh country's insecurity to take part in violence and kidnapping to make money.

b. Many Iraqis are angered at the presence of US soldiers in Iraq.

Extended Response:

12. Describe the different groups involved in the ongoing conflict in Iraq. What are their goals? (Reasons for fighting)

Shi'a: The Shi'a do not want the Sunnis to Control the country again, and yet do not want to be ruled by foreigners, so they oppose the US occupation. The Shi'i militia are fighting each other because of disagreements over political and economic control of certan regions in Iraq.The goal of the Shi'a is to have Iraq be divided so they can control Iraq's richest oil fields.

Sunni: The Sunni only make up about 20 percent of the population of Iraq, and are concerned that Democracy will shut them out of the government.The goal of the Sunni is to stop the implementation of Democracy in Iraq and stop the Shi'a from controling the country.

Kurd: The Kurds do not want Sunni political power, and they want self determination for Kurdistan. .The goal of the Kurds is to have Kurdistan be a seperate country.

al Qaeda: .The goal of Al Qaeda is to foster sectarian violence in order to overthrow the Iraqu Government. Radical members want to establish a single Islamic state that would encompass countries across the region.