Iraq War

What are WMDs?

• ammunition rounds

• waste management depot

• weapons of mass destruction

• peanut butter jelly time

Using the political cartoon above, interpret the artist's overall point of view on the US's motivation behind Operation Iraqi Freedom.

• Saddam Hussein was a problem to the United States because he would not follow the UN resolutions.

• Saddam Hussein attacked Kuwait for their oil resources.

• The United States wanted to protect their oil interests in Iraq.

• The Iraqi government was attempting genocide of the Kurdish people living in Iraq.

Answer explanation

The man has a 'W' on his helmet telling us he is George W. Bush, the president of the U.S. at the time. Notice how the word "OIL" is bolded in each of his sentences. The U.S. wants to protect their oil interests in Iraq.

Why did the US go to war with Iraq in 2003?

• Iraq was threatening Afghanistan with nuclear weapons

• The UN believed Iraq was about to invade Kuwait for a second time

• Iraqi troops launched an attack on Saudi Arabia, a close ally of the US

• The US government thought the Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein, was developing weapons of mass destruction

Answer explanation

The US government thought the Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein, was developing weapons of mass destruction. They never found any.

What war started as a result of Iraq invading Kuwait in 1990?

• Persian Gulf War

• Red Gulf War

• Invasion of Afghanistan

• Invasion of Iraq

• Operation Desert Shield + Operation Desert Storm

Answer explanation

The Persian Gulf War started in 1990 when Iraq invaded Kuwait. Operation Desert Shield + Operation Desert Storm were the names of each phase of the war; defending Saudi Arabia and the US' oil interests + pushing Iraq back out of Kuwait.

Who was the leader of Iraq during the Persian Gulf War/Operation Desert Storm?

• Osama bin Laden

• Yasser Arafat

• Taliban

• Saddam Hussein

Answer explanation

Saddam Hussein was the leader of Iraq during the Persian Gulf Conflict

What is the United States main interest in Southwest Asia?

• Gold

• Silver

• Oil

• Aluminum

Answer explanation

The U.S.' main interest in SW Asia was oil

Which of the following countries does this headline describe?

• Palestine

• Iraq

• Afghanistan

• Israel

Answer explanation

After Saddam Hussein's death, Sunnis + Shias fought for control of the country. Both were afraid of being persecuted by the other.

What is the correct order of the wars with US involvement in the Middle East

• 1. Operation Enduring Freedom

  2. Operation Iraqi Freedom

  3. Operation Desert Storm

• 1. Operation Enduring Freedom

  2. Operation Desert Storm

  3. Operation Iraqi Freedom

• 1. Operation Desert Storm

  2. Operation Enduring Freedom

  3. Operation Iraqi Freedom

• 1. Operation Iraqi Freedom

  2. Operation Enduring Freedom

  3. Operation Desert Storm

Answer explanation

1. 1. Operation Desert Shield + Operation Desert Storm (Persian Gulf War)

2. 2.Operation Enduring Freedom (Invasion of Afghanistan)

3. 3. Operation Iraqi Freedom (Invasion of Iraq)

Why did the United Nations try to stop Iraq from taking over Kuwait in 1990?

• The United Nations wanted to destroy the country of Iraq.

• The only job of the United Nations is military action around the world.

• The economies of many countries depend on oil and Iraq's actions threatened that oil supply.

• The United Nations is required to intervene whenever the US President orders it to.

Answer explanation

The economies of many countries depend on oil and Iraq's actions threatened that oil supply.

Which scenario BEST describes al-Qaeda's resentment (anger) of US presence in SW Asia?

• The US favoring Sunnis over the Shia Muslims

• 
  The US supporting the Palestinian freedom movement

• The US supporting a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz

• The expansion of US military presence in the Middle East

Answer explanation

The expansion of US military presence in the Middle East