The Iranian Revolution in the late 1970s changed the complexion of the Middle East political climate and had a significant impact on US – Iranian relations. Still today, the US has no official diplomatic relations with Iran. Many scholars and political scientists fear that a nuclear-capable Iran will be the flash point of the next major military conflict in the region. In your required reading for this week and in the Events of the 1979 Iranian revolution video presentation (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmcri_3lLfo&feature=related), several reasons are given for the Revolution that began the downward spiral of US – Iranian relations. What do you think was the single, most significant cause of the Iranian Revolution? Could this political upheaval have been avoided? If so, how? What role did Islam play in this event? How was the US involved in Iran during, and immediately after, the Revolution?
Your initial post should be at least 350 words in length. Support your claims with examples from required material(s) and/or other scholarly sources, and properly cite any references. In addition to the text, you must utilize one additional scholarly source from the Ashford Online Library in your post.
The Gulf War
In 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait, which elicited a massive response from US-led coalition forces. How did Saddam Hussein attempt to justify Iraqi military action against Kuwait? Was there any merit to his claims? Why or why not? Did the US and UN intervene in Kuwait for humanitarian reasons or because of the threat to the world economy over Kuwait’s oil reserves? What role did Israel play in the conflict? Did the Gulf War help precipitate the Iraq War of 2003-11? If so, how?
- Democracy in the Middle East?
One of the primary tenets of American foreign policy in the Middle East is the spread of democracy throughout the region. Is this an achievable goal? Are Islam and democracy inherently incompatible with each other? Why or why not? The Ross article, “Does Oil Hinder Democracy?”, takes a clear stance on the impact of oil on democracy in the region. Do you agree or disagree with Ross? Why?
Your initial post should be at least 350 words in length. Support your claims with examples from required material(s) and/or other scholarly sources, and properly cite any references. In addition to the text, you must utilize one additional scholarly source from the Ashford Online Library in your post
- The Future of US Foreign Policy
Now that the US military action in Iraq has come to an end, the focus of American involvement in the Middle East will, in all likelihood, shift to other threats in the region. Based on this week’s required readings from Politics of the Middle Eastand “Beyond Iraq: A New U.S. Strategy for the Middle East,” what do you think will be the role of the US in the post-Iraq War Middle East? Will American foreign policy become more or less engaged in the region? What role will Iran play in the international relations of the region?
