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=**Foreign Affairs**= Current issues involving American foreign policy is Islamic extremism in the war on terror and specifically the threat from Iran.

At this point, all Americans should be aware of the situation in the Middle East and the war on terror. Islamic extremists and terror groups claim to be at Jihad (Islamic holy war) until all non-Muslims are eliminated. Also, the extremists in that region want to eliminate Israel. There has been much recent instability in the Middle East with dictators overthrown by the people in Egpyt and Libya with an uprising also in Syria.

__**Iran**__ - major threat in the region in terms of enriching uranium for nuclear energy - if they get a nuclear weapon the entire region will be destabilized.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was the former Iranian president. He was committed to Iran's nuclear program, which the current leadership continues today. He is a Shi'ite "Twelver," or one who believes that the Islamic messiah, or the Madhi, will return only when the world is in chaos and when there is global strife and bloodshed. The belief is that in the 9th century, the 11th Imam hid his young son. Twelvers believe the 12th Imam will make such a return as mentioned. This belief comes from the Hadith, the words and deeds of the prophet Mohammad (the Hadith is part of Islam in addition to the Koran). Moderate, peaceful Muslims DO NOT want the 12th Imam ever to return. The belief is that when the 12th Imam returns, he will kill Jews and Christians (the infidels) - the Hadith says to "strike the necks of the infidels" - which is why methods of terrorists executing Westerners is beheading. The belief is that the Madhi will rule for 7 years doing the first part. The Madhi will then make peace with Israel but then break the peace to destroy Israel. A beast will mark the heads of true Muslims (the Twelvers - moderate, peaceful Muslims don't want this). Twelvers also believe Jesus will return to tell everyone that Islam is the truth. Altogether, Twelvers believe the 12th Imam will emerge to bring the Islamic world together...into a Caliphate.

Who believes this? The leadership in Iran. The Ayatollah of Iran has stated that he has been in contact with the 12th Imam and is to be his spokesperson. In addition, a group called the Muslim Brotherhood also has this belief amongst its leadership. The Muslim Brotherhood is setting up to take power in Egpyt after the overthrow of Egpyt's dictator Hosni Mubarak in 2011 (with the help of the U.S.). In numerous speeches, Ahmadinejad has asked Allah to hasten the return of the 12th Imam. How can Twelvers hasten the return of the 12th Imam? Create chaos and bloodshed. Is the Middle East stable? NO. Is there a push to wipe out Israel by Islamic radicals? Yes. Is Iran pursuing a nuclear weapon and if they get one will they help maintain peace???

An attack on Israel would create a huge problem for the U.S. Whether or not America responded with military, economic, and diplomatic assistance for Israel, the U.S. economy would feel the devastating effect immediately. Any instability in the Middle East region will drive crude oil prices up, striking a significant blow to the fragile global economy, including that of the U.S.

Iran considers the U.S. a huge roadblock in achieving its goal of a global Islamic caliphate and refers to the U.S. as the "Great Satan." Current Iranian missile technology does not give Iran the capability to reach the shores of the U.S. although that technology is rapidly improving. On a side note, North Korea is constantly working on the ability to lauch missiles from continent to continent...remember Bush (W) labeled North Korea as part of the "Axis of Evil" along with Iran and Iraq under Saddam. Even though Iran doesn't have such a weapon, there are other ways to attack America.

Hezbollah is a terror organization sponsored by Iran. This group obviously operates in the Middle East, but more importantly they also operate in Mexico with the drug cartels. These groups (the terror group and the drug cartels) infiltrate the U.S. by way of illegal immigration across the Southern border with the help of the cartels smuggling drugs with illegal immigrants. Infiltrators are able to use vehicles crossing the border through national forestland while patrols by border agents are either on horseback or foot in these areas. Violence along our Southern border has increased in the past decade, due to the violent drug cartels. A large amount of money that drug dealers get wind up in the hands of the Mexican drug cartels and even Hezbollah and other terror groups. Doing drugs is not only destructive to oneself, but also helps support terrorism. For example, look up Los Zetas.

Now...if the drug cartels can sneak individuals across the border, so could Hezbollah. The danger is the possibility of sneaking across nuclear waste, which is

These terrorist cells operating in Mexico under the protection of the drug cartels poses a huge threat. Border security isn't just an issue of illegal immigration and Mexicans looking for a better life - although the media (as you know there's bias) sympathizes with the illegals and largely ignores the bigger threat.

November 2013 treaty - deal made with Iran that they would allow some facilities to be inspected by the U.N. and would slow their nuclear program. The problem with this is that it doesn't stop their program.

**__Libya__** - in 2011 into 2012, the U.S. and NATO aided Libyan rebels in the overthrow of dictator Muammar Qaddafi, who was captured and immediately killed by the Libyan rebels. The government of Libya trying to establish power now is friendly to America and not radical (yet anyway), but terrorists do operate in Libya. On September 11, 2012 terrorists attacked the American embassy in Benghazi. Four Americans, including the U.S. Ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens, were killed. After this happened, the State Department announced that this was a spontaneous attack from a You Tube video that had been put out by someone in America criticizing Islamic violence. U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice went on all of the Sunday talk shows announcing that it was a result of the You Tube video. However, this was false. It became obvious that this was a long thought out planned attacked by a terror group. It also became clear that our ambassador had previously requested more security but had been denied. Also, when the attack was underway, the State Department (led by Hillary Clinton) or the President could have ordered American military to respond. Nothing was done. Libya has become chaotic since America and NATO didn't leave a peacekeeping force. On the one hand, we can't do it alone, but on the other hand there are radical elements destabilizing Libya. **__Iraq__** - troop withdrawal announced in 2011 by the Obama Administration. It's important to understand that President Obama didn't want a complete withdrawal and was looking for ways to keep some troops in Iraq's Kurdish region (in the north...the Kurds are opposed by the Sunnis and Shi'ites as well as Turkey). The problem was that the Iraqi government couldn't reach any decision due to the different groups in the new government. A bigger problem is that Iran has been developing their influence in Iraq since 2003. Iran was responsible for the insurgency that kept America fighting in Iraq for years. Iran doesn't have nearly enough support in Iraq to take over but enough power to block progress - had enough influence to ensure American troops didn't stay. The Iranians have been able to develop grassroots supporters more than the U.S. because Iran knows the region better plus doublecrossing Iran comes with a much bigger penalty than doublecrossing the U.S. So, what is at stake when the U.S. leaves Iraq? Iran has enough influence to shape some Iraqi policies. Iranian influence is set up to grow once the U.S. leaves. The possibility of Iraq becoming a puppet of Iran cannot be ruled out. Remember what you learned previously about Iran. This question became a reality in 2014 into 2015 when the U.S. did pull all troops out leaving no base of any kind. ISIS, a radical Islamic group rose to power. The Iranians began assisting the Iraqis in fighting ISIS. With the U.S. gone, either ISIS, or Iran will aim to dominate Iraq...neither is good for Middle East freedom or stability. By 2017, America has increased its fight against ISIS. They are starting to be driven out of Iraq. __**Syria**__ - like Libya, Syrian rebels have been trying to oust their dictator Bashar al Assad, but haven't seen success. Assad's supporters are more loyal and organized...the rebels are not. The rebels might have widespread support, but support can't defeat a tank. Qaddafi was on the verge of suppressing the rebels in Libya before NATO intervened. NATO most likely won't get involved in Syria, which borders Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, and Lebanon....Libya was isolated. The Syrian government used chemical weapons on the rebels. The Obama Administration said if they used chemical weapons we'd get involved...they used them....we didn't get involved....our enemies took that as a sign of weakness. Not good! The United States was close to getting involved. The dilemma for the U.S. - Assad is a thug and friends with Iran...the rebels have elements of various terror groups within, including al Qaeda. Syria was very close with Iran before the uprising being the most supportive of the Syrian regime. If Assad survives the overall rebellion against him, his collaboration with Iran will only intensify. Therefore, if the U.S. leaves Iraq completely (which looks like we will) and Iran gains influence and if Assad stays in power and with Hezbollah active in Lebanon, the whole balances of power in the region changes. Iranian influence would span from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea...across Saudi Arabia's northern border and Turkey's southern border and would be in position to threaten Israel's northern border. What Saudi Arabia, Turkey, or Israel do is unclear. The fall of Assad would hinder Iran's influence across the regime but could also give rise to an Islamic radical regime. Assad has shown his brutality but the use of chemical weapons. In 2012, President Obama stated that if Assad used chemical weapons on civilians, it would be crossing a red line in the sand so to speak. In 2013, Assad did use chemical weapons gassing civilians in his nation. President Obama opted not to strike at Assad to send a message but rather worked out a deal with Russia in which the Russians would supervise the removal of Assad's chemical weapons. In January 2017, President Obama's National Security Adviser stated that the Obama Administration's diplomatic approach with the Russians led to the removal of Assad's chemical weapons. However, in April 2017, Assad once again used chemical weapons on civilians. The Trump Administration responded by launching 60 Tomahawk missiles on the sites were the chemical bombs were launched from sending a message to Assad that such weapons would not be tolerated at least from a U.S. standpoint. The withdrawal from Iraq closes the book on one chapter and opens another. The Obama Administration hopes to maintain influence on Iraq without soldiers in the nation. Iran is poised to expand influence. The overall question remains....now what?

__**Russia**__ - looking to increase influence in the world. Russia is friendly with Iran and Syria. As the U.S. withdraws from the Middle East, Russia is looking to increase its influence in the Middle East. When Assad in Syria used chemical weapons the U.S. had to decide whether or not to do anything since President Obama said that the use of chemical weapons was a red line that Syria could not cross. Russia stepped in and developed an agreement that Syria would remove its chemical weapons. The U.S. agreed. There is not assurance that this will happen while Russia comes out looking strong and America weak. Russia took control of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, which is part of the Ukraine and was looking to take more of Ukraine. The U.S. and Europe issued sanctions on Russian president Vladimir Putin, but nothing that would cripple the Russian economy or get Putin to withdraw out of the Ukraine. Again, America seemed powerless to do anything about this and Europe was unwilling to. Americans were war weery due to lengthy fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq (perhaps good that we fought there against the terrorists, perhaps not). The Russians have friendly relations if not alliances with the Syrians as well as the Iranians, so it's clear the possible threats the Russians pose.

__**North** **Korea**__ - North Korea's dictator Kim Jong-Un has one major goal - keep his power. As any dictator, he rules by fear and force. He's even had members of his own family (including an uncle and a brother) killed. He routinely makes threats to the United States and tests missiles to show his strength. The problem is North Korea has nuclear capabilities. They just don't have the means of launching one to hit the U.S. They continue to grow as a global threat as they are oppressive to the poverty stricken people in that nation. The problem, for the people there, is North Korea is a very closed society...the people have no contact with the outside world and have no idea what freedom is. All the people see is what Kim Jong-Un wants them to see - that America and the West are the ones who are oppressive. North Korea can't survive without China, which provides them with most of their food and energy necessities. The U.S. is looking to get China to put pressure on North Korea to cease their hostilities. It remains to be seen how well that works.

Hezbollah and South American drug cartels: [|click here] How North Korea's existence depends on China: [|click here]
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