The World After 9/11/2001

The War After 9/11

1. After the US was attacked on 9/11, Mr. Barry writes: “It was the beginning of a new era in world history.” Explain what that means. (Three sentences minimum.)
2. In your own words, explain why oil is so important to the world’s economy and why it causes so many conflicts. (Three sentences minimum.)
3. Why did Saddam Hussein want to control the Persian Gulf?
4. Afghanistan has been invaded by Babylonians in the ancient past, and the US in the modern past, and many other countries and empires in between. How many reasons can you think of why countries and empires want to take over Afghanistan? (Looking at a map might help.)
5. What happened in these years in Afghanistan:
• 1926
• 1934
• 1964
• 1979
6. Explain why Osama bin Laden formed al-Qaeda. (Three sentences minimum.)
7. How did the Cold War lead to the United States giving money to al-Qaeda? Explain. (Three sentences minimum.). Do you think the United States should have given that money?
8. Describe the changes that the Taliban made in Afghanistan when they took over in 1996. (Four sentences minimum.)
9. Why did Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda attack the US? Where were the attackers from? What was the purpose of the attacks? (Three sentences minimum.)
10. Define “nation building.”  Do you think this idea is possible to do for other nations?
11. The US first invades Afghanistan to topple the Taliban. Next, the focus is on Iraq. What was the main reason given for the US to invade Iraq? What was the result?
12. Why do you think, then, the US invaded Iraq? (Three sentences minimum.)
13. Compare/contrast the US invasion of Iraq and the US participation in the Vietnam War. (At least ONE compare and ONE contrast.)
14. Was the killing of Osama bin Laden good for the world or just the US? Why? Explain. (Three sentences minimum.)
15. Explain in detail why it was so difficult for the US to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. (Four sentences minimum.)
16. Why was the Arab Spring called that, do you think? What were the people fighting for (or against?) Name at least ten countries involved in the Arab Spring.
17. By August 2021, the Taliban had completely retaken Afghanistan and began to run the country and the government. Mr. Barry asks, “Should they [other countries around the world] recognize a country controlled by extremists?” Answer that question. (Three sentences minimum.)
18. In the past several years, Afghanis have fled from Afghanistan (now called The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.) Answer Mr. Barry’s question: How can a country thrive with a government run by extremists, terrorists and without formally educated intellectuals? What might the outcome be? (Three sentences minimum.)