with weapon sales in the Middle East due to exceed 18 billion dollars in 2015
due to exceed 18 billion dollars in 2015
due to exceed 18 billion dollars in 2015 Gulf nations are arming themselves in
Gulf nations are arming themselves in
Gulf nations are arming themselves in preparation for proxy wars and sectarian
preparation for proxy wars and sectarian
preparation for proxy wars and sectarian conflicts within the region welcome to
conflicts within the region welcome to
conflicts within the region welcome to watchmojo.com down 10 crucial facts you
watchmojo.com down 10 crucial facts you
watchmojo.com down 10 crucial facts you should know about the middle-east
should know about the middle-east
should know about the middle-east arms race number ten where did it start
arms race number ten where did it start
arms race number ten where did it start on March 20th 2003 the United States as
on March 20th 2003 the United States as
on March 20th 2003 the United States as well as troops from the United Kingdom
well as troops from the United Kingdom
well as troops from the United Kingdom Australia and Poland invaded Iraq in
Australia and Poland invaded Iraq in
Australia and Poland invaded Iraq in announcing the imminent invasion then
announcing the imminent invasion then
announcing the imminent invasion then President George W Bush explained the
President George W Bush explained the
President George W Bush explained the reasoning behind the action to disarm
reasoning behind the action to disarm
reasoning behind the action to disarm Iraq to free its people and to defend
Iraq to free its people and to defend
Iraq to free its people and to defend the world from grave danger
the world from grave danger
the world from grave danger the invasion eventually became known as
the invasion eventually became known as
the invasion eventually became known as the Iraq war as it lasted for nearly a
the Iraq war as it lasted for nearly a
the Iraq war as it lasted for nearly a decade and cost the American government
decade and cost the American government
decade and cost the American government an estimated 1.7 trillion dollars the
an estimated 1.7 trillion dollars the
an estimated 1.7 trillion dollars the rationale for the war faced severe
rationale for the war faced severe
rationale for the war faced severe criticism as it primarily focused on the
criticism as it primarily focused on the
criticism as it primarily focused on the discovery and removal of weapons of mass
discovery and removal of weapons of mass
discovery and removal of weapons of mass destruction supposedly in Iraq’s
destruction supposedly in Iraq’s
destruction supposedly in Iraq’s possession despite the lack of concrete
possession despite the lack of concrete
possession despite the lack of concrete intelligence number 9 how successful was
intelligence number 9 how successful was
intelligence number 9 how successful was the war the Iraq war led to the collapse
the war the Iraq war led to the collapse
the war the Iraq war led to the collapse of President Saddam Hussein’s government
of President Saddam Hussein’s government
of President Saddam Hussein’s government his death and the establishment of
his death and the establishment of
his death and the establishment of democratic elections however it also
democratic elections however it also
democratic elections however it also spurred renewed efforts in the region by
spurred renewed efforts in the region by
spurred renewed efforts in the region by the extremist group the Islamic State of
the extremist group the Islamic State of
the extremist group the Islamic State of Iraq as well as a high number of Iraqi
Iraq as well as a high number of Iraqi
Iraq as well as a high number of Iraqi casualties furthermore the war led to
casualties furthermore the war led to
casualties furthermore the war led to widespread displacement as about two
widespread displacement as about two
widespread displacement as about two million Iraqis left the country of which
million Iraqis left the country of which
million Iraqis left the country of which 84,000 sought refuge in the United
84,000 sought refuge in the United
84,000 sought refuge in the United States today I can report that as
States today I can report that as
States today I can report that as promised the rest of our troops in Iraq
promised the rest of our troops in Iraq
promised the rest of our troops in Iraq will come home by the end of the year
will come home by the end of the year
will come home by the end of the year despite withdrawing the remaining
despite withdrawing the remaining
despite withdrawing the remaining American troops from Iraq in December
American troops from Iraq in December
American troops from Iraq in December 2011 the United States returned during
2011 the United States returned during
2011 the United States returned during the summer of 2014 by providing aerial
the summer of 2014 by providing aerial
the summer of 2014 by providing aerial support the United States hoped to stop
support the United States hoped to stop
support the United States hoped to stop the advancing threat of Isis soldiers
the advancing threat of Isis soldiers
the advancing threat of Isis soldiers despite losing Tikrit a kiss
despite losing Tikrit a kiss
despite losing Tikrit a kiss four Iraqi forces Isis still controlled
four Iraqi forces Isis still controlled
four Iraqi forces Isis still controlled large portions of the country as of
large portions of the country as of
large portions of the country as of early May 2015
early May 2015
early May 2015 furthermore it is widely believed that
furthermore it is widely believed that
furthermore it is widely believed that the Iraq war helped breed widespread
the Iraq war helped breed widespread
the Iraq war helped breed widespread resentment of the u.s. in the region and
resentment of the u.s. in the region and
resentment of the u.s. in the region and a strong jihadist movement number eight
a strong jihadist movement number eight
a strong jihadist movement number eight how did Iran react Iraq is currently
how did Iran react Iraq is currently
how did Iran react Iraq is currently home to the biggest Iranian operation in
home to the biggest Iranian operation in
home to the biggest Iranian operation in the Middle East with Iranian
the Middle East with Iranian
the Middle East with Iranian Revolutionary Guard members helping to
Revolutionary Guard members helping to
Revolutionary Guard members helping to Train Shia militias in the country and
Train Shia militias in the country and
Train Shia militias in the country and push back Isis forces in order to
push back Isis forces in order to
push back Isis forces in order to support the majority Shia government
support the majority Shia government
support the majority Shia government since the invasion of Iraq Iran has
since the invasion of Iraq Iran has
since the invasion of Iraq Iran has continued to spread its regional
continued to spread its regional
continued to spread its regional supremacy among various Gulf nations
supremacy among various Gulf nations
supremacy among various Gulf nations such as Iraq but also Syria Palestine
such as Iraq but also Syria Palestine
such as Iraq but also Syria Palestine and Lebanon Iran is also a major
and Lebanon Iran is also a major
and Lebanon Iran is also a major supporter and longtime ally of the
supporter and longtime ally of the
supporter and longtime ally of the al-assad dictatorship in Syria they’ve
al-assad dictatorship in Syria they’ve
al-assad dictatorship in Syria they’ve supplied funds weapons and Iranian
supplied funds weapons and Iranian
supplied funds weapons and Iranian Revolutionary Guards in order to curb
Revolutionary Guards in order to curb
Revolutionary Guards in order to curb the popular uprising against the
the popular uprising against the
the popular uprising against the al-assad regime these actions have
al-assad regime these actions have
al-assad regime these actions have pitted Iran against Saudi Arabia and
pitted Iran against Saudi Arabia and
pitted Iran against Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states that would like to
other Gulf states that would like to
other Gulf states that would like to avert her an spread of power and believe
avert her an spread of power and believe
avert her an spread of power and believe it doesn’t belong in their affairs
it doesn’t belong in their affairs
it doesn’t belong in their affairs number seven what did this lead to the
number seven what did this lead to the
number seven what did this lead to the Iran nuclear deal framework was reached
Iran nuclear deal framework was reached
Iran nuclear deal framework was reached in Lausanne Switzerland in late March
in Lausanne Switzerland in late March
in Lausanne Switzerland in late March and early April 2015 following
and early April 2015 following
and early April 2015 following high-powered negotiations attended by
high-powered negotiations attended by
high-powered negotiations attended by the foreign ministers of the United
the foreign ministers of the United
the foreign ministers of the United States the United Kingdom Russia Germany
States the United Kingdom Russia Germany
States the United Kingdom Russia Germany France China the European Union and Iran
France China the European Union and Iran
France China the European Union and Iran these talks centered on Iran’s
these talks centered on Iran’s
these talks centered on Iran’s controversial nuclear activities at the
controversial nuclear activities at the
controversial nuclear activities at the end of the discussions an announcement
end of the discussions an announcement
end of the discussions an announcement stated all participating nations had
stated all participating nations had
stated all participating nations had reached an agreement regarding a
reached an agreement regarding a
reached an agreement regarding a framework and that all final decisions
framework and that all final decisions
framework and that all final decisions have to be made by June 30th 2015
have to be made by June 30th 2015
have to be made by June 30th 2015 the outlined deal touched on various
the outlined deal touched on various
the outlined deal touched on various hot-button issues such as the reduction
hot-button issues such as the reduction
hot-button issues such as the reduction of Iran’s nuclear facilities and
of Iran’s nuclear facilities and
of Iran’s nuclear facilities and production the removal of economic
production the removal of economic
production the removal of economic sanctions against Iran and the enhanced
sanctions against Iran and the enhanced
sanctions against Iran and the enhanced and unprecedented investigations of
and unprecedented investigations of
and unprecedented investigations of Iran’s nuclear facilities all while iran
Iran’s nuclear facilities all while iran
Iran’s nuclear facilities all while iran denies intentions that it’s attempting
denies intentions that it’s attempting
denies intentions that it’s attempting to build a nuclear weapon
to build a nuclear weapon
to build a nuclear weapon number six who disagrees with the
number six who disagrees with the
number six who disagrees with the framework while an agreement had been
framework while an agreement had been
framework while an agreement had been reached in regards to the Iran nuclear
reached in regards to the Iran nuclear
reached in regards to the Iran nuclear framework deal by early May 2015 there
framework deal by early May 2015 there
framework deal by early May 2015 there remained widespread dissent within
remained widespread dissent within
remained widespread dissent within signatory nations about the final
signatory nations about the final
signatory nations about the final details and the timeline for example the
details and the timeline for example the
details and the timeline for example the United States Senate continued reviewing
United States Senate continued reviewing
United States Senate continued reviewing the framework and some conservative
the framework and some conservative
the framework and some conservative Republicans demanded more stringent
Republicans demanded more stringent
Republicans demanded more stringent requirements as of early May 2015 a bill
requirements as of early May 2015 a bill
requirements as of early May 2015 a bill was being reviewed and would require the
was being reviewed and would require the
was being reviewed and would require the President of the United States to submit
President of the United States to submit
President of the United States to submit a final agreement before Congress which
a final agreement before Congress which
a final agreement before Congress which would be given 52 days to review before
would be given 52 days to review before
would be given 52 days to review before sanctions would be removed from Iran
sanctions would be removed from Iran
sanctions would be removed from Iran furthermore there are mixed opinions in
furthermore there are mixed opinions in
furthermore there are mixed opinions in Moscow as to whether or not Russia
Moscow as to whether or not Russia
Moscow as to whether or not Russia should back the agreement in the past
should back the agreement in the past
should back the agreement in the past Russian and American interests in the
Russian and American interests in the
Russian and American interests in the Middle East contradicted each other but
Middle East contradicted each other but
Middle East contradicted each other but these negotiations could change that
these negotiations could change that
these negotiations could change that although Russia’s official line is that
although Russia’s official line is that
although Russia’s official line is that Iran’s nuclear ambitions need to end
Iran’s nuclear ambitions need to end
Iran’s nuclear ambitions need to end there are those who don’t believe in
there are those who don’t believe in
there are those who don’t believe in aiding the reconciliation between Iran
aiding the reconciliation between Iran
aiding the reconciliation between Iran and the United States number five
and the United States number five
and the United States number five how did neighboring countries react the
how did neighboring countries react the
how did neighboring countries react the Gulf Cooperation Council encompasses the
Gulf Cooperation Council encompasses the
Gulf Cooperation Council encompasses the leaders of six Gulf nations including
leaders of six Gulf nations including
leaders of six Gulf nations including Saudi Arabia Qatar and the United Arab
Saudi Arabia Qatar and the United Arab
Saudi Arabia Qatar and the United Arab Emirates all of whom are demanding that
Emirates all of whom are demanding that
Emirates all of whom are demanding that the United States provide them with
the United States provide them with
the United States provide them with state-of-the-art weaponry and defense
state-of-the-art weaponry and defense
state-of-the-art weaponry and defense agreements in exchange for their backing
agreements in exchange for their backing
agreements in exchange for their backing of the Iran nuclear agreement
of the Iran nuclear agreement
of the Iran nuclear agreement furthermore the Middle East is diving
furthermore the Middle East is diving
furthermore the Middle East is diving into an arms race as sales of weapons
into an arms race as sales of weapons
into an arms race as sales of weapons are due to exceed 18 billion dollars in
are due to exceed 18 billion dollars in
are due to exceed 18 billion dollars in 2015 with the West providing the
2015 with the West providing the
2015 with the West providing the majority of the weapons in April 2015
majority of the weapons in April 2015
majority of the weapons in April 2015 Russia decided to deliver controversial
Russia decided to deliver controversial
Russia decided to deliver controversial s-300 anti-aircraft missiles to Iran in
s-300 anti-aircraft missiles to Iran in
s-300 anti-aircraft missiles to Iran in addition in early May 2015
addition in early May 2015
addition in early May 2015 France agreed to sell 24 Dussel aviation
France agreed to sell 24 Dussel aviation
France agreed to sell 24 Dussel aviation fighter jets MBDA missiles and pilot
fighter jets MBDA missiles and pilot
fighter jets MBDA missiles and pilot training to Qatar for seven billion
training to Qatar for seven billion
training to Qatar for seven billion dollars Saudi Arabia has also agreed to
dollars Saudi Arabia has also agreed to
dollars Saudi Arabia has also agreed to fund three billion dollars worth of
fund three billion dollars worth of
fund three billion dollars worth of French weapons for the Lebanese military
French weapons for the Lebanese military
French weapons for the Lebanese military in order to help combat trespassing
in order to help combat trespassing
in order to help combat trespassing militants from neighboring Syria in lieu
militants from neighboring Syria in lieu
militants from neighboring Syria in lieu of an American assurance in regards to
of an American assurance in regards to
of an American assurance in regards to Iran neighboring nations are
Iran neighboring nations are
Iran neighboring nations are collectively upgrading and purchasing
collectively upgrading and purchasing
collectively upgrading and purchasing weapons from the West including the
weapons from the West including the
weapons from the West including the United States France
United States France
United States France the UK and Canada number four how did
the UK and Canada number four how did
the UK and Canada number four how did neighboring countries react part two all
neighboring countries react part two all
neighboring countries react part two all major Sunni nations in the Gulf have
major Sunni nations in the Gulf have
major Sunni nations in the Gulf have announced plans to build nuclear
announced plans to build nuclear
announced plans to build nuclear reactors with Egypt making the
reactors with Egypt making the
reactors with Egypt making the declaration in early 2015 and the
declaration in early 2015 and the
declaration in early 2015 and the country hiring Russia to build a reactor
country hiring Russia to build a reactor
country hiring Russia to build a reactor in Alexandria these plans have been
in Alexandria these plans have been
in Alexandria these plans have been triggered by the ever increasing
triggered by the ever increasing
triggered by the ever increasing perceived threat of the nuclear
perceived threat of the nuclear
perceived threat of the nuclear capabilities of neighboring
capabilities of neighboring
capabilities of neighboring shia-dominated Iran in fact in 2004 king
shia-dominated Iran in fact in 2004 king
shia-dominated Iran in fact in 2004 king abdullah ii of jordan coined the term
abdullah ii of jordan coined the term
abdullah ii of jordan coined the term xie crescent to describe middle eastern
xie crescent to describe middle eastern
xie crescent to describe middle eastern regions with strong Shia populations
regions with strong Shia populations
regions with strong Shia populations stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to
stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to
stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf
the Persian Gulf
the Persian Gulf that being said not all Middle Eastern
that being said not all Middle Eastern
that being said not all Middle Eastern countries will be able to build nuclear
countries will be able to build nuclear
countries will be able to build nuclear plants as these can cost upwards of 5
plants as these can cost upwards of 5
plants as these can cost upwards of 5 billion dollars and several economies in
billion dollars and several economies in
billion dollars and several economies in the region are crippled by poverty this
the region are crippled by poverty this
the region are crippled by poverty this nuclear trend is in direct contrast to
nuclear trend is in direct contrast to
nuclear trend is in direct contrast to global activities as many countries have
global activities as many countries have
global activities as many countries have deliberately forsworn nuclear energy
deliberately forsworn nuclear energy
deliberately forsworn nuclear energy especially after the Japanese nuclear
especially after the Japanese nuclear
especially after the Japanese nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi plant
meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi plant
meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in 2011 number three is there a current
in 2011 number three is there a current
in 2011 number three is there a current Gulf state crisis the Middle East has
Gulf state crisis the Middle East has
Gulf state crisis the Middle East has broken into a loosely titled sectarian
broken into a loosely titled sectarian
broken into a loosely titled sectarian war as the Yemeni crisis continues to
war as the Yemeni crisis continues to
war as the Yemeni crisis continues to pit the Middle Eastern powers of Iran
pit the Middle Eastern powers of Iran
pit the Middle Eastern powers of Iran and Saudi Arabia against each other the
and Saudi Arabia against each other the
and Saudi Arabia against each other the Yemeni crisis began with the 2011
Yemeni crisis began with the 2011
Yemeni crisis began with the 2011 revolution which saw Yemen’s President
revolution which saw Yemen’s President
revolution which saw Yemen’s President Ali Abdullah Saleh leave office and
Ali Abdullah Saleh leave office and
Ali Abdullah Saleh leave office and Abdullah Mansour Hadi his former vice
Abdullah Mansour Hadi his former vice
Abdullah Mansour Hadi his former vice president take up as Acting and then
president take up as Acting and then
president take up as Acting and then elected president subsequently Houthi
elected president subsequently Houthi
elected president subsequently Houthi militants took over the capital of Sanaa
militants took over the capital of Sanaa
militants took over the capital of Sanaa and on February 6th 2015 declared
and on February 6th 2015 declared
and on February 6th 2015 declared themselves in control of the government
themselves in control of the government
themselves in control of the government and dissolved parliament the coup d’etat
and dissolved parliament the coup d’etat
and dissolved parliament the coup d’etat sparked outrage and the majority of Gulf
sparked outrage and the majority of Gulf
sparked outrage and the majority of Gulf states the United Nations and the United
states the United Nations and the United
states the United Nations and the United States refused to recognize the
States refused to recognize the
States refused to recognize the constitutional declaration on March 25th
constitutional declaration on March 25th
constitutional declaration on March 25th 2015 Saudi Arabia and a few other
2015 Saudi Arabia and a few other
2015 Saudi Arabia and a few other nations began targeted airstrikes
nations began targeted airstrikes
nations began targeted airstrikes against the Houthi rebels titled
against the Houthi rebels titled
against the Houthi rebels titled operation decisive storm
operation decisive storm
operation decisive storm number two who is involved in the Yemen
number two who is involved in the Yemen
number two who is involved in the Yemen war the two Middle Eastern powers of
war the two Middle Eastern powers of
war the two Middle Eastern powers of Iran and Saudi Arabia are currently
Iran and Saudi Arabia are currently
Iran and Saudi Arabia are currently facing off in Yemen as both countries
facing off in Yemen as both countries
facing off in Yemen as both countries backed different military groups in the
backed different military groups in the
backed different military groups in the state
state
state Iran historically backed the prominent
Iran historically backed the prominent
Iran historically backed the prominent southern Yemen leader Ali sanam albiet
southern Yemen leader Ali sanam albiet
southern Yemen leader Ali sanam albiet yet now is only funding the Houthi
yet now is only funding the Houthi
yet now is only funding the Houthi rebels meanwhile Saudi Arabia and a
rebels meanwhile Saudi Arabia and a
rebels meanwhile Saudi Arabia and a group of Sunni nations have been backing
group of Sunni nations have been backing
group of Sunni nations have been backing the internationally recognized
the internationally recognized
the internationally recognized government of Yemen and successfully
government of Yemen and successfully
government of Yemen and successfully passed UN resolution 2216 which granted
passed UN resolution 2216 which granted
passed UN resolution 2216 which granted it permission to militarily intervene in
it permission to militarily intervene in
it permission to militarily intervene in the region this is now being tested as
the region this is now being tested as
the region this is now being tested as the United Nations and the United States
the United Nations and the United States
the United Nations and the United States have called for a humanitarian pause as
have called for a humanitarian pause as
have called for a humanitarian pause as the impoverished citizens of Yemen
the impoverished citizens of Yemen
the impoverished citizens of Yemen continue to be caught in the crossfire
continue to be caught in the crossfire
continue to be caught in the crossfire number one how will this end
number one how will this end
number one how will this end in early May 2015 the majority Sunni
in early May 2015 the majority Sunni
in early May 2015 the majority Sunni Gulf nations and French president
Gulf nations and French president
Gulf nations and French president Francois Hollande gathered for the Gulf
Francois Hollande gathered for the Gulf
Francois Hollande gathered for the Gulf Cooperation Council summit to discuss
Cooperation Council summit to discuss
Cooperation Council summit to discuss the growing humanitarian crisis in Yemen
the growing humanitarian crisis in Yemen
the growing humanitarian crisis in Yemen and growing jihadist threats this
and growing jihadist threats this
and growing jihadist threats this follows the signing of a joint
follows the signing of a joint
follows the signing of a joint declaration by France and Saudi Arabia
declaration by France and Saudi Arabia
declaration by France and Saudi Arabia which stressed the importance of a
which stressed the importance of a
which stressed the importance of a strong and verifiable nuclear agreement
strong and verifiable nuclear agreement
strong and verifiable nuclear agreement with Iran by June 30th 2015 as well as a
with Iran by June 30th 2015 as well as a
with Iran by June 30th 2015 as well as a call for Houthi rebels to immediately
call for Houthi rebels to immediately
call for Houthi rebels to immediately withdraw from Yemen despite Saudi Arabia
withdraw from Yemen despite Saudi Arabia
withdraw from Yemen despite Saudi Arabia ending operation decisive storm and
ending operation decisive storm and
ending operation decisive storm and beginning operation restoring hope in
beginning operation restoring hope in
beginning operation restoring hope in April 2015
April 2015
April 2015 there has been continued shelling in
there has been continued shelling in
there has been continued shelling in Yemen border towns as of early May 2015
Yemen border towns as of early May 2015
Yemen border towns as of early May 2015 as the Middle East plunges into proxy
as the Middle East plunges into proxy
as the Middle East plunges into proxy wars and prepares to spend 18 billion
wars and prepares to spend 18 billion
wars and prepares to spend 18 billion dollars in 2015 the world waits as the
dollars in 2015 the world waits as the
dollars in 2015 the world waits as the long-term ramifications of such a
long-term ramifications of such a
long-term ramifications of such a strategy are finally revealed did these
strategy are finally revealed did these
strategy are finally revealed did these facts surprise you to vote for which
facts surprise you to vote for which
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