US Central Command Area of Responsibility

1. US Central Command Area of Responsibility

2. Overview • Area of Responsibility • Religion • Language • Political Systems • US Interests

3. Area of Responsibility • Hotbed of activity in recent history • Iran Hostage Crisis • Attacks on Marines in Beirut • Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait • OEF and OIF

4. Area of Responsibility • USCENTCOM established 1 Jan 83 • Focus on potential Soviet invasion of Iran gave way to concern over Saddam Hussein • Desert Shield/Storm • Humanitarian crisis in Somalia – Operation Provide Hope • Khobar towers attack

5. Area of Responsibility • USCENTCOM established 1 Jan 83 • Focus on potential Soviet invasion of Iran gave way to concern over Saddam Hussein • Desert Shield/Storm • Humanitarian crisis in Somalia – Operation Provide Hope • Khobar towers attack

6. Area of Responsibility • Territory • Establishment of USAFRICOM on 1 Oct 2008 pulled six countries from USCENTCOM • USCENTCOM currently responsible for twenty countries in Asia and Africa

7. Area of Responsibility • History of the Region • The Crusades • Rise and Fall of Soviet Union • Establishment of Israel • Fundamentalist Islam and Militant Islamic Terrorism

8. Area of Responsibility • History of the Region • The Crusades • Rise and Fall of Soviet Union • Establishment of Israel • Fundamentalist Islam and Militant Islamic Terrorism

9. Area of Responsibility • History of the Region • The Crusades • Rise and Fall of Soviet Union • Establishment of Israel • Fundamentalist Islam and Militant Islamic Terrorism

10. Area of Responsibility • History of the Region • The Crusades • Rise and Fall of Soviet Union • Establishment of Israel • Fundamentalist Islam and Militant Islamic Terrorism

11. Religion • Home of three of world’s major religions • Judaism • Christianity • Islam • Commonalities • Abraham • Sacred texts • Jerusalem

12. Religion • Dominance of Islam • Majority of USCENTCOM nations are Muslim • Except for five countries, 90% of countries’ population is Muslim • Five Pillars of Islam • Recitation of Creed • Daily Prayer • Almsgiving • Fasting • Pilgrimage to Mecca

13. Religion • Sunni-Shi’a Split • Sunnis • 85-90% of Muslims • Abu Bakr succeeded Mohammed • Current imams not inspired • Shi’as • 10-15% of Muslims • Ali ibn Abi Talib succeeded Mohammed • Current imams are infallible manifestations of God

14. Language • USCENTCOM AOR is linguistically diverse • Most common languages are Arabic and Persian • Great variety in regional and country dialects, e.g., Afghanistan has two official languages, Dari and Pashto • Arabic language somewhat standardized in Middle Eastern countries • Turkic languages – Kyrgyz and Kazak – are common in Central Asian nations

15. Political Systems • Majority of countries are republican or democratic; however, some are only nominal representatives of democracies • Fallacy to assume all USCENTCOM nations are authoritarian or anti-Western

16. Political Systems

17. US Interests • Continued focus of Global War on Terror • Afghanistan and Iraq • Usama bin Laden killed in Pakistan • 210,000 US military members serving in USCENTCOM AOR • USCENTCOM Mission • Respond to crises • Promote cooperation among nations • Deter/defeat state and nonstate aggression • Support development/reconstruction to establish the conditions for regional security, stability, & prosperity

18. Summary • Area of Responsibility • Religion • Language • Political Systems • US Interests

19. Homework • Prepare for Lesson # 12 • U.S. Policy • Unified Combatant Command (UCC) Brief