Campus:

Grade Level: Undergraduates

Students Studying: Sociology, American History, Foreign Policy and Current Events

Content Objective: The student is expected to explain how the United States has eroded its image, moral authority, and given birth in the Middle East to movements that seek our destruction.

(1) The student will be able to explain the connection between the 1953 overthrow of Iran's Prime Minister and today's war on terror. (2) The student will be able to explain how the separation of Kuwait gave birth to the 1991 Gulf War. (3) The student will be able to understand the impact of economic sanctions in Iraq and how this will continue to fuel the insurgency. (4) The student will understand the real reasons for the invasion of Iraq in 2003. (5) The student will understand how al Qaeda was created and why it has waged war on the United States. (6) The student will understand the threat to America's democracy and explain ideas on how to defeat terrorists.

Chapter 5 of American Hiroshima will be assigned as advance reading. A discussion of the historical events and implications will engage students and deepen the collective understanding. 

The teacher writes on the board Evil Alliances, Saddam Hussein, and Osama bin Laden. Under Evil Alliances the teacher writes Iraq and al Qaeda. The teacher draws a not equal sign between Iraq and al Qaeda. Under Saddam Hussein, the teacher writes Kuwait's separation, 1991 war, Economic Sanctions, 2003 and current war. Under Osama bin Laden the teacher writes, Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Largest Covert Operation in U.S. history, Taliban created, al Qaeda created, offer to lead 1991 Arab force against Saddam, declaration of war on the United States, plan to use a nuclear weapon.

A map of the Middle East will be drawn on the board.

If Internet access exists, the www.americanhiroshima site can be visited to highlight areas for additional information.

The teacher asks questions of the students to see if they can say in their own words key learning points.

To help initiate open thinking, students will be asked how many of the initial 598 prisoners held at the Guantanamo Bay prison were from Iraq.

The teacher will ask the students to write down the top five to ten reasons for the invasion of Iraq. Students will be asked if Iraq has ever had weapons of mass destruction. Students will be asked if Iraq had weapons of mass destruction prior to the U.S. invasion. Other similar questions will help keep the students engaged.

The teacher will encourage the students to visit the www.americanhiroshima website to learn more or to read the entire book?

Students should be encouraged to write their views on what the U.S. should do now that it has invaded Iraq. A follow-up discussion among students, based on this two to four page essay, is encouraged. 

The teacher will instruct each person to take out a sheet of notebook paper and write the real reasons for the war in Iraq and why the insurgency in Iraq is more serious than the American people were led to believe.

Students that wish to examine the comparisons with Vietnam should view the movie Fog of War. The connection between past and present should be explored in terms of the real reasons for fighting, the projected and actual economic costs and the impact both have and will have on how America is viewed internationally.

The student can explain the top five reasons why the United States invaded another country.

No advance preparation is required. Reading Chapter Five of the American Hiroshima book will enable the discussion to be more thoughtful and engaging.

If students are encouraged to visit the www.americanhiroshima.info site as part of their advance preparation, that will also improve the overall learning experience.