Why are we back in Iraq?

Why has America and its Allies returned to Iraq?

Have you noticed that the news has been filled with talk about American and European military forces returning to Iraq lately?  Maybe you have seen  our Prime Minister Mr Abbott discussing deploying Australian troops overseas to help too.  If you've missed it, here's a recap.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n84mkJu_j0U width:500 height:500 align:center] 

It seems that Australia is getting back in on the action over there too.  

The point of this lesson is for you to critically examine recent news stories and to see whether you are able to reach an impartial (objective) perspective on the the situation.

Use the news articles below (under the heading 'Resources') to see whether you can find answers to the following questions:

1. Who is ISIS, IS, ISIL? (Clue, these acronymns all refer to the same association)_______________________________________________

2. What recent actions by IS does America and its Allies object to?

3. Look at the UNHCR's July and August refugee updates for Iraq and Syria.  What patterns can you see?  Who is leaving Iraq?

4. What are the objectives of the Islaamic State ("IS")?

5. Who belongs to the IS?

6. Is the IS a state or a group of people?

7. Who is the leader of the IS?

8. What is formal view of the IS about Nazarenes and Yadizi people?

7. What does this symbol mean? 

Resources

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/video/id-l2MjV3bzpE3uBfWcO-H1VERwr4XFo4G...

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/special-forces-head-bac...

http://america.aljazeera.com/topics/topic/organization/ISIL.html

Once you have answered the questions on the previous page, reflect on what you now know.  You may like to copy the questions below and answer them into a Word Document.  Please email them to Mrs Patch so that she can tailor the next lesson to suit your understanding (kpatch@school.qld.edu.au) 

Think about the information you have gathered today.

1. Can you explain the reason that America and its Allies have given for sending armed forces to IRAQ?

2. Do you know what 'the abbreviation IS' stands for?

3. Do you think the news articles you read today give the whole story? Why or why not?

4. True or False - 

Well done Sherlock!

References

Images

Image one - Retrieved from http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2014/06/iraq_s…  accessed 21 September 2014

Image Two - Arabic letter 'N'

Retrieved from http://www.electionforum.org/category/reality-alert/ accessed on 22 September 2014.

You Tube Clips

Clip OneObama tells Congress U.S. deploying up to 275 troops to Iraq downloaded from Reuters International Youtube channel, accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n84mkJu_j0U downloaded on 21 September 2014

Websites

US Officials Suggest RAAF IRAQ Role 27 August2014 Sky News Report, Tom Connel, Sky News Canberra, video retrieved from http://www.theaustralian.com.au/video/id-l2MjV3bzpE3uBfWcO-H1VERwr4XFo4… accessed 21 September 2014

Special forces head back to Iraq as PM sends 600 troops to take on jihadis 15 September 2015 from The Australian.com.au acessed 21 September 2014   http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/special-forces-head-ba…