***010 - US National Security and the Muslim World

University Commitment to Inquiry

  • Mission: The University promotes freedom of inquiry, allowing community members to express and engage with diverse ideas.

    • Members encouraged to speak, write, listen, and challenge ideas.

    • Universities must not shield individuals from unwelcome or offensive ideas.

    • Emphasis on civility and respect must not stifle discussions of controversial ideas.

Assessment Timeline

  • Week 2: Quiz 1

  • Week 4: Exam 1

  • Week 6: Quiz 2

  • Week 8: Quiz 3

  • Week 9: Exam 2

  • Week 11: Quiz 4

  • Week 13: Quiz 5

  • Week 14: Exam 3

  • Policy: No makeup quizzes/exams without university-recognized documentation.

    • Makeup assessments may differ in format and content but maintain time constraints.

Dr. Brownlee’s Perspective on National Security

  • Viewpoint: The U.S. enjoys unprecedented national security, facing no existential threats.

    • The safety and security of American territory and citizens are emphasized.

      • warded off common threats such a territorial conquest

        • geographically distant

      • other countries have faced consequences of ww2

        • economically booming, physically ok

      • military forces- u.s spends more money then anyone else

World War II Casualties

  • U.S. Military Losses: Approximately 407,000 soldiers.

  • Soviet Union Casualties: Estimated at 10 million military deaths, with a significant portion incurred on the Eastern Front against Germany.

  • German Military Losses: About 4.1 million, primarily on the Eastern Front.

Global Military Spending Statistics

  • U.S. Military Spending:

    • The U.S. alone spends more on its military than the top 10 other spending countries combined, totaling $778 billion in 2020.

    • Major spending countries include:

      • China: $252.0B

      • Saudi Arabia: $61.7B

      • Russia: $61.7B

      • India: $72.9B

U.S. Military Overseas Deployment

  • Troops Deployed: Around 199,485 across 177 countries, with significant presence in:

    • Iraq: 34,805

    • Afghanistan: 39,345

    • South Korea: 23,468

  • Maintenance Cost: Roughly $100 billion for overseas deployments.

Terrorism Statistics (1990-2017)**

  • Annual Share of Deaths: Ranged from 0.01% to 0.08% globally.

  • Total Deaths (2017): 55,945,000 deaths worldwide, with 26,000 victims of terrorism, representing 0.05% of all deaths.

Global Muslim Population

  • Total Muslims: Nearly 2 billion worldwide, with significant concentrations in South Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia.

  • U.S. Muslim Population: Approximately 3.5 million, or 1.1% of the total U.S. population.

The Three Abrahamic Faiths**

  • Religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

    • Islam acknowledges previous prophets and holy texts from the other two faiths.

Tenets of Islam**

  • Five Pillars of Islam:

    • Testimony of faith

    • Prayer

    • Almsgiving

    • Fasting during Ramadan

    • Pilgrimage (Hajj)

Political Importance of Islam**

  • Islam's Role: Shapes lives and governance, influences policymaking, and can connect communities.

  • Notably present in countries like Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan.

  • Terrorism: Often incorrectly associated with non-state actors; actual incidence is low considering the total Muslim population.

Early Islamic History**

  • Key Events:

    • 570 CE: Birth of Muhammad

    • 610 CE: First revelation of the Qur’an

    • 622 CE: Muhammad's migration to Madina

    • 629 CE: First Hajj pilgrimage

    • 632 CE: Muhammad’s death and subsequent challenges of succession.

The Caliphate Period (632-661 CE)**

  • Rulers: Four immediate successors, known as the caliphs.

    • Abu Bakr (632-634)

    • Umar ibn al-Khattab (634-644)

    • Uthman ibn Affan (644-656)

    • Ali ibn Abi Talib (656-661)

  • Significant for the strength and governance of the early Muslim community.

Sunni vs. Shia Islam**

  • Majority Identification: About 90% of Muslims identify as Sunni, while Shia Muslims represent a significant minority.

  • Historical Split: Originated from disagreements over succession after Ali, Muhammad's son-in-law.

    • Sunni States: Afghanistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia

    • Shia States: Iran, Iraq.

010 US National Security and the Muslim World

  • dec 7, 1941=Sept 11, 2011, largest attacks on America

    • not time periods just days

      • shows how safe America is

    • muslim worlds take in more violence then give

010 US National Security and the Muslim World

  • muslims dont have much position in gov/ politics but are targeted often in policy

  • Islam is a religion not ethnicity

    • one of the three Abrahamic faiths (Judaism+ Christianity)

  • jihad: a term that literally means 'struggle' or 'striving' in Arabic, often misunderstood in the context of extremism, but fundamentally refers to the spiritual struggle against sin and the pursuit of a good life.

  • islam can be source of connection beyond other identities

  • can be a point of reference for policy making and even shape govt: pakistan, iran, Afghanistan, all examples of differeing islamic states

  • Refrence point for political violence by non state actiors (terrorism)

  • muhammed is not worhiped- a messanger