Paper 1 Section B/E: Conflict and tension in

June 2024

Q1: Source A is critical of the United States. How do you know?

Explain your answer using Source A and your contextual knowledge. Study Sources B and C in the Sources Booklet.

Answer:

features of the source. For example, the cartoon shows the difficulties faced by US forces. The mountains and the guerrilla war being fought against Afghan warlords suggests that the US was making little progress, eight years after 9/11. For example, US forces are not ‘on top of things’ – struggling against the enemy because troops are shown to be hanging on to a tank and stuck in

Q2: How useful are Sources B and C to an historian studying the Iran-Iraq War?

Explain your answer using Sources B and C and your contextual knowledge.

Answer:

In analysing and evaluating sources, students will draw on their contextual example, the context of the time in which source was created, place, author’s evaluate the relationship between the sources based on analysis of For example, the sources are both judged useful because, on the one hand, they are testimony to the damage and hardship caused by the Iran-Iraq War - but on the other, this didn’t stop Saddam who still aimed to extend his power in the region. Source B reflects this - Americans and Israelis suggesting that they should not be misled into thinking that Iraq was less of a threat. This is supported by Source C which was propaganda but is testimony about how Saddam wanted to be seen – not the leader of a damaged state after the Iran- Iraq War, but as a confident leader backed by popular support and a powerful military and modern technology, hinting in the image at a developing nuclear programme and WMDs. As the date is 1990, this was against a background of preparations to invade Kuwait for its oil, land and financial reserves. For example, Source B is useful for showing purpose – which was to warn readers that Saddam Hussein continued to be a threat to American and Israeli interests in the region and Iraq’s armed forces did not seem weaker despite the huge losses inflicted by the Iran-Iraq War. For example, in the context of Iraqi preparations to attack Kuwait, Source C is useful as it suggests that Saddam wanted to be seen as a popular and confident leader of a powerful country and, following the Iran-Iraq war, the country still posed a military as well as a nuclear threat. For example, Source B warns readers that Saddam was a threat despite the damage the war had caused. Source C shows that Saddam created propaganda to further push the image of a great Arab leader backed by a prosperous, powerful and aggressive country. to the enquiry point; for example, Source B says that the war had resulted in a lot of damage. Source C shows that Saddam Hussein’s saw himself as a great leader.

Q3: Write an account of how the invasion of Iraq in 2003 led to the growth of opposition to

the war there.

Answer:

with complex sequencing and reasoning supported by a range of accurate and example, to an analysis of how/why tension increased at different stages and /or showing understanding about how much each part of the sequence increased tension and led to a crisis. As level 3 plus, for example, opposition grew from Arab and some European states because of concerns that the invasion was illegal as it was not in line with the UN Charter. There were still arguments about the existence of WMDs. Demonstrators abroad claimed that it was just an excuse to extend US and western influence and access to oil reserves in Iraq, so they increasingly opposed the war. developed sequencing and reasoning supported by a range of accurate factual analysis of how/why tension increased at one stage in the process. For example, there was opposition from within Iraq as tribal and religious leaders took advantage of the Coalition’s failure to take control of law and order and stop the Insurgency. Shias and Sunnis exploited the opportunity to arm themselves and extend their influence, while Kurds extended their control of areas in the north of Iraq. Opposition grew as the areas held by the US forces For example, the US led coalition invaded but could not control warring religious factions and groups such as the Kurds. They took advantage and the country began to fall apart. Abroad there were anti-war and anti-US demonstrations especially in the Middle East. Arab countries said the invasion was illegal. should demonstrate their ability to construct and develop a sustained line of reasoning which is coherent, relevant, substantiated and logically structured.

Q4: ‘Hostility to the United States was the main reason for Al-Qaeda’s actions.’

How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [SPaG 4 marks] and AQA will be happy to rectify any omissions of acknowledgements. If you have any queries please contact the Copyright Team.

Answer:

explanation of the relationship between causes supported by detailed factual For example, US Imperialism and influence in the region was under attack from al-Qaeda for many reasons - oil supplies to America, US support for Israel and what, in jihadi language, was the existence of ‘infidel’ armies in Arab countries. After the end of the Cold War, US repeatedly interfered in Middle East affairs, much to the annoyance of radical Islamists. However, on the other hand, the cultural conservatism and religious fervour of al-Qaeda was the main cause of tensions. al-Qaeda was exporting jihad, through its identification with, and support for, the aims and strategies of Osama bin Laden. The aim to spread the global Islamic Revolution, to establish Sharia law and expel foreign influences meant hostility against not just the US but also other countries. This was seen in previous actions against the USSR and its occupation of Afghanistan, as well as the reaction of some Arab states. The key element then was radical and religious fundamentalism which drove al-Qaeda’s aims. For example, al-Qaeda’s aims, inspired, and led by Osama bin Laden, focussed on the creation of an Islamic state, based on Sharia law and free of outside influences. Hence religious motivation was the main factor behind the idea of a global Islamic revolution of ‘true believers’ to free Muslims from poverty and to help remove Israelis from what they claimed to be Arab land. For example, al-Qaeda was hostile to the US because of its support for Israel, as well as the existence of US forces on Arab soil such as Saudi Arabia, to defend American interests including oil supplies. US imperialism and growing interventions in the Middle East were regarded as an insult to Islam. For example, al-Qaeda was hostile to the US’ support for Israel as well as the existence of US forces on Arab soil, to defend American interests such as oil to the US support of Israel and exploitation of Arab oil. al-Qaeda’s support for global Islamic revolution, the influence and leadership of Osama bin Laden, support for an Islamic state built on Sharia law. • The learner’s achievement in SPaG does not reach the threshold