Word: arabia
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...both areas of conflict, the latest developments caused alarm. Moderate Arab governments, particularly those of Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the gulf states, are deeply worried about the effects of a possible Iraqi defeat. They note that, according to the latest reports from Tehran, the Ayatullah Khomeini's goal is nothing less than the downfall of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, who launched the war partly in an effort to topple Khomeini. Saddam's fall, the moderate Arabs fear, would realign the balance of forces in the region in favor of Iran and its main Arab supporter, Syria. Any change...
Despite conflicting claims about casualties and accomplishments, it was clear that a significant battle was under way. Baghdad's predicament was that it apparently neither can win nor afford to lose. Iraq has been given at least $40 billion in aid by Saudi Arabia and the gulf states, but Iran has almost three times Iraq's population, plus a religiously motivated desire...
...proved costly to both sides. Western experts estimate that as many as 40,000 soldiers of the two countries have been killed. The conflict has realigned some of the powers in the region. In a rare convergence of interests, Libya, Syria and Israel are aiding Iran with arms. Saudi Arabia and the gulf states, which fear Iranian efforts to foment revolution among their dissident minorities, staunchly support Iraq, and have poured $25 billion into the war effort. Egypt has sent 60 pilots to aid the Iraqi air force, and Iran said last week that 400 Egyptian troops were fighting alongside...
...vowed last week to "foil all attempts to welcome Egypt back into the Arab world." But the improvement of relations with the moderate Arab states has already begun. Last week the Mubarak government announced that citizens of twelve Arab countries will no longer need visas to enter Egypt. Saudi Arabia has lifted its ban against the import of Egyptian publications. The gulf states have expressed their gratitude to Egypt for the arms it has been steadily supplying to help Iraq in its war against Iran...
...Christians will take heart from many of the findings. Indonesia has the biggest Muslim population, but gained 5.6 million Christians during the 1970s, more than one-third of them as converts rather than through natural population growth. In Saudi Arabia, Islam's epicenter, thousands of youths have covertly converted to Christianity through listening to radio preachers. In Nigeria, where as of 1900, 73% of the people followed tribal faiths and 26% Islam, the population today-Africa's largest-is 49% Christian and 45% Muslim. South Korea demonstrates the world's most dramatic Christian revival: the churches...