Rise of Islamic Extremism

Question 1

What was the name of the international terrorist movement that grew up in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of the USSR in 1989?

Answer 1

Islamic Unity of Afghanistan Mujahideen

Question 2

Roughly how many people were killed in total on the 11th September 2001 terror attacks?

Answer 2

3,000

Question 3

Give two examples of how the Taliban changed the rule of law in Afghanistan.

Answer 3

Here are 4: They banned music, toys and games; they painted all windows black; punishments included execution, flogging, stoning and cutting off the hands or feet; women lost most freedoms, being forced to wear a burqa, needing a man’s permission in public, forbidden an education.

Question 4

Who was US President in 2001?

Answer 4

George Bush Jnr.

Question 5

What name was given to his policy of improving security for US citizens at home and abroad?

Answer 5

The War on Terror

Question 6

Who set up Al-Qaeda in 1988?

Answer 6

Osama bin Laden

Question 7

Give an example of a country where Al-Qaeda had been operating in the 1990s.

Answer 7

Kenya, Tanzania

Question 8

What Act was introduced in the USA in 2001 on the advice of the Dept. of Homeland Security?

Answer 8

The Patriot Act

Question 9

What did Al-Qaeda issue in 1996 that called for US troops to get out of Saudi Arabia?

Answer 9

A fatwa (religious decree)

Question 10

What military operation did the UK and USA launch in 2001 to rid Afghanistan of the Taliban?

Answer 10

Operation Enduring Freedom

Question 11

Who took over the leadership of Afghanistan as a result?

Answer 11

Hamid Karzai

Question 12

By 2016, how many Afghan civilians had been killed in this war?

Answer 12

20,000

Question 13

Give an example of a country in the Middle East that contributed to the US-led invasion.

Answer 13

Bahrain, UAE and Jordan

Question 14

How many countries in total contributed to this UN-led ISAF force?

Answer 14

50

Question 15

In what year had the USA first gone to war against Iraq?

Answer 15

1991

Question 16

Name the Iraqi leader at this time.

Answer 16

Saddam Hussein

Question 17

When did he expel the UN Special Commission of Inspectors (UNSCOM) from Iraq?

Answer 17

1998

Question 18

Give two reasons for the US invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Answer 18

Here are 4: Hussein was only Head of State to openly celebrate 9/11; Every major intelligence agency in the world believed Hussein possessed WMDs; US wanted to depose a tyrant and give Iraqis gift of democratic government; Hussein murdered thousands of his own people and ruled with brutality.

Question 19

How many military deaths resulted from the US-led war in Iraq?

Answer 19

50,000

Question 20

Why did many countries not support the war in Iraq as they had in Afghanistan?

Answer 20

Coalition was not UN-approved; Europe and Middle East overwhelmingly against war; Huge protests during the war for its illegality; US criticised for wanting to take control of the second largest oil reserves in the world.