Question 1

Who are the most common victims of terrorism?
A)Political leaders
B)Innocent civilians
C)Journalists
D)Diplomats
E)Members of the military or security services

Accepted Answer

Innocent civilians are the most common victims of terrorism. This includes people going about their daily lives who are not involved in any political or military actions. Attacks on civilians often aim to instill fear and create chaos in society.

Question 2

Terrorism's goals are to make governments look weak and inept, and to prepare the way for a revolution.

Accepted Answer

Terrorism aims to undermine the authority and legitimacy of a government by demonstrating its inability to prevent acts of violence, thereby eroding public trust and confidence in the government's ability to provide security. This can create a conducive environment for revolutionary movements seeking to overthrow the existing order.

Question 3

The Italian handling of the Red Brigade is considered a successful counterterrorism story because the group was neutralized before they could cause any damage or casualties.

Accepted Answer

While the Italian government did eventually neutralize the Red Brigade, the group had already caused significant damage and casualties before they were finally disbanded. This includes the kidnapping and murder of former Prime Minister Aldo Moro in 1978.

Question 4

Groups seeking to destabilize society generally have _____ motives?
A)ideological
B)societal
C)nationalist
D)environmental
E)separatist

Accepted Answer

Groups seeking to destabilize society typically have ideological motives, which may include political, religious, or social beliefs that are in opposition to the current system. These groups may seek to undermine or overthrow the existing order in order to establish their own vision for society. Other motives, such as societal or environmental concerns, may also be present, but they are typically secondary to the ideological goals of the group.

Question 5

Terrorists tend to be young, single, and male.

Accepted Answer

This is generally true, but there have been cases of female terrorists and older individuals involved in terrorism as well.

Question 6

The term illegal combatants is generally dismissed by other nations of the world, which makes it hard to justify their indefinite detention without charges.

Accepted Answer

The term illegal combatants is not recognized under international law, and therefore other nations do not recognize it as a valid justification for indefinite detention without charges.

Question 7

Modern-day revolutionary terror is usually traced to the guerrilla tactics used against the British in the Revolutionary War.

Accepted Answer

Modern-day revolutionary terror is more commonly traced back to the tactics and ideologies developed during the French Revolution and later by various 19th and 20th-century movements, rather than the guerrilla tactics used in the American Revolutionary War against the British.

Question 8

Societies with the most political participation and the least injustice have been the most free from terrorism in our time.

Accepted Answer

While political participation and justice can contribute to a reduction in terrorism, there are examples of societies with high levels of political participation and low levels of injustice that have still experienced terrorism. Terrorism is influenced by a complex array of factors including ideology, foreign policy, social grievances, and individual motivations, making it overly simplistic to assert a direct correlation between political participation, justice, and freedom from terrorism.

Question 9

Transnational terrorism most often involves groups from two or more countries cooperating together.

Accepted Answer

Transnational terrorism refers to terrorist activities that involve groups or individuals crossing international borders to engage in violence or other nefarious activities. These groups often have members from multiple countries and may collaborate with other terrorist organizations around the world.

Question 10

Comparing 9/11 to Pearl Harbor is an inapt comparison.

Accepted Answer

While both events were devastating attacks on American soil, they were very different in nature. Pearl Harbor was a military attack by a foreign country, while 9/11 was a terrorist attack by a non-state group. Additionally, the casualties and damage caused by 9/11 were predominantly civilian targets, while Pearl Harbor was primarily a military target. Therefore, the two events cannot be directly compared.

Question 11

Which term is used to define terrorism that involves the governments, citizens, and interests of more than one country?
A)State-sponsored terrorism
B)International terrorism
C)Domestic terrorism
D)Transnational terrorism
E)None of the above

Accepted Answer

International terrorism involves acts of terrorism that affect multiple countries, either through the perpetrators, victims, or the location of the acts.

Question 12

Which of the following is considered to be a state sponsor of terrorism according to the U.S. government?
A)Algeria
B)Somalia
C)Indonesia
D)Syria
E)Venezuela

Accepted Answer

According to the U.S. government, Syria is considered to be a state sponsor of terrorism due to its support for groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah. The other countries listed (Algeria, Somalia, Indonesia, Venezuela) are not currently designated as state sponsors of terrorism by the U.S. government.

Question 13

Amnesty International called Algeria the most violent country in the Middle East at the end of the 1990s.

Accepted Answer

During the late 1990s, Algeria was engulfed in a brutal civil war, often referred to as the Black Decade, which saw extreme violence, including massacres, bombings, and assassinations. Amnesty International and other human rights organizations reported extensively on the violence, highlighting Algeria's situation as one of the most dire in the Middle East and North Africa region at the time.

Question 14

Despite the problems that terrorist organizations represent, the democracies of Europe do not make membership illegal because of their emphasis on freedom of expression.

Accepted Answer

Many European democracies have laws that make membership in terrorist organizations illegal, as part of their efforts to combat terrorism and protect national security, which they balance against freedoms such as expression.

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT a factor in defining "terrorism"?
A)The use of violence
B)A desire for publicity
C)A political motive
D)The perceived justice of the cause
E)Intimidation aimed at civilians

Accepted Answer

Perceived justice of the cause is subjective and varies depending on one's perspective. It is not an objective factor in defining terrorism. The other factors listed are generally considered crucial in defining terrorism.

Question 16

The two continents where terrorism most often occurs are Asia and Australia.

Accepted Answer

The two continents where terrorism most often occurs are actually Asia and Africa. Australia does not have a high incidence of terrorism compared to other regions in the world.

Question 17

The case of the Tamil Tigers demonstrates the principle that time is on the side of the insurgents, and that they will win a prolonged conflict.

Accepted Answer

The statement is not entirely true, as the case of the Tamil Tigers also demonstrates that insurgent groups can ultimately be defeated through a combination of military and political strategies. While the Tamil Tigers fought for over 25 years, they were eventually defeated by the Sri Lankan government in 2009. Additionally, not all insurgent groups necessarily have the capacity to sustain a prolonged conflict, and factors like external support, military capabilities, and popular support can also influence the outcome of a conflict.

Question 18

The attack on the World Trade Center on 09/11 was the third time it was targeted for attack.

Accepted Answer

The attack on September 11, 2001, was the second time the World Trade Center was targeted. The first attack occurred on February 26, 1993, when a truck bomb was detonated below the North Tower.

Question 19

Numerically, almost one half of the world's terrorist attacks in 2006 occurred in Iraq.

Accepted Answer

According to several sources, including the National Counterterrorism Center and the Global Terrorism Database, Iraq experienced a high number of terrorist attacks in 2006, accounting for almost half of the world's incidents.

Question 20

The tendency among European countries is to approach terrorism as primarily a social rather than a political problem.

Accepted Answer

Many European countries have enacted measures to address the root causes of terrorism such as economic inequality, social exclusion, and radicalization. They view it as a societal issue that needs to be addressed through prevention rather than just a political problem that needs to be tackled through law enforcement and military means.

Quiz 16: Terrorism: Weapon of the Weak

Who are the most common victims of terrorism?