Deck 14: Asymmetrical Warfare

Question 1

Terrorism in itself can often lead to the ousting of a government or an occupier.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Asymmetrical conflict involves a spectrum of activities of which terrorism is just one.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Followers of salafiyya are not considered to be a source of asymmetrical conflict due to the liberal outlook of the doctrine.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

The Internet can serve as an effective weapon to spread the message of terrorism and organize attacks worldwide by terrorist groups.

Question 5

"Three-generation assimilation" is hardest to achieve amongst Muslim American immigrants and a rejection of this assimilation might lead to the forming of homegrown terrorists.

Question 6

Drone warfare is inexpensive and requires only a small ground crew to operate.

Question 7

Mongol devastation of the Arab empire is considered to be one of the reasons for stalling the modernization of Islamic civilization.

Question 8

The underlying main cause of terrorism is economic.

Question 9

Deterrence strategies are encouraged in cyberwarfare because defending is easier than attacking, and causes less damage.

Question 10

The presence of U.S. forces in Muslim lands, and the existence of Israel and U.S. support for it, inflame many Muslims, thus increasing support for Islamic terrorists.

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT true of guerrilla warfare?

A) It is more of a political than a military war.
B) It depends on the support of the local people.
C) It is a branch of asymmetrical conflict.
D) It brings victory in the shortest time possible.
E) It resembles a powerful underground government.

Question 12

An asymmetrical conflict is ________.

A) one in which only terrorism is used as the means
B) the same as guerrilla warfare
C) a conflict involving the political use of violence
D) one in which the two sides are very unequal in terms of power
E) one in which the goals of the two sides are very different

Question 13

Which among the following is NOT a contributing factor to the conflicts in Middle East?

A) salafiyya movement and thoughts
B) Mongol devastation in the thirteenth century
C) historical progress of Islamic civilization
D) domination of European imperialists
E) single, set interpretation of the Koran

Question 14

Which of the following is an insurgency?

A) an armed rebellion or uprising
B) a civil war
C) an armed rebellion with the goal of overthrowing the government
D) an uprising with the goal of ousting foreign occupiers
E) an uprising which often precedes terrorism

Question 15

Guerrilla warfare is warfare where ________.

A) only terrorist tactics are used
B) the two sides are evenly matched in terms of weapons
C) the two sides are evenly matched in terms of power
D) small units use hit-and-run warfare against their stronger opponent
E) small units use terrorism only against their stronger opponent

Question 16

________ reduces the chances of homegrown terrorism.

A) Three-generation assimilation
B) Self-radicalization
C) An ideological grudge
D) Lack of acculturation
E) A religious difference

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT true of counterinsurgency?

A) It includes the overwhelming use of conventional force.
B) It includes the use of small tactical units to avoid civilian casualties.
C) It must provide for the population's basic needs.
D) It must provide security for the native population.
E) It was attempted in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Question 18

Which of the following is potentially a reason that keeps Islamic countries resistant to modernization?

A) limited oil reserves
B) modernization of European civilization
C) little Western influence in their countries during the colonial period
D) independent and flexible interpretations of the Koran
E) the closed and rigid nature of the Islamic faith

Question 19

What is the most common cause behind terrorism?

A) psychosis
B) hatred for non-Muslims
C) vulnerability of the state
D) desire for national liberation
E) desire to reestablish the umma

Question 20

Which of the following terrorist organizations has perpetrated the most suicide bombings?

A) Al Qaeda
B) the Taliban
C) the Palestinian Liberation Organization
D) the Tamil Tigers
E) Basque separatists

Question 21

If you were asked to formulate a plan to modernize and economically develop the Islamic countries of the Middle East, what would you do first?

A) increase employment and educate women
B) impose restrictions on market economy
C) spread awareness of salafiyya
D) increase petroleum production
E) increase state intervention in the market

Question 22

When Islamist groups tend to engage in ________, they turn on their previous sponsors.

A) backlash
B) blowback
C) hypocrisy
D) self-defense
E) jihad

Question 23

Political scientist Robert Pape argues that it is not religion but rather ________ that is the primary cause of terrorism.

A) increased nationalism
B) secular government
C) the desire to get rid of foreign occupiers
D) the desire to get rid of Christians and Jews
E) the desire to eliminate Israel

Question 24

What attracted Al Qaeda to Iraq?

A) large Sunni population
B) the government controlled by Shias
C) the American invasion
D) sympathetic Sunni allies
E) the Kurdish population they wanted to destroy

Question 25

Al Qaeda is especially difficult to defeat because of ________.

A) its linked cell structure and presence in various countries
B) its hierarchical structure and presence in various countries
C) its hierarchical structure and hidden location in northwest Pakistan
D) its linked cell structure and hidden location in northwest Pakistan
E) its centralized command structure and use of the Internet to mobilize followers

Question 26

Which of the following is the doctrine that condemns modernization, wants to get rid of territorial boundaries and reestablish the umma, and inspires Islamic martyrs?

A) sharia
B) Sunni
C) Shia
D) salafiyya
E) House of Saud

Question 27

Which of the following is no longer among the weakest spots for American security with regard to terrorism?

A) computer networks
B) airports
C) seaports
D) nuclear power plants
E) oil refineries

Question 28

Which of the following is a lesson learned from America's recent experience with asymmetrical conflict?

A) Conventional forces alone make states powerful.
B) Security can be achieved through isolationism.
C) Terrorism is an effective regime-change strategy.
D) Invasion seldom acts a peacekeeping solution.
E) Deterrence can work on any enemy.

Question 29

From America's experience with asymmetrical warfare, we have learned that countries with ________ breed conflict.

A) resilient, adaptive populations
B) several political allies
C) high population growth and unemployment
D) a dependence on natural resource revenues
E) large Muslim populations

Question 30

What type of warfare is a very real problem since it could shut down communications, power grids, and neutralize air defenses?

A) guerrilla
B) conventional
C) nuclear
D) cyber
E) drone

Question 31

What is terrorism? How is it different from conventional warfare? Specifically address the perpetrators, targets, goals, and means and methods.

Question 32

What is a terrorist? What is a freedom fighter? How are they different? How are they similar? While formulating your answer, discuss at least one group that is considered terrorists by some and freedom fighters by others. Describe why each side views them as they do.

Question 33

What has led Islamic countries to be so resistant to modernization? What about resistance to the influence of the West? Are these things related? Discuss key historical events, cultural characteristics, as well as religious doctrine in your answer.

Question 34

Can the United States prevent terrorists from acquiring WMD? If not prevent, is there a way to decrease the likelihood that terrorists can get their hands on these weapons? What would you do in an effort to accomplish these goals if you were the American president? Why?

Question 35

What are the biggest vulnerabilities that might expose the United States to more terrorist attacks? How have these vulnerabilities been addressed? What still needs to be done? If you were a U.S. policymaker, what five-point plan would you propose?

Question 36

Is the United States safer from terrorist attacks today than it was prior to 9/11? What measures have been taken to make the country more secure? Which of these have been the most effective? Given the open nature of our society since we are a democracy, can we ever address all of our vulnerabilities?