Pop Quiz: Terrorism 101

It's time to Break It Down!

So I was sitting in a meeting today, listening to a discussion on the environment, sustainability, and a host of other related buzz words. Suddenly, as the meeting was moving toward its latter stages, someone noted that police had discovered a suspicious device in the vicinity, cordoned off the area, and issued a directive that no one enter or leave the building, parking lot, or other locations nearby.

We live in interesting times. As I sat there, my mind wandered through a maze of historical milestones. I reflected, momentarily, how we as Americans instinctively point to September 11, 2001 as the day that changed everything. But did it really?

To reach such a conclusion may be convenient, but probably not inaccurate. Even though 9-11 is the most horrific day in the history of America, to view it through a lens that portrays that day as the foundation of our Country’s relationship with violence, terror, and mayhem, is at once deceptive, and self-serving.

To get at that singular bedrock, one must first look closely at two days tied together in history by their combined profound human devastation. The Waco Siege and the Oklahoma City Bombing took place April 19, 1993, and 1995, respectively. The latter was actually planned to coincide with the second anniversary of the former.

The devastation resulting from the Oklahoma City Bombing, while it pales in comparison to the 2001 attacks, made it by far the most chilling case of terrorism in this country until 9-11. The event was so stunningly unfathomable at the time authorities immediately attributed the event to foreign perpetrators. The death and destruction included:

• 168 deaths
• More than 680 injured
• 324 buildings destroyed or damaged in a 16-block radius
• 86 vehicles burned or destroyed
• 258 buildings with shattered windows
• An estimated $652 million in damage

So while Homeland Security initiatives skyrocketed after 9-11, the movement began in earnest after 4-19. My thoughts about my predicament (I am fine by the way; police eventually detonated the device and no one was injured), and about the interconnectivity of events, at least tangentially, that cause us to take precautions at the slightest provocation, let me to the novel idea of a quiz.

Anyone who watches or reads the news on a regular basis is buffeted by stories about the threats and concerns that demand the collective attention of America most, and most frequently. Between the wars we are involved in, terrorism, rumors of terrorism, nuclear expansionism, etc.; there is a lot to claim our rightfully divided attention. What follows is a short test; just 10 questions. I don’t need to know how many you answer correctly, and no, there is no prize for getting all of the answers right. Unless of course, you value cultural literacy; in which case, consider knowing the answers your personal reward!

Without further ado, here goes:

1. Who was David Koresh?
2. With what event were Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols connected?
3. What is Al-Qaeda?
4. Who are the Taliban?
5. Who is Osama bin Laden?
6. Who is Mullah Mohammed Omar?
7. Who is Mahmoud Ahmadinejad?
8. Who is Mir-Hossein Mousavi?
9. Who is Ali Khamenei?
10. Who was Ruhollah Mousavi Khomeini?

I will provide a few hints, but no answers; at least not today. Some would be tempted to look ahead. Of course, you could still look them up, but that’s initiative, a good-old American value. I am cool with that!

• Of the 10 questions, 7 pertain to current events
• Of the 9 people named, 6 are alive today, or presumed to be
• Of the 9 people named, 4 are Iranians

Good luck!

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com . A new post is published each Wednesday. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/breaking/story/987950.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Militia_movement

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waco_Siege

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Koresh

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma_City_bombing

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_McVeigh

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Nichols

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11_attacks

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Qaeda

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osama_bin_Laden

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taliban

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_Omar

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahmoud_Ahmadinejad

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Khamenei

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mir-Hossein_Mousavi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruhollah_Khomeini