Gov week 1-2 pt 1

Who has more power over violence in the U.S., the President or Congress?

The President has more power, as Article II of the U.S. Constitution makes the President Commander in Chief, giving broad discretion in using violent force against threats.

What does Article II of the U.S. Constitution say about the President's role with the military?

It states the President is the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy.

What power does Congress have in relation to war?

Congress can declare war and fund the military.

Can the President use force without declaring war?

Yes, the President can use violent force without declaring official war.

How can Congress try to stop the President from military action?

Congress can threaten to remove funding, but it is usually a bluff.

Were most U.S. wars officially declared as wars?

No, most U.S. wars were not officially declared.

Has the use of violence overseas by the U.S. varied by political party?

No, it has remained consistent among Presidents regardless of political party.

Why does the U.S. have strong national security compared to other countries?

Because of geographic isolation, post-WWII economic boom, limited war damage, small relative soldier losses, the largest economy, and extreme military funding.

What does Brownlee argue about foreign conquest of the U.S.?

That it is impossible due to U.S. strength.

What is terrorism?

Non-state violence with political aims, meant to send a message rather than cause damage.

Is terrorism a leading cause of death worldwide?

No, it accounts for only 0.05% of deaths, mostly in Asia and Africa.

Why is terrorism increasing in some regions?

Due to increased government instability in certain countries.

How many Muslims are there worldwide?

About 2 billion, spread across many countries, mostly in South Asia, with Indonesia having the largest population.

What percent of the American population is Muslim?

About 1.1%.

What are the Five Pillars of Islam?

Testimony of faith, prayer, alms (charity), fasting during Ramadan, and pilgrimage to Mecca.

What does the principle of Jihad mean?

It means struggle to advance God’s will; it can be invoked for war and violence in God’s name.

What was the Open Door Policy? monnroe

A U.S. policy promoting free trade in China, officially diplomatic but actually a capitalist strategy benefiting U.S. investors.

Who introduced the Truman Doctrine?

President Harry Truman, articulated by Secretary of State Dean Acheson.

What was the Truman Doctrine?

A policy to support Greece and Turkey against communism by providing economic aid and preventing the spread of Soviet influence.

What was the fear behind the Truman Doctrine?

That communism would spread like an infection, causing a domino effect of democratic collapse.

What is the U.S. policy of Containment?

Blocking Soviet expansion and limiting communist influence, including opposing nationalist movements that conflicted with U.S. interests.

What was NSC-68?

A 1950 U.S. strategy document calling for preventing Soviet expansion, building alliances, increasing military power, and shaping Soviet internal behavior.

What was the U.S.’s share of global GDP after WWII?

About half of the global GDP.

How did the global balance of power shift after WWII?

It shifted from multipolarity (many powers like France, UK, Japan, Italy) to bipolarity between the U.S. and USSR.

What were NATO and the Warsaw Pact?

NATO was the U.S.-led alliance, and the Warsaw Pact was the Soviet-led alliance during the Cold War.

When did the Iranian coup and Guatemalan coup occur?

1953.

When did the Cuban Missile Crisis and communist revolution in Cuba occur?

1958–1962. (rose 2014)

When was the Vietnam War era?

1954–1975.

When was the Islamic Republic of Iran established?

1979.

When did the Berlin Wall fall?

1989.

When did the Soviet Union collapse?

1991.

What happened in 1979 at the U.S. Embassy in Iran?

Americans were kidnapped by supporters of Ayatollah Khomeini.

Why did the U.S. invade Afghanistan in 1979?

To stabilize the communist government and protect oil interests.

What was the Carter Doctrine?

Announced in 1980, it stated the U.S. was ready to use military force to protect its interests in the Persian Gulf.

What was Vietnam Syndrome?

A reluctance to engage in foreign wars after Vietnam due to recognition of the costs, with 58,000 American deaths.

When did the U.S. end the military draft?

1973, switching to an all-volunteer force.

What factors shape whether the U.S. uses diplomacy or military action?

Costs, potential loss of life, and political consequences for leaders.

Which South Asian country has the largest population?

India.

Which South Asian country has the smallest population?

Maldives.

Which South Asian country has the highest literacy rate?

Maldives.

Which South Asian countries have the lowest literacy rate?

Afghanistan and Nepal.

Which South Asian countries are the poorest?

Bhutan and Maldives.

Which South Asian country has the most difficult terrain and instability?

Afghanistan.

What is the climate of South Asia like?

Dominated by monsoons, making irrigation difficult.

Where do most Hindus live?

In South Asia.

What fraction of the world’s Muslims live in South Asia?

About one-third.

What religious conflicts exist in South Asia?

Hindu-Muslim conflict in India, Sunni-Shia in Pakistan, Taliban vs. other Muslims in Afghanistan, and civil wars in Nepal and Sri Lanka. (emerged mid-1990s; ruled Afghanistan 1996–2001; returned 2021)

Which country has the world’s longest-functioning democracy in South Asia?

India.

What type of governments exist in Pakistan and Bangladesh?

Military governments have alternated with democracy.

What type of government exists in Bhutan?

A monarchy until the 2000s, now a democracy.

Which country in South Asia has faced repeated invasions?

Afghanistan.

What are common features of South Asian society?

Hierarchy, patriarchy, Hindu caste system, Muslim social hierarchy, and gender inequality.

What role do women have in Hinduism?

They are represented as goddesses but face inconsistent treatment in society.

Do Muslim women in South Asia face less discrimination than in the Middle East?

Yes, but they still face significant inequality.

What does Islam allow regarding marriage?

Polygamy, though most can only afford one wife due to dowry costs.

What countries are nuclear rivals in South Asia?

India and Pakistan, especially over Kashmir.

Which South Asian countries have seen rising GDP?

Bhutan and Sri Lanka.

Which South Asian country has the highest percentage of its economy in agriculture?

Afghanistan.

Which South Asian country has the highest services sector?

Maldives.

Which South Asian country has the highest labor sector?

Bhutan.

What six main factors shaped the modern Middle East?

Islam, the Ottoman Empire, European colonialism, the foundation of Israel, oil, and the role of the USA.

Why is Turkey sometimes excluded from the Middle East category?

Because it was not colonized, is modernized, and is a NATO member on a different path.

Why is Saudi Arabia important to the U.S. beyond oil?

It helps maintain regional balance, especially with Iran and Israel issues.

What percentage of the Middle East is Muslim?

About 90%.

What are the main sects of Islam in the Middle East?

About 65% Sunni and 30% Shia.

What is the origin of the Sunni-Shia split?

A dispute over who should succeed the Prophet Muhammad.

Which two countries are at the forefront of the Sunni-Shia conflict?

Iran (Shia) and Saudi Arabia (Sunni).

What U.S. President had a strong relationship with Saddam Hussein early on?

Ronald Reagan, continued by George H.W. Bush.

What was the Iran-Iraq War?

A conflict from 1980–1988 started by Saddam against Iran to consolidate power, which devastated Iraq’s economy. (1980–1988) (2003–2011)

What demands did Saddam make after the Iran-Iraq War?

Forgiveness of $30 billion in loans from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, oil price increases, OPEC cuts, and control of Kuwaiti islands for shipping access. (1980–1988) (2003–2011)

What event triggered the Gulf War (1990–1991)?

Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in August 1990. (Jan–Feb 1991)

What was Operation Desert Shield?

The U.S. deployment of troops to Saudi Arabia to protect it from Iraq after the invasion of Kuwait. (Aug 1990–Jan 1991)

Who was General H. Norman Schwarzkopf?

Commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and overall commander of coalition forces in the Gulf War. (Jan–Feb 1991)

What was the Powell-Weinberger Doctrine?

Guidelines that limited U.S. military involvement unless clear objectives, public support, and vital interests were at stake.

What was Operation Desert Storm?

The combat phase of the Gulf War in 1991, a six-week campaign with massive air strikes and a 100-hour ground war. (Jan–Feb 1991)

How many U.S. and Iraqi lives were lost in Desert Storm?

About 200 U.S. and 500,000 Iraqi lives. (Jan–Feb 1991)

Why didn’t the U.S. topple Saddam after Desert Storm?

Bush feared high casualties, instability, and uncertainty in managing post-war Iraq. (Jan–Feb 1991)

What was Operation Provide Comfort?

A U.S. and UN effort to provide humanitarian aid and protection for Kurds in northern Iraq after Desert Storm. (Jan–Feb 1991)

What was Operation Southern Watch?

A U.S.-led enforcement of a no-fly zone over Iraq after Provide Comfort.

What was the Iraq Liberation Act (1998)?

Signed by Bill Clinton, it called for regime change in Iraq.

What was Operation Desert Fox?

A four-day U.S. bombing campaign in Iraq in 1998 targeting military and intelligence sites, ordered by Clinton.

What were the effects of U.S. sanctions on Iraq in the 1990s?

Severe economic suffering and civilian deaths, as sanctions blocked vital imports.

What was the Oil-for-Food Program (OFFP)?

A 1995 UN program allowing Iraq to sell limited oil to purchase humanitarian goods.

What was dual containment?

The U.S. strategy of containing both Iraq and Iran in the 1990s.

What was the Lockerbie bombing (1988)?

A bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Scotland, killing 270, carried out by Libyan agents under Gaddafi.

What was Operation Restore Hope?

A U.S.-led humanitarian and military mission in Somalia (1992–1993) to relieve famine during civil war.

What was the Battle of Mogadishu (1993)?

A failed U.S. raid to capture Somali warlord Mohamed Aidid, killing 20 Americans and prompting withdrawal.

What was the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing?

A Hezbollah truck bombing in Saudi Arabia that killed U.S. Air Force personnel.

What was Presidential Decision Directive 39 (1995)?

A Clinton policy declaring terrorism a national security threat and criminal act.

What happened in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing?

A truck bomb led by Ramzi Yousef killed 6 people; it was meant to topple the towers but failed.

What was the Oklahoma City bombing (1995)?

A bombing by Timothy McVeigh of a federal building, killing 168, in retaliation for Waco siege.

Who founded al-Qaeda?

Osama bin Laden, supported by Ayman al-Zawahiri.

What was Osama bin Laden’s goal?

To liberate Muslims from non-Muslim dominance and drive out U.S. influence from the Middle East.

What was bin Laden’s “near enemy”?

Corrupt or secular Muslim governments nearby, like Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia.

What was bin Laden’s “far enemy”?

Non-Muslim powers like the U.S. and Russia.

Why did bin Laden oppose U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia?

He viewed non-Muslims on sacred land as unacceptable.

What were the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombings?

Al-Qaeda bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, killing over 200.

What was the USS Cole bombing (2000)?

An al-Qaeda suicide bombing of a U.S. Navy ship in Yemen, killing 17 sailors.

How did Clinton respond to al-Qaeda attacks?

He ordered missile strikes in Afghanistan and Sudan and escalated counterterrorism efforts.

What was the significance of Somalia to al-Qaeda’s strategy?

It showed the U.S. could be forced to withdraw if it suffered casualties.