The Iraq War (2003-2011)
What were the two primary reasons stated by the U.S. for invading Iraq in March 2003?
To destroy Iraqi weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and to end the dictatorial rule of Saddam Hussein.
What event prompted the U.S. to launch military operations in Afghanistan in October 2001?
The 9/11 terrorist attacks by al-Qaeda.
How many airplanes were hijacked by 19 militants associated with al-Qaeda on September 11, 2001?
Four.
What country did Saddam Hussein’s Iraq invade in August 1990, sparking the Persian Gulf War?
Kuwait.
In what year did the Arab League, including countries like Egypt and Syria, attack the newly created state of Israel?
1948.
In what year was Saddam Hussein captured by U.S. forces, and what was the outcome of his trial?
He was captured in 2003 and was later tried and hanged.
In 2020, what was the announced target number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan by mid-January 2021, as stated by Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller?
2,500 troops.
Which two major U.S. landmarks were struck by hijacked planes on September 11, 2001?
The Twin Towers of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Which country led the international coalition to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait in 1991?
United States.
What two regions of Palestine did Arabs flee to during the 1948 war with Israel?
Gaza Strip and West Bank.
What significant deadline was set by the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) for U.S. troops to withdraw from Iraqi cities, and what challenges were noted during this transition?
June 30, 2009; challenges included Iraqi security forces’ dependence on U.S. support and political leaders’ overconfidence.
On what specific date in 2021 did President Biden announce a full U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, and what was the symbolic significance of this date?
April 14, 2021; the withdrawal was set for September 11, 2021, marking the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
Where did the fourth hijacked plane, United Airlines Flight 93, crash after passengers attempted to regain control?
A field in Pennsylvania.
What was the name of the U.S.-led military operation that began in January 1991 to liberate Kuwait?
Operation Desert Storm.
What important waterway did Israel, Britain, and France attempt to control in the 1956 Suez Crisis?
Suez Canal.
What was the voter turnout percentage in the March 2010 Iraqi parliamentary elections, and what were two reasons cited for it being lower than the 2005 elections?
Over 62 percent; lower turnout was due to fear of violence and doubts about democracy.
On August 15, 2021, what major event occurred in Kabul, and what did former Afghan leaders Karzai and Abdullah do in response?
The Taliban overran Kabul and took the presidential palace; Karzai and Abdullah created a council to facilitate a peaceful transition to a Taliban government.
Approximately how many people were killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks, including victims at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and on the four planes?
Nearly 3,000.
What type of military vehicle, specifically the M1A1 Abrams, played a critical role for coalition forces in the ground offensive?
Tank.
What two territories did Israel capture from Egypt and Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War?
Sinai Peninsula and Golan Heights.
On what date did the last U.S. soldiers leave Iraq, marking the end of the nearly nine-year war, and what were the estimated financial and human costs mentioned for the U.S.?
December 18, 2011; costs included $800 billion from the U.S. Treasury and nearly 4,500 American deaths.
On what date did the last U.S. military forces leave Afghanistan in 2021, and what were two specific consequences mentioned regarding those left behind and a mistaken U.S. action?
August 30, 2021; thousands of Afghans who assisted the U.S. and up to 200 Americans remained in Afghanistan, and a U.S. airstrike mistakenly killed ten civilians, including seven children.
What organization, traced back to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, did Osama bin Laden connect with to plan and execute the September 11 attacks, as described in a related video?
Al-Qaeda.
On what exact date in 1991 did President George H.W. Bush declare a ceasefire, effectively ending combat operations in the Persian Gulf War?
February 28.
What was the name of the 1978 agreement negotiated by Anwar Sadat, Menachem Begin, and Jimmy Carter that led to a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel?
Camp David Accords.