“What In The World? Weekly Quiz” – August 3-9, 2020

Henry Kissinger and American Power: A Political Biography

By Thomas A. Schwartz

We are looking forward to the August release of this book by friend of TNWAC, Dr. Thomas Schwartz, PhD, Distinguished Professor of History at Vanderbilt University.

About the Book

The definitive biography of Henry Kissinger―at least for those who neither revere nor revile him

Over the past six decades, Henry Kissinger has been America’s most consistently praised―and reviled―public figure. He was hailed as a “miracle worker” for his peacemaking in the Middle East, pursuit of détente with the Soviet Union, negotiation of an end to the Vietnam War, and secret plan to open the United States to China. He was assailed from the left and from the right for his indifference to human rights, complicity in the pointless sacrifice of American and Vietnamese lives, and reliance on deception and intrigue. Was he a brilliant master strategist―“the 20th century’s greatest 19th century statesman”―or a cold-blooded monster who eroded America’s moral standing for the sake of self-promotion?

In this masterfully researched biography, the renowned diplomatic historian Thomas Schwartz offers an authoritative, and fair-minded, answer to this question. While other biographers have engaged in hagiography or demonology, Schwartz takes a measured view of his subject. He recognizes Kissinger’s successes and acknowledges that Kissinger thought seriously and with great insight about the foreign policy issues of his time, while also recognizing his failures, his penchant for backbiting, and his reliance on ingratiating and fawning praise of the president as a source of power. Throughout, Schwartz stresses Kissinger’s artful invention of himself as a celebrity diplomat and his domination of the medium of television news. He also notes Kissinger’s sensitivity to domestic and partisan politics, complicating―and undermining―the image of the far-seeing statesman who stands above the squabbles of popular strife.

Rounded and textured, and rich with new insights into key dilemmas of American power, Henry Kissinger and American Power stands as an essential guide to a man whose legacy is as complex as the last sixty years of US history itself.

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1. In a major escalation of tensions with Beijing the U.S. State Department ordered the closure of the Chinese Consulate in Houston, Texas. In retaliation the Chinese Foreign Ministry ordered the closure of the American consulate in THIS city, a newly minted sister city to Nashville, Tennessee.

A. Hong Kong
B. Wuhan
C. Xian
D. Chengdu

Correct Response: D. Chengdu
https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/24/asia/us-china-consulate-chengdu-intl-hnk/index.html

2. THIS group reached agreement on a major stimulus plan, over $2 trillion, to be raised from grants and loans. The funds will be distributed among members with 30% of the fund committed to combat climate change.

A. G-20
B. EU
C. ASEAN
D. OECD

Correct Response: B. EU
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/21/eu-leaders-reach-a-breakthrough-on-the-regions-recovery-fund.html

3. Egypt’s parliament has authorized President Abdel-Fatteh al-Sisi to conduct military operations abroad opening prospects for intervention in THIS country, already riven by civil war and extensive foreign interference.

A. Tunisia
B. Somalia
C. Sudan
D. Libya

Correct Response: D. Libya
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-libya-security-egypt-idUSKCN24L29P

4. The United States announced a $5 million reward for the arrest or conviction of the justice minister of THIS country. The U.S. previously offered a reward of $15 million for the arrest of the president for “narco-terrorism.”

A. Cuba
B. Libya
C. Venezuela
D. Ecuador

Correct Response: C. Venezuela
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-53498118

5. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Navy has constructed a mock aircraft carrier, a replica of an American Nimitz class ship, that will likely be used for training naval forces for attacks on the U.S. Navy which has maintained a continuous carrier presence in the region. On Sunday the faux carrier was seen under tow from its base at Bandar Abbas toward THIS strategic chokepoint connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman.

A. Bab el Mandeb
B. Strait of Hormuz
C. Malacca Strait
D. Strait of Khomeini

Correct Response: B. Strait of Hormuz
https://apnews.com/60b0a4a466c1a366300b57eab5bcb097

6. The justice minister in THIS country that recently re-elected far-right wing Andrzej Duda to a new five-year term as president, announced the nation intended to leave the European treaty on violence against women starting on July 27th. Zbigniew Ziobro said the treaty was “harmful” because it required schools to teach about gender according to the BBC.

A. Hungary
B. Czech Republic
C. Slovakia
D. Poland

Correct Response: D. Poland
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53538205

7. The Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity went to THIS 17-year old climate activist who was the 2019 Time Person of the Year. She donated $114,000 from her prize to SOS Amazonia, an environmental organization and $114,000 to the Stop Ecocide Foundation.

A. Malala Yousefzai
B. Greta Thunberg
C. Anna Lindgren
D. Astrid Gilberto

Correct Response: B. Greta Thunberg
https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/21/world/greta-thunberg-donate-covid-amazon-trnd/index.html

8. The Governor of the place set for the 2020 Olympics, delayed to 2021, said the games “can become a symbol of how the world has united to overcome the hardship and how humanity has strengthened its bonds.” When asked about the prospects for the games she said, “First of all, we have to win the victory against the coronavirus.” Who is the host of the 2020 games?

A. United Kingdom
B. Japan
C. South Africa
D. Chile

Correct Response: B. Japan
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/22/governor-warns-tokyo-needs-to-beat-coronavirus-to-keep-olympics-on-track.html

9. Canada’s federal court released THIS ruling on July 22 regarding relations with the United States.

A. The United States was not “safe” for asylum seekers.
B. The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement was unconstitutional.
C. The Canadian government was not required to comply with a 1892 “Fisheries Agreement.”
D. Canadian authorities could not legally prohibit the Toronto Blue Jays from hosting American MLB teams.

Correct Response: A. The United States was not “safe” for asylum seekers.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53494561

10. The Trump Administration has opened the door for U.S. defense contractors to sell THESE systems to foreign governments. The U.S. versions include “Reapers” and “Global Hawks” and the sale had been restricted by the Missile Technology Control Regime.

A. Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS)
B. Drones
C. Patriot Air Defense Systems
D. Standard Missile ABMs

Correct Response: B. Drones
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/24/trump-allows-defense-contractors-to-sell-more-armed-drones-to-foreign-militaries.html