2022 World Affairs Council of the Year
Network of Independent World Affairs Councils of America
TODAY IS A GREAT DAY TO BECOME A MEMBER OF YOUR WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
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LAST WEEK’S QUIZ WINNERS
Oliver Fish, Richmond, VA
Pete Griffin, Nashville, TN
David Hillinck, Huntsville, AL
Charles Bowers, Nashville, TN
Connie Tomczyk, Peoria, IL
Allan Ramsaur, Nashville, TN
Himanshu Manchanda, Nashville, TN
Mary Raffety, Nashville, TN
Yezzie Dospil, Nashville, TN
Lana James, Nashville, NT
July 2020 – Quiz Prize
You must be a TNWAC active member to win.
“Crude Oil, Crude Money: Aristotle Onassis, Saudi Arabia and the CIA”
By Thomas Lippman
Mr. Lippman is the TNWAC distinguished speaker for our July 14, 2020 Webinar on global energy and his book, “Crude Oil, Crude Money.”
“Crude Oil, Crude Money” — Tells the untold story of how Exxon, Mobil, Chevron, and Texaco teamed up with the CIA and Department of State to thwart the plans of Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, who almost managed to reshape the Middle East.
In 1954 Aristotle Onassis (long before he married Jacqueline Kennedy) made a bold business gamble: he tried to corner the crude oil shipping market by signing a deal with the King of Saudi Arabia. If it had worked, it would have reshaped the history of the Middle East. As it was, the proposed deal terrified British and U.S. oil companies and the Dulles brothers, who saw it as the first move in the nationalization of Saudi oil. Complicating things were the burgeoning Arab nationalist movement led by Egypt’s newly elected president, Gamal Nasser. And of course there were the Soviets, now without Stalin, eager to build influence in the region.
This little known story about the collision of nationalism, money, celebrity, and oil sheds new light on the tangled history of the Middle East. Drawing on the author’s immense knowledge of the Middle East, and original research incorporating unexplored declassified documents, the book is an eye-opener for students of U.S. foreign policy, anyone interested in the global oil business, and scholars and historians of the role of the U.S. in the Arab world.
• Dramatically illustrates the convergence of interests of the U.S. government and big business
• Shows how McCarthy-era phobia about communism affected U.S. foreign policy decisions―even when no communists were involved
• Examines history with enduring ramifications through narrative to engage students and general readers
• Unveils a world of international intrigue unknown to most citizens
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Last week’s questions and answers:
WHAT IN THE WORLD QUIZ – WEEK OF July 6-12, 2020
1. A fire destroyed machinery in a centrifuge assembly facility in THIS place in Iran, a key component of the country’s nuclear enrichment capability. The BBC reports some Iranian officials point to cyber-sabotage in the incident. Centrifuges are used to enrich uranium in the production of fissile material suitable for power reactors or nuclear weapons. Iran’s use of centrifuges was limited under the now fraying international nuclear deal.
A. Natanz
B. Parchin
C. Bushehr
D. Ahvaz
Correct Response: A. Natanz
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-53300579
2. After the recent border conflict with China, India has banned this social media outlet due to its ties with Beijing. The ban will result in a loss of six billion dollars for this company? What is this social media giant?
A. Twitter
B. Tik Tok
C. Facebook
D. Instagram
Correct Response: B. Tik Tok
https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2020/07/04/tiktok-loses-6-billion-as-users-urged-delete-app-immediately/#553c36fd1c98
3. Admiral James Kirk, commander of one of the two U.S. Navy aircraft carriers operating in THIS region, said of Chinese military forces, “They have seen us and we have seen them.” The American exercises THERE are the largest in recent years and are a pushback to Beijing’s expansion and militarization of islands and atolls. Chinese media said the country was ready to counter America’s challenge there.
A. Yellow Sea
B. Bashi Channel
C. South China Sea
D. Strait of Taiwan
Correct Response: C. South China Sea
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3091959/beijing-ready-counter-us-both-navies-hold-drills-south-china
4. The imposition of the China’s new National Security Law in Hong Kong has prompted this country to offer eligible residents of Hong Kong the ability to relocate for five years, with the ability to live and work there.
A. Singapore
B. Taiwan
C. United Kingdom
D. Sweden
Correct Response: C
https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/01/uk/hong-kong-visas-uk-boris-johnson-gbr-intl/index.html
5. President Trump last week approved a plan to remove 9,500 US military personnel from this country and redeploying forces elsewhere. Last month when he surprised allies with the reduction announcement he complained about THIS country’s defense spending, saying, “They owe NATO billions of dollars and they have to pay it.”
A. Poland
B. Afghanistan
C. Germany
D. Iraq
Correct Response: C
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/30/trump-approves-plan-to-withdraw-9500-us-forces-from-germany.html
6. Much of the world is moving back to normal operations in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic but the United States is among the “outliers” in reducing the impact of the virus. These countries are among the United States that are experiencing the most rapid virus growth rates EXCEPT THIS ONE, according to the New York Times.
A. Brazil
B. Sweden
C. Japan
D. Peru
Correct Response: C. Japan
https://messaging-custom-newsletters.nytimes.com/template/oakv2
7. Voters in this country cast ballots in a national referendum framed as a return to old fashioned family values. The result is that its long serving president could remain in office until 2036, longer than Peter the Great.
A. Belarus
B. Romania
C. Poland
D. Russia
Correct Response: D
https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/01/europe/russia-referendum-putin-power-2036-intl/index.html
8. The United States consul general to THIS place noted that, “Using the national security law to erode fundamental freedoms and to create an atmosphere of coercion and self-censorship is a tragedy…”
A. Singapore
B. Kaliningrad
C. Hong Kong
D. Taipei
Correct Response: C
https://apnews.com/89281c2fa942831fffa3fcf166544c78
9. Twenty Saudi Arabian citizens were put on trial in absentia in Turkey July 3rd charged in the murder of what prominent reporter at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018?
A. Thumar al-Marzouqi
B. Jamal Khashoggi
C. Bader al-Ibrahim
D. Mohammed al-Sadiq
Correct Response: B
https://www.npr.org/2020/07/03/887116557/khashoggi-murder-trial-begins-in-turkey
10. A rocket struck inside THIS fortified section of Baghdad, home to the U.S. Embassy. It was the latest in a recent wave of rocket attacks on the zone and other U.S. military locations in Iraq.
A. Presidential Exclusion Zone
B. Al Saleh Zone
C. Coalition Headquarters
D. Green Zone
Correct Response: D. Green Zone
https://apnews.com/dbe6a9ac8c3b5fb7fb8e9c43da813977
Copyright: 2020 Tennessee World Affairs Council
Give to support global affairs awareness programs in the community and in your schools.
THANKS TO SOUTHWEST AIRLINES FOR SUPPORT OF ACADEMIC WORLDQUEST 2020
THANKS TO SUSTAINING PARTNER BELMONT UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
THANKS TO SUSTAINING PARTNER NASHVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COUNCIL
THANKS TO THE TNWAC WEEKLY QUIZ PARTNERS
THE MISSION of the nonprofit, nonpartisan Tennessee World Affairs Council is to promote international awareness, understanding and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and to prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world.
THE VISION of the Tennessee World Affairs Council is a well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events.
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