Buzz Words and Catch Phrases
A Glossary for Our Changing World -- Compiled by Steve Buttry

Terms discussed here include people, places, agencies, technology, jargon and clichés used in the aftermath of the attack on the United States. The glossary is organized by topics: terrorism, war, geopolitics, religion, homeland security, disaster recovery and miscellaneous. In some cases, the glossary notes alternative spellings of Arabic and other non-English words. Others may have alternative spellings not noted here.

• Terrorism Terminology
• War Terminology
• Geopolitical Terminology
• Religious Terminology (primarily Islamic)
• Homeland Security Terminology
• Disaster Recovery Terminology
• Miscellaneous Terminology
• Sources
  
  

agri-terrorism. Terrorism by contaminating crops or livestock with a deadly contagious disease.

American Airlines Flight 11. Crashed Sept. 11 into north tower of World Trade Center. Hijacked en route from Boston to Los Angeles. Suspected hijackers were Wail M. Alshehri, Waleed M. Alshehri, Mohamed Atta, Satam al-Suqami and Abdulaziz Alomari.

American Airlines Flight 77. Crashed Sept. 11 into the Pentagon. Hijacked en route from Washington-Dulles International Airport to Los Angeles. Suspected hijackers were Khalid al-Midhar, Majed Moqed, Nawaq Alhazmi, Salem Alhazmi and Hani Hanjour.

anthrax. Deadly bacterium used in the first bioterrorism attack following Sept. 11. Anthrax can infect by inhalation or skin contact. It is treatable with antibiotics, primarily Cipro. If diagnosed early, the patient has a strong probability of full recovery.

anti-terrorism. Anti-terrorism efforts are preventive measures, such as judicial, legislative, security or military measures taken to reduce vulnerability to a terrorist attack, as contrasted with counter-terrorism measures, which are military, police and intelligence measures used to fight terrorism through pre-emptive or retaliatory measures.

assassination. Terrorist groups may engage in assassination, but assassination is not terrorism. Assassination has a specific target, though other people may be killed or injured. Terrorists target a group of people, but generally choose specific victims randomly. If the Sept. 11 attack had succeeded in killing President Bush, it would have involved assassination and terrorism. President Ford banned CIA involvement in assassinations with a 1976 executive order, after a congressional investigation revealed evidence of a plot to kill Fidel Castro. Some U.S. leaders want to repeal the order.

Atlanta. Site of still-unsolved bombing at Centennial Olympic park during 1996 Summer Olympics. Security guard Richard Jewell was identified publicly as a suspect, but later was cleared. No terrorist group took credit. One person was killed and 111 were injured. In 1998, a federal complaint charged Eric Robert Rudolph with the crime.

Atta. Mohamed Atta is suspected of being the ringleader of the 19 terrorists who died in the Sept. 11 hijackings.

Aum Shinrikyo. Japanese cult that released sarin nerve gas in subway in 1995, killing 12.

bin Laden. Osama (also spelled Usama) bin Laden, a Saudi native, was the 17th of 24 sons of Saudi Arabia's leading builder, Yemeni immigrant Mohammed bin Oud bin Laden. Osama's share of the family wealth has been estimated at $300 million, though some say that figure is too high. He helped the mujahedeen in their war with the Soviet Union, mostly by building facilities and helping recruit other Arabs. His hatred of the United States stems from his view that U.S. forces desecrated holy ground in Saudi Arabia with their presence in the war against Iraq. He was expelled from Saudi Arabia in 1991, then from Sudan in 1996. Since 1996 he has operated terrorist training camps in Afghanistan. His worldwide network, al Qaeda, is blamed for the Sept. 11 attack on the United States, the 2000 attack on the USS Cole and other terrorist attacks. Osama means "like a lion."

bioterrorism. Terrorism using deadly bacteria or virus.

Black September. The Palestinian terrorist group that captured and killed members of the Israeli Olympic team at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, West Germany.

botulinum. Bacterium that could be used by terrorists to contaminate food.

cell. Small group working together clandestinely. Contact with other cells of the same organization and even with command structure of the organization is limited.

counter-terrorism. Counter-terrorism measures are military, police and intelligence measures used to fight terrorism through pre-emptive or retaliatory measures, as contrasted with anti-terrorism measures, which are preventive measures to reduce vulnerability to terrorist attacks.

cyanide. Poison feared as a possible agent in chemical terrorism.

Dar es Salaam. Capital of Tanzania and site of U.S. Embassy bombed Aug. 7, 1998, by suicide bombers linked to bin Laden. U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, was bombed at the same time. The two embassy attacks killed 301 and injured 5,000. United States retaliated with missile strikes on an abandoned training camp in Afghanistan and a pharmaceutical plant in Sudan, mistakenly thought to be a chemical weapons factory.

Dark Winter. Bioterrorism "war game" exercise that government agencies tried in June. Hypothetical smallpox epidemic spread to 25 states.

drain the swamp. Cliché meaning that you have to clean up the environment in which a terrorist network operates, rather than retaliate in a limited way.

Egyptian Islamic Jihad. Terror group blamed for the 1981 assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. President Bush identified Egyptian Islamic Jihad in his address to Congress as one of the groups working with al Qaeda.

Entebbe. Perhaps the most celebrated response to terrorism was the surprise raid by Israeli troops at Uganda's Entebbe Airport in 1976. Gunmen demanding the release of Palestinian prisoners hijacked an Air France flight from Athens to Paris. During a week on the ground, the hijackers released 143 passengers but held 103 hostages, mostly Israelis. In a nighttime raid, three C-130 transport planes landed at Entebbe, loaded with Israeli commandos who killed the seven hijackers and 20 Ugandan soldiers, who were suspected of aiding the hijackers. Three hostages and the Israeli commander also died.

al-Fadl. Jamal al-Fadl, who fled to the West after he was caught embezzling from bin Laden's operation, has helped authorities understand how the operation works.

Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. 1978 law allows FBI to monitor suspected terrorists or spies without showing probable cause of a crime.

Foreign Terrorist Asset Tracking Center. Abbreviated FTAT. Agency that will track and attempt to seize or freeze terrorist assets around the world.

Hamas. Palestinian terror group seeking to oust Israel from Palestine. Claimed June 1 attack on Tel Aviv night club and Aug. 9 attack on Jerusalem restaurant. The two suicide attacks killed a combined 39 people.

Harakat ul-Mujahedin. On State Department's list of global terrorist groups.

Hizbullah or Hizballah or Hezbollah. Lebanon-based group that bombed U.S. Embassy and Marine barracks in Beirut in 1983.

hate crimes. A crime whose victim is selected because he or she belongs to a group the attacker hates. Some, but not all, hate crimes are acts of terrorism.

hawala. Paperless financial system that al Qaeda is suspected of using. From the Hindi for "in trust," the system works on cash and promises of repayment, making tracing of transactions difficult.

Hydra. Bin Laden's terrorist network frequently is likened to the Hydra, a multi-headed creature of Greek mythology that grew two new heads each time a head was cut off.

Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. One of two groups President Bush identified in his address to Congress as affiliates of al Qaeda.

Islamic Observation Centre. London-based extremist group.

kamikaze. Japanese pilots who flew suicide missions, crashing their planes into American ships were called kamikaze pilots. The term has come to mean any suicide mission, such as the terrorist attacks on U.S. buildings.

al-Khobar Towers. U.S. military apartment complex in Saudi Arabia, attacked in 1996 by suicide bombers linked to bin Laden. Bomb killed 19 and injured 370.

Kurdistan Workers Party. On State Department's list of global terrorist groups.

make a statement. Cliché for the intended meaning of a terrorist attack or the response to a terrorist attack. Same as "send a message."

McVeigh. Timothy McVeigh was executed June 11 for the Oklahoma City bombing.

al-Midhar. Khalid al-Midhar, a suspected terrorist who died on Flight 77. The CIA filmed him in 2000 at a Kuala Lumpur meeting of suspected terrorists that included a man suspected in the bombing of the USS Cole.

millennium plot. Foiled terrorist plot, linked to bin Laden, to bomb Los Angeles International Airport in December 1999.

Munich. Site of 1972 terrorist attack that gained worldwide attention during the Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany. Eleven Israeli athletes and coaches were killed in the incident, which began with their abduction in the Olympic Village by eight members of the Palestinian terrorist group Black September.

Nairobi. Capital of Kenya and site of U.S. Embassy bombed Aug. 7, 1998, by suicide bombers linked to bin Laden. U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, was bombed at the same time. The two embassy attacks killed 301 and injured 5,000. United States retaliated with missile strikes on an abandoned training camp in Afghanistan and a pharmaceutical plant in Sudan, mistakenly thought to be a chemical weapons factory.

National Coordinator on Counterterrorism. National Security Council position. Retired Gen. Wayne Downing was appointed to the position.

National Pharmaceutical Stockpile. Vaccines and antidotes stored at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, to protect against germ warfare.

Pan Am Flight 103. Airliner that blew up over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988, killing 270.

Pentagon. Headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense. The five-sided, x-story building was completed in 1943. American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon Sept. 11, killing 189.

Rahman. Omar Abdul Rahman, the "blind sheikh" with CIA ties, who was convicted as the mastermind of the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. Leader of Gamaa Islamiya.

Ressam. Ahmed Ressam was convicted of 1999 "millennium" plot to bomb Los Angeles International Airport during New Year's celebrations. He testified that bin Laden gave him $12,000 and told him to raise the rest of the money for his mission by robbing banks. Trained at camp in Afghanistan.

sarin. Nerve gas used in 1995 subway attack in Tokyo by Aum Shinrikyo cult. One of the most likely toxic chemicals to be used in a terrorist attack.

selling short. A technique in options trading that allows a party to profit from a decline in the market. Bin Laden's network is suspected of selling short before Sept. 11, to profit from the decline in airline and reinsurance stocks.

send a message. Cliché for the intended meaning of a terrorist attack or the response to a terrorist attack. Same as "make a statement."

smallpox. Deadly virus that was declared eradicated in 1979 by the World Health Organization. Vaccinations stopped, and even laboratory samples have been destroyed, though two research centers retain DNA fragments under tight security. Feared as a possible agent of bioterrorism.

state terrorism. Acts of terrorism by a government against its own people. Iraq has practiced state terrorism against the Kurds, just as Nazi Germany did against the Jews and other minorities and as Stalin did against various dissident groups.

state-sponsored terrorism. Acts carried out by non-government groups with funding, arms, intelligence or other direct or indirect help from a government. State Department lists seven nations as sponsors of terrorism: Cuba, Libya, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Sudan and Syria.

terrorism. The use of force or threats to demoralize or intimidate a group of people for political reasons.

toxin. A toxin is a poison released by a living organism. Chemicals used in terrorism are not toxins.

TWA Flight 847. 1985 flight hijacked en route from Athens to Rome. Hijackers held the crew and most passengers hostage for 17 days, flying to Algiers and Beirut as they tried to negotiate for the release of prisoners held by the Israelis. The hijackers used airport cleaning crew to smuggle guns and grenades into the airplane's restroom.

United Airlines Flight 93. Crashed Sept. 11 in rural Pennsylvania. Hijacked en route from Newark to San Francisco. Some passengers apparently overpowered the hijackers, keeping them from hitting their intended target, possibly the U.S. Capitol. Believed to be the only Sept. 11 flight with four hijackers. Suspected hijackers were Saeed Alghamdi, Ahmed Alhaznawl, Ahmed Alnami and Ziad Jarrah.

United Airlines Flight 175. Crashed Sept. 11 into the south tower of the World Trade Center. Hijacked en route from Boston to Los Angeles. Suspected hijackers were Marwan al-Shehhl, Fayez Ahmed, Ahmed Alghamdi, Hamza Alghamdi and Mohand Alshehri.

USS Cole. Destroyer attacked Oct. 12, 2000, in Yemen's Aden Harbor by suicide bombers linked to bin Laden. Attack killed 17 and injured 39.

USS Sullivan. Target of failed January 2000 bombing attack in Yemen. The boat carrying explosives sank.

Yousef. Ramzi Yousef, Pakistani who planned the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Also involved in failed plots to assassinate Pope John Paul II and President Bill Clinton and to bomb 11 U.S. airliners in flight on the same day in 1995. Other defendants in terrorism trials in the 1990s in the United States included Wadih el Hage, Mohamed al-Owhali and Khalfan Khamis Mohamed. Yousef was imprisoned with Unabomber Ted Kaczynski and Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh.

al-Zawahiri. Ayman al-Zawahiri, the leader of Egyptian Islamic Jihad, is believed to be hiding in Afghanistan with bin Laden and is viewed as perhaps the strategic leader of al Qaeda.

Ahmed al-Jabat. Air base in Kuwait likely to be used in war on terrorism.

Aidid. Muhammad Farah Aidid was the Somali warlord whom U.S. troops sought and failed to capture in an invasion that started in 1992. He declared himself president of Somalia in 1995 and died in a battle in 1996.

airborne. Soldiers trained to attack from the air, by parachute or helicopter.

asymetrical warfare. Battle between different forces, such as terrorists vs. conventional forces.

B-1B. Long-range bomber that may be used in missions against targets in Afghanistan.

B-2. "Stealth" bomber stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., used in initial attacks on military and terrorist targets in Afghanistan.

B-52. Nation's oldest bombers, making bombing runs against al Qaeda and Taliban bases from Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

ballistic missiles. Missiles with no guidance system. They can be aimed at a target, but their course cannot be adjusted in flight. Where they land is determined by initial thrust and drag on the missile in flight. Can be launched from submarines.

biological warfare. Use of a bacterium (such as anthrax) or virus (such as smallpox) as a weapon. Many experts believe biological weapons present a more serious terrorist threat than chemical or nuclear weapons, because the organisms can multiply and spread through the population, so an attack would not require the volume of material needed in a chemical attack.

chemical warfare. Use of toxic chemicals as weapons. Chemical weapons would be more difficult to use in a massive terrorist attack than biological weapons because of the volume of chemicals needed. After the Sept. 11 attack, the FAA grounded all crop dusting operations, fearing a possible chemical attack. Chemical warfare does not include use of herbicides to defoliate enemy hiding areas and riot-control agents such as tear gas.

collateral damage. Civilian casualties and civilian property damage in an attack on a military target. Timothy McVeigh outraged the nation, particularly families of victims in the Oklahoma City blast, by referring the 19 children he killed in the day care center as collateral damage. After the Sept. 11 attack, producers halted the release of an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie "Collateral Damage."

commando. Forces trained to fight in small units, attacking by surprise to achieve limited objectives.

cruise missile. Missile with a guidance system to deliver it to a specified target. The United States used cruise missiles in its initial attack on Taliban targets and in the 1998 attacks on targets in Sudan and Afghanistan after terrorists bombed embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam. Can be launched from submarines.

cyberwarfare. Damaging an enemy through use of computers.

Delta Force. Elite Army unit trained in rescue and other special operations.

Diego Garcia. Island home of U.S. naval base in Indian Ocean.

F-14 Tomcat. Fighters stationed on U.S. aircraft carriers.

F/A-18 Hornets. Fighters stationed on U.S. aircraft carriers.

Operation Desert Storm. The name of the military operation to drive Iraq out of Kuwait in 1991. During the buildup in Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf prior to the bombing of Iraq and the invasion of Kuwait, it was Operation Desert Shield.

Operation Enduring Freedom. The second name for the U.S. military response to the Sept. 11 attack. It was adopted after Muslims objected to Operation Infinite Justice.

Operation Infinite Justice. The short-lived name of the U.S. military response to the Sept. 11. attack. The Defense Department quickly abandoned it upon learning that the phrase is offensive to Muslims, who believe only Allah can dispense infinite justice. The response instead became known as Operation Enduring Freedom.

Operation Just Cause. The name for the military operation to arrest President Manuel Noriega of Panama in 1989.

SH/HH-60 Seahawks. Helicopters stationed on U.S. aircraft carriers.

Seals. Navy commando units. Acronym stands for Sea, Air and Land. Former Sen. Bob Kerrey led a Seal unit in Vietnam. U.S. has about 2,200 Seals.

special forces. Small units trained for special missions, such as unconventional warfare and counter-terrorism.

Stinger. Small heat-seeking missiles fired from a shoulder launcher, usually to bring down a helicopter or other low-flying airplane. The United States shipped Stinger missiles to Afghanistan through Pakistan during the war against the Soviet Union. U.S. forces don't know how many Stingers the Taliban forces might have.

surgical strike. Military operation with a limited objective, performed with precision and swiftness, usually from the air.

symmetrical warfare. Battle between like forces: tanks vs. tanks and aircraft vs. aircraft. War on terrorism may be largely asymmetrical.

USS Carl Vinson. Aircraft carrier heading battle group in the Persian Gulf.

USS Enterprise. Aircraft carrier heading battle group in the Arabian Sea.

USS Kitty Hawk. Aircraft carrier heading battle group en route to Indian Ocean from Japan.

USS Theodore Roosevelt. Aircraft carrier heading battle group sent from Norfolk, Va., to Middle East.

Ab-I-Pandj River. River between Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Refugees crowded onto islands in the river when Tajikistan would not allow them in.

Afghanistan. Central Asian nation that defeated Soviet Union in 1980s war. Taliban came to power in 1996.

Albania. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active.

Algeria. Home to Islamic Salvation Front, affiliated with al Qaeda. Might help U.S. in war on terrorism by providing intelligence and other non-military help.

Arabs. People from the Arabic-speaking countries of the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Sudan and Libya. Most Arabs in the Middle East are Muslims, but only 12 percent of the world's Muslims are Arabs. Most Arab Americans are Christians.

Argentina. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active.

Ariana Airlines. Afghanistan's airline. President Clinton ordered the Ariana's assets frozen in 1998 for allegedly transporting men and equipment for al Qaeda.

Australia. May join U.S. in military action.

Azerbaijan. Islamic former Soviet republic bordering Iran. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active.

Bahrain. Island nation in Persian Gulf. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active.

Baltic States. Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia are former Soviet republics seeking membership in NATO. Russia opposes their admission to NATO, and may delay their admission as part of its price for helping in the war on terrorism.

Bangladesh. Formerly East Pakistan. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active.

Belgium. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active.

benchmark. A surveying term for a reference point. Secretary of State Colin Powell is telling other nations that cooperation in the war in terrorism is the "new benchmark" that will determine the nations' relationship with the United States.

Bosnia-Herzegovina. "Ethnic cleansing" in Bosnia triggered U.S. military involvement in the 1990s. Bin Laden reportedly has sent about 70 operatives from Afghanistan to Bosnia.

Brazil. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active.

Burma. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active.

Camp David. The presidential retreat in the Maryland mountains, named by President Dwight D. Eisenhower for his grandson David. Jimmy Carter took Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat to Camp David in 1978 to negotiate peace between Egypt and Israel that has lasted ever since. Many Palestinians see the Camp David accords as a betrayal by Egypt. Camp David was thought at one point to be the target of Flight 93, which crashed Sept. 11 in Pennsylvania. Persistent rumors on Sept. 11 said it was the anniversary of the Camp David accords. The parties were negotiating that day, but the agreement was reached Sept. 17, 1978.

Canada. Some of the hijackers might have entered the United States through Canada. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active.

Cayman Islands. Caribbean nation known for secretive banks that are useful for hiding and laundering money. Al Qaeda is suspected to have used Cayman banks.

cease-fire. A temporary agreement to stop fighting. A cease-fire has no terms beyond the suspension of fighting, whereas a peace treaty involves concessions by both sides and a surrender involves either conditions or one side's unconditional surrender. In a cease-fire, both sides hold the ground they held when the cease-fire started. A cease-fire might be called during peace negotiations or a holiday. The Israelis and Palestinian rebels called a cease-fire after the terrorist attack.

Chechnya. Republic seeking independence from Russia. It has a large Islamic population and some of its rebels have trained at bin Laden's camps. Russians probably will expect U.S. acquiescence in suppression of Chechen rebels in return for support in war on terrorism.

China. Last spring's confrontation with the United States over mid-air collision between Chinese fighter jet and U.S. surveillance plane has faded as an issue. China, fearing Islamic rebels in its western Xinjiang province, wants U.S. to defeat Taliban. Might help by providing intelligence and other non-military help.

Comoros. Obscure island group in Indian Ocean is one of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active.

Congo. West African nation fighting civil war is one of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active.

Croatia. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active.

Cuba. Identified by State Department as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Dari. Persian language spoken by most Afghans.

Denmark. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active.

Djibouti. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active.

Ecuador. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active.

Egypt. Became outcast Arab state after reaching peace agreement with Israel in 1978. Egyptian Islamic Jihad assassinated President Anwar Sadat in retaliation in 1981 and is al Qaeda's strongest ally. Egypt might allow U.S. to use bases in military action against terrorists. President Hosni Mubarak wants to maintain U.S. favor without inflaming extremists in Egypt.

Eritrea. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active.

Ethiopia. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active.

Germany. May join U.S. in military action. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active.

gum arabic. Sweetener used in U.S. soft drinks. Bin Laden at one time had a heavy interest in Sudan's production of gum arabic and some believe he still does.

Hamburg, Germany. Mohamed Atta and other hijackers appear to have planned much of the Sept. 11 attack from Hamburg.

Hazara. Ethnic group making up about 19 percent of Afghanistan's population.

Hindu Kush. The tall, treacherous mountain range of northeast Afghanistan.

India. Faced U.S. sanctions after nuclear test in 1998. Sanctions lifted to win Indian support for action against al Qaeda. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active. Might allow U.S. to use bases in military action against terrorists.

Indonesia. Has world's largest Islamic population. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active. Might help U.S. in war on terrorism by providing intelligence and other non-military help.

Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Pakistani military and intelligence forces. ISI forces fought with Afghan rebels against the Soviet Union and fought with Taliban and forces of bin Laden to help Taliban gain control of most of Afghanistan.

intifada. Uprising. The rebellion by Palestinians against Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip is called the intifada. The current intifada has lasted about a year.

Iran. Held 52 Americans hostage for more than a year from 1979-81. Longtime enemy of the United States, though we never went to war directly. U.S. aided Iraq in the 1980s war against Iran. President Mohamad Khatami has indicated a possible willingness to cooperate with the U.S., but religious leader Ayatulla Ali Khamenei has been less willing. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active. Listed by State Department as state sponsor of terrorism.

Iraq. Suspected as a state sponsor of al Qaeda activities and other terrorism. Defeated by U.S. and allies in 1991 war. Some advisers to President Bush are pushing for action to oust Saddam Hussein as ruler of Iraq. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active.

Israel. Bin Laden and al Qaeda want to drive the Israelis out of Palestine. Israel has been odds with neighboring Arab states and Palestinian groups since its creation in 1948.One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active.

Italy. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active. Might allow U.S. to use bases in military action against terrorists.

Jalalabad. Eastern Afghanistan city, near the border with Pakistan. Bin Laden has training camps around Jalalabad.

Japan. Might allow U.S. to use bases in military action against terrorists.

Jordan. Along with Egypt, Jordan is the only Arab state that has reached a peace agreement with Israel. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active. Might allow U.S. to use bases in military action against terrorists.

Kabul. Capital of Afghanistan.

Kandahar. Central Afghanistan city, headquarters of Taliban and former headquarters of bin Laden's operations in Afghanistan.

Karmal. Babrak Karmal installed by Soviet Union as leader of Afghanistan in 1979.

Kashmir. A mountainous region of northern India and constant source of disputes between Pakistan and India. Many believe Pakistan's price for cooperating in U.S. action against the Taliban may be support for a favorable settlement of the longtime border dispute.

Kazakhstan. The largest of the Islamic former Soviet republics of Central Asia. It has vast oil reserves and does not border Afghanistan. Population is about half Christian and half Muslim. President Nursultan Nazarbayev has offered U.S. forces use of air space and military bases.

Kenya. U.S. Embassy in Nairobi bombed in al Qaeda attack in 1998. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active.

Khan. Muhammad Daoud Khan ousted King Zahir Shah in 1973 to become ruler of Afghanistan. Was killed in Marxist coup in 1978.

Khost. Afghan town near border with Pakistan. Bin Laden built U.S.-financed underground compound near Khost during war against Soviet Union.

Khyber Pass. Narrow mountain pass with steep cliffs on both sides. Primary route from Pakistan into Afghanistan. Leads to Kabul.

Kosovo. Serbs say bin Laden has training camps in Kosovo.

Kurdistan. A region in southwestern Asia including parts of Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Syria and Armenia. Saddam Hussein's regime forced 600,000 Kurds to flee Iraq as refugees.

Kuwait. Persian Gulf nation invaded by Iraqi forces in 1990 and freed the following year by U.S.-led coalition. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active. Might allow U.S. to use bases in military action against terrorists.

Kyrgyzstan. The smallest of the Islamic former Soviet republics of Central Asia. It does not border Afghanistan. Offered U.S. use of air space for military operations. May cooperate further.

Lebanon. Bekaa Valley has long been a hiding place and training ground for terrorist groups. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active. Might help U.S. in war on terrorism by providing intelligence and other non-military help.

Libya. Formerly regarded as one of the most dangerous terrorist states. In response to a 1986 terrorist bombing that killed a U.S. soldier in West Germany, President Ronald Reagan ordered an air strike on a compound where President Moammar Gadhafi was believed to live. Gadhafi survived, but Libya has faded as a terrorist threat. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active. Still listed by State Department as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Luxembourg. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active.

Malaysia. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active.

Massoud. Ahmed Shah Massoud, the "Lion of Panjshir," a hero of the Afghan resistance against the Soviets and former defense minister and vice president of Afghanistan under President Burhanuddin Rabboni. Massoud, leader of the Northern Alliance, was killed Sept. 9 by two suicide assassins posing as journalists. One had a bomb inside his video camera.

Mauritania. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active.

Morocco. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active.

Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (also translated as Enforcement of Virtue and Suppression of Vice). The agency through which the Taliban have imposed strict laws and harsh punishments on the people of Afghanistan, especially women.

mujahedeen or mujahedin or mujahidin. The Afghan "freedom fighters" or "holy warriors" who resisted the Soviet invasion throughout the 1980s. They were supported by the CIA through Pakistan. Bin Laden and other Arabs who saw the war as a battle in defense of Islam joined the mujahedeen in their fight.

Musharraf. Pervez Musharraf is president of Pakistan. He came to power in a 1998 coup. He was one of the four world leaders George W. Bush could not identify in an impromptu 1999 foreign-affairs quiz posed by a reporter.

Najibullah. Dr. Sayid Mohammed Najibullah was elected president of Afghanistan in 1987 but was regarded by many as a Soviet puppet. He resigned in 1992 and the Taliban executed him in 1996.

Netherlands. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active.

New Zealand. May join U.S. in military action.

Nigeria. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Post-World War II alliance consisting of United States, Canada and 17 European nations. Article 5 of the NATO Charter says, "An armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all." NATO unanimously invoked this principle in voting to support U.S. response to the Sept. 11 attack.

North Korea. Listed by State Department as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Northern Alliance. Rebel groups fighting Taliban for control of Afghanistan.

Omar. Mullah Mohammed Omar is the reclusive supreme leader of the Taliban. He lost an eye in the war with the Soviets. He avoids all photographs. He grew up in Singhesar and is believed to be about 40 years old. He did not graduate from the madrasah where he learned Wahhabi Islam, but received an honorary degree. He has proclaimed himself Amir-ul-Momineen (Commander of the Faithful).

opium. Afghanistan is the world's largest producer of opium. Bin Laden's organization reportedly makes some of its money providing security for opium shipments.

Ottoman Empire. Turkish empire that extended into the Balkans, across the Middle East and North Africa at its peak. Lasted from the 13th Century until 1923.

Pakistan. Neighbor to southeast of Afghanistan. Pakistani agents have been active in Afghanistan since war against Soviet Union. Pakistan has more than 2 million Afghan refugees, with more on the way. UNO educational operations for Afghanistan have been based in Peshawar, Pakistan. U.S. special forces already doing reconnaissance in Afghanistan are based in Pakistan. In return for its support in war on terrorism, Pakistan may want at least partial forgiveness of its $37 billion foreign debt.

Palestine. Region on the eastern Mediterranean coast that is claimed by Israel and by Palestinian Arabs. Continuing disagreements and violence between Israelis and Palestinians have caused problems throughout the Mideast for decades.

Paraguay. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active.

Pashto. Language of the Pashtun.

Pashtun. The largest ethnic group in Afghanistan, with about 38 percent of the population.

Pashtunwali. Strict Pashtun moral code which stresses honor, courage, hospitality and revenge.

Philippines. Site of 1994 plot to assassinate Pope John Paul II and bomb U.S. and Israeli embassies and 1995 plots to assassinate President Bill Clinton and blow up 11 U.S. airliners over Pacific Ocean.

Qatar. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active. Home of Al-Jazeera television station that bin Laden uses to relay messages to the world.

quid pro quo. The diplomatic principle of getting something in return for a favor to another country. For instance, Sudan's Islamic government supports the U.S. war on terrorism, hoping to ease U.S. opposition to its war against Christians in Southern Sudan and Russia hopes to ease U.S. opposition to its war against Chechens.

Rabbani. Burhanuddin Rabbani, leader of guerrillas who opposed Soviet Union, was president of Afghanistan from 1992-96.

Riyadh. Saudi Arabian city where bin Laden was born. Location of U.S. Air Force base, Prince Sultan Air Base.

Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin surprised many with his quick support for U.S. war on terrorism, particularly pressuring former Soviet republics in Central Asia to give U.S. access to military bases. Might help by providing intelligence and other non-military help. Russia will want substantial favors in return.

sanctions. This is one of those words with meanings that are nearly opposites. If the United Nations approves of something, we say it is U.N.-sanctioned. However, if the United Nations disapproves and decides to impose punitive measures such as restricting trade, we call those measures sanctions.

Saudi Arabia. Richest Arab nation. Saudi Arabia has a long relationship with the United States and was the staging ground for the allied effort to push Iraq out of Kuwait in 1991. Bin Laden considered it sacrilege to allow U.S. forces in Saudi Arabia. He was expelled from his homeland in 1991. Many wealthy Saudis still contribute to his organization, though. Before Sept. 11, Saudi Arabia was one of three nations to recognize the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active. Expected to allow U.S. to use bases in military action against terrorists.

sea change. Cliché often used to describe the vast change in international relations or U.S. outlook caused by the terrorist attack. From Shakespeare's "The Tempest": "Nothing of him that doth fade but doth suffer a sea-change into something rich and strange." Paul Brians, English professor at Washington State University, writes of the cliché: "This rich language has so captivated the ears of generations of writers that they feel compelled to describe as "sea changes" not only alterations that are "rich and strange," but, less appropriately, those that are simply large or sudden. … In its original context, it meant nothing more complex than "a change caused by the sea." Since the phrase is almost always improperly used and is greatly over-used, it has suffered a swamp change into something dull and tiresome. Avoid the phrase; otherwise you will irritate those who know it and puzzle those who do not." Fowler's Modern English Usage calls it "One of the most importunate and intrusive of irrelevant allusions and hackneyed phrases."

Senegal. One of 60 nations believed to have al Qaeda cells active.

Al Shamal Islamic Bank. Sudanese bank started by bin Laden.

shura. The ruling 10-man council of the Taliban.

Somalia. East Africa country invaded in 1992 by U.S. forces, seeking to restore order in a country run by warlords. U.S. troops withdrew in 1994 with the warlords still in charge. Al Qa