During the 19th century, the major European powers went to great lengths to maintain a balance of power throughout Europe, resulting in the existence of a complex network of political and military alliances throughout the continent by 1900. These began in 1815, with the Holy Alliance between Prussia, Russia, and Austria. When Germany was united in 1871, Prussia became part of the new German nation. Soon after, in October 1873, German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck negotiated the League of the Three Emperors  between the monarchs of Austria-Hungary, Russia and Germany. This agreement failed because Austria-Hungary and Russia could not agree over Balkan policy, leaving Germany and Austria-Hungary in an alliance formed in 1879, called the Dual Alliance. This was seen as a method of countering Russian influence in the Balkans as the Ottoman Empire continued to weaken. This alliance expanded in 1882 to include Italy, in what became the Triple Alliance. Bismarck had especially worked to hold Russia at Germany's side in an effort to avoid a two-front war with France and Russia. When Wilhelm II ascended to the throne as German Emperor , Bismarck was compelled to retire and his system of alliances was gradually de-emphasised. For example, the Kaiser refused, in 1890, to renew the Reinsurance Treaty with Russia. Two years later, the Franco-Russian Alliance was signed to counteract the force of the Triple Alliance. In 1904, Britain signed a series of agreements with France, the Entente Cordiale, and in 1907, Britain and Russia signed the Anglo-Russian Convention. While these agreements did not formally ally Britain with France or Russia, they made British entry into any future conflict involving France or Russia a possibility, and the system of interlocking bilateral agreements became known as the Triple Entente.

How many countries were apart of the Dual Alliance?
A: 2
Q: Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf - then as Chief of Army Staff - was responsible for sending thousands of Pakistanis to fight alongside the Taliban and Bin Laden against the forces of Massoud. In total there were believed to be 28,000 Pakistani nationals fighting inside Afghanistan. 20,000 were regular Pakistani soldiers either from the Frontier Corps or army and an estimated 8,000 were militants recruited in madrassas filling regular Taliban ranks. The estimated 25,000 Taliban regular force thus comprised more than 8,000 Pakistani nationals. A 1998 document by the U.S. State Department confirms that "20-40 percent of [regular] Taliban soldiers are Pakistani." The document further states that the parents of those Pakistani nationals "know nothing regarding their childs military involvement with the Taliban until their bodies are brought back to Pakistan." A further 3,000 fighter of the regular Taliban army were Arab and Central Asian militants. From 1996 to 2001 the Al Qaeda of Osama Bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri became a state within the Taliban state. Bin Laden sent Arab recruits to join the fight against the United Front. Of roughly 45,000 Pakistani, Taliban and Al Qaeda soldiers fighting against the forces of Massoud only 14,000 were Afghan.
Did Massoud's army have more Pakistani nationals or Afghans?

A: Pakistani nationals
P: Coming off their bye week, the Rams went home for a Week 10 duel with the undefeated New Orleans Saints. After a scoreless first quarter, Saints running back Reggie Bush got a 3-yard touchdown run to open the scoring, but the Rams would answer when quarterback Marc Bulger found wide receiver Donnie Avery on a 29-yard touchdown pass. Although New Orleans retook the lead with quarterback Drew Brees' 15-yard touchdown pass to Bush, St. Louis would close out the half with running back Steven Jackson's 2-yard touchdown run. The Saints would deliver a huge strike in the third quarter as wide receiver Courtney Roby returned the second half's opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown, yet the Rams would keep it close with kicker Josh Brown's 32-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, New Orleans would increase their lead with Brees' 27-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Robert Meachem. St. Louis tried to rally as Bulger completed a 19-yard touchdown pass to Avery (with a failed 2-point conversion), but the Saints' defense would prevent any further progress.
Answer this: How many passing touchdowns were thrown in the game?

A: 4
Problem: Hoping to break a two-game losing streak, the Broncos traveled to Arrowhead Stadium for a AFC West rivalry rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Broncos trailed in the first quarter, as Chiefs' quarterback Matt Cassel threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Leonard Pope, in what would be the game's only touchdown. The Broncos responded in the second quarter, with placekicker Matt Prater nailing a 25-yard field goal, but the Chiefs countered, with a 47-yard field goal by placekicker Ryan Succop just before halftime. After a scoreless third quarter, the Broncos cut into the lead with a 41-yard field goal by Prater, but Kansas City's defense prevented anything else from happening. With the loss, not only were the Broncos officially eliminated from postseason contention, but they also exceeded their loss total from their previous two seasons.

How many field goals did Ryan Succop kick in the second quarter?
Answer: 1
Q: Coming off their win over the Bills the Chiefs flew to Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum for an AFC West division rivalry match against the Raiders. In the 2nd quarter the Chiefs took the lead as QB Matt Cassel made an 11-yard TD pass to WR Verran Tucker; followed by kicker Ryan Succop nailing a 43-yard field goal. In the 3rd quarter the lead was narrowed as WR Jacoby Ford returned a kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown. the Chiefs responded with Succop hitting a 25-yard field goal, but the Raiders replied with QB Jason Campbell throwing a 2-yard TD pass to Khalif Barnes, and with kicker Sebastian Janikowski making a 23-yard field goal. The Chiefs got the lead back after Cassel found WR Dwayne Bowe on a 20-yard TD pass, but the lead didn't last very long after Janikowski got a 41-yard field goal. The decision was made to go to overtime when Janikowski successfully hit a 33-yard field goal to give the Chiefs a loss.
Which player scored the first touchdown of the game?
A: Verran Tucker
Coming off their win over the Jaguars the Chargers flew to Qwest Field where they played their former division rival, the Seattle Seahawks. In the second quarter San Diego trailed early when kicker Olindo Mare made a 23-yard field goal. Then QB Matt Hasselbeck completed a 9-yard TD pass to TE John Carlson. This was followed in the third quarter by RB Leon Washington returning a kickoff 101&#160;yards to the endzone for a touchdown. The Chargers cut the lead with QB Philip Rivers getting a 3-yard TD pass to WR Malcolm Floyd, followed by Hasselbeck getting sacked by ILB Brandon Siler in the endzone for a safety. Then kicker Nate Kaeding made a 29-yard field goal. The Seahawks increased their lead when Mare made a 23-yard field goal, but the Chargers replied and tied the game when Rivers found TE Antonio Gates on a 12-yard TD pass. (With a successful 2-point conversion as Rivers found WR Legedu Naanee). Before the clock struck zero Seattle took the winning score as RB Leon Washington returned his second kickoff of the game into the endzone running 99&#160;yards for a touchdown, giving the Chargers the loss.

How many yards was the shortest field goal?
A:
29