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Leah Hop

How Mexico Can Stop Losing The Drug War - 0 views

www.businessinsider.com/top-losing-the-drug-war-2011-3

Mexico drug war

shared by Leah Hop on 09 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • Mexican President Felipe Calderon is losing his war on the drug cartels.
  • More than 35,000 people have died in the conflict - 15,000 in 2010 alone - and drug-related violence continues to spiral to new, horrifying levels.
  • Mexican production of marijuana, heroin and meth continues to ramp up.
  • ...13 more annotations...
  • Mexico cannot win its war against the cartels unless the U.S. does more to curb insatiable American demand
  • Weak democratic institutions, a corrupt and ineffective judicial system and underdeveloped infrastructure have made it virtually impossible for the Mexican government to break up the country’s vast and flexible criminal networks.
  • Calderon would be better advised to focus on more attainable goals; like implementing judicial reforms, expanding access to credit, growing the middle class, and promoting government accountability and transparency.
  • Restoring a semblance of order to Mexico’s civil and political society would be a good first step toward reversing the country’s slow economic growth and declining global competitiveness.
  • most of Mexico’s major cartels do not have a political or social agenda
  • The fight against drug traffickers - and the militarization of domestic security - is eroding Mexico’s democracy
  • escalating violence and terror is endangering business growth and fledgling civic networks.
  • using the Mexican military to fight the drug war point to the army’s success capturing drug kingpins and cartel cell leaders
  • drug war has destabilized the cartel leadership and led to the atomization of powerful criminal organizations into smaller, more regionalized gangs.
  • If left alone, these weaker organizations will wield considerably less influence over local governments and law enforcement than their predecessors. Stronger democratic institutions and a reformed criminal justice system would further marginalize and weaken these gangs.
  • Calderon could recall the 45,000 troops he sent to fight the drug war and call for a ceasefire between the Mexican army and the cartels
  • Money, not power, is the goal for the vast majority of Mexican traffickers. The cost of fighting a multi-front war seriously cuts into profits.
  • As long as American demand exists, the drug trade will thrive south of the border. But as the cost of doing business in Mexico increases, the nexus of power will shift to other Latin American countries.
  • Leah Hop on 09 Mar 11
     
    Research Question: How does the Mexican drug war affect the government and people of Mexico? Source: Wyler, Grace. "How Mexico Can Stop Losing The Drug War." Politix. Business Insider, 5 Mar. 2011. Web. 8 Mar. 2011. Summary: Mexico is losing the war on the drug cartels and can't win its war unless the U.S does more to stop our drug addiction. More than 35,000 people have died due to drug related violence and this fight against drug traffickers is eroding Mexico's democracy. In the last decade, Mexico has made steps to fix their slow economic growth but still have a long, long way to go. Also, the Mexican military has captured drug kings and cartel cell leaders, which has helped destabilize cartel leadership and create smaller/regional gangs. Having smaller/weaker organizations will have less of an influence over local governments. Reflection: I agree with this article in the fact that the U.S needs to lose our greedy demand for drugs in order to help stop the drug war. The corrupt and ineffective judicial system as well as the underdeveloped infrastructure has made it basically impossible for the Mexican government to stop these drug gangs. I think if Mexico really wants this drug war to end, then they need to iron out their government so that they can become stronger on a democratic and judicial level.. Questions:  1) Is there any way the U.S can decrease their demand for drugs? 2) Can Calderon do anything to rebuild the corrupt government? 3) If Mexico's government was less corrupt, would their still be a drug war?
Mark De Haan

The Future of Lebanon - 0 views

find.galegroup.com/...retrieve.do

Hizbullah Hezbollah Hizbollah Israel Lebanon

shared by Mark De Haan on 17 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • Hezbollah ended up in a full-scale war, in which it won some battlefield victories and popularity in the Arab and Muslim world but which devastated its Lebanese Shiite constituency and narrowed its tactical and political options.
  • srael, despite unleashing massive airpower on Hezbollah strongholds, failed to knock out the organization or even to stop its missile attacks, while the setbacks suffered by Israel's ground invasion had the effect of puncturing the aura of invincibility long projected by the Israel Defense Forces.
  • When Israeli forces withdrew from southern Lebanon in 2000, Hezbollah claimed a historic victory. At the time, many argued that it was time for Hezbollah to give up its arms and cede its territory to the Lebanese army.
  • ...6 more annotations...
  • Tehran reaped some benefit from Hezbollah's increased popularity and perhaps can point to the organization's robust performance as a warning to those considering military action against Iran, but this war wasted much of the deterrent power that it had vested in Hezbollah for its own hour of need
  • But instead, Hezbollah managed to put itself at the center of Lebanese politics, leading an anti-American coalition against the anti-Syrian March 14 coalition.
  • As the guns fell silent and the dust began to settle onto a scene of extensive devastation, many Lebanese were initially preoccupied with the debate about who had "won" or "lost" the war. Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's leader, rushed to declare a "divine victory": the war had not ended with triumph for Israel (as all other Arab- Israeli wars have)
  • Hezbollah fighters had routed Israeli armored columns and elite brigades, and Hezbollah had continued to launch missiles and inflict heavy losses on Israeli troops throughout the war.
  • Hezbollah's victory was trumpeted throughout the Arab and Muslim world.
  • But it also became clear that Lebanon, and particularly the Shiite areas in southern Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut, had paid an enormous human and economic price. Some 1,200 civilians (almost a third of them children) died, 4,000 were wounded, and a million were displaced. Some 130,000 housing units, thousands of small businesses, hundreds of roads, 300 factories, 80 bridges, dozens of schools and hospitals, and the country's electricity network were destroyed or damaged. This was the costliest Arab-Israeli war in Lebanon's history - - more devastating even than Israel's 1982 invasion. Economic losses were initially estimated at around $7 billion, or 30 percent of GDP. For a country still paying for a decade of laborious reconstruction and with a debt burden equal to 180 percent of GDP, the war dealt a staggering blow.
  • Mark De Haan on 17 Feb 11
     
    The Future of Lebanon Foreign Affairs - Paul Salem Salem, Paul. "The Future of Lebanon." Foreign Affairs 85.6 (2006): 13. Student Edition. Web. 16 Feb. 2011. Summary: This article talks about what the future holds for Lebanon and Hezbollah after the 34 Day War between Hezbollah and Israel. After all the fighting had ceased, Hezbollah was quick to claim themselves victorious. They were able to break Israli amored columns and Israel's elite brigades.  Reflection: Although Hezbollah has often been a nuisance to Israel, as well as a constant pain to the IDF and UN forces attempting to make peace, what is often lost in all this is the impact that Hezbollah has had on Lebanon. The 34 Day War between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006 was the cause of death for 1,200 civilian, the displacement of a million, and destruction of 130,000 housing units. Economic losses were estimated at $7 billion. Hezbollah, through their resistance toward Israel, has not only been a pain to Israel, but also to Lebanon, to some extent. Questions: 1. Has Hezbollah gained strength or have they weakened since the 34 Day War? 2. Has Lebanon recovered from the disaster of this war? 3. Have there been any other large exchanges of warfare between Hezbollah and Israel since this incident?
Cindy Son

Hezbollah warns Israel against fresh violence - World - IOL | Breaking News | South Afr... - 0 views

www.iol.co.za/...gainst-fresh-violence-1.366312

Hezbollah Israel War

shared by Cindy Son on 13 Apr 11 - No Cached
  • Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Tuesday warned Israel against launching new attacks against his militant group in a speech marking the anniversary of the end of the war with the Jewish state.
  • Nasrallah said Hezbollah had provided $380-million in emergency aid to assist 28 300 families affected by the war, most of them in southern Lebanon.
  • He did not say where the money came from, but Hezbollah is widely believed to be bankrolled by Iran.
  • ...3 more annotations...
  • The last time the charismatic leader, considered Israel's enemy number one, appeared in public was on September 22, 2006, when he made a speech in the same neighbourhood to proclaim victory following the devastating 34-day war.
  • "We are here because Hezbollah is the only one that managed to defeat Israel, despite the high price we paid," said Hassan Korkomaz, who gathered with his family on Tuesday to listen to Nasrallah's speech.
  • Israel's war with Hezbollah resulted in the deaths of more than 1 200 Lebanese civilians, a third of them children, as well as 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers.
  • Cindy Son on 13 Apr 11
     
    What are the effects of Hezbollah on Israel? "Hezbollah warns Israel against fresh violence ." IOL News. N.p., 15 Aug. 2007. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. . Summary : Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah warned Israel not to attack against Hezbollah anymore. According to the article, "Israel's war with Hezbollah resulted in the deaths of more than 1,200 Lebanese civilans, a third of the children, as weel as 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers." Therefore, Hezbollah leader, with the help of Iran, supported 28,300 Lebanese families who were affected by the war. Because Hezbollah started to support those people who were affected by the war, Lebanese began to feel supportive and think that Hezbollah is the only one that can manage to defeat Israel; they believe in Hezbollah's ability to deal with Israel. Nasrallah's speech is significant because it was the first time he appeared in public after the 2006 war. Reflection : Through this article, I could find out that Hezbollah tired their best to get support from the people in their country. And I was surprised that they actually obtained people's positive opinions around 2007 by warning Israel not to bomb or attack against their country again. It was smart a decision of Hezbollah that they drew people's attention positively to deal with the issues between Israel and themselves.  Question : 1) How people's opinions about Hezbollah changed after 2007?  2) Did Nasrallah's speech made any difference between Lebanon and Israel?  3) Are there any other ways to manage to defeat Israel beside Hezbollah?
megan lemmen

Failure to curb drug war exposes Mexico's weakness - 1 views

www.chron.com/...7399732.html

drug failure

shared by megan lemmen on 08 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • Overall, the total number of people killed during the past four years is 30,196
  • Most of these deaths are attributed to disputes among the various drug cartels over control of the drug trade routes leading to lucrative U.S. drug markets.
  • The reason that the Mexican government has not been able to make any substantial progress is that the money generated from this illegal drug trade is estimated to be between $8.3 billion and $24.9 billion. This capital is used by criminal bosses to elect and influence officials at all levels of government.
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • A clear example of Mexico's institutional weakness is the escape of 140 prisoners from a Nuevo Laredo state penitentiary. A convoy of buses and trucks reportedly drove off with the prisoners who exited the prison through a service entrance. This could only occur with the knowledge and benign approval of state and local officials.
    • megan lemmen
      megan lemmen on 08 Mar 11
       
      Reflection: This man has strong opinions, much like myself. Mexico would be better off with a government extreme makeover rather than our US dollars going to encourage lying, deceit, and a shaky judicial system. When people start using money to pay for their innocence, things start to get messy. Money talks, surely. Nothing significant is changing; we still see the death toll increasing drastically each month. More lives have been lost in Mexico than in Afghanistan-is that because the US isn't militarily involved yet, or because we are monetarily involved? Questions: 1) If the United States gets involved with our military, will we be fighting two wars?2) Is it worth it to continue sending our money to Mexico?3) Is the President really a problem, or are people just looking for someone to blame?4) Is it our job to restructure the government of Mexico?
  • megan lemmen on 08 Mar 11
     
    Research Question: How does the Mexican drug war affect the government and people of Mexico? Source: Valdez, Avelardo. "Failure to curb drug war exposes Mexico's weakness." Chron: Viewpoints, Outlook. N.p., 26 Jan. 2011. Web. 28 Jan. 2011. . Summary: More people have lost their lives in the drug war than in the war in Afghanistan; it's obvious that something is amiss here. Although many "famous" drug leaders have been caught, the problem still exists in Mexico. Again, we see that money is an issue; government officials are paid to help the criminals. The weak criminal justice system in Mexico allows for people to use their connections to avoid arrest, conviction, etc. President Calderon started this war even though it's obvious that they are incapable of winning under these circumstances. It may have been a political stunt to win votes for his campaign. The US should spend our money rebuilding the government instead of encouraging the government to become more corrupt. ***rest of info is on sticky note on this page
Cindy Son

War plan.(Hezbollah-Israeli War, 2006). - 0 views

find.galegroup.com/gtx/retrieve.do?contentSet=IAC-Documents&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&qrySerId=Locale%28en%2C%2C%29%3AFQE%3D%28ke%2CNone%2C9%29Hezbollah%3AAnd%3AFQE%3D%28ke%2CNone%2C6%29israel%3AAnd%3AFQE%3D%28ke%2CNone%2C7%29lebanon%3AAnd%3ALQE%3

shared by Cindy Son on 16 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • N JULY 12, Hezbollah fighters crossed the border separating Israel from Lebanon. They killed several Israeli soldiers and captured two others, spiriting them across the border into Lebanon.
  • After the border incursion by Hezbollah there was still time to negotiate for the return of the prisoners, something that Israel had done in the past (1996, 1998, 2004). Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah held a press conference shortly after his unit returned from its incursion into Israel to say he was ready to negotiate a prisoner exchange.
  • But Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert had a different plan. In an emergency meeting, Olmert told his cabinet: "This morning's events are not a terror attack, but the act of a sovereign state that attacked Israel for no reason and without provocation.... The Lebanese government, of which Hezbollah is a part; is trying to undermine regional stability. Lebanon is responsible, and Lebanon will bear the consequences."
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  • By 9 p.m. Ha'aretz was reporting that Israel had bombed bridges in central Lebanon and attacked "Hezbollah's posts" in southern Lebanon. The next day, Amnesty International reported that 40 Lebanese civilians had been killed, including several families, with 60 other civilians injured.
  • It was not until after those initial Israeli attacks inside Lebanon that Hezbollah began to fire rockets into northern Israel. Israel said it was attacking Lebanon to recover its soldiers; instead, it was launching a massive air attack, not just against Hezbollah, but against the entire country with no effort at diplomacy or negotiations.
  • Israel knew that the war would be costly. Ha'aretz reported that the Israeli cabinet was aware that Hezbollah had been stockpiling rockets since 2000, and expected that Hezbollah would use them if provoked. Matthew Kalman wrote in the San Francisco Chronicle that Olmert had been waiting for any incident Israel could use as an excuse for an attack and had a plan in place.
  • Cindy Son on 16 Feb 11
     
    What are the effects of Hezbollah on Israel?  Wall, James M. "War plan." The Christian Century 123.18 (2006): 61. Expanded Academic ASAP. Web. 15 Feb. 2011. http://find.galegroup.com/gtx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T002&prodId=EAIM&docId=A152196094&source=gale&srcprod=EAIM&userGroupName=lom_accessmich&version=1.0 Summary: In 2006, Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers, and took them to Lebanon. Hezbollah expected Israel to negotiate with them for the return of their prisoners; however, Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert didn't even bother to negotiate. Israel attacked bridges and "Hezbollah's posts" in Lebanon, and killed many Lebanese civilians. Israel was actually trying to attack not only Hezbollah, but also the entire country of Lebanon. Reflection: The capturing of two Israeli soldiers, a small event, triggered this big 2006 Hezbollah-Israel war, which explains the later conflicts between Lebanon and Israel. I was surprised that Israel was actually waiting for Lebanon's provocation. According to what I have learned, Israel has been in the middle of a lot of problems with many countries; the tension between Lebanon and Israel is one of them. I think I need more articles that explain further information about the conflicts that happened recently. Question:  Is Hezbollah in the process of planning another war recently? What are the main conflicts that happened after the 2006 war? What is the reaction of the leader of Hezbollah towards the Israeli prime minister?
Ryan Wassink

Who is winning Afghanistan war? US officials increasingly disagree. - CSMonitor.com - 0 views

www.csmonitor.com/...fficials-increasingly-disagree

shared by Ryan Wassink on 12 Apr 11 - No Cached
  • nearly two-thirds of Americans no longer believe that the Afghanistan war “has been worth fighting,”
  • Although the Taliban have taken “tactical losses, they continue to maintain influence over much of the local population, particularly outside urban areas,” he told the committee.
  • had some tactical victories in the east and removed “several key leaders from the battlefield … this does not appear to have affected their operational capacity
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  • Burgess, however, had another take on Taliban finances. He attributed the drop in poppy yield to a disease in the south, and he suggested that farmers made up the difference by charging more for poppy to make up for the decline in opium yields
  • “Alternative livelihood programs designed to encourage Afghan farmers to end poppy cultivation will not significantly discourage farmers from planting poppy in 2011,” he told the Senate committee, “primarily because a lack of security impedes their implementation on a large scale.”
  • Ryan Wassink on 12 Apr 11
     
    Source: Christian Science Monitor: Who is winning Afghanistan war? US officials increasingly disagree. Summary: This article does not exactly relate to my research question but it is a little bit about how we as a country are involved in afghanistan and how it is going. This article thinks that we are really not making much progress in the war. We have taken out quite a few high officials but it really isnt helping our case very much. Then at the end it mentions opium a little bit. It says that they realize there was a decrease in opium this year so what they did is raise the price on it. It also says despite all the hinting at stopping opium farmers will still plant in 2011. Reflection: Although this was not the most helpful article I have found I still got some use out of it. I also thought it was just interesting to see our progress in the war and be able to read up on it. Questions: What are we doing about our status in the war? Do we have any affect on poppy production?
Won Geun Jung

Georgians Build Ties With Russian Caucasus - NYTimes.com - 0 views

www.nytimes.com/...13georgia.html

Georgia Russia build ties

shared by Won Geun Jung on 01 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • First Caucasus News was broadcasting in Russian — its target audience includes viewers north of its border, in the mountainous and restive Russian region known as the North Caucasus.
  • As the debut approached, the channel’s general director promised repeatedly that Kanal PIK, as the channel is known, would not be used as a vehicle for anti-Russian propaganda.
  • “The North Caucasus has become a ghetto,” he said. “These people have been given to the local feudal lords, who can kill them, rape them, hang them by their feet, torture them, take everything. Obviously, these people behave one way there, and a different way when they enter a country where there is rule of law.”
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  • Georgia went on to drop visa requirements for residents of the North Caucasus — including Russian republics like Dagestan, Ingushetia and Chechnya, among others — allowing them to enter the country freely for 90 days. The offer attracted more than 12,000 visitors in the next three months, many of them Muslim pilgrims taking advantage of an overland route to the hajj, Georgian officials say.
  • Meanwhile, Caucasian solidarity is an increasingly fashionable topic in Tbilisi, which last year hosted two conferences on Russian atrocities against the Circassians, an ethnic group driven out of the region in the late czarist period.
  • In a wide-ranging report to be published later this month by the Center for American Progress, based in Washington, Samuel Charap and Cory Welt say the policy was begun “unilaterally, in the absence of normal diplomatic relations, and to a part of Russia that is the locus of its greatest internal security threat: a violent and growing Islamist insurgency.”
  • It is Georgia’s second attempt to break the Kremlin’s near-monopoly on television news in Russian territory. A previous Russian-language channel, called First Caucasian, went off the air last year when its French satellite operator backed out of a deal, saying it had received a better offer from Russia’s Gazprom Media Group.
  • Won Geun Jung on 01 Mar 11
     
    Georgians Build Ties With Russian Caucasus - NYTimes.com http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/13/world/europe/13georgia.html?_r=2 Summary: After the war between Russia and Georgia, Russian Caucasus looked like a ghetto because of the tension of the war.  So, the government of Georgia went on to drop visa requirements for residents of the north caucasus.  However it is still in tension of war and even threaten to 2014 Olympic. Reflection:Although it was big trouble of war, I am so pleased that the war would be solved peacefully.  Also, Both countries tried to find solution what is good for then or not.  I wish both countries will be better. Question: Why Russian Caucasus are here in Georgia? Why Russian Caucasus looked like a ghetto? How to be peaceful both countries.
Jessica Ruthsatz

War in Juarez: anthropologist Howard Campbell on Mexico's increasingly violent drug war... - 1 views

find.galegroup.com/gtx/retrieve.do?contentSet=IAC-Documents&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&qrySerId=Locale%28en%2C%2C%29%3AFQE%3D%28ke%2CNone%2C6%29Mexico%3AAnd%3AFQE%3D%28ke%2CNone%2C4%29Drug%3AAnd%3AFQE%3D%28ke%2CNone%2C5%29trade%3AAnd%3ALQE%3D%28AC%

Mexico Drug Trade

shared by Jessica Ruthsatz on 27 Jan 11 - No Cached
  • THE MEXICAN CITY of Juarez, just over the border from El Paso, has suffered through wild spasms of drug-related violence during the last few years.
  • preceded by hideous torture and followed by public displays meant to inspire terror, such as tossing a rival gangster's head into a crowded club.
  • Howard Campbell, a sociologist and anthropologist at the University of Texas at El Paso,
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  • rug War Zone is composed of more than a dozen personal testimonials of people whose lives touch the drug trade in different ways.
  • Howard Campbell: Two factors caused me to write this book. One was living in Mexico for many years and realizing that the drug business was so huge, and there was quite a bit of information publicly known in newspapers, yet the government didn't se
  • Campbell: It is a dangerous world, but I was really more worried about the safety of my informants than myself. They have more at stake. I disguised their identities as much as possible so they'd be protected. I found people surprisingly open to ta
  • The big Mexican cartels have been around roughly for 30 years, and for the first 20 years they operated freely, and there was not really a high level of violence and public insecurity connected with drug trafficking. There were murders, but they were internal to the cartels; the people being killed tended to be part of the underworld.
  • PRI, a populist party well organized at every level of Mexican society but very corrupt. It lost favor among the people, and PRI lost power in 2000 to PAN, a more free-market, American-style party. PAN lacked the political skills to keep a lid on the drug problem. The more corrupt government did more to manage the drug trade. Mexico might be a more democratic country now and booming in free trade to some degree, but all of that created more freedom for cartels to expand business. The old mechanisms used to keep cartels under control broke down when PRI was thrown out. There was more competition between drug organizations and hustling to create new alliances with people in government and the police.
  • 2000 the violence has really been heating up, and from 2006
  • Jessica Ruthsatz on 27 Jan 11
     
    Research Question: Citation: Doherty, Brian. "War in Juarez: anthropologist Howard Campbell on Mexico's increasingly violent drug war." Reason Feb. 2010: 46+. Student Edition. Web. 27 Jan. 2011. Summary: Reflection: Questions:
Matt Mulder

BBC News - North Korea 'ready for sacred war' with the South - 1 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...world-asia-pacific-12067735

NorthKorea bbc war Nuclear

shared by Matt Mulder on 17 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • North Korea is ready for a "sacred war of justice" using a nuclear deterrent, its armed forces minister has said.
  • Kim Yong-chun accused South Korea of making preparations for war
  • come a month after North Korea shelled a Southern island
  • ...6 more annotations...
  • South Korean President
  • promised immediate retaliation to any further Northern attack.
  • the drill was aimed to display its firepower.
  • Despite possessing enough plutonium to create a bomb, the North is not thought to have succeeded in building a nuclear weapon.
  • US officials too are privately expressing their concern about Seoul's new, more aggressive stance
  • North Korea walked out of the six-party talks in April 2009 and expelled UN nuclear inspectors from the country.
  • Matt Mulder on 17 Feb 11
     
    BBC News - North Korea 'ready for sacred war' with the South http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12067735 Summary: North Korea says that they are prepared to use nuclear force against the South if provoked (they say the provocation is what the South did when they did war exercises after the bombing of an island). The South has taken a similar stance, only they don't use nukes. China wants to get North Korea back in peace talks, but that probably won't happen, seeing as they won't let the UN into their country. Reflection: i think that the North Koreans are just being paranoid. Also, (as seen in an annotation above) we don't know if they actually have a nuke. They could just be bluffing. The South only has taken their new stance and has done the war demonstrations because THEY were provoked by the North, not vice-versa. I really think that the North is being immature. Questions: 1. Does the North actually have a bomb or not? 2. Will both North and South follow through on their promises of war if provoked? 3. if so, what would we do about it?
Luke Terpstra

EUobserver / Cablegate: France bullied Poland over Georgia war - 0 views

euobserver.com/31941

France Poland Russia Georgia Sweden E.U. Bullied

shared by Luke Terpstra on 08 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • France threatened to harm a flagship EU policy for post-Soviet countries shortly after the Russia-Georgia war unless the Union forgave Russia for its invasion
  • a Swedish diplomat, told US charge d'affairs Robert Silverman that France pressured Poland and Sweden into lifting the Union's only post-war sanction on Russia.
  • France threatened to stall the Eastern Partnership initiative if the Swedes and others opposed to 'business as usual' with Moscow refused to resume EU-Russia talks
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • "Once the decision on talks on the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement [with Russia] was made, Sweden and Poland, co-drafters of the [Eastern Partnership] initiative, were given a green light to 'move ahead'."
  • The French support for Russia came at a time when Russian troops were still parked in Georgia proper in violation of a French-brokered peace agreement.
  • Previously leaked cables on the 2008 war show that France, Germany and Italy tried to soften the EU's reaction at every step of the conflict.
  • France later cemented relations with Russia by buying a stake in its Nord Stream gas pipeline and selling it two state-of-the-art warships.
  • Luke Terpstra on 08 Mar 11
     
    Rettman, Andrew. "Cablegate: France bullied Poland over Georgia war." EU Observer 8 Mar. 2011 [Brussels] . Web. 8 Mar. 2011. .  Summary:       The new found source of info the E.U. Observer has obtained contains proof that France bullied Sweden and Poland, so to speak, about keeping out of if not supporting the war between Russia & Georgia. They did this so they could 'keep relations' good with Russia. It is also found that Italy and Germany didn't want big reactions to this either. Reflections:       I think that it shows that it does not think much of Georgia and its interests. If I was a pobig political figure in america or any of those E.U. so called 'american allies' I would give them a peace of my mind , if not Russia a chunk of my fist, and say "Hey do you actually respect NATO, America, peace, and the friends we have now? If you keep on acting like Georgia is just Russia's play thing, I'll make sure you don't stay in office!" or something of that nature. This is just getting to out of hand.  Questions:  1. Why would France or any other E.U. country want to dull reactions to the conflict?  2. Why would countries like Sweden or Poland give into this kind of persuasion?  3. What would you do if you were a political leader in the E.U.? Explain?
megan lemmen

BBC News - Crunching numbers in Mexico's drug conflict - 0 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...world-latin-america-12194138

Cruching BBC Mexico

shared by megan lemmen on 15 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • According to the new database, the total number of people killed in the conflict between December 2006, when President Felipe Calderon came into power, and the end of 2010, stands at 34,612.
  • Last year was by far the bloodiest since Mr Calderon launched his head-on military confrontation with the cartels, with 15,273 deaths.
  • At least 89% of the fatalities are suspected gang members killed in turf wars between the different organisations that compete for control of trafficking routes into the US.
  • ...11 more annotations...
  • That one city of less than 1.5 million people was the location for more than 18% of the total number of deaths nationwide in the same period.
  • The state is home to Ciudad Juarez - the city across the border from El Paso, Texas - where 6,437 people have lost their lives in drug-related violence since late 2006.
  • In 2007, there were 244 drug-related deaths. The same figure for 2010 was of 4,427 victims - it grew by an astonishing 1,800%.
  • Meanwhile, in states like Tlaxcala, only 13 people have been killed in the conflict since 2006; in Yucatan, the total figure is 26.
  • In fact, 70% of the homicides, the database shows, have taken place in only 85 of the 2,500 municipalities around Mexico.
  • At least 12 mayors were killed by alleged gang members in 2010, while in the first two weeks of 2011, two more died in incidents related to the drugs conflict.
  • From a list of 37 "wanted" drug barons issued by the government in March 2009, 17 were captured or killed by government forces - including Arturo Beltran Leyva, head of the Beltran Leyva cartel, in December 2009 - while two were killed in clashes between criminal groups.
  • Security forces have confiscated almost 100,000 weapons from the cartels, while the value of the seized narcotics amounts to more than $10bn (£6.3bn).
  • Government security spokesman Alejandro Poire points out that the number of drug-related murders decreased by about 10% in the last quarter of 2010, and officials hope this will become a long-term trend.
  • In a recent nationwide survey by the National Statistics Bureau, more than 70% of respondents said they felt the overall security situation had worsened in 2010 compared to the previous year. More than 30% believed the situation would get worse in 2011.
  • Meanwhile, 41% admitted they did not feel safe to walk alone between 4pm and 7pm in the area where they lived.
  • megan lemmen on 15 Feb 11
     
    Research Question: How does the Mexican drug war affect the government and people of Mexico? Source: Miglierini, Julian. "Crunching Numbers in Mexico's Drug Conflict." BBC News. N.p., 14 Jan. 2011. Web. 28 Jan. 2011. <>. Summary: This article stated a number of facts that related to the number of killings since 2006 and their continued increase into 2010. The more shocking and accurate death tolls have recently been released, sending the Mexican government and people into more of a crisis than before. Not only have gang members been killed in the war against drug cartel, but civilians, police,and soldiers as well. This fight against drug cartel could possibly have increased the violence instead of diminishing it. The violence is not located all throughout Mexico; it occurs much more densely in certain areas like Ciudad Juarez, which accounts for 18% of the total number of deaths nationwide during a certain time period. Drug barons have been captured or killed, but so have mayors and journalists. The Mexican people do not feel safe; what can the government do about this?
Cindy Son

Israeli and Lebanese Forces Engage in Deadly Clash. - 0 views

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Israel Hezbollah Lebanon

shared by Cindy Son on 09 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • Israeli and Lebanese army troops exchanged lethal fire on their countries' border on Tuesday, in what was the fiercest clash in the area since Israel's monthlong war against the Lebanese Hezbollah militia in the summer of 2006
  • A Lebanese Army spokesman said the skirmishes started after Israeli soldiers crossed into Lebanese territory to cut down a tree. ''We fired in the air, and they responded by firing artillery shells,'' the spokesman said
  • Israel said that its forces were doing routine maintenance work in a gap between the so-called Blue Line, the internationally recognized border, and its security fence
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • Israel said it believed that the Lebanese attack had been planned. Before gunfire broke out, Lebanese soldiers shouted at the Israeli troops to move back, Israeli military officials said, and the Israelis shouted that they were in Israeli territory.
  • After the first Israeli response, Colonel Leibovich said, the Israelis were asked to hold their fire so that the Lebanese could evacuate their wounded. She said that Israel acquiesced, but that 30 minutes later, a rocket-propelled grenade was fired toward an Israeli tank.
  • Israel said its foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, had instructed the Israeli diplomatic delegation to the United Nations to file a protest with the secretary general and the Security Council, calling the clash ''one of many violations'' of the United Nations resolution on the border, No.1701.
  • On Tuesday, senior Israeli military officials said that elements of the Lebanese Army had been influenced by the Shiite, Iranian-backed Hezbollah.
  • Cindy Son on 09 Mar 11
     
    Research Question : What are the effects of Hezbollah on Israel? Kershner, Isabel, and Nada Bakri. "Israeli and Lebanese Forces Engage in Deadly Clash." New York Times 4 Aug. 2010: A9(L). New York Times. Web. 8 Mar. 2011. Summary : Another clash happened; it is the fiercest clash since the Israel-Hezbollah war in 2006. Israeli think they need to protest with the Security Council this time. Lebanese are justifying themselves by claiming that they started the gunfire because the Israel troops crossed into their territory. However, Israeli forces says they were just in the Blue Line, the internationally recognized border. Israeli even hold their fire and allowed Lebanese to evacuate their wounded. Unfortunately, rocket-propelled grenade is what Israeli got for their generosity. Reflection : This hatred has been huge problem between Lebanon and Israel especially after the war in 2006. Lebanese has to take responsible for starting the clash this time; they should admit that their sudden furious toward Israel made this bad result of this attack. It has been about 5 years after they went through that war, and they now have to find some other peaceful ways to compromise instead of fighting against each other for forever, because their conflict affects both of them in a extremely negative way. Questions : 1) Is this clash affects other countries besides Lebanon and Israel? 2) What specifically the Security Council promised to do for the peace between two countries? 3) What methods are Israeli going to use to protest with the Security Council?
Leah Hop

Mexican Drug Trafficking - 0 views

topics.nytimes.com/...index.html

Mexico drug WC

shared by Leah Hop on 09 Mar 11 - Cached
  • government says more than 34,600 have been killed in the four years since President Felipe Calderón took office and threw the federal police and military at the cartels, with the toll for 2010, 15,237, the heaviest yet.
  • Mexican and American officials, crediting American training of the military and what they consider to be an increasingly professional federal police force, point out that more than half of the 37 most wanted crime bosses announced last year have been captured or killed.
  • A poll released Jan. 11 by Mexico’s national statistics institute found that more than 70 percent of respondents believed the country’s security had worsened since 2009.
  • ...11 more annotations...
  • Obama administration will face renewed scrutiny to account for the $1.4 billion, multiyear Merida Initiative, the cornerstone of American aid in Mexico’s drug fight.
  • in June 2010 a Justice Department report described a "high and increasing" availability of methamphetamine mainly because of large-scale drug production in Mexico.
  • In October 2010, the government announced that it was preparing a plan to radically alter the nation’s police forces, hoping not only to instill a trust the public has never had in them but also to choke off a critical source of manpower for organized crime. It would all but do away with the nation’s 2,200 local police departments and place their duties under a “unified command.”
  • the rising count of gruesome drug-related murders is evidence that the government's strategy has failed.
  • Mr. Calderon dismisses suggestions that Mexico is a failed state, he and his aides have spoken frankly of the cartels' attempts to set up a state within a state, levying taxes, throwing up roadblocks and enforcing their own perverse codes of behavior.
  • United States and Mexico set their counternarcotics strategy on a new course in March 2010 by refocusing their efforts on strengthening civilian law enforcement institutions and rebuilding communities crippled by poverty and crime.
  • The $331 million plan was at the center of a visit to Mexico in March
  • The revised strategy has many elements meant to expand on and improve programs already under way as part of the so-called Mérida Initiative that was started by the Bush administration including cooperation among American and Mexican intelligence agencies and American support for training Mexican police officers, judges, prosecutors and public defenders.
  • American and Mexican agencies would work together to refocus border enforcement efforts away from building a better wall to creating systems that would allow goods and people to be screened before they reach the crossing points. The plan would also provide support for Mexican programs intended to strengthen communities where socioeconomic hardships force many young people into crime.
  • The most striking difference between the old strategy and the new one is the shift away from military assistance. More than half of the $1.3 billion spent under Merida was used to buy aircraft, inspection equipment and information technology for the Mexican military and police. Next year's foreign aid budget provides for civilian police training, not equipment.
  • But Ciudad Juárez belongs in its own category, with thousands killed each yea
  • Leah Hop on 09 Mar 11
     
    Research Question: How does the Mexican drug war affect the government and people of Mexico?  Source: Hidalgo, Oscar. "Mexican Drug Trafficking." New York Times. N.p., 1 Feb. 2011. Web. 8 Mar. 2011. Summary: The U.S has been helping Mexico train their military to an increasingly professional federal police force, which have captured or killed more than half of the 37 most wanted crime bosses. However, the people of Mexico believe the country's security is getting worse. In October 2010, the government announced it was going to change it's national police forces in hope of gaining trust from the public. This strategy was later revised. Reflection: This article talks a lot about the relationship between the U.S and Mexico and how they are trying to end this drug war. However, it also talks about how the U.S and Mexico are trying to prove that they are making positive changes in Mexico's security. I think that if they are in this situation where they are trying to convince the public then this crisis is not on the right path to stopping. Questions: 1) Why does such a large portion of Mexicans believe that even after the U.S and Mexico's strategies, that the country's security is getting worse? 2) Are the billions of dollars the U.S is investing in this drug war helping or changing anything? 3) Has border enforcement and people screening at crossing points help decrease the amount of drug trade with the U.S?
Won Geun Jung

Russia: Expelled British reporter violated rules - CNN.com - 0 views

www.cnn.com/...index.html

russia british expelled Georgia suicide bomber

shared by Won Geun Jung on 08 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • The British journalist expelled from Russia was denied entry when he came back to the country because "he violated a number of rules concerning the work of foreign correspondents,"
  • Luke Harding, the Moscow reporter for the Guardian newspaper, was detained by Russian authorities, locked in a cell for 45 minutes, and then put on a plane back to London, according to an article in the Guardian Tuesday.
  • The British Foreign Office said the incident occurred on Saturday. Alan Rusbridger, the Guardian's editor, said in a statement that Russia's move was "a very troubling development with serious implications for press freedom."
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • "If L. Harding complies with these rules, which are the same for all foreign correspondents, there will be no problems with his entry to the Russian Federation," the statement said.
  • "Indeed, last November the Guardian approached us for support to secure Mr. Harding's reaccreditation as a journalist when his accreditation had been withdrawn. We made representations at a senior level and in the event, Mr. Harding was granted an extension of his accreditation as a journalist."
  • Lidington said Harding "knows Russia well and has, over the last four years, given readers of the Guardian genuine insight into that country."
  • Harding covered many events, including the 2008 war between Russia and Georgia and the twin suicide attacks on the Moscow metro system in 2010.
  • He also wrote a number of controversial articles
  • "It is worrying that the Russian government should now kick out reporters of whom they disapprove. Russia's treatment of journalists -- both domestic and foreign -- is a cause of great concern," Rusbridger said.
  • Last year, Harding was reprimanded by Russian authorities for unauthorized travel to areas closed to journalists
  • Won Geun Jung on 08 Mar 11
     
    Russia: Expelled British reporter violated rules - CNN.com http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/02/08/russia.reporter.expelled/index.html?iref=allsearch Summary:The British journalist expelled from Russia was denied entry because he violated a number of rules.  Luke Harding who is who is the moscow reporter for guardian newspaper locked in a cell for 45 minutes and get a place back to London.  He wrote many controversial articles about secret informations of Russia like secret wealth of Vladimir Putin, the 2008 war between Russia and Georgia and the twin suicide attacks on the Moscow metro system in 2010. But Rusbridger said it would be big trouble both domestic and foreign if Russia's treatment of journalists. Reflection: In my opinion, the journalist should follow the Russia's rules even if their treatment was bad because he was in Russia and he needed to follow the Rome's law when he was in Rome.  Also, Russia needed to know that the truth would be appeared and they should not hide any information that it gave them disadvantage.  I am worried that Russia's policy would be big troubles between Russia and British. Question:1) Why Russia expelled the journalist?                 2) Why he tried to find some informations and write a controversial articles?                 3) Why Russia tried to hide their information like the war of Georgia and Russia and make bad treatments for Journalist?
Ryan Wassink

PressTV - Iran seizes 400 tons of narcotics - 0 views

www.presstv.ir/168770.html

shared by Ryan Wassink on 10 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • With a 900-kilomet
  • With a 900-kilometer (560-mile) common border with Afghanistan, Iran has been used as the main route for smuggling Afghan drugs to narcotics kingpins in Europe.
  • The war on drug trade originating from Afghanistan has claimed the lives of nearly 3,700 Iranian police officers over the past 30 years.
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • Najjar said that Iran has spent more than $700 millions to seal its borders and prevent the transit of narcotics destined for European, Arab and Central Asian countries.
  • Ryan Wassink on 10 Mar 11
     
    Source: Press TV: Iran seizes 400 tons of narcotics http://www.presstv.ir/detail/168770.html Summary: This is an article about how Iran is trying to stop drugs from afghanistan to come through Iran. Iran is the main root for afghanistan to smuggle drugs into europe. There has been a war on drug trade in afghanistan for the last 30 years and it has claimed the lives of 3700 people. Iran has spent 700 million to try to seal its borders from drug smuggling. Reflection: This was a very helpful article to read. I did not know that Iran had big problem with afghanistan. I also that it was insane on how much Iran has spent on there borders and also that this ongoing war has lasted over 30 years. You would think by now there should be some sort of agreement. Questions: What are the relations between Iran in Europe like? How much of afghanistans drug production goes to europe? Have there been any agreements at all between Iran and afghanistan?
Won Geun Jung

South Ossetia News - Breaking World South Ossetia News - The New York Times - 1 views

topics.nytimes.com/...index.html

ossetia Georgia russia NYT news

shared by Won Geun Jung on 09 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • South Ossetia is a small enclave in the Caucasus Mountains that falls within the borders of Georgia but has been all but independent
  • Whatever vestige of control Georgia had it lost in a short war in August 2008, in which its forces were routed by Russian troops. Afterward, it was recognized by Russia as a sovereign nation, a designation not supported by most of the rest of the international community.
  • Russia has supported South Ossetia and another breakaway region, Abkhazia, as quasi-satellites since the wars in the 1990s ended in stalemates.
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • In 2005 Georgia's president, Mikheil Saakashvili offered significant autonomy and economic development to South Ossetia if it renounced independence. South Ossetia's president rejected the plan "developed by a neighboring country'' sight unseen. Mr. Saakashvili had made national reunification a centerpiece of his administration.
  • In 2008, tensions between Georgia and Russia rose steadily and during the summer artillery fire was exchanged across the South Ossetian border.
  • In the event, a massive Russian invasion soon followed, and the Georgians were not only driven from Tskhinvali, but lost control of the approaches to Abkhazia and, for a time, large swaths of its own northern territory.
  • Russians saw the attack on Tskhinvali, which they call by its Ossetian name, Tskhinval, as a watershed moment akin to the Sept. 11 attacks, and aid pledges flooded in.
  • But reconstruction has proceeded slowly in this patch of rural land that had a prewar population of 70,000. A report released in December by Russia's federal auditing agency found that of about $55 million in priority aid pledged by Russia, only about $15 million had been delivered and only $1.4 million spent. It also found that of 111 structures scheduled for renovation by the end of 2008, 8 had been completed and 38 had not yet been touched.
  • On July 14, 2009, the Russian president, Dmitri A. Medvedev, made a surprise visit to breakaway South Ossetia, inspecting a new Russian military base there and promising citizens that Russia would rebuild neighborhoods destroyed during the brief war between Russia and Georgia.
  • The visit, coming just after President Obama's visit to Moscow, underscored Russian support and the gulf that remained between it and the United States over the breakaway republics. The "reset" of relations has sidestepped the issue of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
  • Won Geun Jung on 09 Mar 11
     
    South Ossetia News - Breaking World South Ossetia News - The New York Times http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/georgia/south_ossetia/index.html?scp=10&sq=south&st=cse Summary: South Ossetia is a small enclave in the Caucasus Mountains that falls within the borders of Georgia but has been all but independent.  Since 1990, South Ossetia and the rest of the regions declared independence from Georgia, and Russia were supported them.  In 2005, Georgia's president Mikhail Saakashvili would support them if it renounced independence but South Ossetia's president rejected.  Then in 2008, Georgia and Russia had a short war and their regions was invaded.  Then Russia pledged that they will support South Ossetia but the reconstruction has proceeded slowly.  In 2009, Russia president visited to South Ossetia after President Obama visited to Russia.  South Ossetia will be sidestepped by Russia and U.S. Reflection:  I think that South Ossetia and the other regions were really dangerous places between Russia and Georgia.  Also, this relationship between Russia and US would be affected because of Russia's president's visit.  If Russia really want to help South Ossetia, then they have to help the reconstruction of South Ossetia and the other parts which was invaded. Question:1) Why Georgia's president helped their economic problems and why South Ossetia's president rejected.                 2) Why Russia president surprise visit to South Ossetia?                 3) Why Russia did not help South Ossetia's reconstruction?
Won Geun Jung

BBC News - UN court rejects Georgia case against Russia over war - 0 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...world-europe-12935149

US Georgia bbc russia

shared by Won Geun Jung on 12 Apr 11 - No Cached
  • The United Nations' top court has dismissed a case filed by Georgia that accuses Russia and separatist rebels of ethnic cleansing.
  • The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague said it could not examine Georgia's complaint because negotiations had not taken place.
  • Thousands of ethnic Georgians fled the regions during the conflict and many remain internally displaced in Georgia.
  • ...3 more annotations...
  • In a 10-6 vote on Friday the ICJ judges upheld Russia's argument that the court did not have jurisdiction to examine the Georgian complaint, because the two sides had not tried to resolve the dispute through negotiations.
  • The Georgian government said that despite Friday's ruling it would continue to pursue the case.
  • "However, the court has left open the possibility that the case can proceed once the formal conditions for the exercise of jurisdiction by the court, as required by the 1965 convention, have been met."
  • Won Geun Jung on 12 Apr 11
     
    BBC News - UN court rejects Georgia case against Russia over war http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12935149 Summary: The US court reject a case filed by Georgia because The ICJ in the Hague could not examine Georgia's complaint.  During the war, thousands of ethnic Georgian fled their land.  After voting 10-6 did not agree to examine Georgia's case because they did not tried to resolve the dispute through negotiations.  However Georgia government did not give up and tried to help US court but Us rejected. Reflection: When I saw this article, both Russia and Georgia had their own pain and they wanted to heal their own property and countries.  Especially, Georgia's case was rejected and it made me surprised because they needed to solve those problems.  However, I just understand some stuff that their case was not enough for examine their problems.   Question:1)Why Georgia's case was rejected by IJC? 2)Why US did not accept Georgia's case? 3)Why Georgia was not giving up?
megan lemmen

Mexico Finds Dozens Buried in Mass Graves - 0 views

ic.galegroup.com.references.herrickdl.org/...NewsDetailsWindow

Mexico graves drug

shared by megan lemmen on 28 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • soldiers have found at least 51 bodies dumped in mass graves after what appeared to be a series of executions by drug gangs in northern Mexico.
  • The bodies were buried in several graves scattered over an area the size of three soccer fields in an isolated zone east of the city of Monterrey, Mexican officials said
  • There were so many bodies that the authorities were using refrigerated trucks to hold them.
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • Many of the dead, he said, appeared to have been tortured. ''Some were tied up with rope, others taped up with their hands bound with tape,'' he said. ''There are others with handcuffs. Most of them have tattoos.''
  • Photographs showed charred spots on the ground, suggesting some bodies may have been partially burned.
  • Mexico's drug cartels sometimes use corrosive liquids, fire and other methods to dispose of victims or make it harder to identify the bodies.
  • A state government spokesman said the bodies had been found both whole and in parts, with some buried in pits and others at or near the surface.
  • Officials said it appeared that the victims -- 48 men and 3 women -- had been dead about 15 days.
  • The area around Monterrey, Mexico's industrial capital and an important site for American investors, has become a central battleground in the country's drug wars over the past 18 months, with drug traffickers able to block roads and paralyze the city at will.
  • In May, investigators found 55 bodies in an abandoned silver mine shaft in the Pacific Coast state of Guerrero, near Taxco, a favorite tourist spot.
  • megan lemmen on 28 Mar 11
     
    Research Question: How does the Mexican drug war affect the government and people of Mexico? Source: Malkin, Elisabeth. "Mexico Finds Dozens Buried In Mass Graves." New York Times 25 July 2010: A10(L). Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 2 Feb. 2011. Summary: Fifty-one bodies were found in mass graves in northern Mexico, east of Monterrey. This area is extremely industrial for Mexico and is a main point of violence for the drug wars. The bodies seemed to be tortured, tied up, or burned-they had been dead for approximately fifteen days. "There were so many bodies that the authorities were using refrigerated trucks to hold them." The bodies were found both whole and in parts, and at different depths in the ground.  Reflection: My first reaction was "Wow!" this seems like something from a CSI episode. Horrific mass-murders like these seem so distant to me. It's almost impossible to imagine digging up fifty-one bodies out in the middle of nowhere, finding them beaten and maimed. This is just one examle of the horrible violence that is occurring in Mexico.   Questions:1) Were these bodies of members of drug cartels?2) Have all of the bodies been identified?3) How many other instances like this have occurred?4) Was there any way to trace who killed these people?
lane rottschafer

Afghan opium poppy crop: Mixed results from drugs war - 0 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...world-south-asia-12329142

Opium Drug Trade Middle East

shared by lane rottschafer on 17 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • predicted to be down for the second year running.
  • poppy growing will increase elsewhere in Afghanistan.
  • poppy growing will spread
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • the price to farmers more than doubled last year to $164 a kilogram
  • the third year running, Helmand's crop is forecast to reduce this year
  • These two provinces are by far the largest poppy-growing regions in Afghanistan - accounting for more than a third of the world's opium
  • Even these predicted reductions will leave more than 65,000 hectares under cultivation for poppies in Helmand and some 25,000 hectares in Kandahar.
  • lane rottschafer on 17 Feb 11
     
    BBC News - Afghan opium poppy crop: Mixed results from drugs war http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12329142 Summary: This article is about the Afghan opium poppy crop. It talks about how the sales seems to be going down, but they think they will go up soon too. Also, According to satellite imaging, poppy growing will spread into provinces that were recently poppy-free. Last year, the price for farmers doubled, but for buyers it stayed the same. As stated, "When you see more conflict, when you see more poverty, you will see more opium cultivation." Helmand and Kandahar are the largest poppy-growing regions in Afghanistan - accounting for more than a third of the world's opium between them. Even these reductions will leave more than 65,000 hectares under cultivation for poppies in Helmand and around 25,000 hectares in Kandahar. Reflection: In this article, it talks a lot about the poppy crop, and if its going up or down. In some ways its going down, but they also suspect it will go up again. I feel bad for these people that they need to grow and sell these drugs, to survive in there culture. Even though the amount being sold might be going down, there is still a huge issue with how large of an amount is still being sold. Questions: 1) What would it take to make it go down 2) What would we need to get rid of it completely 3) Who are the main sellers? 4) Who are the main buyers? why?
Hojin Choi

Will Islam divide or unite Iraq?(Opinion)(Viewpoint essay). - 0 views

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Islam is a peace or violence

shared by Hojin Choi on 16 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • Will Islam divide or unite Iraq?
  • American combat troops have officially left Iraq, but religious factions there continue to jostle for power in the still-unformed government seven months after the March election failed to elect new leaders.
  • Sunni, Shiite, Sadrist, and Kurdish political leaders are struggling to negotiate a coalition government.
  • ...21 more annotations...
  • When religion goes wrong
  • When religion goes wrong, it goes very wrong.
  • Archbishop William Temple
  • When people slaughter the innocent believing that they are doing it in God's name, the effects are catastrophic.
  • If 9/11 showed us the power of religion to cause tragedy on an epic scale, the aftermath should teach us something else. When religion is at the heart of the problems in a country, religion also needs to be at the heart of the solution.
  • Relationships of trust
  • I first visited as a peace negotiator in 1998. My commitment to Iraq over such a long period has enabled me to develop relationships of trust with nearly all of the most senior religious leaders.
  • Through religious leader engagement, we have been able to negotiate the release of many hostages, both expat and Iraqi.
  • Making
  • ake war
  • hose who m
  • peace with t
  • This work has been difficult.
  • Members of my church have been kidnapped or killed. I have lost many friends. But if you want to work for peace, you need to be willing to work with people who make war. Nice people don't cause conflict.
  • the warmakers need to be encouraged to become peacemakers.
  • Peacebuilding requires relationships.
  • A Sunni/Shiite fatwa against violence
  • Long-term commitment
  • This is religious reconciliation at a grassroots level, and gives standing to negotiate at the highest level.
  • raq needs this religious reconciliation if it is to survive. And so we remain committed to a long term, relational program of religious leader engagement.
  • Andrew White, an Anglican reverend and canon, is president of the Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East.
  • Hojin Choi on 16 Feb 11
     
    Research question: Is Islam a religion of peace or invitation to violence? Citation:White, Andrew. "Will Islam divide or unite Iraq?" Christian Science Monitor 20 Oct. 2010. Student Edition. Web. 15 Feb. 2011. http://find.galegroup.com/gtx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T004&prodId=STOM&docId=CJ239979945&source=gale&srcprod=STOM&userGroupName=lom_accessmich&version=1.0 Summary:This article about the perspective of Andrew White, the president of the Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East. He discussed about the Islam after the Iraq War; although there are some political leaders attempt to negotiate a government, the Islam still have a power at the government during seven months. The author quotes Archbishop William Temple saying that " When religion goes wrong, it goes wrong." He suggests 4 different solutions to prevent for abusing the islam: 'Relationship of trust', 'Making peace with those who make war','A Sunni/Shiite fatwa against violence', and 'Long- term commitment'. 
  • Jessica Ruthsatz on 28 Feb 11
     
    You are missing your questions and reflection sections
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