Summary

Case O’Brien
Summary
International Controversies


The theme or my articles is the increasing of violence among the Iraqi people. The majority of my blogs came from this theme. Since the beginning of the semester I started to watch what is going on in Iraq and over the ourse of the semester I have come to realiz that in four years since we first invaded Iraq there has not been to much accomplished. The people of Iraq are still under attack and people are being killed on a daily basis. The insurgency problem has seemed to subside in some areas and risen in others. The Mahadi militia is still in power but have not ben seen lately as of a month ago it seems like they have disappeared from the city.
When it comes to predicting the future of Iraq it seems very dark to me right now. I don’t think that this war is going to end anytime soon. The reason I say this is in just the few months from reading what is going on in Iraq in the newspapers, U.S and Iraqi officials have not really made that much headway. It is true that some elections have taken place and that reconstruction is in progress but for what. First off we cannot start rebuilding when things are still going to be blown up. Another problem is there are still thousands of militant men out there who have not been caught and are waiting to strike again. Roadside bombings have also became more common and can be very effective in killing and wounding many people in just one incident. As it goes right now my prediction is that many more innocent American soldier will die in this war and for what. I think that this war in Iraq is not going to end soon we are going to be in this one for the long haul.
Overall I thought posting and commenting on other peoples summaries was fun and effective. I liked how two people having concerns about the same topic can comment back and forward with each other on the others summaries of either the same topic of completely different topics.
Another thing that I liked about being able to post on blogger is to see other people in your group summarizing the same article and the differences both people had with the same article. It was very helpful to be able to read other peoples summaries and also to read their comments even though I did not receive any comments on mine. I like to see people taking stands for what they think in some of their comments and also then commenting back to them on their comment

U.S general says al-sadr is still in Iran

In Baghdad, U.S military officials believe that Muqtada al-Sadr is still in Iran. Officials did not say whether or not the anti-American Shiite cleric is wanted for arrest. A few months ago al-Sadr's militia was the greatest threat to security in Iraq. This militia was responsible for two uprisings against the U.S forces back in 2004. This past month the militia has almost disappeared from the streets . The leader Al-Sadr is said to be a significant part of this entire political process. USA Today Alissa Storwell

Thousands flee as Sri Lankan forces strike at rebels

In Colombo, Sri Lanka thousands of civilians fled into territory that was government controlled. The military started to capture rebel held areas in recent months, this new action came because around 18,000 people poured into Batticaloa where fighting liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam. Aid workers in Batticaloa said Saturday that schools and other public building have been opened to help accommodate the new influx of refugees and that aid was already low. New York Times, Wire reports

U.S. Iraqi forces team up in effort to curb oil smuggling

The Bush administration has made a new approach for the stabilizibng of Iraq. For a long time U.S and Iraqi officials have been aware of the market for stolen oil. They have not acted on this simply becasue Washington feared that if American forces were stationed at the refineries that people would think that why the U.S invaded Iraq only for its oil. Another reason why this wasn't acted on sooner was that a number of government officials were smuggling the oil on the blackmarket. this is a huge problem because about 94 p0ercent of its 32 billion dollar budget came from the oil revenue. New York Times, Yochi J Dreazen.

Iraq leaders asks for region's aid to curb violence

In Baghdad Prime minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki opened a highly anticipated conference, with a plea to neighboring countries to back its efforts to slown down and eventually eliminate the violence that is overwhemling this country. His plan to do this includes refusing to finance the attacks or to not allow foreign fighters on their soil. al-Maliki says that "Confrontation of terrorism, dear brothers, requires ceasing any form of financial and media support and religous cover, as well as logistical support and provision of arms and men that would turn out to be explosive tools killing our children, women and elders and bombing our mosques and churches." After the conference mortar fire landed near the building no casulties were found but this served as a reminder to Iraq goverment that they are under siege.
New York Times, Alissa J. Rubin

Unemployed father

Na'iem Alawi woke up one morning to find a message on his door "Leave or else...." He lives in the Southwest part of the city with his family. Alawi, 37, has lived in the area since Saddam fell to the American forces. He has been out of work for a few months after he had to close his grocery store. Shiite fighters patrol the area that he lives in, their presence attracts much mortar fire and violence. Alawi relocated his family and got a new job. He says it was hard when Saddam was in power, but the American forces have only made things worse. USA Today By: Oren Dorell

Six US troops killed in attacks in Sunni areas

Sunday in Baghdad six troops were killed in a predominantly Sunni area. Four soldiers were killed in a roadside bombing in west Baghdad. The other soldiers were killed in a Northeastern region of the capital by small arms fire from insurgents resistance. USA Today By: Wire reports

Iraq says raid on Sunni law maker's home yielded arms cashe and cars with TNT traces

Baghdad this week Iraqi security forces seized a large supply of weapons and one suspect. The raid took place in the home of a Sunni Arab law maker. They arrested seven people and let six go. Four cars were also found with traces of explosives on them. New York Times By: Edward Wong

Response March 19

Some of the impacts that occurred from the Rwandan Genocide is that around eight hundred thousand Tutsis died in a very short time. This cleansing of people was the largest killing of people since the atomic bombs were dropped and Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Some other impacts that came from this was the people in power at the time. The Hutus called a majority rule and were trying to carry on a “social revolution” of their own. With Rwanda’s new Hutu leaders in charge they stated that the monarchy was officially gone and that Rwanda was now a Republic. Rwanda was now led under a dictatorship which was supposed to be disguised as a popular democracy mostly because the only people left living were the Hutus which made them the majority. In 1962 Rwanda was granted their Independence and Gregoire Kayibanda was the first president.
Some other problems that arose from the genocide was the destabilization of other African regimes in the area. Since the killings started many Tutsis fled the country to nearby countries such as Congo. By moving masses of people from one regime into another country where there is a different regime in power can mean much controversy because usually people from other areas don’t live well with people from neighboring areas.
When the killing of Tutsis first started many fled to nearby countries to seek sanction. UNAMIR and other people like the peace corps tried to help save Tutsi prisoners and refugees and tried to negotiate their release. From seeing what is going on I don’t think that Rwanda will ever be stable. Around eight hundred thousand Tutsis were killed by the Hutus for no reason except that someone said that it was the thing to do and then everyone stated doing it. The Tutsis have to still be angered and what makes you think that they won’t someday throw their own “social revolution” and kill all the Hutus. They Tutsis will especially still be infuriated if the president who helped write the Hutu Manifesto is till in Power. I don’t see stability anywhere in the future for this country economically or socially.
From my reading I don’t see democracy possible anytime soon. The people of this country killed hundreds of thousands of innocent people or the minority. If the minority has no rights then it is not a democracy it is a dictatorship and this dictatorship was led by Gregoire Kayibanda. Kayibanda says that “ It will not be a democracy if it is not equally successful in respecting the rights of the minorities….A country in which justice loses this fundamental quality prepares the worst disorders and its own collapse.”

In Guatemala the killings of corrupt police echo the dirty war of the 1980's

On Saturday in Guatemala three salvadoran congress man were killed. the offenders were soon caught by a tracking device under their car. The congressman were killed by guatemalan police officers, the officers thought the victims were drug dealers. Once officers were sent to prison they were killed immediatel by a heavily armed military group who made their way into the prison and executed the men not being interferred at all by officers

16 civilians dies as U.S troops fire on Afghan road

In Kabul this past sunday the fourth american forces fired on a highway filled with civilians. Sunday oficials siad that they had left 16 civilians dead, and left 34 wounded after a car bombing. Later they said the civilians got caught in a crossfire between troups and militants. Afghan witnesses blame the troops for shooting at civilians becathe use of the explosion.
Carlotta Gall New York Times

Basra Raid finds Dozens Detained by Iraq spy unit

In Baghdad on Monday british and Iraqi special forces raided an Iraqi intelligence againcy office south ot the city. Officials say that they found around thirty prisoners some showed signs of torture. News of the raid coincied with the next step which consisted of 1,100 american and Iraqi forces moved into Sadr city. Sadr city houses Iraqs greates shiite malitia. This is among many of the illegal detention centers that use torture found in Baghdad.
Kirk Semete nThe New York Times

Gunfire continues in Guinea capital despite curfew

In Conakry, Guinea a new curfew had been placed on residents of the area after martial law was used by president Lansana Conte to restore order in this part of West Africa. Opposition leaders and also trade unions have accused the president of violating a power sharing agreement and they demanded that he step down from his position. Atleast 27 people have been killed int he past three days from disagreements with security forces in the area. Despite the curfew many people were still out and about selling and buying things in the market.
New York Times, The Associated press.

In Philippines, U.S. making progress in war on terror

Hundreds of miles away from the war in Irag terrorists from the Islamic group have ben responsible for 16 years of bombings and also many kidnappings. This group which calls themself Abu Sayyaf have now been under attack from philipine forces and also the U.S. Special forces. They have been pushed to flee into the jungles and their leaders have almost all been wiped out. The forces have captured and killed 200 of the 400 Abu Sayyaf members, and are still working on defeating the rest.
New York Times, Paul Wiseman

Pentagon denies politics behind claims Iran supplying weapons.

In Baghdad Tuesday government officials decided to go public with allegations that Iran was supplying militant groups in Iraq with weapons. It was said that Iran is responsible for supplying these militant groups with armor piercing roadside bombs taht have caused many casualties for the american forces. The munitons and bombs have been sold to radical shiite groups from and Iranian revolutionary guard called the al-Quds Brigade. The timing of this statement has drawn criticism to the Bush administration for hyping the Iranian threat and also because of flawed intelligence that led to the invasion of Iraq
Jim Michaels New York Times

Islamist Held Trying to Flee From Somalia to Kenya

On January 17 in Mogadishu, multiple Somali Islamists malitia men and some of their leaders were arrested trying to flee into Kenya. Authorities say that they have deatained many suspects but are still havgin problems identifying them. Somali officials suspect that Kenyan soldiers may have detained the second in command of the defeated Islamic forces Sheik Shurif Sheik Ahmed. According to a Somali general Sheik's breifcase was recently found in a hide out in South Somalia, the documents were said to be top secret at a recent news conference. last week the US bombed southern Somalia where islamist leaders and terroritsts were said to be hiding. Us forces have gone into Somalia to try to identify and capture terrorists suspects.By: Jeffrey Gentleman New York Times

North Korea and US Envoys Meet in Berlin

These two countries will meet on Tuesday and Wednesday in Berlin to discuss North Korea's nuclear program. Influencing North Korea's Kim Jon-il to stop his nuclear goals has been extremely difficult and overall seems hopeless. Since October when North Korea first declared themselves a nuclear state. North Korea was open for discussion despite saying last month that they woule no longer talk with the US unless we let go of their assets. The US held on to their assets because of North Korea's history in counterfeiting US currency and drug trafficking which is one of North Korea's most valuable channels of income to support their nuclear program. Negotiations to reslve this stand off will plan to meet again next week in New York or Beijing.
By: Mark Landler and Thomas Shanker New York Times

GROUP Jan #31st response paper

Case O’Brien

When it comes to a democratic state, fighting terrorism I think that it is not

possible to maintain your democratic position because of the sacrifices you would

have to make to actually wage war against terrorists. In the U.S. tensions are very

high and people are scared, they are scared to fly and also are scared of different

cultures mostly that of the Middle East. When it comes to terrorists and what they

have done in the states is that they have succeeded in putting fear in the lives of

all Americans.

The time that we are in calls for drastic measures and these measures can be

seen in the Bush administration with the patriot act, which infringes on mostly all

of are civil liberties. If you think about this we have to take these measures to

defeat terrorism, if that is even possible. Terrorists are killing themselves just to

kill others. If we are fighting people that do not care to live how are we going to

win. We need to be able to hear if terrorists are talking on the phone and making

arrangements, we need to be able to detain these suspects if caught, and if it comes

down to it we may have to implement some other forms of strategies to get them to

talk and tell us there leaders and their plans. To do all this means that we will

have to put aside are rights so that we can have the power to take care of these

dangerous cells that are still waiting to be activated here in the U.S. This time

has just begun and there will be many more attacks to come.

When it comes to the promotion of democracy, we can’t go to other countries and

try to place our culture and way of life on a totally different way of life in

another country. America has been doing this for years and it has not worked well,

first we took the Indians land and made them follow our rules then the African

Americans, I wonder who will be next. Just because America is doing well

economically doesn’t mean that our government is great. It means that it is working

for us and that is it. Our government is one of the most corrupt in the world, we

don’t need to go have other countries do exactly like us and have the rest of the

world dislike them also.

In the end there will be now way to stop terrorism at all because there will

always be a group of people who do not want others values and ideas forced upon them,

because they have their own. As long as Americans still act like Americans they will

be trying to change everyone else to their standards because we think that it is the

only way.

Shiite fighters arrested in crackdown

Due to heavy pressure from the Bush administration officials in Iraq are supposed to have proof of showing progress in the securing of Iraq. On the 17th Iraqi officials made a move against the areas most powerful malitia, the Mahdi army. Officials say that they have arrested several dozen senior members of this group in the past few weeks. Mr. Maliki, the prime minister, told journalists that close to 400 Mahdi malitia men have been arrested in the past few days. Later it wa found that more than 400 malitia men were arrested in over 56 operations since the month of October. The total number of senior comanders for this group did not go over 100. American officials say that there main problem is the malitia and they predict that there are among 7,000 Mahdi malitia men are left in Baghdad. By Sabrina Tavernise

Aging and shut Iraq factories may reopen and adress ills

On the west side of Ramadi,Iraq,American and Iraqi officials have found what might be the answer to Iraq's reconstruction and its insurgency problem. Officials found a large foctory that once produced toilets, sinks, and other fixtures stil in perfect condition. Officials also found a tomatoe paste factory and a bus factory, these factories cloed soon after American occupied the area. So far including tax payers 30 billion dollars for reconstruction programs neither the factories nor the free market has gained any progress. These factories would be a good way to give young men jobs instead of joining the insurgents. By: James Glanz, The New York Times