The Washington Outsider

Sanctions Put the Ball Back in Putin’s Court.

7/31/2014

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Probably the most important cost of using sanctions to punish countries for behavior the International Community deems unacceptable is that an isolated state can act with impunity given it has no interests in preserving international connections, yet it is one that is rarely discussed.  With both the US and Europe ratcheting up economic sanctions on Russia for its ongoing involvement in the Ukrainian Crisis to the point the Russian economy will suffer from irreversible long-term damage within months, unless sanctions are lifted, Russian President Vladimir Putin is facing a clear choice.  The United States is already presenting evidence of Russia arming pro-Russian separatists, as well as attacking Ukrainian forces from within Russia, while  the conflict has already resulted in the deaths of foreign civilians with Malaysian Flight 17, thus Putin must eventually choose to capitulate on his attempts to subdue Ukraine or engage in outright war in an attempt to achieve his goals before attempting to make peace with the world.

Should Putin choose the latter, it would certainly mean sanctions would not disappear in a timely manner while pursuing such a course would likely instill a further distrust in Russia that would cost the Russian People a great number of future opportunities.  Demonstrating an ongoing effort to deescalate and resolve the conflict, coupled with the decision to no longer support the separatists in any sort of way, the West would very quickly make a deal to lift economic sanctions with a process in place to verify Putin’s long-term sincerity.  In turn, Russia and the rest of the world could then focus on reestablishing our partnerships with Russia.  In addition, the International Community could also use such an opportunity to address our failure to treat Russia as a fully integrated member of the International Community, instead of a friendly Cold War enemy, which is partially driving this conflict.

That said, the truth is that the International Community largely lacks the ability to enforce its will.  This is particularly self-evident when considering UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s desperate calls for Israel and Hamas to stop fighting, even though a large part of the reason the Israeli-Hamas conflict garners so much attention is that many feel the situation, unlike other crises in places like Syria and Iraq, could be immediately halted with the aid of diplomacy.  When it comes down it, might does make right and the International Community lacks might, unless the US and/or enough allies choose to enforce international norms.  It is, therefore, important to recognize the building of the International Community hinged on the West offering would-be member states benefits for signing on to their vision.  In reality, social institutions like the UN, democracy, law, treaty law, capitalism, socialism, etc. are only embraced when those with power, whether that be armed individuals and/or a People en mass, accept arguments in favor of these ideas and that only happens when they see results in a timely manner. 

A great deal of the time, the International Community does not serve the interests of most nations, but there are benefits for those costs.  Because a modern society relies on a myriad of raw goods and products that no national economy can fully provide, the global economy represents one very big benefit for following the rules of the International Community.  If Putin views this benefit to be far less attractive than what he thinks he will get from the domination of Ukraine, the Ukrainian People will soon see greater devastation.  If Putin values Russian membership in the International Community, and/or the Russian People do, the Ukrainian Crisis should end within weeks to months.

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Fears for the Israeli and Palestinian Peoples, as well as the rest of the Middle East

7/30/2014

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Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei‘s call to all Muslims around the world to support Hamas in its fight against Israel could be the beginning of far greater troubles for the region.  Because Khamenei is such a staunch supporter of Hamas, this announcement likely means his words will soon become deeds while any broad base support from other entities will only lead to more violence.  This writer has long warned Hamas was setting a trap for Israel in order get the support it needs to destroy Israel.  Although Israel has every right to defend itself against security threats and actual attacks, even as its Iron Dome missile defense system does a fanatic job of keeping the Israelis safe, the tendency of the Israeli government to engage Hamas in a heavy-handed, largely indiscriminate manner only destroys the lives of civilian Palestinians, which cannot be easily legitimized when the world is seeing the burnt, mutilated bodies of babies and children on a daily basis.

Instead of finding ways to engage Hamas in a long-term strategy that involves targeted strikes of confirmed Hamas targets, the Israeli government consistently tries to bomb its way to peace while striking targets with little regard to what, or who, gets in its way before rapidly accelerating its military operations in vein attempts to root out Hamas before the International Community convinces Hamas to agrees to a armistice.  Given Israel’s stepped-up bombing campaign is creating a thorough humanity disaster by targeting critical infrastructure, such as the only power plant in the Gaza Strip, and killing scores of Palestinian, despite Israel’s halfhearted attempts to warn Palestinians moments before attacks, Khamenei’s call may well resonant thorough a globalizing Middle East trying to revolt against the status quo.  Although this will help Hamas survive and pursue its pointless long-term goal of destroying Israel, the violence from the support of Iran and Jihadist terrorists is sure to devastate both the Palestinian and Israeli Peoples, especially since Iron Dome cannot protect against suicide bombers.

That said, it is important to remember the West and Iran, under the leadership of moderate Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, are trying to normalize relations, starting with negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.  Not only will the Israeli-Hamas conflict now likely derail this effort and further efforts, the loss of the diplomatic solution to Iran’s nuclear program means Israel will see an enhanced threat in a potential Iranian nuclear weapon, thus Israeli leadership will start feeling the pressure to strike Iranian targets.  Meanwhile, Iran’s intervention in Iraq’s struggles with the ISIS militant group creates even greater issues for the US as America attempts to assist Iraq in taking control of the situation.  This likely means the US will have to abandon Iran-dependent Iraq very soon while it also further limits America’s options when it comes to engaging these conflict zones.  More importantly, we are likely watching the merging of several national conflicts turn into a regional conflict that is far more likely to spread and destabilize the Middle East.  

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Ebola Outbreak Spreads Like Violence in Libya

7/29/2014

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With the world’s largest outbreak of Ebola taking place in West Africa amid rising violence throughout the region and neighboring regions, the struggle to contain the horrific disease has much in common with the failure to contain the violence afflicting so many in Africa and the Middle East.  The connection is most obvious in a country like Libya where a self-serving, oppressive dictator squandered decades of a nation’s vast oil wealth on his own whims and intentionally starved the rest of the nation of basic civil, as well as social, infrastructure in order to suppress rebellion.  Both the Ebola outbreak and rising violence in Libya are driven by a lack of proper social institutions within these nations capable of addressing the general welfare of those living in these territories, which is especially true when it comes to crises. 

Although the idea that the world should concern itself with the welfare and socioeconomic standing of those living in the Third World is relatively new with the rise of the International Community model over the past hundred years, the Ebola outbreaks demonstrates a very tangible reason why this idea has merits.  Globalization means the world is becoming ever more interconnected and that means something happening in one remote part of the world can affect people living in another remote part of the world.  In regards to Ebola, the rapid and broad propagation of such a lethal disease obliviously results from our global transportation.  Unfortunately, our global economic interdependency and online social world have helped propagate violence from one community to the next. 

A largely peaceful transition of power is a means for a People to free themselves of a broadly unwanted government, so the ideas spread by the Arab Spring revolutions are a benefit of globalization.  What went wrong for the Arab Spring revolution was the unwilling of embattled leaders to give up power before violence became the norm, the willingness of others to use violence to fill power vacuums, and the inability of social leaders to offer capable transitional governments that adequately balanced the interests of their Peoples.  A large part of the reason the US and other Western democracies supported dictators in the Middle East and Africa for decades was a long held fear that any power vacuums left by the ouster of such regimes would lead to failed states like Somalia.  Ironically, the oil revenue being paid to militias in order to fill in the gaps for a lack of police and army presence, coupled with the lack of national social institutions, may well make Libya most likely to become the next Somalia. 

Unlike in Egypt, Libya lacks a powerful military capable of taking control of its civil unrest in the wake of failed leadership while it certainly will not see an outside benefactor willing to nation build as in the case with Iraq and Afghanistan.  Had the International Community had some foresight when it came to recognizing the potential for armed conflict, efforts to funnel oil dollars into the hands of Libyans by lifting sanctions imposed on former President Muammar Gaddafi could have been curtailed with provisions that limited how oil revenue could be spent, i.e. those in control of the Nation’s finances would not be allowed to fund groups and individuals that present a security risk.  In other words, the International Community should have forced Libya to build a real military and real police forces instead of a patchwork of militias.  With Libya starting to ask for help from International Community to address issues like its oil depot  fire, there might an opportunity for Libya and the International Community to make arrangements for an outside manager to help Libya do a better job of nation building,  at least a means of better paying for nation building.  Doing so, could be quite effective given the lack of an effective, stable Libyan government and the unwillingness of the International Community to do more.

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Obama puts Central America in the news

7/26/2014

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From El Salvador to Guatemala to Honduras, the issue of poverty seems to go from bad to worse.  Even when these countries see economic turnarounds, too few of the benefits go to the majority of citizens.  Things these Central American have in common is a lack of economic development, political corruption, ineffective governance, extreme economic disparity, improper regulation/labor standards, and a lack of policing that has left these nations riddled with violence.  Meeting with the Presidents of these three countries over the US Border Crisis, President Obama surely touched on these topics.  While El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras may be compelled to step in to protect their citizens from traffickers and other hazards of illegal immigration, addressing the rising number of individuals violating US law to enter the United States will involve more than just relying on these leaders to do “the right thing,” as President Obama would put it.

Because these countries are ruled by self-interested elites, there needs to be a clear incentive for them to serve the needs of those forced to flee their homelands.  Quite frankly, affluent members of these societies likely see the mass migration of poor people as a net benefit to their societies.  Given that the United States is the number one trade partner of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, President Obama has a great deal of leverage to ensure illegal immigration remains an important issue, especially if the wealth of the affluent is put at risk for failing to do so.  That said, pressure from Mexico and its efforts to control its borders is also a necessary part of the equation, which means the US can help alleviate its immigration issues by assisting the Mexican government as it attempts to close its southern border.    

That said, efforts to prevent illegal immigration do not address the issues that continue to drive the mass exodus from Central America.  The affluent of Central American countries need to do more to address extreme economic disparity, destitution, drugs, and crime.  As it is, the wealthy of many Central American countries simply barricade themselves in their lavish homes and hire private security to protect their selves from the desperate and opportunistic.  Clearly, there is an issue with essential civil services, such as the police, when those who can afford it hire their own private police force instead of paying higher taxes and improving public policies to guarantee public security and safety.  This type of self-imposed isolation by the wealthy only further divides the haves and have-nots, which, in turn, drives the failure of the power elites to properly address national interests over personal interests.

Consequently, there needs to be an effort to create forums where the elites of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras are encouraged to take an interest in their countries broader interests, i.e. come up with solutions for “the common good.”  There also needs to be a push from outsiders to show the affluent that they have “skin in the game” when it comes to developing economies and civil societies that also serve the interests of the poor.  This an area where outside business interests with leverage need to recognize the failures of these three nations is a threat to their interests, which means they need to give the affluent of these nations reasons to work for the common good.  In fact, the Obama Administration, as well as nongovernmental entities, need to take a carrot-and-stick approach that incentivizes the powerful to address the interests of the poor.

One common issue facing El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras is the fact that these countries import more than what they export.  This means these economies are being built on goods that cannot be locally produced while they are not producing enough to be able to afford what they are importing.  Because they cannot afford or produce the items that their economies are dependent upon, they are unstable.  This lack of production, in turn, means the benefits of any economic growth are not going, and will not go, to the Peoples of these countries, i.e. the driving force behind their extreme economic disparity.  The economies of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras cannot be built on cheap labor, untenably low taxes, and loose regulation.  Although social programs, subsidizes, and higher taxes are temporary, unsustainable solutions that might come into reality given enough pressure, they truly need regulatory, tax, and trade policies that better reflect the needs of these populations.

National economies must be built on industries that serve the local needs of a people with locally plentiful resources that are as local as possible with excess production being used to participate in the global economy.  Reexamining provisions of CAFTA is, therefore, part of the solution.  Another part is an effort to build industries that can serve the needs of these countries.  Just as in the US, medicine is a very profitable field that can be developed to create lucrative jobs, necessary civil infrastructure, and an education system driven by practical, job-oriented skills.  Just as roads and police need the support of governments, and nongovernmental organizations, medical care would be a worthwhile investment that needs funded.  At the same time, there needs to be more assets directed toward dealing with crime in Central America, which is something that would also be a good investment for the US and its national security interests. 
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The Americas need to come together in a big way to deal with illegal immigration issues.

7/24/2014

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The US Border Crisis has been decades in the making, but it is the immediate welfare of tens of thousands of children being addressed by competing legislative efforts.  Unfortunately, neither approach actually attempts to address the causes of the crisis.  In other words, all attempts by Democrats and Republicans involve spending various amounts of taxpayer dollars to simply keep deporting desperate people back to communities in crisis.

In many respects, the brutal criminal violence throughout the hemisphere over the past few years has gone under addressed by the American People, even though its nature and scope make it just as serious as globalized terrorism.  Although there was no event equivalent event to the September 11th terrorist attacks or the mortgage meltdown, the threat of criminal syndicates in the Americas requires the same magnitude of response as globalized terrorism and the Great Recession.  Even today, there is no “9/11 Commission” or massive effort to coordinate and scale up efforts to combat criminal violence in the Americas.

At the same time, it is important to recognize the G7 countries meet, at least, once a year with great fanfare in order to discuss the health of the global economy.  There is no equivalent for the regional economy of the Americas.  This is despite the fact that this hemisphere is home to global economic powers the United States, Canada, and Brazil.  Recognizing European global economic powers have the EU, the Americas have nothing of such significance.  Consequently, the US needs to take the lead in addressing the driving forces behind illegal immigration, which means leading our hemisphere by bringing all nations of the Americas together to deal with those issues in a big way.   

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        • Is National Security More Important Than Civil Rights?
        • Should the Government's First Priority Be to Protect Secrets or to Proactively Give Citizens Information?
      • The Sequestered US Government Needs a Therapist
    • Democracy >
      • An Essay on the Role of Government: Why Each Generation Must Define Democracy for Itself
      • Democracy and the Narrowing Power Elite
      • Assessing the Limits of Democracy
      • Do Americans value freedom?
      • Belittling Our Political Leaders
      • Defining "Liberal" and "Conservative"
      • Framing Issues Properly is an Important Political Tool >
        • Assessing US Elections Part I: Framing Issues Properly is an Important Political Tool
        • Assessing US Elections Part II: Focusing on the Economic Frame
        • Assessing US Elections Part III: Looking at the National Security and Military Frame
        • Assessing US Elections Part IV: Focusing on the Foreign Policy Frame
        • Assessing US Elections Part V: Evaluating Presidential Candidates
        • The Bipolar Nature of US Politics: Pros and Cons
      • Voting in Mid-term Elections: The Importance of the Congressional Vote
      • The Role of the Media in Politics >
        • Should the Government Control Talk Radio to Make it More "balanced"?
      • How the People Are Lost in the Extremes of 'Right' and 'Left' in Politics
      • Should One's Faith Influence a Citizen's Vote?
      • Should the U.S. Government Help Fund Election Campaigns?
      • On Defunding Political Science Research
    • Worldview >
      • Justice for All: The Case for Legal, Social, Economic, and Personal Justice
      • Why Hardliner Thinking in the NSA and CIA is Doing Damage
      • On the Baby Boomer’s Self-Centeredness
      • The Case for Personal Responsibility
      • What Modern Day Revolutionaries Need to Learn from Leader's like Mandela
      • Rising Western Acceptance of LGBT Primes Culture Clash
      • The Need for Wisdom Beyond the Numbers
      • Perceptions of the United States
      • How Honesty Relates to the Great Recession
      • Why the Middle Class and Rich Need to Support Their Long-term Interests
      • The Aristocratic Republic of the United States of America
      • Discussing the Need for Community Support
      • Why New Forms of Capitalism and Socialism Will Compliment Each Other
      • The Reason We Need to Understand What it is to Be Poor in America
      • Why the World Needs to Reinvest in America
      • Why Are We Against Terrorism?
      • Why Does Terrorism Exist?
      • US Influence: The Value of American Citizenship Around the World
      • Responding to "the Soldier as Sacrficial Victim"
    • Human Nature >
      • How comfort defines us as people >
        • Is Suicide a Cowardly Way Out?
      • Defense Against the Dark Arts of Manipulators
      • Defining Abuse >
        • On the Willing Victim of Abuse
        • How to Understand Abuse Victims
        • Recognizing Abuse
      • The Role of Substitution in Decision Making
      • Trying to Understand PTSD and Other Trauma-induced Mental Health Issues
      • Exploring Human Emotion >
        • Mental Illness is Not the Cause of Anger and Violence >
          • Trying to Understand the Boston Marathon Bombing and Other Violent Crimes
          • Getting into the Twisted Mind of the Tucson Murder
      • Describing the Mind as Modes of Thought >
        • It’s Just Sex?
      • Relationships, or Arrangement
      • Understanding the Effects of Groupthink in the Workplace
      • Relating Circular, Inductive, and Deductive Reasoning to the Scientific Method and Religion
      • What is a Redneck? Understanding Different Cultures and Thinking
    • Economics >
      • The Need for Greater Economic Leverage >
        • Evaluating NAFTA and TPP
        • Undercutting Logistics with the Underpaid Independent Contractor
        • Unions: Hindrance or Essential to Free Markets
        • Eminent Domain Used Against Banks
        • Haitians Sue the UN for Failure to Help With Cholera
        • Looking at How Corn-based Ethanol and Other Alternative Energy Subsidies Stack Up
      • Empowering the Sovereign Nation-State by Rethinking Trade Policy >
        • Irish Sovereignty Lost Before Bailout
        • Why Sudan's Greatest Long-Term Hurdle is Our Lowest-bidder Economy
        • Reduce US Imports by Buying American Made Products
      • Ending the need for government support and tackling poverty
      • Income inequality: understanding the limitations and psychology of disadvantage
      • Looking at the Future of American Jobs >
        • On Questioning the Need to Address Economic Disparity
        • Minimum Wage is Not the Problem
        • Responding to the "Blip"
        • Why Education Is Not The Civil Rights Issue Of The Twenty-First Century
      • Considering the Impact of the Capital Gains Tax Deduction
      • Embracing a Capitalist Mindset >
        • Capitalism Versus Socialism
        • The Negatives of Socialism
      • Stealing Intellectual Property
      • Changing Business Models: From Enduring Entities to Cash Cows
      • Consumer and Investor Evolution in the Great Recession of 2008-09
      • Dealing with the Issues Surrounding the Patenting of Self-replicating Technologies
      • Is Technology Threatening Jobs?
    • Education >
      • The Role of Education in Creating a More Dynamic Workforce
      • Primary Education in America and the Changing Needs of Society
      • The Greatness of the American Education System
      • Ideas for Improving the United States Education System
      • Are Teachers Treated as Professionals?
      • Is Engaging Parents in Their Children's Education a Major Factor in Turning Around Low-performing Schools?
      • Should Grants Be Awarded to School Districts that Try Innovative Methods to Improve Student Achievement?
    • US Constitution >
      • On Reading the US Constitution
      • The Senate should not do more to limit the powers of the Judicial Branch
      • On the DOJ Justifying the “targeted Killings” of US Citizens
      • Corporations Do Not Have the Same Rights as US Citizens >
        • Corporate America Pleads the First
      • Discussing the Constitutionality of Per Capita Taxes
      • Was the California Supreme Court Right in Legalizing Gay Marriage?
      • Should the Bible Continue to Be Used for Swearing-in Ceremonies and in Courtrooms?
      • Should Religious Student Clubs Be Allowed in Public Schools?
      • Should the Government Control Talk Radio to Make it More "balanced"?
      • The Second Amendment: Not Outdated >
        • Are We Losing Our Second Amendment Rights
      • Eminent Domain Used Against Banks
      • Should a Woman Have the Right to Choose Abortion? >
        • Should Fathers Be Able to Opt Out of Parenthood?
      • Should Smoking Be Allowed in Public Places?
      • Is Teen Driving a Right or a Privilege?
      • Should US Companies Be Required to Provide Equal Pay to Women and Men?
      • Is eighteen too young to vote?
      • First Amendment Rights: The Priviledge of The Press
      • Do Mandatory Seat Belt Laws Violate Individual Rights?
      • Should cell phone use be banned while driving?
      • Dealing with the link between video game violence and children's behavior
      • Should police have to submit to routine drug and alcohol testing?
      • Public schools should not impose mandatory drug testing on students
      • Are High Taxes on Cigarettes Proper?
      • Should pharmacists be required to violate their religious beliefs and dispense the "Morning After Pill?"
      • Should school counselors uphold patient privacy or report students who become unstable?
  • For the record
    • Ongoing Issues >
      • Red Dawn in Ukraine: Understanding the Actions of Russia >
        • On Russia’s Coercion of Ukraine
        • The Russian Annexation of Crimea in the Eyes of the World
        • Putin Has Overplayed His Hand With Crimea
        • Ukraine in Terms of Resovereignization
        • Avoiding a Conflict Between America and Russia Over Ukraine
        • What Drives the World’s Interest in Russia’s Actions in Ukraine
      • China’s Aggressive Pursuit of Interests Demands a Global Response
      • Iran Makes a Deal: A Start to a Long-term Diplomatic Effort to Denuclearize Iran >
        • On the Future of a Nuclear Negotiations with Iran
      • America's Sphere of Influence: Retaking South-East Asia >
        • Power in Asia: Looking at the Power Shift in Japan
        • The China Paradox: Why America is Worried About China
      • Assessing US Support of Israel >
        • Tread Softly Israel for a Heavy Step May Be Your Undoing
      • Understanding the Dysfunctional Nature of the US-Pakistani Relationship
      • Recognizing the True Threat Behind the Current Unrest in the Middle East >
        • Reacting to the Escalating Crackdown in Syria
      • Assessing the Threat of North Korea >
        • Answering North Korea's Call for Food Aid: Breaking the Vicious Cycle Forced Upon Us by a Warring Nation
        • Dealing with the Restarting of the Korean War
        • North Korea Attacks South Korea
      • Dealing with the Ill-effects of Climate Change
      • Racial Inequality and Oppression Do Truly Exist in Today's Society
      • Should energy independence be a high priority in the US?
      • An overview of world wide Human Rights violations
      • Nuclear Threat from Pakistan
      • Return of The Cold War?
    • World >
      • Coverage of FIFA World Cup is a Chance to Focus on Poverty >
        • The FIFA World Cup Offers Benefits for More Than Brazilian Soccer Fans
        • FIFA Can Bring Brazilians Together as a Nation
      • Being Prepared for Any Potential Dangers at the FIFA World Cup Games
      • Treading Softly on the Politicizing of the 2014 Sochi Olympics Over Gay Rights
      • Why NATO Operations in Libya Lack a Well-defined Mission
      • China Hijacks the Web
      • Lessons from the Great Japanese Earthquake of 2011
      • A Modernizing Cuba Offers an Opportunity for Capitalists
      • The Seeds of Democracy Take Root in the Middle East
      • The Rebirth of Democracy in Tunisia
      • What May Come from the Hurt Revolution in Libya
      • Responding to the Violence of Qaddafi and Other Besieged Leaders
      • Embracing the Rise of a Democratic Egypt
      • Protests in Afghanistan Turn Deadly for Coalition Forces and UN Personnel
      • Haiti: Another Failing Humanitarian Investment
      • What Karzai Can Learn from Calderon
      • START II: A Necessary, Easy Success that Nearly Failed
      • Why Does the U.S. Government Support Independence for the Breakaway Serb Territory of Kosovo but Oppose Independence for the Breakaway Georgian Territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia?
      • Iraq's Electric Issues: When Human Wants Trump Economic Sense
      • The International Community Reacts to Wikileaks: We May Be Moving Toward a Third World War in Cyberspace
      • On Climate Gate
      • Assessing Obama's Afghanistan War strategy
      • 2009 Iranian Presidential Election: The Fallout
      • Resolving Sri Lankan Conflict through Free Media
      • What are the Global Consequences of Russia's Invasion of Georgia
      • The War in Iraq: an assessment of President Bush's surge strategy
      • Drug War: Actions of Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador in terms of Resovereignization
      • Is the Iraq Refugee Crisis America's Responsibility?
      • US support for a united Kosovo, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia: why?
      • Should the US withdraw from Iraq?
      • Setting a Timetable for Troop Withdrawal from Iraq is a Terrible Mistake
      • War on Terrorism is needed
    • Law and Order >
      • Rape in the US Military
      • Ethics of Force-feeding Guantanamo Bay Detainees
      • Reacting to the Aftermath of the Tucson Massacre
    • Economy >
      • Affordability Drives Fear of Obamacare and the Individual Mandate
      • Is the Economy Built for a Job's Recovery?
      • Gutting Healthcare Reform of the Individual Mandate
      • Arizona Budget Cuts Lead to Lethal Healthcare Rationing:
      • Shameful Collection Practices of American Banks
      • The Fed Reveals it Actually Undertook an International Bailout
      • Thoughts on French Budgetary Reforms
      • Seniors Start Businesses
      • The Case for Slimming Down the US Military to Make it Better
      • Looking at the Obama Administration's New Approach to Economic Policy
      • Should the Government Regulate the Credit Card Industry?
      • The Big Three's Big Chance
      • The Unhealthy Tone of the Healthcare Reform Debate
      • Should the federal government offer a bailout for home owners?
      • Environmentalists: Do They Do More Good Than More Harm?
      • Responding to Scott Walker's Contribution to the War on Unions
    • US Government >
      • America Needs to Focus on the Impending Fiscal Crisis
      • Reacting to the Bush Era-tax Cut Extension Deal
      • Quitting the Obama Revolution: The Fickle Nature of American Politics
      • John Boehner's Circus
      • Is the Fed Putting Itself in Jeopardy?
      • Wikileaks Goes After the US State Department
      • Discussing the Political Environment Surrounding the 2011 Budget Debate
      • What the Democrats Can Do to Ensure a GOP Year in 2012
      • What the 2010 Midterm Actually Said
      • Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper
      • Democrats Minus Nancy Pelosi Equals Opportunity
      • Terrorists Go Postal: The Terrorism Threat Reexamined
      • Victory in the 2008 Election: Reaction to Barack Obama'a Win >
        • Expectations for Barack Obama
      • President Obama's first one hundred days
      • John McCain's Negative Campaign
      • Reasons People did not Elect John Mccain
      • History judges the George W. Bush Administration
      • Should the next US President focus on domestic issues?
      • President Bush, should he resign or be impeached
      • Should the Ban on Government Sponsored Assassinations be Repealed
    • Off Topic >
      • A Face of America’s Greatest Generation
      • A Story About a Man Who Made the World a Better Place
      • Making the World a Better Place
      • The Bipolar Ethical Nature of Google
      • Learning Computer Plays Jeopardy
      • Verifying Medicine is the Real Thing
      • Taking a Practical Step Forward in Optical Computing Using Slow Light
      • Scientists Take a Closer Look at How Lithium Batteries Work
      • Remarking on the First Blizzard of the 2010-2011 Winter Season
      • Driving in the Snow: Acceleration is the Key
      • How People in Northwest PA Are Coping with the Increasing Cost of Oil
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