Russia: The Illiberal Democracy

An illiberal democracy is a type of government, whose leaders, though democratically elected, often ignore the basic needs and rights of its citizens and overstep their boundaries of power. The leaders of such a country may use law enforcement to silence political opponents and amy ban freedom of speech and freedom of the press, both which are encouraged in a liberal democracy. A prominent feature of a illiberal democracy is that citizens are not allowed to be involved in that country's political process, whether through political rallies or through the press. The term "illiberal democracy" was first coined by journalist Fareed Zakaria in an article he wrote for Foreign Policy in 1997, entitled "The Rise of Illiberal Democracy".

A recognizable illiberal democracy in the world today is Russia. The following article is from Reuters, detailing how corrupt Russian officials would exhort American business's in Russia for personal gain.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62E1SU20100315

David Cameron denounces student protests

Prime Minister David Cameron gave a statement to the press outside of Downing Street on Friday in which he denounced the student protests that week that had turned rapidly violent and destructive. The protests erupted over the government's plan to increase tuition costs for university students. Last week, amidst the protests, a car containing Prince Charles and his wife Duchess Camilla was assaulted by angry student protesters. In his statement, Cameron condemned the actions of the protesters, calling it "unacceptable". Cameron says that the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, the head of London's police force, is mounting an investigation into the riots and also specifically into the attack on the Royal Couple.

MP aide arrested as Russian Spy

Last Thursay, according to the Sunday Times, Katia Zatuliveter, a 24-year old Russian parliamentary aide was arrested on claims of espionage.  Miss Zatuliveter had been working for MP Mike Hancock, a Liberal Democrat from Portsmouth South. Hancock denies the authorities' charges against Zatuliveter. Hancock also claims that Zatylieveter has not seen any evidence against her and that no one has "shown [Hancock] any evidence to support the view that she is any way a threat to the UK". Hancock's constituency is home to a large naval base, and Hancock himself is a member of the House of Commons Defense Select Committee. Miss Zatulieveter has been working for Hancock since 2008 and had previously been an intern in the House of Commons and had worked in Continental Europe.  Zatulieveter's arrest was ordered by MI5, Great Britain's counter-intelligence and security agency. Great Britain's home office has declined to comment on the case so far, especially regarding rumors that Zatuliveter could be deported.

Katia Zatuliveter & MP Mike Hancock

This case is "believed to be the first time since the end of the Cold War" that a person employed in Parliament has been accused of spying for Russia. It is quite similar to the recent uncovering of a Russian spy ring operating in the United States. Reportedly, Zatuliveter has also been drawing attention from the media, comparing her to the most noticeable member of the American spy ring, Anna Chapman. There is also reports from tabloids that Hancock and Zatuliveter may have been engaged in a relationship, with some newspapers descriping Hancock as having a reputation as a womanizer. Since the case is almost a week old, the exact facts are still murky. If Zatuliveter is indeed found guilty to these charges, it would be a clear indication that the age of espionage between the West and Russia is far from over.

Blog info came from the following link from the BBC News Website

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11920665

Oil & Gas Lobbying

Of the many lobbying organizations in this country, the oil lobby is most certainty one of the most influential. As oil is one of the main sources of energy in America, and across the world, the corporations that drill oil have considerable influence with nations and governments. Each year, lobbyists for different oil companies spend millions in capital cities, from London to Washington DC, promoting the interests of the company they represent. Because of such lobbying, laws and legislation can be passed by federal and state governments that are "favorable" to the industry. Oil companies have the most influence in states where oil drilling makes up a large percentage of that nation's economy. In Texas, about 37,204 new oil wells were constructed in 2009 alone. In states such as Texas, the state's majority party, the Republican party, is pressured by lobbyist to voice their interests in Washington. A common stereotype is that the Republican Party is mainly influenced by the industry, since many come from oil-drilling states, though in reality, this is true for both Democrats and Republicans. In the event of oil spills, the companies responsible will lobby hard to convince the government and citizens that it is a reliable corporation. The recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the damage control campaign launched by BP is the most recent example of this.

 An emerging lobbying arm in Washington is the drilling of natural gases in the United States. The use of natural gas has come recently amidst widespread concerns that the country is becoming too dependent on foreign oil. Natural gas seems to many to be an appealing replacement from oil. However, the natural gas industry has also gathered immense influence and power in the lobbying world of Washington. More and more natural gas companies employ lobbying firms to promote themselves in federal and state governments. As viewed in the documentary Gasland, natural gas drilling sites number by the thousands across the nation. Drilling of natural gas also has hazardous risks, with the likelihood of pollution if released into the atmosphere. Though it is similar to the oil industry in that regard, the public at large, because of the industry's promotion as being more "green" friendly, views the natural gas industry more positively than oil.

Sources include:

http://www.allbusiness.com/government/elections-politics-politics-political-parties/15195985-1.html

http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/84123-natural-gas-lobby-steps-up-to-challenge-coal

http://money.cnn.com/2008/08/19/news/economy/oil_money/

http://greenanswers.com/q/182523/energy-fuels/fossil-fuels/oil-petroleum/what-state-has-most-new-oil-wells-drilled-every-yea

Questions for Josh Fox

1. Why did you decide to film your receiving the letter asking you to lease your land?

2. Did you already have a documentary in mind before receiving the letter?

3. Do you know what the situation with the families you interviewed is now?

4. What are some of your future projects?

5. Will you do any more documentaries on hydraulic fracturing?

Sarkozy Reappoints Prime Minister

Francois Fillion

French President Nicholas Sarkozy reappointed his Prime Minister, Francois Fillion, on Sunday, November 14, the day after Fillion had announced his resignation from the post. Fillion had resigned as  way for the cabinet to be reshuffled, as every cabinet minister is required to resign upon the prime minister's dismissal. After Fillion's reappointment, it was stated by Sarkozy's chief of staff, Claude Gueant, that new ministers would be brought into the government. Though Fillion was in talks with these new choices and is required to formally appoint them, in actuality, they were chosen by Sarkozy. Alain Juppe, a former Prime Minister, was named Defense Minister and Michelle Alliot-Marie, who will become Foreign Minister, are among these new choices

The reason behind Sillion's reappointment was to create a cabinet more in line with Sarkozy's center-right political party, Union for a Popular Movement. Sarkozy currently has low approval ratings with the public. Of the French public, only between a quarter and a third of citizens have a favorable opinion of Sarkozy's policies. The next presidential elections are in 2010 and Sarkozy is widely expected to run for reelection. Sarkozy's sinking popularity already took a serious blow after the signing into law a bill that would raise France's retirement age from 60 to 62. The passage of the bill prompted angry citizen's and worker's unions to organize strikes which almost brought the nation to a standstill.

 By replacing cabinet minsters with those with more party loyalty, Sarkozy is trying to unite his party base to stand a better chance of reelection in two years. The reappointment of Fillion is both politically motivated and politically savvy, as Fillion is more popular within the political party and with the general public. 

Sources include:

http://articles.cnn.com/2010-11-14/world/france.pm.reappointed_1_francois-fillon-reshuffle-cabinet-shakeup?_s=PM:WORLD


http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/15/world/europe/15france.html?_r=1&src=twrhp


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703649104575613983333295548.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

"Obama Ends G-20 Summit With Criticism of China" The New York Times

This article is by Sewell Chan, a journalist for The New York Times covering the G20 Summit in Seoul, South Korea. The G20 summit is a gathering of the leaders and finance ministers of  19 of most affluent countries in the world, including the European Union. From November 11-12, the G20 leaders have discussed the economic troubles facing the world community, as well as other financial issues on the table.

This article concerns a statement given by US President Barack Obama on November 12, the last day of the summit. Obama reportedly criticizes China for deliberately undervaluing its currency, the renminibi, in order to to promote its own exports. Obama blames this practice as a cause for the financial uncertainty the globe is facing and calls for China's leaders to act more "responsible". The article goes on to discuss how this adds to the current tension between the two nations, how it could further complicate relations in an upcoming state visit by the Chinese president, and other matters debated, resolved, or unsolved during the two day summit.

The evaluation of the shaky relationship between the US and China is an interesting one. As now both America and China are equal partners on the world stage, any source of conflict between the two is certain to have ripple effects around the globe. The currency war being waged does have roots in China's currency practices, but it is peculiar that why President Obama would take such a harsh tone in public, especially before a state visit by China's leader. It is possibly supposed to be a show of force on the part of the United States and Obama, to show that it still is a powerful player despite the rise of India and China as economic powers.

Well, enough said. Here's the article
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/13/business/global/13group.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

Afghanistan's Educational System

School room in Afghanistan

Afghanistan seems to have two types of education: an older traditional system, and one which is more progressive and adapted to modern times. Most of the Afghan populace lives in rural areas. As such, formal education for children living in rural villages is conducted by local religious leaders. Children in rural villages attend their nearest mosque for proper schooling. The mullah's teachings stress the religious scriptures of the Qur'an, as well as other subjects including reading, writing, and standard mathematics. More recently, actual schools have been constructed in remote, rural communities throughout Afghanistan. Schools have been built with aid from Western volunteers, most notably Greg Mortenson, whose Central Asia Institute has built over 131 schools in rural parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

University in Afghanistan in 1950s or 60s

Though traditional education continues to be practiced, Afghanistan also has a history of proper education based on Western styles. Several universities, including Kabul University in 1932, were established in Afghanistan with assistance from Western and developed nations.  Under the reign of King Zahir Shah, a constitution drafted in 1964 provided free and compulsory education, which meant free tuition and the extension of primary and secondary schools in the country. By the 1980s, Afghanistan was estimated to have 800 primary schools and 300 secondary schools.

School damaged by blast

 While Afghanistan seemed to have a progressive educational system prior to 1978, the outbreak of war in the country that year did considerable damage to established education in the country. The 1978 overthrow of the monarchy, the Soviet invasion in 1979 and the subsequent fighting in the 1980s virtually destroyed the educational system established by King Zahir Shah, and contributed to its poor state today. After the rise of the Taliban in 1996, education continued to decline because of policies banned the education of women, and mandated religious schools, madrassas, as the official source of primary and secondary schooling.

Afghan school girls

Since the Taliban was overthrown by US and allied forces in 2001, the new interim government and coalition forces have continued to reconstruct Afghanistan's damaged education system, with considerable progress. As of 2010, an estimated 5.4 million Afghan students are enrolled in school, with 35% of them being girls. More school buildings are being built and he infrastructure of those buildings are continuing to be improved. Despite this optimistic sign, education in Afghanistan continues to face obstacles. Of the entire population, only 28.1% of Afghans can read, with the larger percentage being women. Funding for education is also struggling as the government's budget is reliant on donors for support. The insurgent Taliban also are waging a war against education by attacking schools that educate girls and by threatening and murdering teachers. Education in Afghanistan is on a long road to recovery before it can once more reach levels prior to 1978.

Sources include:
http://www.afghanistans.com/information/people/education.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Afghanistan
http://www.afghan-web.com/education/
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/af.html

VA Hospitals in the US

In the United States, the Department of Veterans Affairs is responsible for overseeing government programs which benefit and aid American veterans and their families. An important aspect of this is the management of centers which medically assist veterans across the country. The Veterans Health Administration, a branch of the DVA, is in charge of the management of hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes. The VHA is the largest component of the DVA, employing more personnel than any other branch of branch of the department.

VA hospitals treat veteran patients both for physical and psychological damage they have sustained in combat. These treatments are often long-term and include veterans from America's current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and from previous wars including World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Because of the War on Terror, the DVA is one of the military-related departments of the executive branch that has received an increase in its budget. This years fiscal budget includes an increase of funding for the department of 25 million dollars for the next five years. This new funding allows the department to invest  more in training new employes, diagnosing PTSD in patients, and developing new prosthetic limbs for disabled veterans.

Despite the praise that VA department has received for its treatment, it has also become embroiled in scandals concerning the conditions of these hospitals. In 2007, the Washington Post released a series of articles which revealed dilapidated conditions that veterans were coping with at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington DC. The reports prompted Congressional investigations into the conditions of Walter Reed, and as more sickening details became public, the commander of Walter Reed resigned.  In the aftermath of the scandal, the VA announced that it was conducting its investigations into the state of VA hospitals across the country. These investigations are still underway and some of the news has not boded well. In 2008, a VA hospital in West Virginia was cited for health and safety violations after a discovery of mold was disclosed by a patient. It is not known if cases such as West Virginia are just one bad cases or not, but it is clear we will not know for sure until official investigations are concluded.

Sources include:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/fy2010_department_veterans/
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,258347,00.html
http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=183186&format=html

The Players & The Reason

1; C) In today's Afghanistan, there are many various groups, each vying for influence and control in Afghanistan's political system. As Afghanistan is a predominately Muslim country, the mullahs, Muslim religious leaders, have great influence in the population. Most Afghans are strong practitioners of Islam on a daily basis. As with religious figures in the United States, the political views of mullahs often resonate with their congregations. That is why both belligerents (United States forces, the Afghan government, the Taliban) in the current war in Afghanistan are attempting to reach out to mullahs and gain their support. Right in the middle of the fight of the war between the Afghan government and the Taliban are local warlords who have control of large swaths of territory in areas with little contact with the government or whose representatives are ineffective. These warlords are a government onto themselves; they impose their own laws over local Afghans and act as basic administrators. Similar to mullahs, warlords have influence with the local population, and as a result are sought out by US forces in the fight against the Taliban. However, much doubt has been placed on their reliability, whether whey are just simply mercenaries; guns-for-hire who will join whoever can pay the best.  

2; D) The United States is currently engaged in a war of weapons and minds in Afghanistan as we struggle to establish a functional democracy in the country. One of the many conflicts they are fighting is too convince the Afghan population, and the world community, that the current Afghan government is legitimate. After the fall of the Taliban in 2001, an government body was established (having been pre-prepared before the US invasion) in Afghanistan. An Islamic Republic was formed and three years later Hamid Karzai was elected Afghanistan's first democratic president. Though this seemed to be a promising start for reconstructing the country, the new government began to immediately experience problems. The administration was, and continues, to be plagued by corruption. Government ministers take bribes and turn a blind eye to illegal activities. One of President Karzai's own brothers is said to profit substantially from the opium trade from his government position in Kandahar province. Last year, the legitimacy of the government was bruised badly during the country's presidential elections. Karzai won re-election amidst allegations by Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC), according to a Time Magazine article, that his government had been involved in widespread ballot stuffing, and other election rigging. Karzai's claims to power seemed shaky in the eyes of the world community, with key Afghan allies, including the United States, condemned the elections. A painful strain now rests between the US and Karzai because of this, making it harder for the US to advance Afghanistan as a functioning democracy.

Sources Included:
http://afghana.com/SocietyAndCulture/History.htm
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1929210,00.html

Political Culture of Afghanistan

A) A major influence on Afghan politics comes from religion, and ethnicity and tribal background. As a largely Islamic nation, most Afghans are connected to each other through a shared organized religion. Therefore, Muslim holy leaders, known as mullahs, hold a large sway of influence over the political positions of ordinary Afghans. Afghanistan is a mixture of numerous ethnicities and different tribal groups. Since Afghanistan has lacked a strong central government for the past 30 years due to constant warfare, their loyalties will tend to be with their own group with whom they share a community with and have similar customs then with a distant unitary government. Other agents of socialization are more traditional ones being built on by the Afghan government and its Western Allies, those being a nationwide media, government programs, and the nation's fledgling education system.

B) Legitimacy for the current Afghan government has been a hard, challenging process which continues to persist to this day. Ever since the overthrow of the Talban regime, the United States and its allies have tried to construct a democratic government to fill in the void left by the Taliban. The goals and aims of this government, as declared by the United States, have been to reconstruct an Afghanistan that recognizes basic human rights, especially those for women. The Constitution of Afghanistan promises freedom of religion(within the boundaries of the law), expression and speech, and basic human rights, including life and liberty. The Afghan government, however, still is trying to gain total legitimacy in the eyes of its allies and the world. The government has long been plagued by corruption, ethnic disputes; factors which make it difficult to establish a stable democracy. It seems to have little direct control beyond urban cities, and cannot extend services or protection to its citizens. Without the support of the United States and its allies, the government would probably collapse from  both inside troubles and from the straining war with the Taliban.

C) In Afghanistan, laws and regulations enacted by its government have had a dangerous affect of alienating the mainstream Afghan society.  Progressive measures  have been taken since the fall of the Taliban to try to ensure the elevation of women in society. Afghan women are now recognized as full citizens and are no longer are mandated to wear the burqa, a symbol of repression under the Taliban regime. These actions, however, are viewed by some as too radical a position for women in Afghanistan. Afghanistan's traditionally conservative society argues that this change is too swift and full integration will only happen at a slower pace. Other acts which have the government unpopular with the public is the open corruption in numerous branches of the government. Afghanistan has recently been ranked as the second most corrupt nation in the world, second to Somalia. Such blatant corruption is undermining faith in an already fragile government, making the mission of strengthening all the more difficult.

D) According to the Afghan Constitution, citizens, including both men and women, are eligible to vote in presidential and parliamentary elections. Despite Afghanistan's democratic society, however, actual political participation among citizens is still less frequently made use of. Partly to blame for this may be a society which has never experienced true democracy in their country prior to 2001. With most Afghans having no experience in political socialization, it is hard to expect them to immediately become more involved in politics. Most of the population lives in rural areas and are more concerned with their own lives and communities than  actively engaging in political events elsewhere in the country. With the war against the Taliban still waging, many are afraid of retribution from the Taliban if they openly participate in political rallies.

E) A majority of Afghanistan's population can be described as being political subjects. As most Afghan live in rural areas, rather than in the cities where politics matters more to citizens there, they are both physically and theoretically cut off from political engagement. Afghanistan's varying landscape makes travel difficult for ordinary Afghans, who only travel outside their communities for personally important business. Since they are so detached from political life, these Afghans amy feel as though laws and decisions made in Kabul don't directly affect them.

F) Afghanistan has experienced a series of different governments for the past forty years, ever since the overthrow of Afghanistan's king in 1973. Since that time, Afghanistan has been witness to a series of leaders, from a "republic" led by the king's cousin, a communist government held up by Soviet troops, a period of anarchy between feuding warlords, the Taliban, and the current Islamic Republic of Hamid Karzai. Due to these unsettling political changes, the citizens of Afghanistan have been unable to truly have an active participation in government. Most Afghans continue to be in the "subject" category of citizens relationship with their government.

G)  As previously explained, Afghanistan's unstable condition has been damaging to the process of political socialization. Most Afghans are not involved in any political activity and some still have loyalty to their own ethnicity or tribe. These factors make it difficult for the Afghan government to establish a bond with its citizens. 

H) The political subculture of Afghanistan is difficult to decipher. There is no clear consensus whether average Afghans are supportive of their government and its ally the US. There are some sources which claim that a majority of Afghans wish for the US to leave their county after nine years of occupation; on the other hand there are sources which also claim that Afghans wish US troops to stay longer to bolster up the government and prevent the rise of another Taliban regime. An established fact is hostility to the Taliban, according to a Western media poll, which shows 90% of Afghans opposing the Taliban. About 60% favored peace talks with the Taliban, though 71% believed such talks should only continue if the Taliban would stop fighting.

Sources included:
http://www.afghan-web.com/woman/
http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Latest-News-Wires/2010/1027/Corrupt-countries-Iraq-Afghanistan-among-most-corrupt
http://www.afghan-web.com/politics/current_constitution.html
http://www.axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/Article_57168.shtml

Somalia: The Anarchist Nation

Probably the most prominent example of the failed states in modern times, Somalia has been identified with having many of the components which usually comprise such an environment. Since 1991, after a military coup, according to the BBC News website, Somalia has lacked a strong central government, and in effect, any standard type of law and order. Somalia is currently split into sub-governments. There is a Western-backed democratic government, which has the backing of the United Nations, but yet is also very weak and lacks broad support from across the country. The Northwestern part of Somalia declared itself to be the Independent Republic of Somaliland in 1991 and though it does not have much international recognition, it is perhaps the most stable part of Somalia. Individual warlords control large swaths of territory throughout Somalia and since the past decade an Islamic insurgency has increasingly been on the rise, due in part to the Western backed governments alliance with neighboring Ethiopia.

Years of conflict have made it difficult to fully evaluate the economic situation of Somalia. The country's GDP is estimated to be around 3.3 billion About 65% of the population is engaged in agricultural work, with modern industry only composing 10% of the national GDP. Most Somalis live on less than 1 dollar a day from agrarian work and live in rural areas spread far across the country. Despite these limitations, it has been estimated that, despite years of conflict, Somalia may experiencing an improving economy. Since 2009, Somalia's GDP has approximately risen to 5.7%, with a projected growth rate of about 2.6%, good signs for improved times ahead.

In terms of political efficacy, most Somalis have little to no trust in any form of government. Since a fully functional government has not existed for the past 2 decades, there has been little political socialization imposed on Somali's, specially to create a system of trust and pride in a central government and country. Many Somali's have more loyalty toward tribal heritage then to a government that seems distant from them. Past failures by the government to protect its citizens, from warlords to natural disasters such as the famine which caused widespread suffering in 1992, have cemented the belief of Somalis that central government is ineffective and too weak to serve their interests.
Sources for this blog include:
CIA World Factbook- https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/so.html
BBCNews- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1072592.stm
   

Drug Trafficking & Failed States

Drug Trafficking


1) Latin American Drug Cartels

2) Mexican Drug War

3) US-Mexico Drug Trade: How each country affects the other

4) Italian-Mafia Drug Ring

5) Golden Triangle(Southeast Asia)

6) Afghanistan Opium Trade/The Golden Crescent

7) Corruption and Drugs

8) US War on Drugs

9) Economics and Drugs

10) Legalization of Narcotics: An Ongoing Debate

11) Rehabilitation or Restriction: Debate over US Drug War

12) Eastern European Drug Trade

13) Drug Trades through Africa

14) Drug Penalties in separate nations

15) The Costumers: Who are the consumers of illegal narcotics?

Failed States


1) What exactly defines a failed state?

2) Are all failed states third world countries?

3) Somalia: The Anarchist Nation

4) Zimbabwe: Self-destructive state

5) Pakistan: On the Verge of Collapse?

6) Haiti: Poorest Nation in the Caribbean

7) Modern Genocide: Sudan & the Darfur Region

8) Democratic Republic of Congo: An Extended Civil War

9) North Korea: Behind the Bamboo Curtain

10) Liberia: Rocky Road to Recovery

11) Sri Lanka: An End of Conflict?

12) Afghanistan: The Long War

13) Ethiopia: World's Poorest Nation

14) Yemen: Critical Western Ally

15) Burma: Can the Junta be Challenged?

International Drug Trade

Across the globe, there is a widespread black market trade of illicit drugs. These drugs range from relatively harmless substances like marijuana to more "hard" drugs. These include narcotics like heroin and  cocaine, which are among the most profitable. Though they are hard to manufacture, these drugs are the most addictive narcotics on the black market and sell for thousands of dollars for a kilo.
Trafficking in drugs is mainly controlled by worldwide criminal organizations. Each group may manufacture or import drugs from other countries. Once in possession they then distribute and sell them across the country or smuggle them to another country. More recently, different organizations have allied together for greater protection of their products and from law enforcement. During the 1990s, law enforcement officials discovered an alliance between South American cartels and the Italian mafia who were involved together in a multi-billion dollar trade in cocaine.  

The drug trade is most active in parts of the world where poverty is embedded in society. In South America, a large percentage of the population from each country there lives below the poverty line. Poor families that live in impoverished areas are desperate to earn an income to support their families. They therefore are drawn into the hands of drug cartels who offer better pay. These conditions are mirrored in other continents and areas around the world, including Southeast Asia and Africa. Corruption in a national government also abets the drug trade. Corrupt officials may accept bribes from drug lords to look the other way or may be personally involved in the profits made. Weak, corrupt governments that subtly support the drug trade can be found widely through Eastern Europe, extending all the way to Russia.
There is currently a War on Drugs being waged by practically every Western nation against drug traffickers. The war so far has had mixed results. While the trade is weaker than it has been in past decades, violence connected to drugs continues to happen, particularly in Mexico. Many blame the high demand in western nations for drugs that fuel the trade and insist instead for more funding for rehabilitation programs and promoting the awareness of the effects of drugs.
Information obtained from Wikipedia.org & bbc.co.uk/news


   

Afghanistan's economy: Not Great

Afghanistan is ranked among one of the most poorest and undeveloped countries in the world. In terms of GDP, Afghanistan is ranked 110, with a purchasing power parity of $27.01 billion a year. The average per capita is only $1000 a year. Pre-Soviet era, the country was flourishing due to aid from both the US and Soviet Union, who both wished to gain the country as an ally during the cold war. This aid went into constructing a functional infrastructure. After 30 years of war, the economy of Afghanistan has been seriously damaged. As of 2008 35% of the population is unemployed. 36% of Afghans live below the poverty line. There is wide-spread poverty across the country. Much of the population has shortages of clean water and access to electricity.
The economy is mostly agrarian based. Most of the population is engaged in farm work, with 78.6 Afghans involved in agriculture. This is consistent with the fact that most Afghans live in the rural areas. Most of Afghanistan's exports, such as fruits and wheat, come from these rural farms. The most largest export of Afghanistan, however, is not these more legal crops. Opium makes up the largest export of Afghanistan. Afghanistan is also one of the largest suppliers of opium crops in the world, which are developed into heroin. Local warlords and the Taliban profit from the trade. There is currently a debate in the Afghan government whether to legalize the production of the crop in order to draw away financial support from the Taliban.
The US and its allies have been working to reconstruct the economy of Afghanistan since 2001. There has been slight improvements during this time, but the economy remains weak. Recently there have been discoveries of mineral deposits by US geologists, who estimate their worth to be $1 trillion. The hope is that this new discovery will lead to Afghanistan becoming a mining center of Central Asia.
Information obtained from Wikipedia.org and the CIA World Factbook

No Green For Massachusetts

Dr. Jill Stein is currently running for governor of Massachusetts on the ticket of the Green-Rainbow Party. The Green Rainbow party is a merger of the Green party with the Rainbow Coalition. It supports eco-friendly policies, a more open, grassroots(funny), type of government. In political ideology, they can be considered to be left-leaning, as many of their policies echo the extreme liberal policies of the Democratic Party. The party is considered the third party of Massachusetts, as they have enough support to remain afloat, but lack the political power to be a major party. It's candidate, Dr. Stein is a co-chair of the party. She graduated from Harvard Medical School and currently serves on the boards of Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility and MassVoters for Fair Elections. Stein ran for governor in 2002, losing to Mitt Romney, and then ran unsuccessfully for the state House of Representatives and Secretary for the Commonwealth.
Stein's support will mostly come from middle-age to older women, who are part of her generation. Liberals-leaning-to-socialists will also support her for her platform supporting eco-friendly intiatives, "fairer" voting practices, among other favorite pet causes of the left. However, Stein has managed to increase her base of support in recent years. During her 2006 run for Secretary of the Commonwealth, Stein ran solo against an Democratic incumbent, who was virtually unopposed. In the final voting tally, Stein was able to capture 18% of the vote, making her the highest scoring Green Party candidate ever to run for Secretary of the Commonwealth
Despite this, it is highly unlikely that Stein will win the governor's race. Third party candidates rarely ever win actual elections, whether it be for governor or president, though they may gain a good percentage of voters. It is also likely that the Green Party realizes this too, or else they've been walking around with their heads in the clouds for the past 20 years. The main reason for this run is to raise awareness to the issues which the Green Party represents.

Tim for Governor? Not Likely

Tim Cahill is the current Treasurer and Receiver-General for Massachusetts who is running against his boss, governor Deval Patrick, which must make the situation extremely awkward for the two. Cahill used to be a member of the Democratic Party, but left the party to run for governor as an independent. Cahill was elected Treasurer as a Democrat in 2003. Before that, he was active in Massachusetts politics, serving in the Quincy City Council, and was the Treasurer for Norfolk County. He has claimed to have significant accomplishments while serving as Treasurer. The Massachusetts State Lottery reportedly 7.2 billion dollars, money which has been distributed to cities and towns all across the state. The Cahill campaign has repeatedly hammered this point in through in numerous ads, since this issue alone is what they believe Massachusetts voters care about the most.

 The Cahill campaign is running at a time when Governor Patrick's popularity is at a low, with citizens angry at the incumbent government for poor decisions (the casino fiasco). Many citizens are worried about the nationwide economic situation, how it affects them and their jobs, and are blaming the incumbent state government for being ineffective. Cahill can claim experience in state politics in, a moderate choice instead of a political outsider to lead them in such dire times. Even if you are a Democrat or independent opposed to Cahill, a vote for him could draw votes away from Republican challenger Charlie Baker, who is the more serious candidate opposing Patrick

Unfortunately for the Cahill campaign, any early energy is now losing steam. Cahill trails Baker and Patrick in the polls, making him less of a threat then he was before. Cahill's campaign seems to be falling apart, as top aides have deserted his campaign. A more damaging blow was the announcement on October 1, that Cahill's own running mate Paul Loscocco was stepping down and endorsing Charlie Baker. Cahill's chances of winning at this point are low, and we may find that he will not have much of an impact on the general election.

Charlie Baker: A Republican Takeover?

Charlie Baker is the Republican candidate for governor, opposing Democratic incumbent Deval Patrick. Baker has history of serving in Republican politics and in state government. His father, Charles Baker Sr. worked in the executive branch under the Nixon and Reagan administrations. His son himself served Republican governor William Weld as Undersecretary of Health and Human Services in the 1990s. He later took the positions of Secretary of Human Health and Services and Secretary of Administration and Finance respectively during the rest of Weld's term. During his tenure as Secretary of Administration and Finance, he became directly responsible for financing the Big Dig Project in Boston. After leaving state government in 1999, Baker became CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. Under his leadership, Harvard Pilgrim received recognition from the National Committee for Quality Assurance, receiving the title of America's Best Health Care for five years in a row.

Bake has a built a sizable reputation over the years for his work in state government and the private sector. In a climate of anti-incumbency, Baker has a favorable chance of defeating Patrick in November. Much of the public's frustration is aimed at Democrats in power, who have seemed unable to effectively deal with the economic crisis. Given that Massachusetts voters elected Republican Scott Brown a US senator are signs that a conservative wave could give Baker a victory.

Baker still has to, however, compete in a state which is overwhelmingly liberal and Democratic. Most state residents are registered as Democrats. Patrick has the advantage of the incumbency, being that voters might not want to get rid of an experienced politician in such times. Baker also has to contend with the possibility that independent Tim Cahill could take votes away from him. If Baker does win, it will be a very narrow win. 

Information obtained from Wikipedia & CharlieBaker2010.com

Deval: In or Out?

Democrat Deval Patrick has been governor of Massachusetts for the last four years. He is the first African-American to hold the position of Massachusetts governor. Patrick is originally from Chicago, where he grew up in the city's housing projects in a poor family. Through a non-profit organization, Patrick was able to attend Milton Academy and Harvard College. He later attended Harvard Law School.  Patrick served in the Clinton Administration as Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. In that role, he served to prosecute cases of racial-profiling and hate crimes. In 2006, Patrick was elected governor with running mate Tim Murray against Republican opponent Lt. Governor Kerry Healey.

Patrick has many advantages for running a re-election campaign. He has the traditional advantage of the incumbency, where voters see him as an experienced politician, the proper one to lead Massachusetts through tough economic times. As a Democrat, he has the upper hand in being the governor of one of the most liberal states in the union. If most of the state's registered Democrats show up to vote, he has a good chance of re-election.

During his term in office, Patrick has made some unpopular decisions. His campaign for casinos in the state lead him into a fierce fight with opposition from both parties. Multiple scandals involving staff members has also hurt his credibility. Another infamous episode was when Patrick left the state during the casino debate to work out a book deal for his memoirs. During this election, Patrick faces opposition from his Treasurer Tim Cahill, who might split the Democratic vote.

I am personally not a supporter of Patrick.  I do recognize, though, the chance of his re-election in this liberal state. According to polls, however, Patrick and Republican Baker are almost tied with Patrick leading by a 1% advantage. If Republicans are able to muster the voter strength that swept Scott Brown into office, they stand a firm chance of unseating Patrick.

US Investigates Karazi Brother

The US has been officially and covertly conducting investigations into the business dealings of Mahmoud Karzai, an older brother of Afghan president Hamid Karzai. Mahmoud Karzai has long been suspected of involvement in illegal activities. His has a strong status in Afghanistan, recognized as one of the country's most powerful and wealthy businessmen. He owns 7% of the shares in Kabul Bank, making him one of the largest shareholders there, and is owner to various assets in Afghanistan and the world. Among these are a series of restaurant chains in the US before September 11, the only Toyota dealership in Afghanistan, and Afghanistan's only cement factory. He has been criticized for using his position as the president's brother to participate in inside dealings over commodities such as real estate. Most recently, he has come under attack for alleged involvement in the risky business ventures and other activities that led to the run on Kabul Bank in early September. The National Security Agency (NSA) has been conducting electronic eavesdropping on Mahmoud for several months to gather evidence of involvement in illegal activities. This is part of a new anti-corruption program being set up by the US and Afghans to investigate corruption in the Afghan government.
This news comes at a dampening of relations between the US and Afghan governments. The US has publicly urged President Karzai to end corruption in his administration, a move which the Afghan president seems hesitant to do. The Afghan government's reputation has been hurt considerably by charges of corruption, which stem from allegations of voter fraud in last year's presidential election. Karzai recently pardoned a government official who had been convicted on corruption charges, causing greater strain with the US.  If the Afghan government is unable to effectively deal with corruption within it's ranks, it could create a greater divide between the government and the people, which could lead them to support the Taliban or to just not support its government at this crucial time.
Information for this article came from The New York Times

Karzai to Open Negotiations with Taliban

  Afghan President Hamid Karzai has reached out to the Taliban earlier

this week, according to the New York TImes, in an effort to bring about a

peaceful resolution to the conflict waging between Taliban insurgents

and US and allied backed Karzai government. This report comes at a time when

the war against the Taliban has risen in violence and destruction, with constant Taliban

attacks against US forces and the Afghan government in order to destabilize the country.

After months of stalled efforts to negotiate with the Taliban, the top American Commander in Afghanistan General David Petraeus told reporters Monday that the Karzai administration has been contacted by Taliban leaders. Petraeus compared the conditions of a cease-fire with the Taliban to the IRA in Northern Ireland. that they would have to respect Afghanistan's Constitution and surrender their weapons. Petraeus had recently said that US forceshave managed to curb the extent of Taliban activity, despite continued violence. Prior to negotiations, Karzai has announced the formation of a 70-member peace council which will negotiate with the Taliban. The council is mostly composed of Afghan government officials, many of them anti-taliban, a few influential former members of the Taliban government, and at least 8 women, a move made to show the Afghan government continued support for women's rights. The council will not directly negotiate with the taliban but will instead appoint smaller commissions of neutral parties to do it. This course comes reportedly from Karzai's lack of faith in coalition forces to bring security to Afghanistan, prompting his government to chart it's own course.

This new move is not the first attempt by the government to reconcile with the Taliban. In recent years since the spike in taliban violence, Karzai has attempted numerous times to bring the taliban to the negotiation table, but with no success.This attempt seems to be have better organization than previous ones, and also has the backing of NATO and US.The outcome of this now is unclear, but if there is a success this could mean the end of conflict in Afghanistan. However, the outcome will also depend on the willingness, or unwillingness, of the taliban to negotiate or to continue their campaign. Also to consider is that whether the taliban will keep their word on any peace settlement.

The Problem with Karzai

Afghanistan's drug problem

Kabul Bank Verges on the Edge of Collapse

Afghanistan has been facing a severe financial crisis since the beginning of September, when thousands of Aghans rushed to the country's central bank Kabul Bank to make withdraw their accounts. By September 2, according to the New York Times, $180 million dollars in Afghan currency had been withdrawn from the bank in only two days. The cause of this run on has been pointed toward the demands by Afghanistan's leading finance officials for the resignation of Khalilullah Fruzi, Kabul Bank's chief executive and second largest shareholder and Sherkan Farnood, the bank's chairman. Both men have been accused by American and Afghan officials of giving millions to supporters of President Karzai and of recklessly investing in failed business ventures. This lack of confidence compelled thousands of Afghan depositors to attempt to withdraw their savings, culminating in a near collapse of Afghanistan's largest private bank. Kabul Bank was formed with US assistance after the collapse of the Taliban regime in 2001. The bank officially opened in 2004, and has become the center of Afghanistan's fledgling financial system. It has 68 branches covering 34 provinces, including 28 in the nation's capital Kabul.  It holds the bankrolls of thousand of Afghan civilians, administers payments for the government, and reportedly holds about $1 billion in deposits. The bank has been plagued, like so many institutions of the government, by alleged corruption within its leadership. The bank has close ties with the Karzai administration, with one of its largest shareholders being Mahmoud Karzai, the president's brother. Afghan and American official fear that a collapse of the bank could be disastrous to the country's treasury and to the Afghanistan's overall economy. The Afghan government has attempted to calm these fears by stating that Kabul Bank is in no imminent danger, and by giving over $100 million to the bank to ensure the salaries of 250,000 public employees. This Monday, both Fruzi and Farnood resigned their posts, though bank officials denied this was related to the allegations. Still, their are worries that if the present situation continues, there could be a bailout of Kabul Bank by the US government to safeguard Afghanistan's economy.

Afghanistan: The Basin of Problems

There seems to be no other country in the world which does not face the multitude of problems as Afghanistan. For the past 30 years Afghanistan has been engulfed in war, causing enormous civil unrest and great destabilizing the country. The beginingof Afghanistan's recent problems can arguably be said to have started in 1973, when the king of Afghanistan Zahir Shan, who presided over a period of stablity and peace in the country, was overthrown in a coup by his cousin Daoud Khan who declared Afghanistan a republic. In 1978, Daoud himself was overthrown during a revolt which saw the rise of a communist regime. This new government immediately faced resistance from rebel groups known as the mujahideen. The government appealed to its ally, the Soviet Union who sent soldiers into Afghanistan in 1979 to bolster the regime. After over 10 years of war with the CIA-backedmujahideen, the Soviets withdrew from the country in 1989, leaving a growing civil war between factions of Afghan groups. Fighting continued until 1996 when the Taliban took control of the country.  After the US led invasion in 2001, war has continued to plaque the nation as an insurgent Taliban fights against the government and Allied forces. Despite the progress which has been made under the more democratic government, such as extending more rights to women, the country still faces more troubles which can lead to further weakening the country. The Taliban are fighting a guerrilla war against US forces, using a variety of methods from suicide bombing to RPGs to weaken our armies there. The Taliban is also engaged in a campaign of intimidating the the population by threatening those who collaborate with the government or Allied forces. Because of such widespread fighting, the nations economy has suffered terribly, leading to an increase in poverty. The government has little authority outside of cities, making it harder to establish a relationship with its people. Afghans are also dissatisfied with rampant corruption within the government. Another serious problem is the rampant heroin trade in Afghanistan. Produced from poppies, the trade of heroin is used by the Taliban to finance their campaign. The US and its allies have waged a war on drugs against this trade, but problems make it difficult. Afghan farmers, already living impoverished life's, have found that it is profitable for them to farm poppies for the Taliban. This economic dependency makes it difficult for the US to ensure the eradication of the drug trade. 

Afghanistan-Country Profile

Afghanistan is located in South Asia, bordering most of northern and western Pakistan to the east and bordering Iran in the west. It encompasses an area of about 652,230 square kilometers, making it the world's 41st largest country. Afghanistan is a landlocked country and has no major lakes or rivers. Terrain consists of many rugged mountainous regions, especially the Hindu Kush mountain range which separates the northern provinces from the rest of the country, and having  plains in the north and southeast. Climate is composed of harsh cold winters and dry hot summers. Naturally occurring disasters include earthquakes in mountainous areas, flooding and drought.
The estimated population of Afghanistan is 28,395,716 people. Of that 43.6% are between 0-14 years of age, 54% are between 15-64 years, and 2.4% are 65 years or higher. Birth rate is 38.37 births per 10,000 and its death rate is 17.83 per 10,000. The average life expectancy for the population is 44.4 years. Literacy is Afghanistan is small, with only 28.1% of the total population being able to read.
Natives of Afghanistan are referred to as Afghans. Many ethnic groups make up the country's diverse population. There are 42% Pashtun, 27% Tajik, with other groups below 10%. The country is solidly Muslim, with 80% Sunni & 19% Shia. Afghanistan has two official languages: Afghan Persian or Dari (50%) & Pashto (35%). Other languages are Uzbek and Turkmen (11%) as well as 30 other minor languages, which make up 4%.
Afghanistan's government is officially an Islamic Republic. Its capital is located in Kabul in central Afghanistan, the largest city in Afghanistan. The country has been a democracy since the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in October, 2001 which toppled the Taliban government. The government has three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. The chief of state and head of government  President Harmid Karzai, who held office officially since December 2004. A bicameral legislature has the House of Elders, with 102 seats and the House of People with no more than 239 seats. The president and two vice-presidents are elected by more than 50% of the vote for five-year terms. Universal suffrage is extended to all those over 18. Religious groups and tribal leaders have great influence over government policy.
Afghanistan's economy has been greatly weakened by more than 30 years of warfare in their land. After the fall of the Taliban in 2001, the economy has improved greatly due to outpouring of economic aid. Despite this, the country remains mostly poor. Most civilians lack adequate housing, clean water, electricity, and medical care. All of this has contribute to Afghanistan having one of the lowest standard of living in the world. The economy itself is mostly agriculturally based with 78.6% of the labor force engaged in agricultural work.

The Global Threat from Terrorism

The first decade of the 21st century  became witness to the most terrible terrorist attack on American soil. For the first time since the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, the United States had experienced a violent act of terrorism. On September 11, 2001, the United States once more became aware of the worldwide danger of terrorism, the greatest threat to international security and peace during this present time. Terrorism involves extremes acts of violence and aggression, varying from bombings, hostage taking and the indiscriminate killings of civilians by organized groups or hostile states. All of these crimes are committed and "justified" by the groups ideological beliefs or agenda. In different regions of the world, terrorist groups either operate worldwide, like Al Queda, or may just be active in one country or region, as the IRA exists in Northern Ireland. Terrorism may gain support stemming from key root causes: extreme poverty in a country which turns civilians into the fold of extremist groups as a possible way to change their lives; ethnic or religious differences that fuel civil division and prompt the rise of insurgent groups who use conflict in the name of their cause. Though these causes can be viewed sympathetically, they do not excuse for violence perpetrated by terrorist groups that have destroyed and ruined life's all around the world. The problem today with combating terrorism is that these groups usually do not engage in conventional warfare. They instead to fight using guerilla style tactics, focusing on small fights and ambushes rather than a full engagement. These are the kinds of engagements that have framed the conduct of the current War on Terror. Our soldiers in Afghanistan face these dangers on a daily basis as they struggle to stabilize that country and defeat the insurgent Taliban. However, terrorist attacks have also been attempted recently on America. The attempted Christmas Day Bombing almost about a year ago reminds us that the terrorist threat still poses a constant threat to our country and allies across the world.