Monday, January 30, 2012

MNC’s Who Call America’s Legal Protections Their Own, Though These Same MNC’s Often Lobby For Anti-tax Policies, a Decision That Cannot Self-perpetuate Prosperity or Freedom, as Domestic Policy Pressures Foreign Policy, as Democracy Must Have Internal Revenue to Transfer Power Peacefully


Article Analysis Assignment

First, read a news story from the newspaper or the Internet.  Answer the following questions regarding your news story: 1) What is the main issue, who are the main actors being discussed;  Then, choose one of the assigned articles you read for this week.  Answer the following questions regarding the assigned article: 1) What are the basics of this article (who, what, when, how, why, etc.);  2) What is the overall main point the author is trying to convince you of?  3) Do you agree with the author’s argument?  Why?  Why not?   Finally, tie together your news story with what you learned from the assigned article, textbook readings, podcasts, videos, etc. for this week.  Type your answers in the box below using your own words, no outline or bullets, complete sentences and paragraphs, single-spaced, full-page. 

Things change so fast, I went through three articles before settling on “US Calls Countries…” because of the summation it gives re: the previous events. Here goes: The main issue is the degradation of civil society in Syria, as well as the impact this development has on the region and the international community. President Bashar al-Assad, a President’s son with ties (through Hezbollah, I believe) to the Iranian regime, is cracking down violently on pro-democratic reform protests that have been in the streets there for a year or more. The Arab League recently withdrew amid escalating bloodshed as the Syrian army retook many of the Damascus suburbs held by “militant” protestors. Assad is Russia’s closest Mideast ally; this explains Russia’s vehement opposition to an Arab League-drafted text of a UN resolution calling for Assad to hand “things” over to a general. This may have enough votes to pass—but Russia holds veto power. With the Strait of Hormuz a crucial oil gateway for the world economy (assuming you believe one exists), and the Levant a piece of the world I am becoming quickly familiar with—what will the Obama doctrine be? When White House Spokesman Jay Carney says “Assad will go” this means he will likely die soon; if Assad doesn’t accede and adhere to internationally recognized “good law”—the sovereignty of Syria under current leadership will be seen as fraudulent by the world community. America, being a hegemony in the balance of power (perhaps because of the overwhelming number of MNC’s who call America’s legal protections their own, though these same MNC’s often lobby for anti-tax policies, a decision that cannot self-perpetuate prosperity or freedom, as domestic policy pressures foreign policy, as democracy must have internal revenue to transfer power peacefully) will probably drone him.
            Now to the 14 points, and there are so many parallels: the utopian Wilsonian philosophy, a Liberalism that the UN and to a lesser extent perhaps NATO represent in action—speaks immediately to the “rights” which were violated—so severe, these violations, that the concept of sovereignty, to survive, must incur this damage; to protect that which all men believe is worth protecting will mean sacrifice of the same, if “essential rectifications” are to take place. There are mentions of “open access to the sea” (the Levant is fronted by Lebanon and Israel as well), the need for “open covenants of peace” (Iran and Syria and their various “harbored” sub-state and individual actors are not an example of being very open, though Iranian scientists do keep dying, to be fair), and various disarmament/economic/democratic reforms that ought to be finished so all may enjoy sovereignty’s security. Russia, should they veto the UN measure, will only destabilize themselves when we react by droning Assad, thus proving their inability to, with their power through non-military means, achieve their purpose. Legitimacy remains the point here: We (America) are still legitimate, both as INTL state actor and enforcer as hegemony through INTL law—will Syria and Iran and Russia and who knows who else decide they have more to gain by challenging what some say is a declining America? I wouldn’t.

 

Source citation: “Syria's Assad will go, says US, as UN vote nears” http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16796616

Wilson, Woodrow. “President Woodrow Wilson’s 14 Points.”


Sunday, January 29, 2012

All With No Credit Check Required!


Weekly Writing Assignment #1                               Your name:
Describe a job in international relations

Source:   www.jobs.un.org/Galaxy/Release3/vacancy/vacancy.aspx?lang=1200
 
Go to one or more of the following websites to find a job within international relations.  Describe the position, educational requirements, salary range, skills, and application process.  Type your answers in complete sentences and paragraphs, single-spaced, proper grammar, full-page.  Give as much detail as possible.
I found a job posting for a position as a Director of Political Affairs (D-2) for the United Nations Mission in Libya, in Tripoli. The position is incredibly dense with detail description, both in competencies required and in educational/professional requirements, so here goes:
I would need 15-plus years of progressively responsible experience in diplomacy, preferably in conflict or post-conflict zones, speak Arabic and English proficiently, and have achieved the equivalent of a Masters degree in International Relations, Law, Political Science, or other related fields. The salary is promised to be commensurate with my family situation and experience professionally, and I hope they mean an awful lot of taxpayer dollars, because the demands are dangerous and burdensome.
            I would be expected to report to the Head of the Mission, provide political advice to the Special Representative of the Secretary General, and assemble a number of political development teams, the budget of which I will manage and control, the training and development of which I will oversee, and which through I will develop and maintain good relations with leading individuals of both civic and military society at the central and local levels, as well as other UN actors in the region. I will lead a substantive effort in strengthening the government of Libya by formulating and managing the implementation of the work program of the political affairs component of the UNSMIL, particularly the rights based, gender perspective and conflict prevention aspects. I will provide good offices, foster dialogue, prepare documents and briefings for the Secretary-General’s reports, and all the while prioritize the supervision of collecting analytical materials needed to provide sound assessments regarding the political, social, civic, economic, and other developments that are taking place.
            To do this, I will need to first demonstrate my incredible professionalism, my evaluative and analytical skills, my negotiating skills in bi-lateral and multi-lateral situations, and my visionary techniques in leadership/teamwork. I will show off my conceptual ability to adapt to changing environments, and provide examples of my mediation and resolution abilities. I will establish my record as a manager of performance, with a unique ability to motivate, coach and mentor, and I will commit to the goal of gender balance in staffing.
            To nail the interview, I will first need to apply online at UN.org (vacancy announcement: 12-POL-UNSMIL-TRIPOLI-425546-R-TRIPOLI ), and as always with the UN, I will keep in mind that currently serving staff members will be given preferential treatment in the hiring process.  Luckily, the UN does not check credit or banking history.
 
www.state.gov/careers/ , www.jobs.un.org/Galaxy/Release3/vacancy/vacancy.aspx?lang=1200 ,

Soup's Dipping Into Intl. Theory....Mmmmm, Interdependence Soup!

Article Analysis Assignment #1


The main issue in USA Today’s article titled “US Denies Proposing Direct Talks with Iran” is a “secret letter” a top conservative lawmaker in Iran claims he received from President Barack Obama. The letter remains remarkably visually absent. The main actors are US President Obama and the Iranian Government, who currently is ramping up military action in the Strait of Hormuz under threat of increased internationally recognized economic sanctions.
            Harvard Professor Stanley Hoffman presents an End of History versus Realism review of basic International Policy concepts. Realism is defined by Hoffman as “states objectives are determined by threats to survival or security,” “state’s economic and military power determines its fate,” and “interdependence and international institutions are temporary.” This is apparently the Kissinger model. End of History is “no more Global War, but Globalization is Good for progress, which technology spreading, which is good for the individual, who in turn strengthens each state,” according to Hoffman. Each model faces distinct challenges: rivalry, civil wars, and the fact that domestic policy will always shape international policy as consequence of whichever reality is chosen to operate from. There is and will be Globalization, maybe, but the trick is to decide which prism is appropriate when viewing a particular event. With the news article I chose, much like order of operations in algebra, deciding which level of analysis to use will result in the more correct paradigm used to decipher the situation in a theoretically-sound manner. Globalization is in an “embryonic” stage, and as such, civil order is still in the process of becoming legitimate. The progress of democracy, paired with autonomy-creating technology, will free individuals to help their state prosper, creating further security. And the abolition of borders will inevitably lead to “improving the human condition.” This is not always evidentiary. As described, there is no way but wisely to navigate the waterway. No one wise way is guaranteed to be correct, but peace is maintained since Westphalia, and must be kept that way. The chief threat to security appears to be inequity, that which will arise as smaller states are absorbed by larger states, due to civil war if not international intervention.  Hoffman states that cooperation presupposes altruism, but as any crazy Randian can tell you, altruism is objective. Finally, three effects of globalization ought to be understood: there will be institutional power, but will it be state (sovereign) or international? Human identity is naturally with the local state, not with the continental shelf we were born on. And the cost of less violence is inequity, which is the cause of violence. This is why we see the rise of inner-state or transnational actors, terrorists with a religious or other axe to grind. As I distill this essay, I am left with the thought: Either the future holds international anarchy because of intervention reducing the meaning of sovereign—or there will be international anarchy because there is no intervention on the behalf of sovereign states when they are under threat from non-state or inner-state actors. I will take Hoffman’s advice, and worry less about the empirical evidence versus the normative evidence and just dive into it. The “state” of Iran is claiming its sovereign right to develop technology, and the US (among others) are claiming the international sovereignty of the Imaginary Community for the purpose forcing Iran to cooperate. More to come, as military actions just today were ramped up by a series of British, French and American warships traveling through the Strait .
 
First, read a news story from the newspaper or the Internet.  Answer the following questions regarding your news story: 1) What is the main issue, who are the main actors being discussed;  Then, choose one of the assigned articles you read for this week.  Answer the following questions regarding the assigned article: 1) What are the basics of this article (who, what, when, how, why, etc.);  2) What is the overall main point the author is trying to convince you of?  3) Do you agree with the author’s argument?  Why?  Why not?   Finally, tie together your news story with what you learned from the assigned article, textbook readings, podcasts, videos, etc. for this week.  Type your answers in the box below using your own words, no outline or bullets, complete sentences and paragraphs, single-spaced, full-page. 


Source citation: USA Today. “US Denies Proposing Direct Talks With Iran.”
Hoffman, Stanley.”Clash of Globalizations.”
 

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

"Soup sure knows some crazy motherfuckers"-Bruce McMahon · Friends with El ChupaKbra

Soup McGee shared Martin Bashir's photo.
bit of a tense moment between President Obama, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer upon his arrival...
· · · · 3 hours ago

  • Malcolm Baker likes this.
    • HES AN ASS HOLE DELUX . wHAT MORE CAN i SAY . tHE WORST pREZ i'VE EVER SEEN AND i'VE VOTED SINCE ROOSEVELT BAH ,UGH, REGURGEATATION
      3 hours ago ·
    • shes not gonna get anywhere with that idiot .hes an illegal himself .He hates arizona laws . Shown by the way hes acting , she will get no where ,Fred
      2 hours ago · · 1
    • Thom Myers Fred you need to get a grip on reality
      2 hours ago · · 1
    • Soup McGee
      A Simple Question For Conservatives in General, Signatories in Particular
      The ATR pledge is signed in front of two witnesses, making it legally binding...and hollow, for a government with no revenue AT ALL (as demanded by pledge), even if DC burns)...cannot enforce property rights or the peaceable transfer of power. Will you ever address this fundamental question of your philosophy? http://soupsauntieoxymoron.blogspot.com/2011/07/as-california-goes-so-goes-nation.html
      2 hours ago · ·
    • Soup McGee ‎,"Fred? Is President Obama fairly called the Anti-Christ?"
      2 hours ago ·
    • Soup McGee ‎,"...careful..."
      2 hours ago ·
    • Soup McGee ‎,"...think about it..."
      2 hours ago ·
    • Soup McGee http://www.talk2action.org/story/2011/11/19/153758/35
      www.talk2action.org
      The alleged shooter charged with attempting to assassinate President Obama, Oscar Ramiro Ortega-Hernandez, apparently thinks our Commander in Chief is an agent of Satan in an End Times war. Sarah Posner has explained the basics in an article "'Obama the Antichrist' and end-times doctrine."  I warne...
      2 hours ago · ·
    • Soup McGee
      Obama Proven Illegal (So simple, even a liberal can understand it)
      www.freedom-won.net/obama-proven-illegal-so...a.../531025/
      The illegitimate usurper currently employed as President of the United States will soon find ... Obama Proven Illegal (So simple, even a liberal can understand it) ...
      Atlanta Courtroom Upgraded Due to Huge Interest in Jan 26 Hearings!
      obamaballotchallenge.com/atlanta-courtroom-upgraded-due-to-huge...
      3 days ago – Obama Ballot Challenge Hearings Jan 2,6 9 AM, Atlanta, GA ... proceedings underestimate the lengths that the Muslim criminal illegally occupying the Oval Office will go to in order to maintain his illegitimate usurpation of the ...
      Illegitimate Voters Ready to Elect Obama « 1 Nation Blog
      1nationundergodforever.com/.../illegitimate-voters-ready-to-elect-ob...
      Jan 14, 2012 – Illegitimate voters are poised to re-elect Barack Obama as President! The “illegal” and “defunded” ACORN has been resurrected in the form of ...
      Right From Left: obama is illegitimate
      rightfromleft.blogspot.com/2008/10/obama-is-illegitimate.html
      Oct 10, 2011 – obama is illegitimate ... He taught people the very illegal tactics ACORN is now using in Ohio. This has really become the central question of ...
      Obama's Dictatorship is Almost Complete | The Post & Email
      www.thepostemail.com/.../obama’s-dictatorship-is-almost-complete/
      Nov 30, 2011 – Dr. Jerome Corsi reported that Mr. Obama prays in Arabic – is he also conversational in that language? 5. Does Barry's illegal, illegitimate ...
      www.freedom-won.net
      The illegitimate usurper currently employed as President of the United States will soon find himself  unemployed and seeking good legal...
      2 hours ago · ·
    • Soup McGee fred,engage in honest and intellectually open dialogue or get dropped like a dirty sock...
      2 hours ago · · 2
    • David Fail He's got nothin Soup...
      Drop the Flintstone
      2 hours ago · · 1
    • El ChupaKbra Fred, turn off the talk radio. "worst president ever". Really? What about w?
      You are an idiot. Thankfully your particular demographic is on it's way out. Someday soon people like you will be a distant if somewhat uncomfortable memory.
      2 hours ago · · 3
    • Maybe she's yelling because she's at an airport. You know, the place where turbine engines and other vehicles are constantly running/
      about an hour ago · · 1
    • El ChupaKbra Adrian Brewer just wanted a publicity stunt to make her look like she is fighting that Kenyan Muslim socialist on the issue of illegal immigration. It was staged specifically for idiots like Fred.
      about an hour ago · · 1
    • And of course she arranged it where she could vocalize her speech without much consequence. Politicos, I tell ya.
      about an hour ago ·
    • Bruce McMahon · Friends with El ChupaKbra
      What outhouse did Fred crawl out of again?
      about an hour ago · · 1
    • El ChupaKbra Don't be too harsh on Fred. He is just a product of his media intake. In his world view he waits in his bunker getting ready for the black helicopters to cart him off to the re-education camps once the secular socialists take over of the country is completed.
      about an hour ago ·
    • Bruce McMahon · Friends with El ChupaKbra
      Soup sure knows some crazy motherfuckers, you and A.G. being some of the most obvious
      about an hour ago · · 1
    • Are you KIDDING ME??????????
      45 minutes ago ·
    • Pat Herbst · Friends with David Fail
      this is disgraceful at the lest
      31 minutes ago ·
    • Mywife El ChupaKbra, Soup McGee is my one-and-only, but your talk is hot shit.
      4 minutes ago ·