07.01.09
Posted in Side Discussion at 7:38 am by Allan Lee
I was reading this article today (LINK). The article itself wasn’t one that I would particularly write about on this website, but I noticed a few minor details that caught my attention. The article states that the sources wouldn’t be identified due to the sensitive nature and the fact that these operations were “not being publicly announced due to security concerns and Pakistan’s sensitivity to any involvement with the U.S. military.”
If there’s a reason why the DoD wouldn’t publicly announce this for security reasons, then why would these military officers disregard that and put a greater risk to all operations in the region; I would understand if the information had some direct relation with civilians such as a nuclear threat or something of that nature, but something as indirect as drone flights resuming over Pakistan?
I’m sure these same officers would spill their guts to the press if they found out about some secret special operation inside N. Korea.
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06.29.09
Posted in Side Discussion at 7:24 am by Allan Lee
After hearing of the demise of both Michael Jackson, a popular pop icon with international fame, and that of a lesser-known individual known only by those who sit through hours of television programming and happen to see him selling products, Billy Mays, I realized how fragile life can truly be. Although people are dying every second somewhere in the world, I never stopped to think about how quickly death can come upon someone. One day you could be selling laundry detergent on the television and the next you could end up dead.
Some of you may have been thinking of this yourself, or perhaps some of you are just now thinking about it. In all honesty though, I really wouldn’t change the way I’m living. To constantly think about death and worry about it would only be a hindrance. My attitude is once one no longer fears death, one releases many other fears related to the idea of death or dying.
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06.24.09
Posted in Featured Articles at 9:47 pm by Allan Lee
On June 30, the US plans to withdraw troops from Iraqi cities, leaving the task to the ISF (Iraqi Security Force). US forces will still remain throughout the area conducting combat operations and advising the Iraqis and they transition responsibility to the local Iraqi forces. Many officials suspect an increase in violence across Iraq leading up to combat troop withdrawal from the cities and towns.
One thing I never understood was that if these insurgents wanted to the United States to leave as quickly as possible, then why would they bog down American forces and cause instability forcing the American military to continue operating until conditions improved. Perhaps they figured that after enough violence and death the American public opinion would wane (i guess that’s already happened to an extent where the majority wish to see an end to an American presence in Iraq- we are gradually withdrawing and shifting responsibility to the Iraqi government). I just figured that we would have likely left years ago had the violence died down and the Iraqis taken initiative with taking control.
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06.17.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 9:08 am by Allan Lee
Now, I don’t know a whole lot about Northern Ireland so this article may need clarification later. Apparently, Romanian immigrants in N. Ireland were subjected to an unprovoked racist attack upon their homes by thugs. I’m not certain on all of the details regarding the Romanian community in N. Ireland, but supposedly, racist, hate crimes have seen an increase in the last six months. One can assume a reason for this is because of the economic crisis. Much like in America, groups preying on race have seen in increase since the economic crisis hit the globe. I guess people need scapegoats- much like Germany after the end of World War I, with a crumbling economy and worthless currency, the people of Germany fell prey to blaming their predicament on a particular group of people. A survey was taken after the election of Barack Obama as president (i believe several were taken among different organizations) but the one i remember was the one conducted by CNN and it asked whether people thought racism was, for the most part, over in America. I don’t remember the specific numbers in how many people said yes or no, but i do remember that an astonishingly high number thought that racism was over in America. (correct me if i’m wrong, but i believe it was somewhere along the lines of low to mid forties-not sure if that’s correct though) That survey was taken the day Barack Obama was elected. It appears to me that racism is still strong and growing.
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06.11.09
Posted in Featured Articles at 1:24 am by Allan Lee
Since the Holocaust Museum shooting there has been an increased attention on hardcore, right-wing groups. These extremist “white-supremacy” groups have seen an increasing prominence in the last year. Many experts say that a poor economy and a significant change in the form of America’s first black president are likely the causes of such an increase. The museum shooting showed that terrorism doesn’t necessarily come from extremists in distant lands but that it can reside here at home in the United States.
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05.12.09
Posted in Featured Articles at 3:44 am by Allan Lee
News coverage regarding Afghanistan these days can rarely be seen or heard without mention of its neighbor Pakistan as well. In recent weeks, the Taliban has gained more control in the region. Now, talks are underway between Hamid Karzai, President Obama, and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari to negotiate further cooperation in combating the growing Taliban threat. Karzai stressed the importance of infrastructure building in Afghanistan as a key role in combating the insurgency. More attention is being brought to Pakistan due to recent gains by the Taliban in nearing the capital of Islamabad. However, many argue over whether or not the Taliban poses a serious threat to Pakistan’s government.
Overall, the battlefields have shifted and the new front is Pakistan. While the Taliban operates in Afghanistan as well, Pakistan will likely play an ever larger part in combating the Taliban in the years to come. The US is already slated for the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009, which would allocate roughly $7 billion towards nonmilitary aid to Pakistan over the next five years.
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05.01.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 1:25 am by Allan Lee
If you have caught a glimps of the television or a newspaper, you have likely seen something about the recent activity of the “swine flu” (or what officials are now urging to be called the “H1N1″ virus). This flu virus has caused great concern throughout the globe with more cases emerging in North America and Europe. Schools have been closed and people in Mexico are urged to stay inside away from public, tightly-confined areas. Mexico has had 26 confirmed cases of H1N1 with officials saying that thousands more are suspected of having it. Is this “swine flu” pandemic as much of a concern as it’s made out to be? As time passes we should be able to see more advanced stages perhaps.
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04.07.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 12:45 am by Allan Lee
We have all heard of North Korea’s launch of a long-range rocket on Sunday. North Korea’s rocket launch could be seen as a threat to progress in six-party discussions. North Korea disregarded warnings by the US and the UN that the rocket launch would break Security Council resolutions. We have to look at North Korea’s motives. Why would they launch the long-range rocket? They obviously state that they successfully launched a satellite into space, but apart from this, what other motivations would they have to continue with the launch despite stern warnings against it by the UN Security Council?
I personally believe that N. Korea isn’t necessarily on a path towards engaging in attacks on neighboring countries like S. Korea and Japan, but rather flexing their capabilities to the rest of the world in a show of defiance towards the United States and the rest of the world. As Kim Jong Il ages, he may feel like he must push the envelope in his defiant persona and that he wants the world to still recognize him as a powerful individual. I could think of a number of explanations towards why N. Korea might launch. If N. Korea were to actually attack a country like Japan, what would N. Korea have to gain from that? I think that the only worry we should have towards N. Korea launching military rockets and engaging other countries all depends on Kim Jong Il’s mental state. For example, the shooting that recently occurred in New York was triggered by irrational thinking ( believed to be paranoid schizophrenia). The combination of depression and mental instability led this man to commit this grave atrocity. Who’s to say that world leaders can’t have similar circumstances; Kim Jong Il is no exception. Rationally, N. Korea would likely have very little to gain compared to the cost of attacking its neighbors. I do not believe N. Korea’s launch signals a steep escalation as a threat, but simply a blunt display of defiance against the Western powers, as N. Korea tries to maintain a reputation as a regional power demanding of respect and power.
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03.28.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 9:21 pm by Allan Lee
Lately, for the entire past week, all I’ve been hearing on the news is the “war on the border”. In fact, I’m watching a story on it right now. Is this truly a critical concern that we should be worrying about right now? Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that part of the problem is America’s problematic drug usage. Of course, this issue is just unfolding right now and I know little about the situation in Mexico and the border. (NOTE: Let me clarify for any of you who think that this ‘war’ is anything like an actual war. The situation is the expansion of the Mexican drug cartels across the border further in America. Many fear that the violence seen in Mexico will spill over in the United States and will engulf American cities. There is much debate over how this problem should be dealt with; some believe that overt military action will solve it while others believe that a practical approach involving stopping drug dependence in America will solve it. Neither of these would be simple or easy. Personally, military action is likely out of the question with troops still in Iraq and Afghanistan and the proximity of the operations to American soil. Cooperation with the Mexican government would certainly be a crucial component. Like I said earlier, I haven’t done any personal research other than information from news stations. What do you think???
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03.23.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 11:00 pm by Allan Lee
Here’s the story: (HERE)
According to AC360, some of the recipients of the AIG bonuses were actually from there London operations, making them immune to any attempt of Congress to tax the bonuses back. Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said, “it might be possible to recoup approximately $80 million.”
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