AIDemocracy.org

Incorrect Political Approaches and Possible Consequences

November 4, 2012 by Ana Ila Leave a Comment

Presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s uninformed statements on Iran and Middle Eastern geography continue. Such statements are embarrassing in a presidential candidate but will be downright dangerous should he could become the next president of the United States. Uninformed beliefs and opinions lead to uninformed decisions. Romney’s statement on Syria being Iran’s route to the sea is just another gaffe for the opposition to laugh at now, but if Romney is elected this type of misinformation could influence presidential decisions. The result … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: civilians, Iran, Iraq, Mitt Romney, President Bush, presidential candidates, Syria

Why It’s Important to Save Face in Iran

October 23, 2012 by Ana Ila Leave a Comment

A recent article by Nicolas Davies points out to the similarities between Iraq and Iran in terms of oil. Just as Iraq, Iran too is suspected of building nuclear weapons. However, proof of such activities is once again blurry. Iraq is a stain on the reputation of the US diplomacy. Davies cites the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director ElBaradei (2007): Most Americans now understand that the U.S. war against Iraq was based on lies cleverly disguised as secrets. Instead of consulting its intelligence agencies and making a decision on war … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less Tagged With: diplomacy, IAEA, Iran, Iraq, WMD

Rio 2012, Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship PART III: Some are more equal than Others Scenario

July 10, 2012 by Ana Ila Leave a Comment

According to Wendt’s “Why the world state is inevitable,” in the long run we should have a truly global society. However, developments in the short run have so far proved otherwise. Warfare has been internationalized, as has education. However, what has arisen out of these developments is a more unequal and disunited world: one where the political and economic elites dominate, and ordinary citizens obey. There are dangers lurking on the roadside. Arms races and a new Cold War may be fostered. Countries may vie for recognition in power or … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Climate Change, Security Tagged With: 1992 Rio Conference, Cold War, globalization, international elites, Iraq, UN, world state

War against Iran: an ambitious attempt

February 20, 2012 by Ana Ila 1 Comment

According to Lt. Gen. Ronald Burgess, Iran has the missile capability to reach Eastern Europe and the entire Middle East. Though the US is militarily the most powerful country in the world, Iran is capable of significant retribution for any U.S. or Western attacks. Iran can significantly damage US interests in the region. According to Lt. Gen. Burgess, Iran can close the Strait of Hormuz and reduce the oil supply to the world. Iran can bomb all of Eastern Europe, including US allies. Iran can bomb US facilities in Iraq or Afghanistan. It can also … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: Afghanistan, Cold War, Iran, Iraq, nuclear weapons, sleeper cells

Iraq War: A successful business trip

January 24, 2012 by Usman Shabbir 4 Comments

Sun Tzu said “all war is deception". The last convoy of US troops to leave Iraq has entered Kuwait, nearly nine years after the invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, BBC reports. The aura of victory spread over the Pentagon and the White house as the last remaining war heroes returned. This was after paying an opportunity cost of 4,487 US and 97,461 Iraqi causalities and a net investment of $801.98 billion (cost of the Iraq war). President Obama claimed that the US military was the “finest fighting force” further extending the claim of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: BBC, Corruption, democracy, economy, Iran, Iraq, military, Obama, oil, President Bush, privatization, US military, war, war on terror

Get Used to the Orange Jumpsuit

December 27, 2011 by Patrick McDermott 2 Comments

The date is Tuesday, September 11th, 2012. I had just gotten back from seeing my family for the Christmas holiday. I’m sitting in the living room of my apartment, and I’m on my computer getting ready to write a critique of US foreign policy 11 years after 9/11. But just when I’m about to begin, there’s a knock on my door. I’m wasn't accustomed to getting knocks on my door, as I lived in an apartment complex and visitors were few and far between. In looking through the peephole, I realized there were two police officers standing outside my door. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: Afghanistan, aid, China, climate change, Congress, democracy, education, foreign policy, global warming, Iran, Iraq, law, Libya, military, nuclear weapons, Obama, poverty, Somalia, terrorism, war, Yemen

US war in Iraq comes to an official conclusion

December 16, 2011 by Ernie 2 Comments

The US war in Iraq started in 2003, following the attacks of September 11, 2011 and persisted for eight years, eight months and 26 days. The war came to an official conclusion on Thursday December 15, 2011 with a flag lowering ceremony. US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta marked the occasion with a speech looking back on the war and the future to come: “We salute the fact that Iraq is now fully responsible for directing its own path to future security and future prosperity. To be sure, the cost was high. The blood and treasure of the United States and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: Iraq, war

Qaddafi Out, US In

August 25, 2011 by Patrick McDermott Leave a Comment

There have been a lot of news stories that have dominated the headlines this week. An East Coast Earthquake that shook all of DC and went as far north as Toronto, Steve Jobs resigning as CEO of Apple (particularly sad for an Apple geek like me), and the anticipation about where Hurricane Irene will make landfall. However, the one headline I believe has the most impact of all of them is how the Libyan rebellion forced Muammar al-Qaddafi out of Tripoli. The rebellion hasn't found him yet, but they believe he is hiding in his hometown of Sirte. And if the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: Bahrain, Egypt, foreign policy, Government, Iraq, Libya, NATO, Syria, United States

Ramadan Murbarak and hopeful Gallup poll results

August 5, 2011 by Anton Leave a Comment

This week, I had the opportunity to attend an important event that focused on Muslim Americans. This study was done by Abu Dhabi Gallup, and it found that Muslim Americans are loyal to the US and optimistic about the future more than any other religious group. Other religious groups included in the study were Jews, Catholics, Protestants, among others. These findings are surprising, because it has been 10 years since 9/11 and Muslims have received the most discrimination in the US. Gallup also found that more than 90 percent of Muslim Americans do not … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: 9/11, Afghanistan, Be2021, community, discrimination, FBI, Government, Iraq, Islam, Muslim, Muslim American, Somalia, US military, war

UN to step up to bat, play a bigger role as US withdraws from Iraq

August 3, 2011 by Scott 1 Comment

With US troop withdrawal underway in Iraq and no request for any US troops to remain from Iraqi officials in the foreseeable future , the UN is ready to play a bigger role in Iraq. The UN Security Council will vote in the near future in regards to extending the UN mandate for another 12 months. UN officials are feeling more confident, partly due to the fact that they are planning on moving into the former US Agency for International Development building in Baghdad. This new UN compound will allow for the permanent move of some 250 officials who have … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: Iraq, security