Keeping Brooks Informed

To govern Afghanistan is a bit like being a Chicago ward politician in the 1920s

2009-05-04T07:45:00.000-07:00

____________________ President Karzai __________________

Afghanistan is a wild place to be, lots of fighting lots and issues with money and drugs. Ruling with a fist is almost inevitable when you have foreign militant groups fighting within your country. One may pay to be there, i.e. the convert forces but both harm Afghan countryman’s lives. Afghanistan has made remarkable political progress through the completion of the 2001 Bonn Accord, the political roadmap for rebuilding the country. The international community and the Afghan Government, under the leadership of President Karzai, have built national-level political institutions, including a new constitution, legitimate presidential elections, and a democratically elected parliament. Afghanistan’s way of life has improved, health care was almost non existent prior to NATO and US involvement, but now it can be considered readily available. It has helped the poor survive hard times in Afghanistan. With more United States support better United States relations have been. Karzai has doubted the west and threatened to turn other places for aid, but has more optimism with the United States now. After Wednesday May 6th where Pakistan the United States and Afghanistan leaders were all under one roof, and were said to have reached “unprecedented cooperation,” by President Obama. “I'm pleased that these two men, elected leaders of Afghanistan and Pakistan, fully appreciate the seriousness of the threats that we face and have reaffirmed their commitment to confronting it," Obama said at the White House. Zardari even sent an attack the very next day to try to take back Swat valley and Buner from the Taliban. This fighting saw large losses on both sides, and fighting is still going on. In Afghanistan the US has talked about sending more troops. The United States knows that both Afghanistan and Pakistan are feeling a sense of over-burden. The Taliban has taken over more Pakistan now controlling the Swat Valley and the Buner regions in the north. Pakistan has stepped up is action in the past few weeks after President Zardari’s meeting with President Obama on Wednesday May 6th. He added more troops to the northwest region of Pakistan, and arraigned an attack against the Taliban in Swat Valley, the next day. This is a good sign; it shows where our government’s head is at. Also the tribes and areas of government are organizing a meeting in which they will discuss the Taliban’s position in the country, and what they can do to stop them. Also the Afghan government has had talks with the Taliban. It is looking for a diplomatic way of ridding the Taliban. The United States is approving of these talks; we have moved a distance from “dead or alive.”
There is optimism to be had in this region, but I am still skeptical. We have done nothing for almost eight years now. The power of the Taliban and size has only increased in recent years. We have had more causalities now then we have had a few years ago. Covert operations have been and continue to be embarrassing for the CIA and United States. Author Chalmers Johnson is quoted “If the CIA's activities in Afghanistan are a "success story," then Enron should be considered a model of corporate behavior.” To understand my title, “to govern Afghanistan is a bit like being a Chicago ward politician in the 1920s,” you have to understand what Chicago was going through in the roaring 20s. Chicago was the most corrupt place in the Untied States at that time. Elected leaders were put into office by gangs and violence and really didn’t have much control, because there were other gangs, which battled with the government. Another picture could be how New York was run in the movie “Gangs of New York.” Afghanistan and Pakistan are similar in that the rulers Karzai and Zardari both do not control all of there country. Parts of these countries are controlled by tribes and warlords as well as the Taliban. So Afghanistan and Pakistan are not actual counties. Their governments have never controlled the whole country before; there have always been areas of sharia law. Warlords rule under sharia law, and no democracy is accomplished. So for there to be any change in this part of the world there needs to be a change in how the countries are run. That is not in the minds of Americans, we want to oust the Taliban and let the Afghan Government rule Afghanistan. The Taliban will never leave Afghanistan and Pakistan just like the warlords, tribes and druggies wont. I would even have a hard time to believe that if all of the different groups living in Afghanistan got there own countries that the Taliban would still be unable to be totally rid of in Afghanistan.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8037281.stm

http://www.afghanconflictmonitor.org/2009/02/pakistan-hails-new-afghan-relations-.html

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30599619

Somalian Piracy (whats really going on)

2009-04-19T20:50:00.000-07:00

Piracy off the coast of Somalia has been getting some news nowadays. The world has taken notice because ships as large as oil tankers are being held for ransom. The number of attacks has risen to 53 in the first three months of 2009 compared to 6 in 2008. Somalia is located on the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden, it is a major shipping route because it connects the east to the west. Just to the north of Somalia there is the largest oil producing area in the world, which contributes to much of the riches in the area. Few people know why Somalia piracy is happening. Piracy is about the only source of income Somali’s have, because of the crisis going on. But the world has chosen to focus on the violence and piracy, instead of the country’s problematic crisis.The crisis at hand is a serious one. There is no real government in control of Somalia nor is there any significant source of income coming into the country. The country has been run by violence since President Siad Barre who was overthrown and killed in 1991. The former United States backed Presidents regime became more and more ruthless and thug-like at the end of his 20 year regimes. His regime waged war against its own people, by pillaging, torturing, committing mass executions and even dropping bombs. After its government was overthrown Somalia was controlled by two rebel movements, the United Somali Congress and the Somalia National Movement. From 1991 till 2000 there was no appointed government, just warlords controlling areas using violence. In 2000 the Transitional National Government (TNG) was formed, to fight the warlords and to regain control of Somalia. In 2001 the Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council war formed, led by the son of a former warlord. When the TNG and the SRRC joined in 2004 they became the Transitional Federal Government, TFG. The TFG is backed by the United States, Canada, and Ethiopia. Ethiopia has just pulled out of Somalia after too much death and not enough progress. Ethiopian General has been quoted “It is time Somalia stands on its own feet so we are saying goodbye to all Somalis.” They believe it is an unwinnable war. Now with Ethiopia’s help gone some say it could pave the way for peace while others say it will only create a power vacuum. The war in Somalia is being fought between the TFG and the Islamic Courts Union (ICU).Now with piracy playing an effect in world powers lives, there is more urgency in their thoughts to help restore Somalia which we failed to do 18 years ago. Efforts to end all this need to happen in the country. "We need to deal with this problem from the beach side, in concert with the ocean side, but we don't have an embassy in Somalia and limited, ineffective intelligence operations. We need to work in Somalia and in Lebanon, where a lot of the ransom money has changed hands. But our operations in Lebanon are a joke, and we have no presence at all in Somalia."Ken Silverstien, Harpers magazine The UN who pulled out in 1995 because of so many casualties, have rejected calls to go back. Hillary Clinton has said on dealing with Somali piracy we will “explore ways to track and freeze pirate assets," and not pay any ransom to “armed gangs on the sea.” It is known the US supports the TFG, but to put a full scale effort there is not what we are going to do. We do not need another war, we are still trying to get out of others. It is unlikely that Americans will want to support the war financially.

Live Piracy Map;
http://www.icc-ccs.org/index.php?option=com_fabrik&view=visualization&controller=visualization.googlemap&Itemid=219

http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa-205.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8001102.stm

http://www.somaligov.net/News.html

http://www.voanews.com/english/Africa/2009-04-10-voa3.cfm

2009-03-30T07:26:00.000-07:00

Environment

Total: $7 .2 billion

$4 billion for wastewater infrastructure

$2 billion for drinking water infrastructure

$600 million for hazardous waste cleanup at Superfund sites

$300 million for reductions in emissions from diesel engines

$200 million for cleanup of leaking underground storage tanks

$100 million for cleaning former industrial and commercial sites (Brownfield)

$787 billion

http://www.altenergystocks.com/archives/2009/03/what_the_arra_means_for_clean_energy_one_states_example.html

Wind is a more likely winner in the ARRA it would create more jobs than solar for the amount of capital spent on it.

On the 13th of February 2009, the American recovery and reinvestment act; explanation and facts what is the ARRA? The American recovery and reinvestment act, is the national stimulus package to help us through this rough economic time. “This recovery and reinvestment plan will provide immediate relief to states, workers, and families who are bearing the brunt of this recession.” President Barack Obama
Thesis, where is the money being spent (787billion) accountability the ARRA plans to spend $787billion to help move America forward. Transparency, having the American public be able to view where the money is going. This is much needed after companies filing for bankruptcy and getting aid from the government, aid that originally came from your pockets spent for bettering America was given in bonuses to the upper-class whose pockets are already overflowing. With public outcries this was stopped but to make sure our money is being used for what we want it to be used for and what the government said it would be used for the ARRA is giving the Americans the ability to track it themselves. I say about time.
How the money is being spent on the environment? EPA 7.2 billion I have decided to follow a section of the ARRA finances, environment. The ARRA proposed to spend $7.2billion on the environment; $4billion on water waste infrastructure, $2billion on drinking water infrastructure, $600million on hazardous waste cleanup at Superfund sites, $300 million for reduction of emissions on diesel fuel engines, $200million for cleanup of leaking underground storage tanks, $100milion for cleaning up former commercial and industrial sites (Brownfield).
Inspector’s general how many how is it divided? Monitoring The ARRA will be watched my Inspector generals, as well as the American public. There are almost 70 inspector generals; Federal, designated federal, and presidentially appointed.
Transparency the public can follow the money. Follow what you are interested in. “show me the money”

The Honorable Earl E. Devaney
Chairman
The Honorable Phyllis K. Fong
Inspector General Department of Agriculture
The Honorable Todd J. Zinser
Inspector General Department of Commerce
The Honorable Gregory H. Friedman
Inspector General Department of Energy
The Honorable Daniel Levinson
Inspector General Department of Health and Human Services
The Honorable Richard L. Skinner
Inspector General Department of Homeland Security
The Honorable Glenn A. Fine
Inspector General Department of Justice
The Honorable Calvin L. Scovel, II
Inspector General Department of Transportation
The Honorable Eric M. Thorson
Inspector General Department of Treasury
The Honorable J. Russell George
Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration
Mary Mitchelson
Acting Inspector General Department of Education

Spending on environment friendly energy and lifestyle. Could this create jobs? is this bad when the economy is struggling? http://www.recovery.gov/files/recoverylegislationmemo.pdf- intial

http://www.opi.mt.gov/PDF/Supt/Fed_Stimulus/Conference%20Materials/March%2011%202009%20ARRA%20Overview%20QA.pdf

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h1enr.pdf
actual document; 407 pages

Cuban and U.S. Relations

2009-03-04T21:44:00.000-08:00

With new presidents in power, can we expect an easing in relations and a loosening in the embargo?

We have yet to see a big change in it relations today, but Obama has a lot on his plate.

Both Raul Castro and Barack Obama are open to talking with each other.

The UN Condemns the Cuban embargo or "the blockade" as it is called in Cuba with a vote of 185-3, based on a vote in Oct. 2008. Most of the world believes that this embargo establish by President John Kennedy in February of 1962, should be abolished. figures reaching around $92 million are the establishment for the loss that Cuba has had by 2007, because of this embargo.

Barack Obama said he would ease relations allowing Cuban Americans to visit the island and give money to family members with less restriction. Under Bush a Cauban American could only vist Cuba once every three years and donate up to $300 dollars every year to their family. Prior to the Bush administrations tightening of relations, Cuban Americans could go to Cuba once a Year and give $3000 to family.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqO37BBhCqY

Cuban restrictions ease

4/6/09 7 congressman meet face to face with Raul Castro. They introduce a bill that would make Americans able to Cuban without special permission.

LTTE Vs. Sri Lankan Government

2009-02-16T05:53:00.000-08:00

"On the night of 9 January my family was among a group of 58 people trying to cross over to army-controlled area. It was night-time when we were going and I think that we ran into some army people who were lying there. Suddenly there were reports of gun fire and suddenly we all fell down."

Kantharubi Sivanathan, 28, mother-of-two, Paranthan

If you didn’t already know there has been a civil war going on in Sri Lanka for the past 25 years. It has tore apart a country that was never firmly built. Since it became independent in 1948 Ceylon, now Sri Lanka has always had disputes between its inhabitants, especially between Sinhalese and Tamils. Since the beginning many Tamils have felt like they were being treated second rate by the majority of the population which is Sinhalese.

According to the political division of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE), the Tamil homeland is suffering one of the worst human tragedies of the 21^st century. One thousand civilians have been killed in the fighting and nearly four thousand are suffering from injuries amidst the fighting.

The Tamil tigers have been fighting the Sri Lankan government in a civil war for the past 25 years.

Though there is question, the Tamil rebels insist Velupillai Prabhakaran is still leading their fight.

1948: Sri Lankan independence

1949: Ceylon citizen act was passed disenfranchising Indian Tamil plantation workers

1956: Official Language act/Sinhala only act made Sinhala the sole language of Sri Lanka

1976: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam form in the north-east

1987: India deploys peace-keepers to Tamil areas but they leave in 1990

1993: President Premadasa killed by Tiger bomb

2001: Attack on airport destroys half Sri Lankan Airlines fleet

2002: Government and rebels agree ceasefire

2005: Mahinda Rajapaksa becomes president

2006: Heavy fighting resumes

2009: Army takes main rebel bases of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu

Suffering Families;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7828883.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7521197.stm

Audio;

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/meta/dps/2009/02/nb/090202_rajapaksa_nh_sl_au_nb.asx

Corrupt Government;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7823729.stm

Media Can get in the way

http://www.realclearworld.com/video_log/2009/02/sri_lanka_media_caught_in_the.html