The U.S. involvement in Iraq Essay Example

The U.S. involvement in Iraq Essay The U.S. involvement in Iraq and adequate response to terrorist threat remain the most contested aspects of American foreign policy. The attack of 9/11 was one of the most tragic landmarks in American history; it revealed that the issue of international terrorism should be effectively tackled. By the time of the attack, Al Qaeda terrorist network accumulated enough resources to pose a considerable threat to the U.S. homeland security. After the proxy was between the U.S. and the USSR on the territory of Afghanistan, radical Islamism began to spread over the Middle East and resulted in the establishment of Taliban government there. When the Taliban refused to hand over Osama Bin Laden, the suspect in the 9/11 attacks, the U.S. launched an attack on Afghanistan and overthrew the regime. However, there was intelligence data pointing on another major threat, that of Iraq that allegedly developed WMDs in defiance of UN resolutions. In 2003, the U.S. launched the Operation Iraqi Freedom an d toppled Saddam Hussein. However, regime change did not bring stability; neither did it put an end to insurgency. Therefore, the U.S. should stay the course in Iraq till the final settlement of the issue. The Rise of Islamism in the Middle East According to the U.S. Department of State (2003), the origins of the present form of radical Islamism can be traced back to the Afghan-Soviet conflict in late 1980s. The conflict contributed to the rise of Taliban that aimed at unifying Arabs who fought against Soviet Union and providing help to Afghan resistance. USSR’s foreign policy induced recruiting, training and financing Sunni Islamic extremists for the resistance forces. Looking at the issue in a broader historical context, after Afghanistan’s coup of 1978 resulting in the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) led by Nur Muhammad Taraki coming to power, the dangerous buildup of tension started. PDPA can be regarded as the most important Soviet-orientated Communist party of those times foe the reason that many of its leaders had studied or undergone military training in the USSR. The coup itself was planned and supported by the USSR. Following the events of 1978 Afghanistan relied on foreign aid from the USSR, which was a significant foreign policy change for a country that had maneuvered between the U.S. and the USSR without decisively siding with any of them (Ahmed, 2001). We will write a custom essay sample on The U.S. involvement in Iraq specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The U.S. involvement in Iraq specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The U.S. involvement in Iraq specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The U.S., alarmed by the fact that they were loosing Afghanistan to communism, started its covert operation prior to large-scale Soviet invasion. There were also fears of Persian Gulf area moving out of the sphere of American influence (Gasper, 2001). The goal of supporting anti-Soviet insurgency in Afghanistan was two-fold: first of all, there were plans to overthrow Taraki’s government with a view of establishing a new government under American control, secondly, provoking Russian to invade Afghanistan was perceived as a means of weakening the rival superpower. Ex-National Security Adviser under President Carter, Zbigniew Brzezenski, is reported to have said the following: ‘We did not push the Russians into invading[but]we knowingly increased the probability that they would. The secret operation was an excellent idea. The effect was to draw the Russians into the Afghan trap’ (Power, 2005, para. 3). Fearing the U.S. overtaking Afghanistan, the USSR invaded the country in December 1979. The result was a brutal civil war that brought about numerous casualties. It also resulted in a fraction of military and political leaders fleeing to Pakistan to organize a liberation movement which was subsequently manipulated by the U.S. (Ahmed, 2001). After Soviet troops left in 1989, numerous militant groups previously sponsored by the U.S. started to compete for political power. The country remained in the state of anarchy and civil war before one of such groups, the Taliban, managed to consolidate a significant degree of power by the mid-1990s. The regime instituted by the Taliban was oppressive in its nature and violated human rights of Afghan citizens. The Taliban was backed by Pakistan and funded by Saudi Arabia (Karon, 2001). However, the far-reaching implication of the war in Afghanistan and the Taliban’s taking over Kabul in 1996 concern the rise of militant Islam in the Middle East. For many Muslim radicals, Russian invasion of Afghanistan was a sign of the ‘clash of civilization’ that led to the strengthening of anti-Western sentiment in some parts of the Muslim world. Given the support for the Taliban provided by certain fractions in other Muslim countries, it served the purpose of establishing close ties among militant Islamic organizations in the region. U.S. inconsistent foreign policy also contributed to the complication of the situation. U.S. secretly supported the Taliban until 1998, when Washington charged Osama bin Laden with the bombing of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania and launched cruise missiles at Bin Ladens alleged training camps in Afghanistan (Gasper, 2001). Therefore, proxy war between the two superpowers contributed to the rise of militant Islamism in the region. U.S. covert support for anti-Soviet insurgency became the starting point of training and arming Muslim terrorists that are the primary enemy of the U.S. (and the rest of what is called ‘the Western world’) nowadays. Origins and Rise of Al Qaeda First of all, it is necessary to take a close look at the charismatic leader of Al Qaeda, Osama Bin Laden. He was hailed as a hero of anti-Soviet insurgency, and the Taliban welcomed him back to Afghanistan in 1996 after his had to leave Sudan. Bin Laden supposedly strengthened his connections with the Taliban leadership through his daughters marriage to its leader, Mullah Omar. His ‘Arab Afghan’ militants contributed to the Talibans takeover of the country. Many Taliban fighters received training in Bin Ladens camps (Karon, 2001). An important reason for the popular appeal of Bin Laden is connected with his promises to restore the former pride of Muslim countries, currently disoriented by globalization. He interprets Quar’an to serve his own interest; fundamentalism has always been present in Muslim countries, and the terrorist groups found a platform to consolidate it. Bin Laden issued a number of ‘fatwas’, or verdicts based on Islamic law; one of the most important was the ‘Declaration of Jihad on the Americans Occupying the Country of the Two Sacred Places’ that called upon the elimination of foreign forces at the Arabian Peninsula. Bin Laden’s Al Qaeda has grown throughout the 1990s to become one of the strongest terrorist networks. The US Department of State (2003) reports that current goal of Al Qaeda is establishing an Islamic Caliphate by combating anti-Islam regimes and removing non-Muslim population from traditionally Muslim countries. The organization was based in Afghanistan until the US-led war on terrorism made them change their location. However, Al Qaeda has cells worldwide; it is reported to have location across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. Al Qaeda planned to become a platform for the unification of allied Islamic extremist organization who shared the same values and objectives. As a consequence, Al Qaeda merged with Al-Jihad and al Gamaa al Islamiya, both Egyptian extremist groups, in 2001. Their united campaign would be known under the name of the World Islamic Front for Jihad Against the Jews and the Crusaders. Al Qaeda is in the heart of widely developed terrorist network worldwide; it is a focal point for a number of Sunni Islamic extremist groups, for example, al-Gama’a al-Islamiyya, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, and the Harakat ul-Mujahidin. As for the way of obtaining financial resources, Al Qaeda has its own businesses and benefits from donations from international supporters. Sometimes the organization uses illegal ways to gain money, for instance, by manipulating with donations to charitable organizations. As for the structure, Al Qaeda is generally viewed as consisting of four committees, namely the Military Committee, Finance Committee, Religious/Legal Committee and Media Committee; all the committees report to Majlis. Al Qaeda claims to have attacked US helicopters and US servicemen in Somalia in 1993 and to have carried out three explosions that targeted US troops in Yemen 1992. Al Qaeda planned to assassinate Pope John Paul II during his visit to Manila in 1994 and Bill Clinton during his visit to the Philippines in 1995. The same year the organization planed to bomb a number of American transpacific flights, but these plans were not carried out (Katzman, 2005). In August 1998, Al Qaeda carried out the bombings of the US Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Tanzania, that resulted in approximately 300 killed and 5,000 injured. In 1999, Al Qaeda planned to explode an airport in Los Angeles and to attack American and Israeli tourists in Jordan during the celebration of the new millennium. This operation was disrupted the planned operation and brought 28 suspected terrorists before the court (Katzman, 2005). In October 2000, an attack on the USS Cole in Yemen was conducted with 17 members of US Navy killed and 39 injured. In December 2001, a terrorist tried to conduct and explosion on a flight Paris-Miami with the help of a shoe bomb. In 2002, Al Qaeda conducted bombing of a hotel in Mombassa, Kenya, with 15 killed and 40 injured, and supported bombing of a nightclub in Bali that killed 180 people. In April, it conducted a bombing of a synagogue in Tunisia that resulted in 19 killed and 22 injured. In October, an attack on U.S. soldiers in Kuwait was initiated. Al Qaeda directed the attack on MV Limburg off the coast of Yemen. The organization also attempted to attack an Israeli plane with an air missile in the airport of Mombassa (Katzman, 2005). In 2003, the scale of organization’s activities became very significant. In spring 2003, it conducted bombing of three expatriate housing complexes in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; this terrorist attack resulted in 20 people killed and 139 injured. In autumn, it again conducted the bombing of   a housing complex in Riyadh that killed 17 and injured 100 persons (Katzman, 2005). Al Qaeda participated in an attack on a Jewish club and hotel in Casablanca that killed 41 people and injured more than 100. It is likely that Al Qaeda took part in the bombing of Marriott Hotel in Jakarta in August that resulted in 17 people killed and 137 injured. In November, the terrorist network staged explosions in two synagogues in Istanbul the resulted in 23 persons killed and 200 injured. The same month Al Qaeda carried out the bombing of the British Consulate and HSBC Bank in the capital of Turkey that killed 27 and injure 455 (Katzman, 2005). As for the major cases that occurred in 2004, there is a need to mention the explosion of ten bombs in Madrid on the 11th of March 2004. This terrorist attack resulted in 191 deaths and 1,800 injuries. It is believed that the terrorist attack was committed by the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group supported by Al Qaeda. Operation Iraqi Freedom The most significant, notorious and tragic operation of Al Qaeda was 9/11 attack. Four planes were hijacked and crashed into the World Trade Center, Pentagon and a field in Shanksville. According to the official report of 9/11 Commission (2004), more than 2,600 people died at the World Trade Center; 125 died at the Pentagon; 256 died on the four planes; altogether the number of deaths reaches almost 3,000. After the nation recovered from the shock, attempts were made to understand the reasons for this well-designed and cold-blooded crime. There were numerous investigations by the government authorities, scholars, and the public. Many people believe that 9/11 signified that the hatred of the Islamic extremists had reached its peak. Thus, the 9/11 Commission Report speaks of the attack as a shock, not a surprise, as Islamists have continuously issued warning that they had been planning massive killings of American citizens (National Commission on Terrorist Attacks, 2004). After the 9/11 attack, the fight against terrorism was firmly put at the top of the government agenda. There were widespread fears that terrorists were planning subsequent attacks on the United States. After the Taliban refused to hand over Osama bin Laden who was suspected of engineering the 9/11, the U.S. launched an operation in Afghanistan that toppled the Taliban government. Afghan Interim Authority with a six months mandate was established in 2001; it was succeeded by the Transitional Authority with a two year mandate. The new Constitution of Afghanistan was passed in early 2004; however, the government is still weak, and the insurgency continues. After the Afghanistan operation, Al Qaeda fighters were dispersed from their bases in mountains and relocated to urban Arab environment, where they could be more readily hidden and helped. Most Arabs who were in Afghanistan moved to Iraq. The treat of terrorism led to the U.S. operation aimed at toppling Saddam Hussein. As for the U.S.-Iraq relations before 9/11, the relation between two states deteriorated in 1990, when Iraq invaded Kuwait. A year after the U.S. and coalition attacked Iraq from Saudi Arabia, leading to the Gulf War. The war almost toppled Saddam Hussein, but he managed to stay in power, to the dismay of American leaders. Iraq’s alleged possession of WMDs in defiance of United Nations resolutions was the most widely cited reason for the operation in the official documents. The reason for the beginning of the operation was associated with the allegations that Iraq was developing weapons of mass destruction, which could be subsequently used to attack the U.S. America decided it had sufficient proof of the existence of such weapons to commence the attack, since the CIA concluded that Iraq has went on developing its WMD programs failing to comply with restrictions placed by the UN. However, independent commission of weapon inspectors concluded that Iraq did not posses such weapons. As the Guardian (2004) reports, the Iraq Survey Group announced on October 6, 2004 that 15 months of searching have provided no proof that Saddam Hussein possessed significant weapons of mass destruction before the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Thomas E. Ricks (2006, p.23), the author of the book titled ‘Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq,’ writes that ‘Bush wanted to remove Saddam, through military action, justified by the conjunction of terrorism and WMD.’ Logical reasoning in support of the fact that there were no WMDs in Iraq suggests that if Saddam Hussein had possessed those weapons, he would have used them. Therefore, they claim that WMD was only an excuse caught at by the U.S. government. Yet even if the intelligence that led to the attack on Iraq was faulty, the U.S. has the obligation to stay the course. The Importance of Staying the Course in Iraq Pulling out from Iraq at the moment will have dangerous long-term consequences. The country is unstable and suffers from sectarian violence, and the U.S. pulling out forces will leave Iraq in a complete devastation. The country may then be left to insurgent terrorist groups or even fall apart. Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said two years ago that ‘Iraq is heading toward disintegration, raising fears of a wider regional conflict’ (Daily Times, 2005, para.1). The duty of Americans as a nation is to oversee the final settlement of the issue with Iraq. The U.S. is the only superpower left after the collapse of the Soviet Union, therefore the present system of international relations is essentially unipolar. In this context, Anthony A. Loh (1999) from Weatherhead Center for International Affairs Harvard University introduces the theory of ‘benign hegemony’ under which the stable nature of the global balance of power does not allow any open conflict to break out. Robert Kagan (1998, p.27), senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, suggests the ‘the benevolent hegemony exercised by the United States is good for a vast portion of the world’s population.’ For this reason, the U.S. should live up to the expectations of the world community and stay the course in Iraq till the situation in the region is stabilized and imminent terrorist threat is eliminated. References Ahmed, Nafeez Mosaddeq. Afghanistan, the Taliban and the United States. May 2, 2001. http://www.mediamonitors.net/mosaddeq2.html#1 Daily Times. ‘Saudi Arabia says Iraq faces disintegration.’ September 24, 2005. November 8, 2007. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_24-9-2005_pg4_1 Gasper, Phil. Afghanistan, the CIA, bin Laden, and the Taliban. International Socialist Review. November-December, 2001. November 8, 2007. http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Afghanistan/Afghanistan_CIA_Taliban.html Guardian. Iraq had no WMD – Inspectors. October 6, 2004. November 8, 2007. http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1321386,00.html Kagan, Robert. Benevolent Empire. Foreign Policy 111 (1998): 24-35. Karon, Tony. The Taliban and Afghanistan. The Time. September 18, 2001. November 8, 2007. http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,175372,00.html Katzman, Kenneth. Al Qaeda: Profile and Threat Assessment. Congressional Research Service. August 17, 2005. November 8, 2007. http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/terror/RL33038.pdf Loh, Anthony A. A Stripped–Down Conception of Hegemony. August 1999. November 8, 2007. http://www.ciaonet.org/wps/loa01 National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. 9/11 Commission Report: Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. Baton Rouge, LA: Claitors Law Books and Publishing Division, 2004. Power, Jonathan. Anti-Soviet jihad cause of present terrors. December 23, 2005. November 8, 2007. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2005%5C12%5C23%5Cstory_23-12-2005_pg3_4 Ricks, Thomas E. Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq. New York: Penguin Press, 2006. U.S. Department of State. Patterns of Global Terrorism: Appendix B. 2003. November 8, 2007. http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2003/31711.htm nbsp;

buy custom Buy essay on Computer Games and Their Effects on Children

buy custom Buy essay on Computer Games and Their Effects on Children Computer Games and Their Effects on Children For the last several decades, computer technology has developed from the items needed for work and science into the whole entertaining area. Currently, computer technology became an integral component of an average persons daily life. With the Internet spreading into masses, a huge part of peoples life is dedicated to it. Daily usage of computers and the Internet sources can be both intentional and unintentional. Due to the technological progress, some aspects of daily lives are completely computer-aided. Such a condition is dictated by the desire of computer development engineers and corporations to make a huge profit from every possible average person, who does not want to be a black sheep in the modern society. Taking into account the abovementioned, one can see that the computer items, designed for the entertainment are developing very fast to provide consumers with new interactive computer games. Presently, the most computer games are oriented on children of all ages, since they became the main consumers of such technology products. Every computer game has both positive and negative effects on children that can develop into serious issues in the future and have a great impact on both physical and mental health.

CASE STUDY # 1 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

# 1 - Case Study Example However, some children may accurately develop these abilities but still have symptoms of language disorder. The speech disorders without known causes are usually referred to developmental language disorder. Nonetheless, numerous agents including brain injury, developmental problems, hearing loss, autistic spectrum disorder, and learning disabilities, may cause the language disorder in children (The New York Times 01). Notably, each agent has its unique symptoms, system of diagnosis, and treatment. Cori Williams, the national president announced during the Federal Lections of the year 2007 lobbied a national campaign against speech disorder among children. William wanted the speech pathology to be discussed extensively and sufficiently so that the government could adopt the Speech Pathology as an Australia’s policy (Speech Pathology Australia 01). The main areas that this public policy aimed at addressing included the functions of the speech pathology services to children with speech and language disorders. William also wanted the improved access of pathology services to children in remote areas. Finally, it lobby called for extended pathology services within the Medicare Allied Health Initiative (Speech Pathology Australia 01). There numerous exams and tests that are often conducted in children to determine the type of speech disorder they might be suffering. In some cases, a speech disorder in a child may be traced from the medical history of the child’s family (Simms 432). In such a case, it may be revealed that the child’s close relative might have suffered speech and language problems. Moreover, a child who might be suspected to be suffering from language or speech disorder can be taken for standardized expressive and receptive language tests. During this test, a language and speech neuropsychologist or therapist will be able to determine the same. Additionally,

Medea's Choices Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Medea's Choices - Essay Example However, in the foreign land of the Corinthians, Jason fails to rise to her expectation and banishes her on behalf of Glauce, the daughter of the ruler of Corinth, Creon. This betrayal by Jason completely affects Media’s choice of action and the play turns to narrate the plot of the jealousy and revenge of the character betrayed by her husband. It is most relatable here that the quarrel between Jason and Medea is the heart of the play by Euripides and the following actions by the husband along with the sense of strangeness among the Corinthians forced Medea take the ultimate revenge upon Jason. As Denys Page puts it, â€Å"Jason forsook Medea; Media killed his bride, his children, and his bride’s father.† (Page, xxi) In fact, it is the feeling of a stranger in the character of Medea which basically causes her subsequent actions and this feeling in the character was reinforced by the realization that her husband is has become an insider by way of marrying Glauce. Jason’s marriage to the Corinthian princess now makes him an insider which confronts Medea’s sense of outsider in the land of the Corinthians. Therefore, the fundamental factor contributing to Medea’s choice of action in killing Jason’s children, his bride and her father is her realization that she is a stranger among the Corinthians along with the fact that Jason will turn to be an insider in the land by marrying the Corinthian princess. The central action of the play by Euripides is the conflict between Jason and Medea which makes the husband an insider to Corinth and makes the wife remain a stranger to the land. Jason’s marriage to the Corinthian princess Glauce brings about a tragic situation to Medea who is left alone in a land of the strangers. She trusted Jason completely to leave everything she kept close to her heart. However, she comes to face a frustrating situation in Corinth where she feels a stranger when

Littering the side of the street Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Littering the side of the street - Assignment Example Additionally, trash may harbor diseases, which can be passed to animals eating it. Also, litter may attract other litter since it tells people to continue dumping litter in the same place. Moreover, litter may turn out to be a fire hazard. Furthermore, apart from littering being bad, it just looks disgusting (â€Å"JB Green Team†). Cigarette butts are considered the main source of litter (â€Å"Keep America Beautiful†). Despite being small, they are very dangerous. Cigarette butts have harmful chemicals such as arsenic that contaminates both soil and water. Cigarette butts are also a potential fire hazard (â€Å"JB Green Team†). It simply means that cigarettes can now not only harm us when we smoke it, but even when we do not smoke it. Generally, litter prevention starts with an individual. As an individual minimizing litter may be easy, however it requires vigilance. For beginners, never throw trash from your  car, and always ensure that you tightly seal the household garbage bins so that animals do not get the contents. Also, never forget your garbage upon leaving a public space such as a park. If you smoke then consider quitting bearing in mind the impacts that cigarettes have on the environment. Furthermore, if the roadway to your home is like an asylum for litter, volunteer for a cleanup. â€Å"Litter in America: Results from the Nation’s Largest Litter Study.† Keep America Beautiful, Inc. 2010. Web. 19th April 2015.

Timing of the Emancipation Proclamation Essay Example for Free

Timing of the Emancipation Proclamation Essay Abraham Lincoln is considered today, to be one of the best presidents of the United States. However he was despised by many at the time of his election. When he was elected a number of states in the south insisted that they would not be governed by him and wanted to secede. By the time he of his inauguration seven states had already seceded with four more following shortly after. The Confederates seceded because they feared that slavery would be ended, and they felt it was too important to their economy. Their actions are still considered to be too severe because although Lincoln was against slavery, he was not prepared to take any direct action to stop it. He believed that if he stopped to spread of slavery then it would die out in the far future. He also believed the slaves did not believe to become American citizen and should be shipped back to Africa after they gained freedom. Abraham Lincoln said he only cared about preserving the United States of America and joining the Confederacy back to the Union. Lincoln saw Fort Sumter as the perfect opportunity to bait the Confederates into war. Fort Sumter was a Union fort in South Carolina, and President Lincoln decided to send supplies there, knowing it would upset the Confederates because it shows that the union had no plans of giving it up. The Confederates respond by firing on the fort for thirty-three hours and completely destroyed it, but not killing anyone. This is considered the first battle in the Civil War and what started the fighting. The Union people thought that it would be an easy win for them but the Confederates comes strong out of the gate. The Union was struggling with finding a general that could create the winning formula. The Union lost some key battles early on; however it filled them with passion and made them hungry for victory. Eventually Ulysses S. Grant took the reins and the Union wen t on to victory. Abraham Lincoln started his presidency with no plans to directly end slavery, and the war started with the sole intention of restoring the Union. He stated â€Å"My paramount objective is to save the union†¦ and is not either to save or destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that† (Roark 369). However as the war went on it evolved and became a fight for the freedom of the slaves. Lincoln wanted to free the slaves immediately, but there were still slave states left in the Union and if he had done anything like that they might secede too, and if he lost them he knew he could lose the war. Therefore he had to wait for the right time to declare any end of slavery. On January 1st of 1863 he decided that time was right and issued The Emancipation Proclamation which gave freedom to all the slaves in the rebelling states. Also to help keep the slave states in the Union he exempted that from the proclamation. Since the Confederation did not fall under the Union, the proclamation depended on victory for the Union. The Times in London was quoted saying â€Å"Where he has no power Mr. Lincoln will set the negroes free, where retains power he will consider them as slaves† (Roark 370). While it may appear as if they are right the thought was that as they passed invaded confederate lands and captured them they slaves would gain freedom. Lincoln waited before proclaiming emancipation this because he needed to prove his worth to the Upper South. Had he passed it earlier they would have seceded and it would have been a major loss to the Union army.

Sigmund Freud and Psychoanalysis :: Psychology Handout Essays

Sigmund Freud and Psychoanalysis The aim of this essay is to clarify the basic principles of Freud’s theories and to raise the main issues. It is important to be clear about the meanings of certain terms that you may come across and throughout the handout you will find footnotes clarifying certain terms. Firstly though, a word about the terms psychoanalysis and psychodynamics. Psychoanalysis refers to both Freud’s original attempt at providing a comprehensive theory of the mind and also to the associated treatment. The term encompasses both Freudian theory and therapy. You will also come across the term psychodynamics. This term is used to denote the approach which began with psychoanalysis but which has now broadened into a much more diverse collection of theories and models developed by other psychologists, all of which nevertheless retain some of the main ideas of Freud’s original theory. 1.8.1  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  BACKGROUND Sigmund Freud was born in 1856 in Moravia, which was then part of the Austrian Empire and is now in the Czech Republic. He spent most of his life in Vienna, from where he fled, in 1937, when the Nazis invaded. Neither Freud (being Jewish) or his theories were very popular with the Nazis and he escaped to London where he died in 1939. He had wanted to be a research scientist but anti-Semitism forced him to choose a medical career instead and he worked in Vienna as a doctor, specialising in neurological disorders (disorders of the nervous system). He constantly revised and modified his theories right up until his death but much of his psychoanalytic theory was produced between 1900 and 1930. Freud originally attempted to explain the workings of the mind in terms of physiology and neurology ...(but)... quite early on in his treatment of patients with neurological disorders, Freud realised that symptoms which had no organic or bodily basis could imitate the real thing and that they were as real for the patient as if they had been neurologically caused. So he began to search for psychological explanations of these symptoms and ways of treating them. In 1885 he spent a year in Paris learning hypnosis from the neurologist Charcot; he then started using hypnosis with his patients in Vienna. However, he found its effects to be only temporary at best and it did not usually get to the root of the problem; nor was everybody capable of being hypnotised. Meanwhile Breuer, another Viennese doctor, was developing another method of therapy which he called the cathartic method, where patients would talk out their problems.

International Reporting Financial Standards Essay

International reporting financial standards are the guidelines that are used when preparing financial reports (Rutherford, 31). They are used by the international accounting standards board as an outline when preparing financial statements. These financial standards gives the accountants a guideline when they are preparing financial statements and this ensure that the accountants follow the right financial standards and prepare financial reports as per the required financial statements (Rutherford, 31). The international financial reporting standards ensure that information provided concerning the entity ensures that transparency is maintained when preparing financial statements (Schroeder, 20). It also ensures that people who are interested in investing in the business receive information that is more precise and reliable (Melville, 202). Financial reporting involves the preparation of financial information to users who include customers, banks, government, employees, investors and management who need this information to make informed economic decisions (Schroeder, 20). Before all these users make any decision concerning the organization they will need to review the financial reports of the organization to help them make decisions. The organization which is the reporting entity usually prepares financial statements which include the balance sheet, statement of retained earnings, profit and loss account and cash flow statement (Melville, 202). These financial statements help users of information to be able to understand how the management uses the entity’s resources to achieve the set goals and objectives. It also helps users to know the financial position of the business and the cash flow of the entity (Schroeder, 20). Investors in the entity need the financial reports enable them know the returns of their investment in the organization. Information provided in the financial statements helps them to know when to buy or sell their investment. It also helps them to know when to hold and also provide information which helps to determine whether the entity would be able to pay dividends at the right time (Rutherford, 31). Information in financial statements helps lenders to determine whether it should lend to the entity or not. It gives lender information to determine whether the entity would be able to pay loans (Rutherford, 31). Employees also use the information to determine if their employer would be able to pay them in time and if the employer would b e able to provide them with retirement benefits. The government needs the financial reports to determine whether an entity is able to pay taxes and also for the purpose of resource allocation. Customers are also users of the information and they use this information to know the stability and continuity of the entity. Objectives of financial reporting The general-purpose of financial reporting is to give users of financial statements the most useful information as possible at the least cost to enable them to make informed economic decisions (Melville, 202). On the other hand, users of this accounting information need to cover a rational understanding of business as well as financial accounting procedures to understand financial statements well. Internationally, as planned at distinctively in the present conceptual framework through the IASB, there are two key goals of financial reporting (Rutherford, 31). The main goal of financial reporting is to enable the management to provide information to the owner or shareholder of the business to show how they have used the entity’s resources to achieve the set goals and objectives in the organization (Rutherford, 31). Since the shareholders have given the management powers to use resources of the business, the management therefore has the responsibility to report to the shareholder concerning the performance of the business. The information that is provided through financial reporting also helps to give information about the financial performance and situation of the business. This is help when it comes to the creation of economic resolutions. Management should ensure that they maximize the shareholders’ wealth and this should be reflected in the financial statements (Melville, 202). Underlying assumption of international financial reporting standard Accrual Basis Financial reports that are prepared by an entity are prepared on the basis of accrual so as to meet the objectives of an entity (Melville, 202). This means that transactions are recognized when they occur and not when cash is received. This assumption helps to provide information about past events that are useful for decision making by the users of the information. Going concern assumption This assumption assumes that the business would be in operation for the foreseeable future and that the entity has no intentions to close the business in the near future (Michael et al, 2003). The qualitative characteristics of financial reporting These are qualities that make financial reporting useful to user of financial information when making economic decisions. The main qualitative characteristics of financial information include understability of the information, relevancy of information, reliability of information and comparability (Bromwich et al, 2006). The quality of understability requires that financial statements must be prepared in a manner that can be easily understood by users (Michael et al, 2003). However, users are required to have at least basics knowledge about business, accounting and economic activities. Users should also be willing to study carefully the information provided. All information that is relevant should be included the financial reports even if there is some information that may be difficult for some users to understand (Bromwich et al, 2006). Relevance requires that all information that is relevant for decision making be included in financial reporting (Michael et al, 2003). Relevance is when information include in the financial reports affects the economic decision made by the users of the financial statements. Information can only be useful to users if it is relevant. Relevant information helps users to make economic decisions since it gives them opportunity to assess the past, present and future actions. Information that has no effect on the decisions made by the users is irrelevant and therefore should not be included in financial reporting (Michael et al, 2003). The relevance of certain information in financial reporting may be affected by its materiality. Information that is material affects decision making in that its omission can mislead users to make wrong decisions. Relevant information must have a predictive value and confirmatory value meaning that for information to help capital providers for instance investors to make predictive decisions about the future information should be valuable and information is able to change the past or present depending on previous evaluations (Bromwich et al, 2006). Reliability of information is important for financial reporting. For financial information to be useful for decision making it must be reliable (Rutherford, 31). Information that is free from any material error and biasness is reliable and therefore useful for decision making by users. International financial reporting standards require that information be represented in a faithful way for such information to be reliable. Comparability of information is important in financial reporting as it helps users to compare information for different financial years and for different reports from different entities (Bromwich et al, 2006). By comparing financial reports for different periods helps to compare the performance of the entity for the different periods. Information should also be represented in their real value for financial information to be reliable. The constraints on relevant and reliable information Timeliness of information Some information if delayed to report may be come irrelevant. For relevant information to be reported in time it will mean that some aspect of information need to be included and this may weaken the relevance of information (Michael et al, 2003). Before all relevant information is reported, the cost of reporting must be considered alongside with the benefits that the entity will gain. Relevant information should give more benefits than the cost incurred when reporting (Bromwich et al, 2006).

Cheap Labor & Violation of Workers Rights Continue to Exist Essay

Abstract This paper explores the way in which sweatshops, cheap labor, and violation of workers rights continues to exist throughout the world. Providing inside information that the average individual might not know about the products they purchase and use everyday. This paper touches on what goes on in these sweatshops, which the most common workers are, and what countries are receiving the lowest wages for their work. Some of the most popular companies who have been recognized as abusers of labor laws are addressed, along with an update on how they’ve fared since being accused. As the paper draws to a close different solutions to stopping this abusing form of labor are revealed. If the average individual were to take a look around their home, one would find all sorts of objects and clothing produced in different areas from all across the globe. Majority of the time, these items are taken for granted and strictly valued depending on what they can do for us. This is quite unfortunate when we take into consideration the conditions most of these objects were manufactured in. It’s very seldom that we picture the blistering hands of the child who slaved over our designer tennis shoes as we slide them on as the finishing piece to that new designer outfit. It is ironic how the things we pay the most for in life are often times produced under the harshest working conditions by individuals paid incredibly low wages. Children and women’s rights are violated day in and day out for these companies to save a couple of dollars, yet we continue to ignore the issue and send our hard earned money to these corrupt companies and corporations. According to dictiona ry.com, a sweatshop is a â€Å"shop employing workers at low wages, for long hours, and under poor conditions† (Collins English Dictionary). Despite the adversity and embarrassment that some of the most popular companies have received for producing their products in sweatshop, cheap labor and exploitation of human rights still remain prevalent. Some  individuals feel that the use of these sweatshops allows for a healthy balance in the economy, or that working for these wages is the best possible option for citizens of third world countries, concluding that we need not tamper with the means of production for the economy’s sake. Many of these ideas are addressed in Arnold D. and N. Bowie’s Sweatshops and Respects for Persons, as they discuss exactly why these allegations or theories are dysfunctional untruths. There are definitely alternatives to sweatshop labor for companies to produce their products. For example in Paron and Reemes’s, â€Å"Beyond Cheap Labor† they propose a solution to these countries’ low wages; â€Å"to justify higher wages in a globalized economy, middle-income na tions must find their comparative advantage† (Paron & Reemes 2005). If these nations find something they can offer, then they can create a job market for their workers, resulting in higher wages. Granted this is a very hard task and may be perceived by many as unachievable, but there is no amount of revenue worth sacrificing our morals or these individuals’ rights as humans. Cheap Labor & Exploitation According to the United States labor law, there are certain wages that must be provided to individuals for performing services; when these laws are violated, there are severe consequences to whoever is deemed responsible (DOL, 2009). Cheap labor is when an individual provides labor for unreasonably low wages, long hours, usually under harsh or extreme working conditions, and many of the female workers are subject to sexual harassment along with all the other violating activity that occurs. Unfortunately, many women and young children are victims to these violations of labor laws for a company’s benefit, all to save a buck. According to Snyder in his article Exploitation and Sweatshop Labor â€Å"The most common understanding of exploitation in the literature on sweatshops interprets exploitation as taking unfair advantage of workers† (Snyder, 1991). The rights of these workers are exploited for economic advancement from both structural and organizational perspectives. The organizational aspect of the exploitation is tied into the market power received by the organizations that exploit these individuals in order to increase profit margin. The structural aspect pertains to exactly where these sweatshops are  located; production warehouses employ large groups of individuals concentrated in certain societies or communities in order to maximize production. The cheap labor provided for businesses through the use of sweatshops is nothing more than a loophole in order to save the companies’ money. It is a complete disregard for human rights, yet people continue to selfishly turn the other cheek on this issue. Violation of Workers’ Rights According to Sweatshops and Third World Living Standards: Are the Jobs Worth the Sweat; Bangladesh workers are bringing in roughly $0.13 an hour, the next lowest is Vietnam at $0.26, followed by China at $0.44 (Powell & Sharbek, 2004). Here are some of the lowest wages in the world, all found in sweatshops: These numbers are well below the minimum wage; the minimum wage required for compensation of work is determined based on the economies output divided by the number of working and non-working people. In fact it is often argued that the minimum wage determined in the U.S isn’t enough for most individuals to survive independently on, especially single parents. In addition to that, sweatshops fail to pay their workers on time for their labor if they pay them at all. Cheap labor is just one of the violating aspects of human rights that takes place in sweatshops. Along with not being properly compensated for the amount of labor the workers produce they also work long excruciating hours. Some workers may work anywhere from eighteen to twenty hour shifts consecutively under hazardous conditions, without breaks for food or water. They work extremely long hours in order to make a wage that isn’t sufficient enough to live on. â€Å"Workers work long hours in which they aren’t compensated for, under unsafe living conditions, and women are often sexually harassed†, there isn’t a single characteristic of a sweatshop that is safe or complies with labor laws and regulations. (Snyder, 1991) Women and children often make up majority of these sweatshop employees; it’s  hard to imagine an adult working sixteen hours under unsafe conditions but sweatshop managers don’t treat these children any differently, nor do they show any sympathy. Women are often sexually assaulted, abused, not paid for their labor, and in many instances stripped of their employee status and forced into servitude. â€Å"Lured by recruiters who promise wonderful opportunities in foreign lands, young women often pay thousands of dollars in recruitment and contract†; after being taken advantage of these women end up working for low wages in order to pay back these huge debts, consequently they become property until they can escape or pay off all the debt, both are highly unlikely (Snyder 1991). Women are treated as if they aren’t human beings, for example: â€Å"In some Indonesian sweatshops, women were forced to take down their pants and reveal to factory doctors that they were menstruating in order to claim their legal right to menstrual-leave† (Morey, 2000). When discussing the cheap labor industry third world countries often come to mind but these same things occur right here in the U.S, † The Department of Labor indicates that 50% of garment factories in the U.S. violate two or more basic labor laws, establishing them as sweatshops†; sweatshops exist when individuals who cant stand up for themselves have their rights taken advantage of (Morey 2000). The Violators Not many people are aware of just how many of our every day items are produced by cheap labor. If one were to take a look around their home they’d be astonished by just how many objects come from sweatshops; there are factories for clothing, technology, furniture and other items that you would never expect. Nike is what comes to mind first when the topic of sweatshop labor is at hand; mainly due to their being accused of producing their shoes and shoes under the air Jordan line in China. Nike claims that all of their factories employees compensation complies with the U.S labor laws and any individual who is interested is welcome to visit any Nike manufacturing shop, however this has yet to happen and their has been no footage released of their  factories. Nike doesn’t own any of its accused sweatshop factories, they pay factory owners and those owners are responsible for paying the workers their wages, not Nike. Many say this is just a loophole to escape labor laws in order save money. When the founder of Nike Phil Knight was asked, â€Å"why doesn’t Nike start its own factories in the U.S† he replied: â€Å" I honestly believe that U.S citizens don’t want to make shoes, they don’t want to do that job† (Jilani, 2011). It’s quite obvious that Nike isn’t interested in the people, Phil Knight and he collogues are strictly focused on maximizing the companies net income, even if that means sacrificing the rights of workers and passing up the opportunity to produce more jobs right here in the U.S. however Nike is the only familiar household name that has suffered from sweatshop accusations. Six years later technologies peoples champion Apple still carries the negative stigma from its labor law violations in its sub-contracted factories. â€Å"More than half of the audits revealed problems, including employees regularly working more than 60 hours a week, underage workers, falsified records, wages below minimum levels, pay withheld as punishment and improper disposal of hazardous waste† (Walters, 2012). The wages and long hours was the least of Apples worries; workers were suffering from severely swollen legs to the point where they could barely walk, being exposed to poisonous chemicals & factory explosions, some were even killed do to these conditions (Walters, 2012). Although Apple received much criticism for producing it’s products in sweatshops under these conditions somehow over the past six years they have managed to become the leader in technology, outselling all competitors. Apple’s ITunes is also the largest music retailor in the U.S, follow ed by Wal-Mart whom is also been accused . This goes to show that this subject isn’t taken serious enough; if so the purchase of Apple products would have drastically decreased. Here is a chart of Apple’s yearly earnings since the unveiling of their sweatshop production (Powell, 2011): If people continue to show that they aren’t concerned with how the products they purchase are produced then companies will continue to manufacture their products by these inhumane means. It’s almost as if these companies need to  be taught a lesson, show them that cheap labor is unacceptable by not purchasing their goods and they will change their methods. There is no reason why Apple should have flourished in such a way after being exposed for its production methods. Sweatshops Effect On the Economy Some Economists feel that without sweatshops many of these workers who are now employed in third world countries would be without work and consequently be worse off then they are working for low wages; â€Å"We find that most sweatshop jobs provide an above average standard of living for their workers† (Powell & Sharbek, 2004). Hypothetically speaking, if one were to assume that this is correct and the standard of living is above average this still doesn’t justify the treatment and conditions these workers endure. Just because an individual has no other choice doesn’t give anyone free reign to destroy all regard for their rights. Cambodia for example has nothing to offer economically, so sweatshops are one of the only choices for many of it’s natives; this wouldn’t be a problem if workers rights were respected and at least received a reasonable wage for the amount of work produced. This would be a great solution to the problem, without ruining compa ny’s production, without violating workers rights, and without disrupting the economy whatsoever. Possible Solutions to the Issue When it comes to the task of stopping sweatshops, cheap labor, and exploitation there are two major methods that can be taken. The first and the most unlikely method to succeed is to place the responsibility on the third world countries economy; second would be for people to refuse to purchase goods or products that have anything to do with sweatshop labor. â€Å"Take the attention off of the low-wage assembly jobs and focus on higher valued jobs and comparative advantages† (Farrell & Paron, 2005); this is a great proposition but we have to take into consideration the likelihood of this happening. We can’t expect third world countries to completely diminish their basic means of employment because it is unrighteous or violates  rights. This is why many economists say that sweatshops provide a better income and living to many individuals who otherwise would be unemployed; however there is an alternative method that poses a huge threat to the sweatshop industry. People can perform a number of actions in order to ensure companies start to produce their products the correct way. The first step is for people to demand sweatshop free products where they shop or not to shop there at all. People can also by union made and second hand products, as well as purchasing fair trade products. The next step is to spread the word and encourage others to do the same until cheap labor is non existent, this wont happen over night but it will show companies that the stigma that comes with producing their products in a sweatshop can ruin business. Conclusion Although over the past decade the use of sweatshop labor by many popular companies has been brought to the light, there has been no action taken by government, nor have people taken it upon themselves to boycott these companies. The excruciating circumstances these individuals work under are hard to stomach yet people continue to turn the cheek on the issue. Stopping this ridiculous treatment won’t be easy, but it can be done if people start to take action but caring is where it must start! Work Cited Skinner, B. E. (2012, March 30). Slaves put squid on dining tables from south pacific. Retrieved from http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-23/slaves-put-squid-on-u-s-dining-tables-from- south-pacific-catch.html Powell, B., & Sharbek, D. (2004). Sweatshops and third world living standards: Are the jobs worth the sweat?. Independent Institute , working paper number 53, 1-15. Retrieved from http://www.independent.org/pdf/working_papers/53_sweatshop.pdf Snyder, J. (1991). Exploitation and sweatshop labor: Perspectives and issues. Business Ethics Quarterly, 20(2), 187-213. Kristof, N. (2009, January 15). Where sweatshops are a dream. The New York Times, p. 35. Ballinger, J. (2009). Finding an anti-sweatshop strategy that works. Dissent , 56(3), 5-8. Smit, B. (2011). Trafficking in human beings for labour exploitation. the case of the Netherlands. Trends in Organized Crime , 14(2/3), 184-197. Farrell, D., Paron , A., & Reemes, J. (2005). Beyond cheap labor: Lessons for developing economies. McKinsey Quarterly , 1(1), 98-109. Powell, B. (2011). The end of cheap labor in china. Time , 177(26), 1-4. Arnold, D., and N. Bowie. 2003. â€Å"Sweatshops and Respect for Persons,† Business Ethics Quarterly 13(2): 221-42. Arnold, D., and P. Hartman. 2003. â€Å"Moral Imagination and the Future of Sweatshops,† Business and Society Review 108(4): 425-61. sweatshop. (n.d.). Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. Retrieved April 24, 2012, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sweatshop DOL. (2009, September). Wages and hours worked: Minimum wage and overtime pay. Retrieved from http://www.dol.gov/elaws/elg/minwage.htm Woolf, L. (2011). women and global human rights. Retrieved from http://www.webster.edu/~woolflm/sweatshops.html Woolf, L. (2011). women and global human rights. Retrieved from http://www.webster.edu/~woolflm/sweatshops.html Jilani, Z. (2011, July 13). Thinking progress. Retrieved from http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/07/13/267520/nike-workers-humiliation/ Walters, S. (2012, February 4). Apple still shamed by china [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2096551/Apple-shamed-Chinas-iPod-sweatshops_ SIX-YEARS-expos.html

Dinosaur Exhibits at the Oklahoma Museum of Natural History

Dinosaur Exhibits at the Oklahoma Museum of Natural History Name: Oklahoma Museum of Natural History Address: 2401 Chautauqua Ave., Norman, OK Phone Number: 405-325-4712 Ticket Prices: $5 for adults, $3 for children age 6 to 17 Hours: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Saturday, 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM Sunday Web Site: Oklahoma Museum of Natural History    About the Oklahoma Museum of Natural History: Two ancient battles punctuate the Hall of Ancient Life at the Oklahoma Museum of Natural History. The centerpiece of this exhibit is a fight to the death between Saurophaganax and Apatosaurus (both specimens of which were unearthed in the Oklahoma panhandle), while nearby, a pack of Deinonychus surround a much bigger Tenontosaurus. This hall also features numerous other fossils, including one of the most complete Pentaceratops skeletons in the world (the skull of which is verified as World’s Largest by the Guinness Book of World Records). The dinosaur and prehistoric life galleries at the Oklahoma Museum of Natural History are arranged chronologically, leading visitors past specimens from the Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic Eras (this last part of the hall features a nine-foot-tall Woolly Mammoth, also dug up in Oklahoma, and a Smilodon, or Saber-Toothed Tiger). One innovative feature here is the Dinovator, an elevator you can take to look that Apatosaurus skull right in its bony eyes!

How does the legalization of marijuana affect Americas economy and Research Paper

How does the legalization of marijuana affect Americas economy and patients who need marijuana for medical purposes - Research Paper Example This discussion explores ways in which legalization of the drug affects America’s economy and patients who need marijuana for medical purposes through answering the following question. One of the arguments that have been fronted in advocacy for marijuana legalization is the potential economic benefits that the move could offer at macroeconomic level. Bradford (1) reports economic effects that two states in the United States, having legalized marijuana, could benefits. Professional opinions among economists support this. According to estimates, Colorado and Washington are likely to expand their revenues by a total of $ 550 million and estimates from similar sources indicate an annual expansion of the United States economy by about $ 14 billion. Legalizing marijuana and levying fee for dealership is another significant benefit to the government as a source of revenue and this has proved successful in Mendocino county of California. This is good news especially because the nation is facing problems of budget deficit that the additional revenue can remedy. In addition to the direct benefits that legalizing marijuana could offer, it would also reduce government expense s that are associated with enforcement of marijuana laws. According to data from the year 2007, the nation spends as high as $ I billion dollars on incarcerating convicts on marijuana charges and a change in the law would save the expenditure that can be used in other utilities, especially on investment expenditure for economic development. Reports by economists estimate that the government spends about $ 13.7 billion in enforcing current marijuana laws and legalization would save this amount that could be used in funding social or investment projects. The savings also include potential tax revenues that the legalization could derive. Price reduction is another potential economic benefit

Writer's choice Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Writer's choice - Research Proposal Example The development pattern of childhood obesity is similar to obesity in adults. In the past, questions have been raised over whether childhood obesity differs from obesity in adulthood. Research has shown that the definitive attributes of obesity are constant in all age groups. As children grow, fat cells multiply and when calorie intake outweighs expenditure, the number of fat cells increases. According to Farley & Dowell’s 2014 investigation, in the event that fat cells have attained their maximum size but calorie intake still outweighs expenditure, they (fat cells) continue expanding rapidly, leading to accumulation of fat in the body. This is what differentiates overweight children from obese children, although the two conditions are often confused. Fat loss results in a decrease in the size – not number – of the fat cells. Findings of a research conducted by Green (2013), show that there is a positive correlation between heightened levels of the hormone leptin and obesity. In research settings, leptin is commonly referred to as the â€Å"fat hormone,† the â€Å"obesity hormone,† or the â€Å"starvation hormone.† An increase or decrease in the amount of leptin secreted can affect calorie intake, calorie expenditure, and energy balance. For example, findings of a study conducted by Dawes (2014) reveal that obese children have higher blood leptin levels compared to those with normal weight because they have higher percentage body fat. Voigt, Nicholls & Williams (2014) conducted a study whose results suggested that obese children also exhibit resistance to the hormone in the same manner as type 2 diabetics show resistance to insulin. Their elevated levels of leptin mean that they cannot control hunger or their weight. On the other hand, obese children who lose weight experience a decline in blood leptin levels, leading to temporary declines in sympathetic tone, calorie expenditures in skeletal tissues, and thyroid