To say the least, the model UN simulation was very interesting. I can honestly say that I was positively surprised afterwards. I did not expect to have as much fun as I did upon hearing that we had to participate. All in all I would consider the simulation a success though. There were some positives and also some negatives of the Model UN Simulation.
First off, I really enjoyed the learning aspect of the simulation. I got to learn a great deal about Kuwait that I would have otherwise not known. I felt that gaining so much information about a foreign country in itself made the experience a success. I learned the geographic region that Kuwait was in. I also find out what they depend on for economic capital. Beyond that I got to interact with my peers and collaborate on decisions that would have to realistically be made by any country in this modern time.
I would probably have to say that my favorite part of the Model UN Simulation was the diplomacy towards other countries. Although I never got the opportunity to go down and meet with another country on Kuwait's behalf, I still was interested in how we as a body interacted with the other countries in the simulation. It was great to have to react to the actions of other countries. For example, we had to decide whether to send foreign aid to countries that had just been attacked or join forces with allies to fend off threats to collective security.
The most interesting thing to me that we did was when we had to decide how to respond to the oil reserves dispute that transpired between us and our surrounding neighbors. We decided to ally with one country to keep another from staking claim to the offshore oil reserves that were rightly ours. Looking back on it, I feel that we were prepared to realistically act as Kuwait because we knew the different ministries and how they operated. Personally, I was ready to speak on my ministry: the Ministry of Justice. I truly felt that I could help my team when necessary. I was consulted on a few occasions to give my opinions and I answered to the best of my abilities.
My group made many decisions that were in our best interests and some that were just downright funny! The one that I was most proud of was when we refused aid from China. They tried to send us aid in the form of food items but we graciously refused to accept. We decided to even send it back to them the next time we could make a move. I thought is was really funny and a way to prove to people that we weren't weak and needy. I do wish that we would have acted more aggresively against our enemies. I wanted to attack someone but I think we made the best decisions that truly represented Kuwait.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
U.S. Foreign Policy/Relations under Obama administration
Obama-Calderon Meeting Could Yield Reinstatement of Gun Ban
Under former President Bill Clinton, an assault weapons ban was instituted in the United States, but somewhere in the last eight years the Bush administration allowed a lapse in the ban. According to President Obama in a CNN article, a revival of the ban and a more strict enforcement of the gun laws could help to decrease the violence that has escalated on the U.S.-Mexican border recently. Amidst his talks with Mexican President Felipe Calderón, President Obama says he has, “not backed off at all” on his campaign pledge to restore the ban. In my opinion, I believe he and his administration have had so many other vital matters to worry about that this has been pushed to the backburner until now. With all the violence taking place, Obama can’t afford to push this issue down the list anymore.
Some are probably worried that he may be infringing upon our rights to bear arms but he covers his bases on this issue in a lengthy quote. President Obama said, “I continue to believe that we can respect and honor the Second Amendment right in our Constitution -- the rights of sportsmen and hunters and homeowners that want to keep their families safe -- to lawfully bear arms, while dealing with assault weapons that, as we know here in Mexico, are used to fuel violence.” Calderón says the correlation between the U.S. ban on 19 types of assault weapons and Mexican violence is more than clear. He goes on to comment saying, “From the moment the the prohibition on the sale of assault weapons was lifted a few years ago, we have seen an increase in the power of organized crime in Mexico.” It is undeniable that the U.S. is partly responsible for the violence along the border, but the important thing now is to halt the gun and cash flow fueling the cartel instead of pointing fingers. Both Obama and Calderón understand this, but will everyone else?
U.S. not leaving North Korea silently
After being kicked out of North Korea, U.S. officials warned the controversial country that consequences would result from their dismissal. Four U.S. experts along with some U.N. nuclear inspectors were ordered to leave by North Korea. State Department acting spokesperson Robert Wood said consequences would be forthcoming for North Korea for “kicking these personnel out." Further Wood says, “We'll have to see what those consequences are. We are going to continue to work with our partners, both on the Security Council and outside of the Security Council, to bring consequences upon the North for the actions that it's taken." At a U.N. sanctions committee meeting the U.S. proposed additional sanctions against North Korea’s nuclear program.
The committee is dedicated to prevent the flow of goods that could aid North Korea’s nuclear program. North Korea seems to be resistant in all their actions. They want no interference from outside entities in their process of developing the nuclear program. North Korea has said that it will reactivate all of its nuclear facilities and go ahead with reprocessing spent fuel. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called Pyongyang's move "an unnecessary response to the legitimate statement put out of concern by the (U.N.) Security Council."
"Obviously, we hope there will be an opportunity to discuss this, not only with our partners and allies, but also, eventually, with the North Koreans," she said. I believe there is some substantial misunderstanding by all sides in this debacle. North Korea feels that the U.N.’s condemnation of the April 5th rocket launch a “gross infringement” on North Korea’s sovereignty. North Korea insists that it was a peaceful launch of a satellite, while the U.S. deems it a “provocative act”. I don’t know how this will end up but I do know that neither side will back down. It’s only a matter of time before we see this all “come to a head”.
Under former President Bill Clinton, an assault weapons ban was instituted in the United States, but somewhere in the last eight years the Bush administration allowed a lapse in the ban. According to President Obama in a CNN article, a revival of the ban and a more strict enforcement of the gun laws could help to decrease the violence that has escalated on the U.S.-Mexican border recently. Amidst his talks with Mexican President Felipe Calderón, President Obama says he has, “not backed off at all” on his campaign pledge to restore the ban. In my opinion, I believe he and his administration have had so many other vital matters to worry about that this has been pushed to the backburner until now. With all the violence taking place, Obama can’t afford to push this issue down the list anymore.
Some are probably worried that he may be infringing upon our rights to bear arms but he covers his bases on this issue in a lengthy quote. President Obama said, “I continue to believe that we can respect and honor the Second Amendment right in our Constitution -- the rights of sportsmen and hunters and homeowners that want to keep their families safe -- to lawfully bear arms, while dealing with assault weapons that, as we know here in Mexico, are used to fuel violence.” Calderón says the correlation between the U.S. ban on 19 types of assault weapons and Mexican violence is more than clear. He goes on to comment saying, “From the moment the the prohibition on the sale of assault weapons was lifted a few years ago, we have seen an increase in the power of organized crime in Mexico.” It is undeniable that the U.S. is partly responsible for the violence along the border, but the important thing now is to halt the gun and cash flow fueling the cartel instead of pointing fingers. Both Obama and Calderón understand this, but will everyone else?
U.S. not leaving North Korea silently
After being kicked out of North Korea, U.S. officials warned the controversial country that consequences would result from their dismissal. Four U.S. experts along with some U.N. nuclear inspectors were ordered to leave by North Korea. State Department acting spokesperson Robert Wood said consequences would be forthcoming for North Korea for “kicking these personnel out." Further Wood says, “We'll have to see what those consequences are. We are going to continue to work with our partners, both on the Security Council and outside of the Security Council, to bring consequences upon the North for the actions that it's taken." At a U.N. sanctions committee meeting the U.S. proposed additional sanctions against North Korea’s nuclear program.
The committee is dedicated to prevent the flow of goods that could aid North Korea’s nuclear program. North Korea seems to be resistant in all their actions. They want no interference from outside entities in their process of developing the nuclear program. North Korea has said that it will reactivate all of its nuclear facilities and go ahead with reprocessing spent fuel. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called Pyongyang's move "an unnecessary response to the legitimate statement put out of concern by the (U.N.) Security Council."
"Obviously, we hope there will be an opportunity to discuss this, not only with our partners and allies, but also, eventually, with the North Koreans," she said. I believe there is some substantial misunderstanding by all sides in this debacle. North Korea feels that the U.N.’s condemnation of the April 5th rocket launch a “gross infringement” on North Korea’s sovereignty. North Korea insists that it was a peaceful launch of a satellite, while the U.S. deems it a “provocative act”. I don’t know how this will end up but I do know that neither side will back down. It’s only a matter of time before we see this all “come to a head”.
Friday, April 10, 2009
U.S. Foreign Policy (April 6-10)
Captains vs. Pirates
The world is becoming crazier and crazier by the minute! Just when we’d thought we had seen it all, another unbelievable event takes place and we are brought to a harsh reality that safety is at a premium. According to a U.S. official on Friday, Richard Phillips, the captain of a U.S.-flagged cargo ship, tried to escape from his captors Thursday night by jumping out of the lifeboat where he's being held. Richard Phillips was on the ship that was hijacked Wednesday while en route to Mombasa, Kenya. Phillips and others have been held since Wednesday, when the hijackers obtained control of his ship, the Maersk Alabama. In what is believed to be a more reoccurring theme, these attacks have “picked up drastically in recent months that the Navy has to reposition some of its fleet to deal with the threats, claimed Chris Lawrence, CNN's Pentagon correspondent.
It is believed that Captain Phillips was attempting to swim to the USS Bainbridge, a naval warship that is in communication with the gunmen holding Phillips off Somalia's coast, the official said. Although his plan was strategic and crafty, he did not get far. The official said that the kidnappers jumped into the water, recaptured him, and returned him to the lifeboat before he could get too far. They believe that he is being held by four gunmen, but two U.S. warships were on their way to assist the USS Bainbridge in completing Phillip’s rescue. The ship was headed to Kenya with a cargo of food aid upon its attack Wednesday. The attack marks the first time in very recent history that an American ship has been the target of a pirate attack. The pirates show no signs of giving in so the Navy is requesting help from the FBI in this hostage situation.
U.S. and Cuba moving toward mending differences
Relations between Cuba and the United States have been rather limited lately, but for the first time in fifty years the two seem to have somewhat eased the tension between them . A delegation from the Congressional Black Caucus was in the communist country this week to find answers to some of America’s questions. Some say they were on a “fact-finding mission”. House of Representatives member Barbara Lee expressed that, "Our purpose was to see if there were preconditions on the Cuban side. We heard that there were no preconditions," Lee said Wednesday. "And, in fact, we wanted to find out if they were interested. We have to remember that every country in Latin America, 15 countries, have normal relations with Cuba. ... We're the country which is isolated." The meetings that seem to be even more significant are the ones held between the U.S. and current President Raul Castro alongside his brother, former President Fidel.
President Obama has made it clear that he wants to change the relationship between the U.S. and Cuba and is taking steps such as signing bills that loosen restrictions implemented by Bush. Analysts see the lawmakers' trip and Obama's campaign rhetoric as a way for the new administration to start thawing relations with Cuba before the Fifth Summit of the Americas. The summit will bring together the U.S. president and 33 other leaders from the Western Hemisphere in mid-April in Trinidad and Tobago. It is important to remember that not everyone is eager for change with regards to the U.S.-Cuba relationship. Some Cuban-American Congressman have spoken out against easing the tensions. Florida Republican Senator Mel Martinez is one of them. "Having tourists on Cuban beaches is not going to achieve democratic change in Cuba," Martinez has said.
The world is becoming crazier and crazier by the minute! Just when we’d thought we had seen it all, another unbelievable event takes place and we are brought to a harsh reality that safety is at a premium. According to a U.S. official on Friday, Richard Phillips, the captain of a U.S.-flagged cargo ship, tried to escape from his captors Thursday night by jumping out of the lifeboat where he's being held. Richard Phillips was on the ship that was hijacked Wednesday while en route to Mombasa, Kenya. Phillips and others have been held since Wednesday, when the hijackers obtained control of his ship, the Maersk Alabama. In what is believed to be a more reoccurring theme, these attacks have “picked up drastically in recent months that the Navy has to reposition some of its fleet to deal with the threats, claimed Chris Lawrence, CNN's Pentagon correspondent.
It is believed that Captain Phillips was attempting to swim to the USS Bainbridge, a naval warship that is in communication with the gunmen holding Phillips off Somalia's coast, the official said. Although his plan was strategic and crafty, he did not get far. The official said that the kidnappers jumped into the water, recaptured him, and returned him to the lifeboat before he could get too far. They believe that he is being held by four gunmen, but two U.S. warships were on their way to assist the USS Bainbridge in completing Phillip’s rescue. The ship was headed to Kenya with a cargo of food aid upon its attack Wednesday. The attack marks the first time in very recent history that an American ship has been the target of a pirate attack. The pirates show no signs of giving in so the Navy is requesting help from the FBI in this hostage situation.
U.S. and Cuba moving toward mending differences
Relations between Cuba and the United States have been rather limited lately, but for the first time in fifty years the two seem to have somewhat eased the tension between them . A delegation from the Congressional Black Caucus was in the communist country this week to find answers to some of America’s questions. Some say they were on a “fact-finding mission”. House of Representatives member Barbara Lee expressed that, "Our purpose was to see if there were preconditions on the Cuban side. We heard that there were no preconditions," Lee said Wednesday. "And, in fact, we wanted to find out if they were interested. We have to remember that every country in Latin America, 15 countries, have normal relations with Cuba. ... We're the country which is isolated." The meetings that seem to be even more significant are the ones held between the U.S. and current President Raul Castro alongside his brother, former President Fidel.
President Obama has made it clear that he wants to change the relationship between the U.S. and Cuba and is taking steps such as signing bills that loosen restrictions implemented by Bush. Analysts see the lawmakers' trip and Obama's campaign rhetoric as a way for the new administration to start thawing relations with Cuba before the Fifth Summit of the Americas. The summit will bring together the U.S. president and 33 other leaders from the Western Hemisphere in mid-April in Trinidad and Tobago. It is important to remember that not everyone is eager for change with regards to the U.S.-Cuba relationship. Some Cuban-American Congressman have spoken out against easing the tensions. Florida Republican Senator Mel Martinez is one of them. "Having tourists on Cuban beaches is not going to achieve democratic change in Cuba," Martinez has said.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Kuwait Ministry of Justice, Awqaf and Islamic Affairs
The general objective of the ministry was stated by article 1 of the decree promulgated for the ministry of justice in 7/1/1979 to provide justice for the society under a simplified system where every one feels secure on their souls, freedom and money, and keeps the security of the people and their social system, and respects the laws and makes sure that it’s applied and also it constructs a stable system for the real estate property.
Kuwait is moving to build up the methods of work of government bodies using advanced technology in the fields of communication and information. With that being said, they’ve introduced the idea of E-government, which serves the citizens and provides all the facilities to them regarding the judicial department and the work sectors in the Ministry. The Ministry provides justice and preserves the security of the people. The Ministry has created projects such as “E-justice” that provide services and information to the citizens through a global network of information, the internet.
In the first decades of this century, the leaders of Kuwait and whom they authorized from jurists known for their justice were the ones who dealt with the conflicts between civilians according to the Islamic law judgments and traditions. Then in the early fifties courts were established, which specialized in dealing with conflicts presented in front of the court. Also it specializes in registering real estate properties, and it was adjoined in a department called the courts department. In January 1962 the do menial decree of law no 1 of year 1962 was promulgated in the basic system of leadership in the transformation period , and according to it the courts department's term were changed to be the ministry of justice instead. In 11/11/1962 the Kuwaiti constitution was issued. It stressed in article 50 that the leadership system is based on the separation of the legitimate, executive, and the judicial powers and by their cooperation according to its judgments, and that it’s not permitted for any one of them to relinquish all or some of their specialization stated in the constitution. In 9/2/1975 a do menial decree was promulgated to adjoin the ministry of justice and Awqaf and Islamic affairs to one ministry and they re-separated according to a do menial decree promulgated in 6/9/1979. This is a substantial amount of their history with regards to the ministry of justice. As is obvious, they have undergone non-stop modifications in order to make the best system of bringing justice and peace to their state.
Article 1 of the decree promulgated for the ministry of justice in 7/1/1979 has shown these specialties, which are: organizing the necessary means to clear the conflicts presented in courts of its different kinds and considers crimes according to the judgment of law. It is instrumental in carrying out the governmental pleading by the general prosecution in the name of the society in the felonies that are transferred to it from misdemeanors, by investigation, act, and allegation according to law judgments. Among the other things it is imperative for supervising on prisons and other places where penal judgment are executed in as well as providing technical expertise to the justice bodies and other state organizations. It holds works of the official publication for judicial papers and initiatory pleadings ...etc, and execute judgments and writs of execution, and accept its related amounts deposit it and spend it according the law as well as works of real estate registration and authentication, and confirmation, and date listing and visas on commercial records according to law. The final thing that it maintains is cooperation with countries, and Arabian, and Islamic, and foreign organizations in the legal and judicial fields.
The ministry’s body consists of mainly two bodies. The basic bodies of jurisdiction and the other departments. There are several things that Article 231 of chapter two of the decree of law no 23 says shall be in the judiciary body. For instance, there must be a court of causation, court of appeals, and court of first instance just to name a few. Also, there is an Assistant Department of Judiciary Body which covers things such as the judicial arbitration department, judicial department fees, and criminal execution and affairs and the foreign communication office. The other departments consist of the administrative affairs, financial affairs, and family consultancies departments.
The ministry of justice has made news lately and has taken strides to be more functional. The minister of justice made a statement in the newspaper on January 3, 2009 about the construction of new facilities. He said, “I asked the Municipality and Ministry of Public Works to expedite the completion of these projects because the existing buildings are narrow and could not meet the required tasks, a matter that requires providing new buildings in order to ensure performing necessary justice”. He was referring to the task of completing the infrastructure projects of the judiciary and ways to accelerate this task. “We will work on completing more largely and quickly those projects as well as accelerating the execution of the requests of the judiciary members” added Hussein Al-Huraiti. Minister Hussein Al-Huraiti also made news in February by publicly thanking His Highness the Amir for allowing for increased funding granted to senior judicial and public prosecution officials. Thanks to the funding, they feel that they can continue to further the path of boosting justice throughout.
Kuwait is moving to build up the methods of work of government bodies using advanced technology in the fields of communication and information. With that being said, they’ve introduced the idea of E-government, which serves the citizens and provides all the facilities to them regarding the judicial department and the work sectors in the Ministry. The Ministry provides justice and preserves the security of the people. The Ministry has created projects such as “E-justice” that provide services and information to the citizens through a global network of information, the internet.
In the first decades of this century, the leaders of Kuwait and whom they authorized from jurists known for their justice were the ones who dealt with the conflicts between civilians according to the Islamic law judgments and traditions. Then in the early fifties courts were established, which specialized in dealing with conflicts presented in front of the court. Also it specializes in registering real estate properties, and it was adjoined in a department called the courts department. In January 1962 the do menial decree of law no 1 of year 1962 was promulgated in the basic system of leadership in the transformation period , and according to it the courts department's term were changed to be the ministry of justice instead. In 11/11/1962 the Kuwaiti constitution was issued. It stressed in article 50 that the leadership system is based on the separation of the legitimate, executive, and the judicial powers and by their cooperation according to its judgments, and that it’s not permitted for any one of them to relinquish all or some of their specialization stated in the constitution. In 9/2/1975 a do menial decree was promulgated to adjoin the ministry of justice and Awqaf and Islamic affairs to one ministry and they re-separated according to a do menial decree promulgated in 6/9/1979. This is a substantial amount of their history with regards to the ministry of justice. As is obvious, they have undergone non-stop modifications in order to make the best system of bringing justice and peace to their state.
Article 1 of the decree promulgated for the ministry of justice in 7/1/1979 has shown these specialties, which are: organizing the necessary means to clear the conflicts presented in courts of its different kinds and considers crimes according to the judgment of law. It is instrumental in carrying out the governmental pleading by the general prosecution in the name of the society in the felonies that are transferred to it from misdemeanors, by investigation, act, and allegation according to law judgments. Among the other things it is imperative for supervising on prisons and other places where penal judgment are executed in as well as providing technical expertise to the justice bodies and other state organizations. It holds works of the official publication for judicial papers and initiatory pleadings ...etc, and execute judgments and writs of execution, and accept its related amounts deposit it and spend it according the law as well as works of real estate registration and authentication, and confirmation, and date listing and visas on commercial records according to law. The final thing that it maintains is cooperation with countries, and Arabian, and Islamic, and foreign organizations in the legal and judicial fields.
The ministry’s body consists of mainly two bodies. The basic bodies of jurisdiction and the other departments. There are several things that Article 231 of chapter two of the decree of law no 23 says shall be in the judiciary body. For instance, there must be a court of causation, court of appeals, and court of first instance just to name a few. Also, there is an Assistant Department of Judiciary Body which covers things such as the judicial arbitration department, judicial department fees, and criminal execution and affairs and the foreign communication office. The other departments consist of the administrative affairs, financial affairs, and family consultancies departments.
The ministry of justice has made news lately and has taken strides to be more functional. The minister of justice made a statement in the newspaper on January 3, 2009 about the construction of new facilities. He said, “I asked the Municipality and Ministry of Public Works to expedite the completion of these projects because the existing buildings are narrow and could not meet the required tasks, a matter that requires providing new buildings in order to ensure performing necessary justice”. He was referring to the task of completing the infrastructure projects of the judiciary and ways to accelerate this task. “We will work on completing more largely and quickly those projects as well as accelerating the execution of the requests of the judiciary members” added Hussein Al-Huraiti. Minister Hussein Al-Huraiti also made news in February by publicly thanking His Highness the Amir for allowing for increased funding granted to senior judicial and public prosecution officials. Thanks to the funding, they feel that they can continue to further the path of boosting justice throughout.
Kuwait-General
Kuwait is the Islamic Middle Eastern state, situated at the northwest extreme of the Persian Gulf, and is somewhat overshadowed and overwhelmed by its neighbors Iran, Saudi Arabia, and especially war-torn Iraq. Despite the troubled neighbors it possesses, Kuwait is slowly starting to attract tourists and businessmen from the West, especially Americans. Those visiting Kuwait today are filled with a lust for adventure that has nothing to do with adrenalin-producing experiences, but rather a yearning to explore a not too radical fundamentalist Muslim culture and witness a country undergoing post-war reconstruction. Its Arabic names means fort, and in essence that's exactly how it was formed, as it was once home to a small desert community until the Al-Sabah family took control, and literally built the first (fortified) settlement in the mid-1700s.
As I said earlier, Kuwait is bordered by Iraq to the North and West, Saudi Arabia to the South, and the Persian Gulf on the East. The capital of Kuwait is Kuwait City, which is situated halfway between the top and bottom of the country, along the eastern coast and right off the Kuwait Bay. The country has about 310 miles of coastline with hardly any bodies of water within it. Most of Kuwait is an entirely flat and dry barren desert of sandy plains. The land (desert) begins to rise slightly in the southwest, along the border with Saudi Arabia. As is understandable, Kuwait has very limited agricultural development because of its blazing hot climates and the sandy desert topography. Subsequently, with the exception of fish, it depends almost completely on imported food to feed its people.
The country of Kuwait is a very nice place to visit now but it has not always been that way. Kuwait has had a dreadfully turbulent past that has killed off relations between it and its neighbors. On television, with the world watching, Kuwait was attacked and overrun by Iraq on August 2, 1990. At this time Iraq claimed Kuwait as its 19th province. Following weeks of aerial bombardment, a US-led, UN coalition began a ground assault on February 23, 1991, that liberated Kuwait in just four days. Now the country is separated from its threatening neighbor by a wall along its border. This small, oil-rich nation, has resumed a somewhat normal life since the costly Gulf War, however, in the volatile Middle East, controversy is often just around the corner.
The ruined capital, Kuwait City, has risen from the ashes of war to become a buzzing metropolis with gleaming high rises, numerous luxury hotels and lush parks set along wide avenues. The city's major landmark is the Kuwait Towers, visible from the harbor where oil tankers come and go, docking alongside hundreds of cargo ships and pleasure craft. Kuwait is now regarded as a relatively safe destination with plenty to interest the traveler, not only in Kuwait City itself but throughout, from its arid desert plateau to the fertile coastal belt and the nine small offshore islands over which it has sovereignty.
The main good that Kuwait is known for is their oil. They do not produce a whole lot of things so their oil is their trademark and staple. The small Middle East country holds 10 percent of the world's proven oil reserves. During the late 1940s, the extent of Kuwait's oil resources began to emerge and the long term potential of the petroleum industry was realized. Kuwait has the world's fifth largest oil reserves and is one of the richest countries in the world per capita. Petroleum and petroleum products now account for nearly 95% of export revenues, and 80% of government income. Plainly put, the oil reserves that Kuwait is blessed with sets the country up for economic stability and prosperity. Their economy is booming because of the oil that they possess.
Kuwait has a proven crude oil reserves of 104 billion barrels (15 km³), and as I said earlier it is estimated to be 10 percent of the world's reserves. According to the Kuwaiti constitution, all natural resources in the country and associated revenues are government property. Being a tax-free country, Kuwait's oil industry accounts for 80% of government revenue. That is an extremely large amount of the profit for the country. As we can see, they are so dependent on this oil, that without it this country would surely fail. Petroleum and petrochemicals accounts for nearly half of GDP and 95% of export revenues. Increase in oil prices since 2003 has caused a surge in Kuwait's economy. However, Kuwait's economy was badly affected by the global financial crisis of 2008.
The country is a bit diverse. As of 2007, Kuwait's population was estimated to be 3 to 3.5 million people which included approximately 2 million non-nationals. Kuwaiti citizens are therefore a minority of those who reside in Kuwait. The government rarely grants citizenship to foreigners to maintain status quo. They have a stable education system there but only one public university, Kuwait University. Despite that, their oil yields have allowed them to invest in education which resulted in Kuwait having a literacy rate of 93.3 percent. Kuwait is a country just waiting to break through and become a major player on the world stage.
As I said earlier, Kuwait is bordered by Iraq to the North and West, Saudi Arabia to the South, and the Persian Gulf on the East. The capital of Kuwait is Kuwait City, which is situated halfway between the top and bottom of the country, along the eastern coast and right off the Kuwait Bay. The country has about 310 miles of coastline with hardly any bodies of water within it. Most of Kuwait is an entirely flat and dry barren desert of sandy plains. The land (desert) begins to rise slightly in the southwest, along the border with Saudi Arabia. As is understandable, Kuwait has very limited agricultural development because of its blazing hot climates and the sandy desert topography. Subsequently, with the exception of fish, it depends almost completely on imported food to feed its people.
The country of Kuwait is a very nice place to visit now but it has not always been that way. Kuwait has had a dreadfully turbulent past that has killed off relations between it and its neighbors. On television, with the world watching, Kuwait was attacked and overrun by Iraq on August 2, 1990. At this time Iraq claimed Kuwait as its 19th province. Following weeks of aerial bombardment, a US-led, UN coalition began a ground assault on February 23, 1991, that liberated Kuwait in just four days. Now the country is separated from its threatening neighbor by a wall along its border. This small, oil-rich nation, has resumed a somewhat normal life since the costly Gulf War, however, in the volatile Middle East, controversy is often just around the corner.
The ruined capital, Kuwait City, has risen from the ashes of war to become a buzzing metropolis with gleaming high rises, numerous luxury hotels and lush parks set along wide avenues. The city's major landmark is the Kuwait Towers, visible from the harbor where oil tankers come and go, docking alongside hundreds of cargo ships and pleasure craft. Kuwait is now regarded as a relatively safe destination with plenty to interest the traveler, not only in Kuwait City itself but throughout, from its arid desert plateau to the fertile coastal belt and the nine small offshore islands over which it has sovereignty.
The main good that Kuwait is known for is their oil. They do not produce a whole lot of things so their oil is their trademark and staple. The small Middle East country holds 10 percent of the world's proven oil reserves. During the late 1940s, the extent of Kuwait's oil resources began to emerge and the long term potential of the petroleum industry was realized. Kuwait has the world's fifth largest oil reserves and is one of the richest countries in the world per capita. Petroleum and petroleum products now account for nearly 95% of export revenues, and 80% of government income. Plainly put, the oil reserves that Kuwait is blessed with sets the country up for economic stability and prosperity. Their economy is booming because of the oil that they possess.
Kuwait has a proven crude oil reserves of 104 billion barrels (15 km³), and as I said earlier it is estimated to be 10 percent of the world's reserves. According to the Kuwaiti constitution, all natural resources in the country and associated revenues are government property. Being a tax-free country, Kuwait's oil industry accounts for 80% of government revenue. That is an extremely large amount of the profit for the country. As we can see, they are so dependent on this oil, that without it this country would surely fail. Petroleum and petrochemicals accounts for nearly half of GDP and 95% of export revenues. Increase in oil prices since 2003 has caused a surge in Kuwait's economy. However, Kuwait's economy was badly affected by the global financial crisis of 2008.
The country is a bit diverse. As of 2007, Kuwait's population was estimated to be 3 to 3.5 million people which included approximately 2 million non-nationals. Kuwaiti citizens are therefore a minority of those who reside in Kuwait. The government rarely grants citizenship to foreigners to maintain status quo. They have a stable education system there but only one public university, Kuwait University. Despite that, their oil yields have allowed them to invest in education which resulted in Kuwait having a literacy rate of 93.3 percent. Kuwait is a country just waiting to break through and become a major player on the world stage.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Review of CIA Interrogation Programs
The Senate Intelligence Committee is preparing a review of the CIA's controversial interrogation programs under the Bush White House. There was a great deal of controversy on the interrogation practices when George W. Bush was in office, so now they are being looked into by the Senate. At first, I must admit that I did not see the value of the review. In the beginning of the article it does not provide exactly what they hoped to get out of completing the review. It reads, "The intention is not to find evil-doers or lawbreakers," according to the aide, but "the information will go where it goes." This is not very specific at all and leaves a great deal to the imagination. I thought that the article was very vague at the purpose of the review initially, but I now understand what exactly they hope to attain.
Evidently the committee will take a look at how the agency carried out interrogation tactics and decide if useful knowledge or information was attained from it. They say the review could be announced as early as Friday. In January President Obama issued an executive order that the CIA programs be reviewed to see if anything should be kept and used by his administration. I feel that this is a good idea. While he did call for change, there may be some good things that former President Bush used that might work for his administration as well. This is a very wise move on the part of the Obama team. The "enhanced interrogation techniques" included water boarding, a method that simulates drowning and is considered torture by the new administration and around the world. Obama has been very outspoken about his determination to ensure that the United States does not use torturous practices such as water boarding. I have heard him talk about this time and time again, so it is obviously something he is passionate about.
They will also look into the detention centers and secret prisons that were supposedly used in the past. CIA Chief Leon Panetta said he would cooperate with any congressional reviews or inquiries. "If those committees are seeking information in these areas, we'll cooperate with them," Panetta said Wednesday. "I think that we have a responsibility to be transparent on these issues and to provide them that information." I think this is the best way to go about things because a house divided will surely fall. If we are to be a great nation that we claim to be, we must work together and be transparent with one another; besides, the government should not hide any secrets from itself or the people.
It is in the best interests of all parties involved if the CIA complies with all reviews and investigations of the tactics used in Bush’s administration. They are saying that the review could take up to a year to complete. I hope and pray that some good comes out of this review so that we can move on to new heights as a nation.
Evidently the committee will take a look at how the agency carried out interrogation tactics and decide if useful knowledge or information was attained from it. They say the review could be announced as early as Friday. In January President Obama issued an executive order that the CIA programs be reviewed to see if anything should be kept and used by his administration. I feel that this is a good idea. While he did call for change, there may be some good things that former President Bush used that might work for his administration as well. This is a very wise move on the part of the Obama team. The "enhanced interrogation techniques" included water boarding, a method that simulates drowning and is considered torture by the new administration and around the world. Obama has been very outspoken about his determination to ensure that the United States does not use torturous practices such as water boarding. I have heard him talk about this time and time again, so it is obviously something he is passionate about.
They will also look into the detention centers and secret prisons that were supposedly used in the past. CIA Chief Leon Panetta said he would cooperate with any congressional reviews or inquiries. "If those committees are seeking information in these areas, we'll cooperate with them," Panetta said Wednesday. "I think that we have a responsibility to be transparent on these issues and to provide them that information." I think this is the best way to go about things because a house divided will surely fall. If we are to be a great nation that we claim to be, we must work together and be transparent with one another; besides, the government should not hide any secrets from itself or the people.
It is in the best interests of all parties involved if the CIA complies with all reviews and investigations of the tactics used in Bush’s administration. They are saying that the review could take up to a year to complete. I hope and pray that some good comes out of this review so that we can move on to new heights as a nation.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Clinton to deal with Korean tension
Secretary of State Clinton was in Asia Thursday to lower tensions between North and South Korea. She has been in Asia for the week making her first overseas trip as Secretary of State. The stop in South Korea was the third leg of her four-nation tour in the continent. Apparently, the United States government has evidence that the North Korean government was on the verge of a launch of a long-range missile. Clinton’s visit came as tensions between the two are rapidly heightening, as evidenced by the alleged plans to launch the missile.
North Korean officials have disputed the claim and have said that Pyongyang was preparing to launch a satellite. Pyongyang said Thursday that it was ready for an "all-out confrontation" with South Korea, calling South Korean President Lee Myung-bak a traitor and accusing him of "frantically inciting hostility" toward North Korea and "kicking up ... war hysteria," North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency said. It seems as though the North is being very aggressive in its talk and actions, if those things are true. "It's seen as an attempt by North Korea to increase uneasiness about security and widen the ideological divide within South Korea," said Kim Ho-Nyun, a spokesman for the South Korean Unification Ministry.
As Clinton spoke on Thursday she said that the alleged launch was, “a matter of great concern”. Clinton is being smart about this and trying to remain neutral and hear all sides. She will supposedly speak with the leadership of South Korea and China on what they think should be the next steps in dealing with the North. It is important to confer with those surrounding nations on how to move forward because they are in the region and know best what is actually going on with North Korea. Clinton remarks, “"We obviously do have some ideas. ... But we do want this to be shared responsibility." It is in the best interests of all parties to ensure that this is being dealt with in the proper manner and all perspectives are kept in mind.
It is believed that North Korea is about to go through leadership changes as Kim Jong Il’s health is deteriorating. He reportedly had a stroke and some observers claim he may not be fully in charge of the country. With this in mind Clinton plans to be even more cautious and cognizant of what can and might happen if tensions are not resolved quickly. There is increased pressure, Clinton added, because of questions over succession issues for the North's leadership. "If there is a succession," Clinton went on, "even if it is a peaceful succession, then that creates more uncertainty. It may also encourage even more provocative action as a way to delegate power within the society."
The important thing to remember is that when potential world threats of North Korea’s nature decide to do something, they often act irrationally putting many lives in jeopardy. I’m sure that Clinton is aware of this and will act accordingly in her tactics to smooth things over on all fronts. If nothing else, Clinton seems to have the beginnings of a plan. "Our goal is to try to come up with a strategy that is effective in influencing the leadership of North Korea at a time when the leadership situation is somewhat unclear."
The secretary of state said the aim now is to rebuild the commitment by the U.S., Russia, China, Japan and South Korea into a "united front" to deal with the North. That will be very key in the strategy to deal with this situation. You must have allies, and should not go alone in matters of this magnitude. Clinton reports that talks with these countries have produced some results, “but we are still dealing with the reality of North Korea not only possessing, we believe, some number of nuclear weapons, but showing very little willingness to get back on track." I hope Clinton is ready for the job because as we’ve seen in the past it won’t be easy.
North Korean officials have disputed the claim and have said that Pyongyang was preparing to launch a satellite. Pyongyang said Thursday that it was ready for an "all-out confrontation" with South Korea, calling South Korean President Lee Myung-bak a traitor and accusing him of "frantically inciting hostility" toward North Korea and "kicking up ... war hysteria," North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency said. It seems as though the North is being very aggressive in its talk and actions, if those things are true. "It's seen as an attempt by North Korea to increase uneasiness about security and widen the ideological divide within South Korea," said Kim Ho-Nyun, a spokesman for the South Korean Unification Ministry.
As Clinton spoke on Thursday she said that the alleged launch was, “a matter of great concern”. Clinton is being smart about this and trying to remain neutral and hear all sides. She will supposedly speak with the leadership of South Korea and China on what they think should be the next steps in dealing with the North. It is important to confer with those surrounding nations on how to move forward because they are in the region and know best what is actually going on with North Korea. Clinton remarks, “"We obviously do have some ideas. ... But we do want this to be shared responsibility." It is in the best interests of all parties to ensure that this is being dealt with in the proper manner and all perspectives are kept in mind.
It is believed that North Korea is about to go through leadership changes as Kim Jong Il’s health is deteriorating. He reportedly had a stroke and some observers claim he may not be fully in charge of the country. With this in mind Clinton plans to be even more cautious and cognizant of what can and might happen if tensions are not resolved quickly. There is increased pressure, Clinton added, because of questions over succession issues for the North's leadership. "If there is a succession," Clinton went on, "even if it is a peaceful succession, then that creates more uncertainty. It may also encourage even more provocative action as a way to delegate power within the society."
The important thing to remember is that when potential world threats of North Korea’s nature decide to do something, they often act irrationally putting many lives in jeopardy. I’m sure that Clinton is aware of this and will act accordingly in her tactics to smooth things over on all fronts. If nothing else, Clinton seems to have the beginnings of a plan. "Our goal is to try to come up with a strategy that is effective in influencing the leadership of North Korea at a time when the leadership situation is somewhat unclear."
The secretary of state said the aim now is to rebuild the commitment by the U.S., Russia, China, Japan and South Korea into a "united front" to deal with the North. That will be very key in the strategy to deal with this situation. You must have allies, and should not go alone in matters of this magnitude. Clinton reports that talks with these countries have produced some results, “but we are still dealing with the reality of North Korea not only possessing, we believe, some number of nuclear weapons, but showing very little willingness to get back on track." I hope Clinton is ready for the job because as we’ve seen in the past it won’t be easy.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Plane Crash in Buffalo, NY
Plane crashes into suburban Buffalo home; 50 killed
Late Thursday night, a Continental Airlines plane nosedived into a home in suburban Buffalo, New York. All forty-eight passengers, including the crew members were killed. Also, a person in the home was killed, with others having to be rushed to the hospital. According to the Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital in Williamsville, the four that were injured on the scene were treated and released from the hospital later. They had minor injuries as well as smoke inhalation that the firefighters helped treat.
The Continental Connection Flight 3407, a Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 74-seat turboprop, operated by Colgan Air, was en route from Newark, New Jersey, to Buffalo when it went down at around 10:20 p.m. ET. One of the most painful things to deal with is the fact that the plane crash occurred only about seven miles from Buffalo Niagara International Airport. These people didn’t have much farther to go to arrive at their destination, which makes it all the more heartbreaking.
Dave Bissonette, Clarence Center's natural disaster services coordinator, said "The only recognizable piece of the plane left is the tail". This makes sense because all of the reports are saying that it went straight down into the house, which would cause the rest of the plane to be destroyed. By this description, the only possible explanation is a nosedive by the plane. The plane crash resulted in a blazing fire that officials are saying will keep the crash site until at least noon on Friday, which is fourteen hours after the crash. Some are trying to figure out just what caused the crash. One thing that is being considered is the mix of sleet and snow in the area when the crash happened. Other planes headed to the airport arrived safely, so officials are very unsure as to the cause.
CNN has listened to a tape of communications between air traffic control and the flight crew. It was determined that the first officer had no sign of stress in her voice. The plane was cleared for approach. About two minutes later, the air traffic controller came back, with stress in his voice. Radar contact was lost. All the evidence will be reviewed in the coming days in further detail.
Area residents were stunned at the uncommon happenings. Area resident Keith Burtis said he was driving to the store about a mile from the crash site when he heard the plane go down. "It was a high-pitched sound," Burtis said. "It felt like a mini-earthquake." Other witnesses told CNN they saw the plane nose-dive toward the ground. "I felt the impact ... sounded like a large explosion," said Brendan Biddlecom, who told CNN he lives two blocks from where the plane crashed. They had to require that twelve residents in the area be evacuated for safety reasons.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the crew, the passengers and our residents on Long Street," said Clarence Supervisor Scott Blylewski.
Thursday's incident is the first fatal crash of a commercial airliner in the United States since August 2006 when Comair Flight 5191 crashed when it attempted to take off from the wrong runway. A very unfortunate happening has woken this country to a grave reality once again. Hopefully some valuable information will be disclosed and the families will be supported during the trying times.
Late Thursday night, a Continental Airlines plane nosedived into a home in suburban Buffalo, New York. All forty-eight passengers, including the crew members were killed. Also, a person in the home was killed, with others having to be rushed to the hospital. According to the Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital in Williamsville, the four that were injured on the scene were treated and released from the hospital later. They had minor injuries as well as smoke inhalation that the firefighters helped treat.
The Continental Connection Flight 3407, a Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 74-seat turboprop, operated by Colgan Air, was en route from Newark, New Jersey, to Buffalo when it went down at around 10:20 p.m. ET. One of the most painful things to deal with is the fact that the plane crash occurred only about seven miles from Buffalo Niagara International Airport. These people didn’t have much farther to go to arrive at their destination, which makes it all the more heartbreaking.
Dave Bissonette, Clarence Center's natural disaster services coordinator, said "The only recognizable piece of the plane left is the tail". This makes sense because all of the reports are saying that it went straight down into the house, which would cause the rest of the plane to be destroyed. By this description, the only possible explanation is a nosedive by the plane. The plane crash resulted in a blazing fire that officials are saying will keep the crash site until at least noon on Friday, which is fourteen hours after the crash. Some are trying to figure out just what caused the crash. One thing that is being considered is the mix of sleet and snow in the area when the crash happened. Other planes headed to the airport arrived safely, so officials are very unsure as to the cause.
CNN has listened to a tape of communications between air traffic control and the flight crew. It was determined that the first officer had no sign of stress in her voice. The plane was cleared for approach. About two minutes later, the air traffic controller came back, with stress in his voice. Radar contact was lost. All the evidence will be reviewed in the coming days in further detail.
Area residents were stunned at the uncommon happenings. Area resident Keith Burtis said he was driving to the store about a mile from the crash site when he heard the plane go down. "It was a high-pitched sound," Burtis said. "It felt like a mini-earthquake." Other witnesses told CNN they saw the plane nose-dive toward the ground. "I felt the impact ... sounded like a large explosion," said Brendan Biddlecom, who told CNN he lives two blocks from where the plane crashed. They had to require that twelve residents in the area be evacuated for safety reasons.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the crew, the passengers and our residents on Long Street," said Clarence Supervisor Scott Blylewski.
Thursday's incident is the first fatal crash of a commercial airliner in the United States since August 2006 when Comair Flight 5191 crashed when it attempted to take off from the wrong runway. A very unfortunate happening has woken this country to a grave reality once again. Hopefully some valuable information will be disclosed and the families will be supported during the trying times.
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