The article “US Policy Toward Political Islam” by Stephen Zunes is a thoroughly researched topic. His depictions of a greedy, judgmental America are accurate and to the point. While there is a good chunk of useful suggestions that may have created less hostility from our Eastern counterparts, it is not logical or possible to say that following these sanctions out would have changed the outcome of the last ten years. What can be said of these ideas, is that following a more honest approach to politics through US policies would have given America a much needed transparency. Many of the extremist groups are founded on the hatred of American downfalls such as our tendency to overtake their lands by military force in order to exploit the lands natural resources. In short, this essay lacked a huge component concerning our occupation in the Middle East: money.
Stephen Zunes took quite an idealized approach to our foreign policy. Even before the events of 9/11, our interest in foreign oil was known. He hardly mentioned the fact that the Middle East has the oil our nation so desperately depends on. Whoever controls the oil flow controls much of the world’s economy. This article is a good beginning, or even rough draft to foreign policy concerning the Middle East, but fails to connect the financial dots. In order to truly make a difference in the way our Muslim friends view us, we must enact a clause promising America will not attempt to take any of the natural resources that belong to the country of military occupation. Of course America would not be so bold as to fly T. Boone Pickens over to Iraq and start drilling, but something like an under the table “agreement” with a newly democratic Iraq to supply the US with a percentage of any o...
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...egarding why American children cannot read maps. While it is impossible to create a completely aware and culturally sensitive generation, we can eliminate a huge amount of misplaced ill will towards those who come from different cultures and religions. It is possible to make the outcomes possibilities, but we will never know the true value of ideas until they are enacted. Let us stop pondering, and start doing what needs to be done to create a more globally aware culture that accepts differences as assets instead of road blocks.
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... the natural resources of the region was successful. However, this success came with its own consequences. The process of securing the states’ interest was complicated. As the Carter Doctrine was used to justify the actions of the United States in the region, the residents of the region were not okay with this. The level of detest grew, and actions began to take place that hinted at the United States need to bring to a halt the influence they had on the region. Groups began to form and the mission of Al-Qaeda began. The influence and the constant policies the United States had in the Middle East resulted in hatred. The attack of 9/11 is clearly a consequence of the Carter Doctrine, and there is no way around it. Isolationism ended, and the Carter Doctrine was written to justify all actions done in the Persian Gulf leading to opposition and the tragic event of 9/11.
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...The lack of diplomatic leadership was also a great factor; he describes Iraq as it lacked political and social legitimacy. Fitzgerald’s research on the invasion of Kuwait article summarizes their history and provides a clear overview of the history of the relationships between Iraq and Kuwait (Hassan 28). This helps the people to get a clear picture on the kind of problems that faced the Middle Eastern countries. The article provides a better knowledge with worthwhile information on the occurrences that destabilized the Middle Eastern countries. It mentions the reign of Saddam Hussein who was one of the most powerful dictators that did not bow down to Western influences (Musallam 67). As a result of his tough skin it led to a war that could have been avoided. In conclusion, war creates danger for any economy and while peace provides for steady economic growth.
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Islam, a religion of people submitting to one God, seeking peace and a way of life without sin, is always misunderstood throughout the world. What some consider act of bigotry, others believe it to be the lack of education and wrong portrayal of events in media; however, one cannot not justify the so little knowledge that America and Americans have about Islam and Muslims. Historically there are have been myths, many attacks on Islam and much confusion between Islam as a religion and Middle Easter culture that is always associated with it. This paper is meant to dispel, or rather educate about the big issues that plague people’s minds with false ideas and this will only be touching the surface.
In 1095, Jerusalem was a flourishing city that was the main powerhouse for three religions; all three religions wanted complete control over the holy land. These three religions were Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, and all three religions were known to use Jerusalem as a place of religious reasons. But in turn, the best part about Jerusalem was the political power it held. Pope Urban’s demand for power and Jewish Israel’s desire to control Palestinians are the factors in the political conflict over the holy land.
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In a recent study, the National Geographic Society and the Asia Society shed light on a growing concern that showed students from the United States lacked understanding and knowledge of different people, places, and cultures around the world. This growing concern demanded higher-quality education as well as for teachers to understand the value and necessity of developing lessons based on global education. Since the 1980s, the United States government has tried repeatedly to introduce and incorporate multiculturalism and global education into the system but was met with hostility and protests by many of its citizens. Many protestors believed that global education introduces anti-Americanism, and that multiculturalism introduces and encourages "separatism and disunity". Therefore, it is important and necessary to inform and introduce the general public to the benefits of global education, or cultural education in general to our youth. This will help rise a more knowledgeable generation that is better equipped to deal, communicate, understand, and help the rest of the world.
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