Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Article  #4 - "Ebola drains already weak West African health systems"

As briefly mentioned in my previous post, one of the current international crises that is of the growing concern for all is the Ebola virus which has been ravaging Africa. Despite all the fighting and terrorist threats in the Middle East, this widespread disease has still garnered global attention because of the high mortality rate and fear of it becoming airborne. 
The virus has spread most rapidly in the West African states of Sierra Leone and Liberia. In West Africa, fruit bats are considered a delicacy and are also "considered to be the virus's natural host," which contributed to its initial spread in the area. As of now, there is no known cure or proven vaccine and the virus can be passed from person to person via body fluid. 
The Ebola virus has not exclusively ravaged West Africa just by the illness and death it has caused, but also but the attention and resources it has taken away from others in need. Global and nationwide efforts have been solely focused on Ebola, leaving people in the area who need treatment for malaria and other serious disease left with no where to go. 
Many hospitals are not taking any other patients than those infected with Ebola, leaving any pregnant women with little to no places to give birth and even children on the brink of death infected measles or malaria. This is another unfortunate unforeseen consequence of this Ebola outbreak. Liberia specifically is at risk for water-borne diseases because of the rainy system under way.
The Ebola outbreak is an issue that has received high publicity and attention worldwide. The question is raised of how much the United States should do in regards of helping this underprivileged nations in dealing with this crisis while still taking care of our already numerous international and domestic commitments. 

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-29324595

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Article Response #3 - Obama and the United States' Responses to Global Crisises
As I have discussed in my last two blog posts, the situation in the Middle East with the Islamic State Militant organization (ISIS) has increasingly risen in tension over the past few weeks. Largely due to the publicly released video by ISIS of the beheadings of two kidnapped American journalists (and the threat of more to come), the United States' government has made strong statements about the zero tolerance that the U.S. has for these terrorist acts and that they will 'degrade and destroy' ISIS. President Obama and his Administration have used powerful language and direct statements toward ISIS that the U.S. and U.S. Military will not back down and will "open the gates of hell" for these terrorists. 
I voiced last week that although President Obama made clear that the United States would not be dragged into another combat war in Iraq, he also made it clear during his first election in 2008 that he was in strong opposition of the initial 2003 invasion of Iraq and wanted to pull out all U.S. troops out of Iraq. 
Now, in the middle of his second term in 2014, he is deploying more American troops to Iraq. President Obama is aware of the American public's concern over this issue, and this week he reassured in a speech to soldiers at the MacDill Air Force Base that he "would not commit to fighting another ground war in Iraq." 
Although, President Obama also stated that the United States has "'unique abilities' to respond to IS." These "unique abilities" include, according to Obama, armed forces that are "unparalleled" which means when there is a "big problem somewhere around in the world, it falls on our shoulders." 
This state of mind is shared by many Americans and has been shared by many presidents past and present. It is this American elitist thinking that has allowed America to retain its position as an global superpower as well as an international target of hatred. 
At the same time of this current battle against ISIS in the MIddle East, the Ebola outbreak in West Africa is an additional global security threat that the Obama Administration feels a sense of responsibility to act on. President Obama has promised 3,000 American troops to "help build treatment centers and train thousands of medical staff." Although these soldiers are being sent for undoubtedly humanitarian efforts, there is still criticisms domestically about the troops putting themselves at risk to catch the virus. 
Without question, these countries are in need and their struggles could have internationally repercussions. However, because of the costs and risks, it seems there is no route the Obama Administration can take that will appease everyone. 


Sources: 
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29235083

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-29231400

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Article Response #2 - "Islamic State crisis: Obama threatens action in Syria"
             
         Last week (9/2/14) I posted on a BBC News article entitled "Response to Sotloff beheading: Biden vows to chase IS to 'gates of hell'" which went into detail about President Obama's response to the Islamic State Militant's (ISIS) recent beheadings of two American citizens.
         In the most recent incident of beheading, ISIS released video where the executioner, Jihad John, mocks and threats President Obama and his administration because of their decision to attack the organization. President Obama reacted strongly by proclaiming that "the US will not stop until the [Islamic State] militants are brought to justice" as well as guaranteeing that the US will "degrade and destroy" ISIS. 
Today, September 10th, 2014, President Obama delivered remarks detailing how exactly the US plans on taking action against ISIS. He did so by announcing that there will be increased support for allies already fighting against the militants, although he emphasized the US will not assist Syrian President Assad.
         In addition to this, Obama assured there will be a continued humanitarian aid for all civilians in the Middle East who have been directly affected by ISIS. Obama's speech also made clear that any group, ISIS and beyond, who make threats to America will "find no safe haven" against the US military. Obama clarified this by stating that there will be "more counter-terrorism efforts" made in an attempt to discontinue ISIS' funding and prevent the flow of fighters into the Middle East. 
This call to action, although many feel it is necessary to be made, comes from a man who was elected based in part of his vocal opposition of the 2003 invasion of Iraq and also lead the US troop pullout in Iraq. Though President Obama did his best to express that being dragged into another war was not an option, it is difficult not to feel that the likelihood of another war (official or not) is increasing each day. 

Based on the article: 
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29152129

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Article Response #1

                                           Response to Sotloff beheading: Biden vows to chase IS to 'gates of hell'

On September 2, 2014, BBC News reported on the recent comments made by US President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden regarding the beheading of American journalist Steven Sotloff by the Islamic State Militants (ISIS). 
        Sotloff was first captured by ISIS in Syria in August 2013. In the video of the beheading, which was released by the militant organization, the executioner Jihadi John directly mocks and calls out President Obama and his administration for their decision to attack ISIS in Iraq. It is because of the United States' decision to attack, stated Jihahdi, that Sotloff must "pay the price." Jihahdi also threatened to kill another American hostage if the United States refuses to back off in Iraq. 
        Unfortunately, Sotloff was not the first American to be killed at the hands of ISIS as a statement. Just two short weeks ago, American journalist James Foley was executed in the same fashion---beheaded on video by ISIS.
Following these troubling events, the United States felt the need to reaffirm that we will not back down from ISIS and, as stated by President Obama,  "the US will not stop until the militants are brought to justice." Both Vice President Biden and US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel reiterated statements made by President Obama regarding the construction and mission of a US coalition to "degrade and destroy" ISIS. 
          This use of strong language and direct threats to ISIS by the Obama Administration only means one thing for the Islamic Militants; they have awoken the hornet's net. They have the United States' attention (including the military) whether they like it or not, the US will not back down until it feels the situation with ISIS has sufficiently defused. By killing American citizens and threatening to continue to do so, they have left no other options for the United States but to 'open the gates of hell.'