2011 Vol: 1
GO
Issue : 4
ΓΩ
GLOBAL
Dear Readers,
Editor’s Note
Welcome to the first SIR GO newsletter of 2011! We are now in year two of Gamma Omega, and it is amazing to note
all the accomplishments our chapter has achieved. We have one of the most active student organizations at one of the
most popular online university systems in the United States. There has been a lot of work going into making SIR GO
such a success. I would like to briefly touch on some of this year’s success stories as well as work being done behind the
scenes.
In January 2011, our leadership committee had the first meeting of the year. They outlined goals for the upcoming year,
addressed challenges and set a vision for continued growth and opportunity for our members and chapter as a whole. In
regards to the growth of Gamma Omega, membership has increased significantly this year. We are pleased to have such
a fantastic foundation of individuals committed to the pursuit of excellence. This is especially notable since membership has become more selective than it was in the past and the leadership committee, especially our Chief of Staff, Scott
Freitas, has been working overtime to review applications and to follow up with new member packets.
Please take time to thank our leadership committee and volunteers. Also, if you have not already, find ways to contribute
your talents as well. The following are some of the many ways that you can get involved and the members who are currently a part of each respective program.
• Our chapter has an annual Academic Journal, which is a collection of some of the best academic papers written by
our members. The Academic Journal, also known as the GO Global Review, is being directed by Donna Walker and is
expected to be completed in the first half of 2011.
• Our Vice President, Jamie Montgomery has been leading our Special Events & Speaker Series (SESS) program. Jamie
coordinated our first speaker of the year, Reuss-Markus Krausse who led a brilliant presentation on China’s Modernization Path. She is working to schedule other speakers and is planning our chapter’s annual meeting in June 2011. Look
on Facebook for her posts announcing White House Internship possibilities and webcasts on terrorism through the
American Military University. As part of our continued growth, Kade Kallon is now training to become the new manager. Welcome Kade! Also keep checking Facebook for upcoming events and opportunities!! There is so much to take
advantage of, so don’t miss out!!
• The strength of our newsletter has been shaped by the outstanding contributions of our writers. I may be biased, but
I encourage everyone to either write at least one article for the newsletter or something for the next Academic Journal.
Writing is a great opportunity to become an expert in your field as well as contribute to the continued success of Gamma
Omega. Behind the scenes, John Casey has been working on the layout and graphics of each of the newsletters!! He
has done a fantastic job! We plan to post the newsletter on our chapter’s website, sirgo.org, with links on our chapter’s
Facebook page, on the APUS and AMU Facebook pages. We are also searching for other outlets.
• Sergei Oudman is our chapter’s webmaster and has done a tremendous job in creating and maintaining our chapter’s
website. He created a LinkedIn group for SIR GO as well. If you have not already get ‘LinkedIn’ and take advantage of
these chances to network with your peers!! The SIR GO website will be home to our newsletter and Academic Journal.
Future students and members will be able to access any newsletter or Academic Journal from the site.
• Part of our SIR mission is to ‘promote and reward scholarship and service among students.’ With this in mind, our
chapter president, Abdul Abid has been interested in finding funds to encourage the pursuit of academic excellence.
Recently SIR GO announced a great opportunity for current students or recent graduates interested in attending conferences or joining professional organizations! They sent out the following notice. “We have been granted a limited amount
of funds for students to register for conferences or join an IR-related professional organization. If you are interested,
please submit a one to two paragraph description of what you would like funding for, how it relates to IR and why it
Editor’s Note
would benefit you as a student/professional and APUS.” Devin Dunkle has been the point of contact for this opportunity!
This is another way that our chapter is working for you. We also have a new treasurer/chief financial officer, Jeff Johnson.
Welcome Jeff !
• Finally, read about the Curriculum Committee. One of our academic advisors, Michelle Watts, writes, “In December
2010 and January 2011, a very dedicated group of students volunteered to formulate proposals for a new minor in International Relations (IR) after Matthew Griffiths brought it to our attention that APUS does not currently offer a minor
in IR. Donna Mastrangelo, Gina Schell and Matthew Griffiths worked with SIR advisors Kimberly Ruff and Michelle
Watts, assisted by President Abdul Abid, VP Jamie Montgomery and Chief of Staff Scott Freitas, to poll students about
their thoughts on the course content that belonged in an IR Minor.”
• Other opportunities for our members have included a Middle East Dialogue panel in Washington DC, virtual career
fairs and information on how to create a model U.N. Mike Janney of the Student Affairs office of APUS has been posting information on Facebook for us as well. Keep checking in, take advantage of networking possibilities and use social
media to advance your knowledge and your international expertise.
These are just some of the ways that volunteers, leaders, and the academic advisors have been working for growth, change
and opportunity for Gamma Omega. As you read through the newsletter, you can find out more about the ways we have
grown. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of building what we have and thank you to the future volunteers and
leaders who will shape this organization for tomorrow.
We are part of a society that encourages knowledge of the greater global community, and as a result we are always looking
to the world around us. During these past few months especially, we have witnessed the power and influence of Social
Media as a vehicle for political change. Egypt, Tunisia and Libya are just some of the examples of citizens using cyberspace to promote their cause. In the pages of this newsletter, you will find articles exploring the concept of Social Media
and how quickly it can be used to influence ideas, shape perspectives, focus and introduce revolutionary change. WikiLeaks is one example of the potential fragile nature of digital information.
Many of our other writers discuss the complex social and political agendas in the Middle East such as in Egypt, Israel,
and Afghanistan and how they may or may not impact or be influenced by future change in the region. One writer brilliantly compares the changes of today to the climate prior to the fall of the Iron Curtain. Finally, as much as technology
has brought advances to our world, the plight of women and children continues to be affected by change. Iran is just one
example. Other types of exploitation have occurred in the almost hidden world of human trafficking, made easier by globalization, world poverty and the displacement of individuals after natural disaster.
Finally, our hearts go out to the citizens of Japan as they work to recover from the recent earthquake and the shutdown of
one of their nuclear reactor sites.
Readers, thank you for taking the time to stroll through our newsletter. As always, I hope you learn something new about
our international community and if you have something of value that you can share, please submit an article of your own!!
Enjoy!
Connie Peterson Uthoff
Editor in Chief
2010-2011
GO GLOBAL
Table of Contents
2010- 2011 Chapter Officers
Justin Razey
President
Abdul Abid
Academic Journal Committee Chairwoman
Donna Walker
Director of Special Events & Speaker Series
Jamie Montgomery
Director of Charity and Service Programs
Deven Dunkle
Chief of Staff
Scott Freitas
Treasurer
Jeff Johnson
Webmaster
Sergei Oudman
Faculty Advisor
Michelle Marie Arnold Watts
Faculty Advisor
Kimberly Dannels-Ruff
Inaugural Honorary Member
Wallace Boston (APUS)
Inaugural Honorary Member
Gwen Hall (APUS)
page 16
Administrative Staff
Predidents Corner
Page 4
Chapter News
Page 7
Test Your Knowledge
Page 14
Featured Articles By
Sergei Oudman
Dan Thompson
Sean Tolbert
Connie Uthoff
News Alerts
page 27
Op-Eds
Jesse Puga
Abdul Abid
Kimberly Dannels-Ruff
Michelle Marie Arnold Watts
Sergei Oudman
Dan Thompson
Lindsay Ryan
Robert Hones
page 31
Newsletter Staff
Career Center
page 34
Editor in Chief: Connie Peterson Uthoff
Managing Editor and Layout Design: John J. Casey
Contributing Writers: - Sergei Oudman, Joshua Maes, Jesse Puga,
Connie P. Uthoff, Dan Thompson, Sean Tolbert, Justin Razey
Volume 1, Issue 4
GO Global Newsletter is completed three times during the year. For any
responses to articles or op-eds,
please contact the Editor via email:
[email protected]
Pledged members of Gamma Omega are encouraged to join the newsletter team to submit any of the following: feature articles, short essays, brief
news alerts, op-eds, book reviews, (all international-related), academic/career
advice and resources, school/chapter announcements, member milestones,
crosswords, and advertisements.
[email protected]
http://sirgo.org
The President’s Corner
Volume 1 Issue 4
GAMMA OMEGA
By Abdul Abid
Gamma Omega President
Dear Gamma Omega members of the prestigious Sigma Iota Rho honor society,
I
’m proud to state that our chapter continues to be one of the most active
SIR chapters in the nation. I’d like to thank all the active members and the
entire chapter leadership for their service to this organization. It is my hope that we will
continue at this pace. We are all looking forward to meeting each other on June 17, 2011.
If you have not done so, please help support the chapter by becoming involved in the
various chapter activities. You can submit articles to this newsletter, your best academic
IR-related paper to the Academic Journal, and IR-related blogs/discussions on our Facebook page and on our own site, http://sirgo.org Additionally, we have had several speakers for lectures via teleconferences or webinars, and more are on the way.
Other news and announcements... in order to become more selective, the chapter has
had to increase our GPA requirements. Annual elections will be held in September and
voting will most likely take place on the OrgSync site. If you are a pledged member of
SIR GO and do not have an account on the site, please register for one. For the 6/17/11
events, we will keep you updated via our Facebook page and from our Gmail account.
For the past few months, the chapter leadership has received countless inquiries. We’ve
been working hard to keep up and respond to them as promptly as possible, and will continue to improve this process. We’re always open to your suggestions and ideas to progress the chapter. Thanks for your service and I hope you are all doing well.
Respectfully,
Abdul Abid
SIR GO President, 2010-2011
-4-
2010 SIR GO Stars of the Year Event
Volume 1 Issue 4
In late December 2010, our chapter held our 1st
Stars of the Year event. Ten nominees were selected
by several members in the chapter for making significant contributions or efforts on the international
stage or towards any global conflicts or issues. Of the
many votes received, General David Petraeus was the
winner with 23% of the vote. In 2nd place with 19%
of the vote came Mir-Hossein Mousavi. Third place
was tied between Hillary Clinton and Malalai Joya at
15%.
I want to thank all members who voted in this annual event. The chapter
of Gamma Omega appreciates the service and efforts made by all 10 of
our nominees, as well as by all other people who are making significant efforts in improving our world.
Respectfully,
Abdul Abid
-5-
Highlights
Spring
Membership
Drives
Sigma Iota Rho
Spotlight
IAEM and EPP
Garner Awards
Welcome
Student Involvement
Bulletin
Writing this edition, we reflected on the many achievements and accolades of our chapters, not only from this past quarter, but
also from the past year. From welcoming new members to participating in service projects, and networking with professionals,
2010 was a year to remember! With a new year upon us, now is the perfect time to engage in service projects, apply for
leadership positions and chapter scholarships, and network and connect to those sharing the same academic or social interests.
We hope you take the time to peruse this publication and check out the many ways our members are serving their community.
In this edition, get inspired reading about our current service project with eCYBERMISSION and our past Thanking Those Who
Serve project. This is the perfect time for YOU to become actively involved and engaged in your community!
Celebrate your fellow community members that were recently recognized with national awards! Stay connected through virtual
communities to ensure you are making the most of your experience at AMU or APU! Regardless of how you stay connected,
we encourage you to continue networking and actively participate within our social communities. As always, best of luck with
your studies and we hope to see many of you at the Class of 2011 Commencement Ceremony this June!
In This Issue
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
Welcome!
eCYBERMISSION Service Opportunities
Spring Membership Drives
Meet and Greet
Organization Spotlight: Sigma Iota Rho
IAEM and EPP Garner Awards
Thanking Those Who Serve
-6-
GO Chapter News
ΓΩ
Organization Spotlight: Sigma Iota Rho
The Gamma Omega chapter became the first online student
chapter to be formally recognized by the Sigma Iota Rho
International Relations (IR) Honor Society. Once established,
this group of passionate students have continued to promote
scholarship and service in international studies and global
affairs. The Gamma Omega chapter has not allowed barriers
of operating remotely to deter the chapter from achieving the
chapter goals and initiatives.
Gamma Omega was founded in 2009 by a dedicated group of IR students.
Ronald Dan Thompson initiated the effort by contacting the University’s
Student & Alumni Affairs staff and the national SIR chapter at the University of Pennsylvania. He advertised on the
AMU and APU Student Lounge and found passionate fellow IR students to make up the provisional executive team. The
first membership drive in the fall of 2009 yielded 50 members, and the chapter currently boasts over 200 active members
comprised of both undergraduate and graduate studies related to International Relations. The Gamma Omega chapter
continues to produce a quarterly chapter newsletter, “GO Global”; hosts a bi-monthly Guest Speaker’s Series with professionals in the field; and conducts peer networking to discuss a wide array of global topics. The AMU/APU IAEM chapter
is one of the most well respected chapters in the country! In 2010, several chapter members toured the Senate building in
Washington D.C. and got a chance to meet with South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham. The chapter’s inaugural annual
meeting was held in Arlington, VA in which several members met each other and discussed chapter goals and tasks. In
June 2011, the chapter hopes to meet again in Washington D.C., to tour the White House and hold an annual meeting.
Congratulations to all of the Gamma Omega members for their leadership and commitment in making the AMU and
APU Sigma Iota Rho chapter so successful.
Curriculum Committee Proposes Minor in International Relations
In December 2010 and January 2011, a very dedicated group of students volunteered to formulate proposals for a new minor
in International Relations (IR) after Matthew Griffiths brought it to our attention that APUS does not currently offer a
minor in IR.
Donna Mastrangelo, Gina Schell and Matthew Griffiths worked with SIR advisors Kimberly Ruff and Michelle Watts,
assisted by President Abdul Abid, VP Jamie Montgomery and Chief of Staff Scott Freitas, to poll students about their
thoughts on the course content that belonged in an IR Minor. The students compiled the results of the polls, analyzed them,
and made recommendations; Dr. Patricia Campbell reviewed these results and submitted a proposal to Dean Hall in February. The Curriculum Committee (Curcom) will meet in March to determine if the proposal will go forward to the next level.
We want to thank all the students involved for their hard work! We are very excited to see the outcome of this proposal.
In the future, Dean Hall would like to form a larger committee, with student representatives with different majors, to poll
students across the School of Security and Global Studies for suggestions about curriculum changes. If you are interested in
participating in such a committee, please contact Michelle Watts at [email protected].
-7-
GO Chapter News
RECENT EVENT IN WASHINGTON DC –MIDDLE EASTERN DIALOGUE
Being a part of SIR GO opens us all up to opportunities to attend dialogues and events, contribute to the growth of the chapter through volunteer services, network and learn from our
honored speakers. For those of you who may have missed the post on Facebook by Scott Freitas,
in February, members in the DC area were invited to a Middle Eastern Dialogue at the Whittemore House. We are proud to announce that President Boston of APUS chaired the Roundtable of the Presidents. The topic was: Can Education Help with the Middle East Problems?
We hope to get footage, transcripts or audio of some kind to share with members who were
unable to attend.
For those unfamiliar with the program, according to the Policy Studies Organization website, “The conference
reflects the eclectic approach of DOMES, the Digest of Middle East Studies, and the flagship Middle East
journal published by the Policy Studies Organization. The focus is on scholarly and nuanced views about the
entire region, reflecting our belief that more and balanced knowledge about it will help in approaching its problems”.
In particular, the Middle East Dialogue 2011 is “a forum for policy makers, scholars, business leaders, to discuss
major issues of the region. The Forum focuses on education initiatives, social, economic and political reforms,
nuclear proliferation, interfaith dialogue, women’s gains and challenges, peace initiatives, and potential areas of
conflict. We welcome different political and religious persuasions to discuss issues in a spirit of tolerance and
free discourse.”
Some of the presentations included the following topics and speakers:
Plenary Address. Educational and Cultural Diplomacy: Considering Middle East Challenges
Richard Arndt
Formerly Professor of French Literature, Columbia, and Diplomat in Residence, University of Virginia. State
Department Cultural Attaché, Beirut, Colombo-Sir Lanka, Tehran, Paris and Rome. President Emeritus of
Americans for UNESCO. Past President, National Peace Foundation. Board member, American Iranian Council. President, the Roth Endowment. His latest book is First Resort of Kings: U.S. Cultural Diplomacy in the
Twentieth Century
Roundtable of the Presidents. Can Education Help with the Middle East Problems?
Chair: Wally Boston, President, American Public University System!!
John Sexton, President, New York University
Stephen J. Trachtenberg, President Emeritus, George Washington University
Richard Arndt, President, The Roth Endowment
Paul Rich, President, Policy Studies Organization
Egypt and the Middle East in 2011
Chair: Mohammed M. Aman
Alon Ben-Meir Professor, Center for Global Affairs, New York University. Syndicated Columnist, United Press;
Author of A War We Must Win, The Last Option, In Defiance of Time, A Framework for Arab-Israeli Peace.
Latest book: Lost Perspectives: The Bumpy Road on the Almost Impossible Mission of Middle East Peace.
Next Century Foundation Panel - The Middle East Dilemmas.
-8-
GO Chapter News
Mark Hambley
Formerly United States Ambassador to Qatar and the Lebanon. Sometime Consul General in Alexandria and
Jeddah.
William Morris
Secretary General, Next Century Foundation, London. Formerly Adviser, Sultanate of Oman and Chair of the
International Council for Press and Broadcasting.
Ewen MacAskill
Washington Bureau Chief, The London Guardian
Democracy in the Middle East: Insights of The Anti-Enlightenment Democrats.
Chair: Miranda Jolicoeur, American Public University
Deina Abdelkader, University of Massachusetts Lowell
Turkish Armenian Rapprochement Processes: A Case Study Approach.
Chair: Guillermo De Los Reyes, University of Houston
Jack Kalpakian, Al Akhawayn University; and Volkan Ipek, Bilkent University
Educating for Empowerment: Lessons of the Christian Education Network of Israel and Palestine.
Chair: Leo Ribuffo, George Washington University
Seth Frantzman, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Transcending Nationalist Divides: Religious Reconciliation as the Basis for a One-State Solution in Israel/Palestine.
Chair: Akram Elias, President, Capital Communications
Andrew M. Wender, University of Victoria
Political Division and Democratization in the Middle East.
Chair: Norman Bailey, Institute of World Politics
Radwan Ziadeh, Georgetown University
Global Civic Education: Framework for Nationhood in Palestine.
Chair: David Merchant, Executive Director, Policy Studies Organization
Mary Coleman, Lesley College
Development of Scarce Water Resources in the Middle East for Sustainable Water Supply in the Era of Climate Change.
Chair: BruceRich, Environmental Law Institute
Eilon M. Adar, Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Syrian-Israeli Negotiations: Current State of Affairs
Chair: Mohammed Aman, University of Wisonsin-Milwaukee
Joseph Olmert, American University. Formerly Director of Communications for the Prime Minister and Policy
Adviser to the Defense Minister, Government of Israel, and Executive Director of the Council for Parliamentary Democracy.
Water in Arid Lands: Mapping and Managing a Scarce Resource in the Middle East.
Eilon M. Adar, Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Summaries of the presentations and more information concerning the program can be found on the website:
http://www.ipsonet.org/web/page/541/sectionid/375/pagelevel/2/interior.asp.
-9-
Other News
Make Social Media work for you!! Look on our Facebook, get involved on
LinkedIn, and check out the APUS, AMU and SIRGO websites for information on areas that may be of interest to you or that may help you to advance your career (or life) objectives!
Members who are also part of the Intelligence Studies Program at AMU – This is for you!!
SIR GO has many members who are taking programs or have graduated with degrees in Intelligence Studies. For those who are interested in sharing what you have experienced or want to
offer insights in relation to this part of your education, look at the announcement below. This
was posted by Professor David Jimenez in the Intelligence Studies Group on LinkedIn.
Calling All Students/Graduates IAFIE Conference, June 2011
International Association for Intelligence Education (Iafie.org)
Are you a graduate (or almost grad) of an intel studies program? Want to
share your insights into what you learned (or might have) with others at the
IAFIE conference in Washington, DC this June? We’re looking for four students
to form a panel on this topic at the conference. We’d like a variety of
schools to be involved; that’s the only restriction. Speaking time for each will be
about 15 minutes.
Contact Edna Reid, Events chair, to be considered ([email protected])
regards
Marilyn Peterson
IAFIE Chair
-10-
Other News
The Making of a Model UN
One of our members, Hector Cruz
posted a great link on Facebook – how
to make a model UN. This is an area
that we could bring a lot of value to our
chapter, so if anyone has ideas, interest or comments, please find his post
and respond! Hector wrote: “If any of
you are interested please send
me a message or comment it on
underneath my posting. Also,
please inform your fellow classmates and other AMU/APU
students on the student lounge
about this opportunity to represent APUS as a whole in this.”
The link to the site is
http://www.unausa.org/modelun/howtostart.
Anyone else with suggestions
that can benefit our chapter,
jump in and let us know. Facebook is a great way to explore
other opportunities, to network
and to share ideas about our
chapter as well as the larger
international community. Take
advantage of this time and make
the most of what you can!!!
-11-
Speaker Series
On Saturday, February 12, 2011, Markus Krausse, published author and
consultant, presented to members of Gamma Omega on understanding the role of China in an increasingly globalized world. He brilliantly
explored the concepts of globalization and modernization and examined
if we can compare China’s development to Western models of modernization. If so, what assumptions do we make and are they theoretically
sound? He answered these and took us through a deep discussion on various theories of modernization and how they may or may not apply to China. To learn more about his presentation and approach, you can find some
of his publications at http://www.Reuss-Markus-Kraus.com or if you
have not received a copy of his presentation, please make a request on our
Facebook page and someone will be more than happy to send you a copy.
COMING UP – DON’T MISS IT!!
OUR NEXT SPEAKER SERIES WILL FEATURE
LAILA EL GOHARY
Date: Thursday, April 7th at 7 PM EST!!
To attend our guest lecture, you must RSVP using the link below as there are a limited number of spots available. You
must have a computer with speakers to hear the guest lecturer. Log in information will be provided to those who RSVP
in early April
Topic: Middle East
Laila El Gohary has lived throughout the Middle East and has lectured on issues relating to US-Arab relations. She has
lived and experienced life in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. During her years at the American University in Cairo and
the University of Washington, Seattle she guest lectured at universities ranging from Georgetown University to the Naval
Academy. Laila has spoken extensively on the intricacies of life in the Middle East especially the Gulf, issues of cross
cultural relations and toleration, as well as politics and social norms. She currently works at Organizing for America in
Maryland.
We will also request that student submit questions in advance via form that will be provided with the RSVP. Members
should have received a link to the sign up site via email. If not, check out the chapter Facebook page for more information
or contact one of the chapter officers for assistance.
-12-
Past Lecture
-13-
Test Your Knowledge
Answers at end of the newsletter
1. What 1938 pact caused Winston Churchill to utter: “We have sustained a
defeat without a war?”
2. Which continent is the only one to have no glaciers?
3. What world leader was originally known as Karl Herbert Frahm?
4. What was the given name of the long-time Yugoslavian communist leader
we knew as Marshal Tito?
5. What country was once known as New Holland?.
6. What is the native language of the Fiji Islands?
7. What Dutch colony was ceded to the British in 1667 in exchange for Dutch
Guiana--the South American country now known as Suriname?
8. What is the claim to fame of the Turkish site known as Hissarlik?
9. Where do the Blue Nile and White Nile meet?
10. Which ocean is the smallest and shallowest?
11. How long is the Suez Canal the water link between the Gulf and Suez and
the Mediterranean Sea?
12. In what country does Domino’s Pizza have a reindeer sausage pie on its
menu?
-14-
Crisis in Japan
“First and foremost, our thoughts and our prayers are with the people of Japan. This is a potentially catastrophic disaster
and the images of destruction and flooding coming out of Japan are simply heartbreaking. Japan is, of course, one of our
strongest and closest allies, and this morning I spoke with Prime Minister Kan. On behalf of the American people, I
conveyed our deepest condolences, especially to the victims and their families…”
~President Barack Obama
On March 11, 2011, a month after an earthquake shook Christchurch, New Zealand, Japan’s north-east coast
was hit by the most powerful earthquake recorded for that region. Soon after the initial shock, a tsunami swept
in with a devastating force that destroyed ships, buildings, cars and precious lives in its wake.
Reports that have covered the tragedy have been heartbreaking and as of Friday, March 18, 2011 include some
of the following:
• Japanese citizens have turned the schools into makeshift morgues, posting the names of the deceased on the
doors.
• Many of the victims, the elderly and frail, have been displaced and are living in shelters, not sure when, or if,
they will ever return to their homes.
• There are reports that there are 2,200 facilities offering temporary shelter to over 380,000 people.
• The death toll continues to climb to over 6900 with over 10,000 people still missing.
• Search teams continued Friday to look for missing residents in the midst of ash and rubble. Red flags serve
as grave markers, planted where the bodies of the deceased are discovered (CNN, 2011).
If that loss was not tragic enough, the force of the tsunami also knocked out power to cooling systems at the
nuclear plant in Fukushima. During the days that followed, four reactors were hit by explosions and partial
meltdowns, comparable to the incident at Three Mile Island in 1979 (CNN, 2011). The crisis has left Japan
and the world reeling with shock and concern. U.S. commissions have been measuring levels of radiation in
the United States and other countries across the globe have been checking levels as well. Japan is not only
worried about the impact of radiation leaks, but also about the damage to its already worn economy and business sector. Power outages and factories shut down by the disaster have impacted export business and Japanese stocks.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan promised that Japan would not be defeated by this crisis. He called for his nation
to remember other times in history where the country had to find strength and resolve in order to survive. “We
will rebuild Japan from scratch...In our history this small island nation has made miraculous economic growth
thanks to the efforts of all Japanese citizens. That is how Japan was built,” (CNN, 2011).
References:
CNN Wire Staff. (2011). Japan’s Death Toll Climbs to Nearly 7,000. March 18, 2011, http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/18/japan.disaster/index.html?eref=rss_mostpopular (accessed March 18, 2011).
CNN Wire Staff. (2011). Survivor is Pulled From the Rubble 8 Days After Japan Quake. March 18, 2011, http://edition.cnn.
com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/18/japan.disaster/index.html?eref=edition_world (accessed March 18, 2011).
The White House. (2011). News Conference by the President. Office of the Press Secretary, Washington D.C. http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/03/11/news-conference-president (accessed March 18, 2011).
-15-
Change 2.0
By Sergei Oudman
Featured Articles
T
he latest developments in the Middle East
show that change is coming. However, the
nature of this change is perhaps not what
some countries are hoping for.
It is commonly accepted that democratic states
don’t go to war against each other. The democratic
peace hypothesis remains an issue of debate ever
since Immanuel Kant talked about a “perpetual peace”. Although statistics
in the past showed that democracies have not fought each other over the past
century and a half, the recent developments in the Middle East might change
this (Brown, Lynn-Jones & Miller, 1996).
Globalization is something that is increasingly playing a dominant role in the
lives of people worldwide. Globalization and interdependence go hand in hand
as technology intervenes by lowering the threshold people encountered e.g. 100
years ago. People in the Middle East have the technical means to receive other
sources of information, via satellite for example, besides their regimes. Technology in its broadest sense allows the polity in these different states to organize
themselves better than ever through the use of tools like Twitter, Facebook and
cellular phones. The speed with which information travels is faster than ever in
human history, subsequently the speed of developments is picking up pace as
well. Dictators and regimes can fall within days bringing change, change that is
often not fully understood to its fullest extent, change that is perhaps not always wanted by some.
The fact that during the last decades an increase occurred in the number of democratic states
puts pressure on the democratic peace theory. Democratic norms and perceptions are not infallible and the onset of any war in this era is always attributed to multiple causes (Dougherty
& Pfaltzgraff, 2001). In a world where issues like scarce resources slowly start to dominate the
policy agenda one might actually even argue that democratic or democratizing states are more
prone to war due to economic and security competition. The democratic peace hypothesis states
-16-
Featured Articles
Volume 1 Issue 4
that war is defined as a minimum of 1,000 battle deaths; however it neglects conflicts at a lower
level. Covert actions and low level armed conflicts against democratic or democratizing states
are not included in the equation. The latter examples show that democracies are willing to use
force against each other, albeit on a different way than classical warfare. Proxy wars that take
place on the periphery of third states are not direct wars on each other soils which show that the
matter is not as black and white as we often expect it to be (Rand, 2001).
During the fall of Mubarak in February mixed signals were sent from the US and the EU. The
implications of the coming change were uncertain. The West was afraid of an unstable Egypt,
which would mean trouble for the Suez Canal and Israel. The West enabled Mubarak and his
regime in the past to stay in power as long as he would guarantee safeguarding Western interests, including that of Israel. However, the fact that the Mubarak regime could fall created a
sense of panic because change was coming though the West was unsure what this change would
exactly be. Israel in the meantime is being confronted with neighbors that apparently are undergoing a democratization process. The implications are numerous and perhaps not always positive
for Israel and its foreign policy. The problem thus far with the West and subsequently Israel is
that they relied on a foreign policy that didn’t mind the occasional dictatorship in the Middle
East if it would bring stability and safeguard Western interests. The West on its turn openly
advocates the need of democracy knowing very well that the chances of this happening without pro-active Western support are slim. The sudden influx of demonstrations throughout the
Middle East and Iran, which have been growing in strength, caught the West by surprise. Past
research indicated that Muslim publics favor democracy (PEW, 2005). It should not have come
as a surprise that Muslims in general would revolt against a system that didn’t bring them much
good over the past decades.
For the West this change is a good thing as many in the West believe that democracy will bring
peace. Israel thus far was in a position that allowed it to take military action to defend itself
against dictatorships. The rise of a democratic neighbor however worries policymakers for the
simple reason that they are not sure if the process will be hijacked by groups like the Muslim
Brotherhood (Washington Post, 2011). Perhaps the worry goes deeper than just the process
of democracy hijacking. It is relatively easy to advocate military actions against another state if
that state is a dictatorship or a rogue state that has vowed to destroy the Israeli state. Attacking
another democratic state because you do not like its foreign policy is a completely different matter. The change therefore in the Middle East poses a challenge for Israel as old strategies might
be counterproductive in obtaining a long lasting peace. Egypt plays a crucial role in this process
and Israel should change its policies towards the occupied areas and the Middle East in general.
Resisting this change may have negative consequences for Israel as liberal democrats in Egypt
and other states advocate a re-negotiation of the 1978 Camp David accords (Reuters, 2011).
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References
Brown, Michael E., Sean M. Lynn-Jones, and Steven E. Miller, eds. 1996. Debating the Democratic Peace. Eds.
Cambridge, Mass.: The MIT Press
Dougherty, J.E., and R.L.Pfaltzgraff jr. 2001. Contending Theories of International Relations: A Comprehensive Survey 5th edition. New York: Addison Wesley Longman
Dowty, Alan. 1999. Israeli Foreign Policy and the Jewish Question. MERIA Volume 3, No. 1 (March), http://
meria.idc.ac.il/journal/1999/issue1/jv3n1a1.html (accessed February 15, 2011).
Haaretz. 2011. WikiLeaks: Israel aimed to keep Gaza economy on brink of collapse. http://www.haaretz.com/
news/diplomacy-defense/wikileaks-israel-aimed-to-keep-gaza-economy-on-brink-of-collapse-1.335354 (accessed February 20, 2011).
Image 1, IDF Infantry. 2011. http://www.fresh.co.il/vBulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=20 (accessed February 20,
2011).
Kohut, Andrew. 2005. Arab and Muslim Perceptions of the United States. PEW Research Center. http://pewresearch.org/pubs/6/arab-and-muslim-perceptions-of-the-united-states , (accessed February 18, 2011).
Meridor, Sallai. 2011. What Israel fears in Egypt. Washington Post, February 11, http://www.washingtonpost.
com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/09/AR2011020906339.html (accessed February 15, 2011).
Szayna, Thomas S., Daniel Byman, Steven Bankes, Derek Eaton, Seth G. Jones, Robert Mullins, Ian O. Lesser,
and William Rosenau. 2002. The Emergence of Peer Competitors. RAND http://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR1346/MR1346.appc.pdf (accessed February 20, 2011).
Wright, Jonathan. 2011. Analysis: Change in Egypt to ratchet pressure on Israel. Reuters (February 18),
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/18/us-egypt-arabs-israel-idUSTRE71H3CO20110218 (accessed
February 18, 2011).
Zeev, M. 2008. Defending the Holy Land: A Critical Analysis of Israel’s Security and Foreign Policy. University of Michigan Press.
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The Tweet Heard Around the World: The Growing Influence of the Multinational
New Media Industry in International Relations
By Dan Thompson
“A man bled to death on a street in Tehran on Monday. As one bystander
tenderly held his head, five others held out their cameras,” reported Paul
Richter and Brian Stelter on June 19, 2009 as they covered the ongoing
unrest in Iran’s capital, Tehran. This graphic scene may have only reached
the outside world as black and white letters on paper only a decade ago, but
today, ordinary citizens with digital technology are able to broadcast graphic
written reports, photos, and video that may instantly reach Internet users
around the globe in minutes with great effect, whether intended or not.
The confluence of communication technology and non-state actors, such as
demonstrators, non-governmental organizations, terrorists, criminals, and a
whole slew of other characters means that conflict in the modern world is
twitter.com
increasingly broadcast in real time to the connected world. Whereas governments and traditional media outlets
have exercised a monopoly on everything from satellite imagery to television shows in the past, an often anarchic surge in so-called New Media (blogs, photo sharing, text messaging, video sharing, etc.) is increasingly
proving its ability to influence international relations and test state power.
By pure coincidence, New Media was born right as the United States was entering the War on Terror. Unlike the open
media briefs given by U.S. Army General Normal Schwarzkopf during the Gulf War or the almost embarrassing media
coverage of U.S. Marines landing in Somalia to waiting television crews, Operation Enduring Freedom was virtually
sealed from the international media. In 2001, New York Times journalist Michael R. Gordon reported “…media’s access to American military operations is more far more limited than in any recent conflict, including NATO’s war against
Yugoslavia, the American invasion of Haiti or the American intervention in Somalia.” According to Gordon, the military
preferred absolute control over its message, using websites like defenslink.mil and video produced by military public affairs
teams. Considering Afghanistan’s wrecked infrastructure and lack of internet connectivity, there were few, if any, New Media outlets reporting during the American invasion there. However, two years later, New Media covering Operation Iraqi
Freedom would prove much more prolific and difficult to control.
In an attempt to incorporate journalists into the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld allowed
journalists to be embedded into military units with the understanding that journalists had to conform to military rules
such as refraining from reporting on the exact nature of operations, the specific equipment used, and submit to blackouts
should the unit commander deem them necessary (n.a., 2003). There was some concern that embedded journalists would
lose their independence as a result. However, New Media allowed Iraqis living in Baghdad with an Internet connection to
report independently of traditional media, something soldiers themselves would increasingly do later.
While the U.S. military and its embedded journalists were the primary source of news information about Operation Iraqi
Freedom in the West, New Media allowed Iraqis to cover events from their perspective. In 2003, the BBC reported that a
29-year-old blogger writing under the pseudonym “Salam Pax” had been providing an alternative to Western media with
their travel and reporting restrictions. Salam Pax reported about the Shia reaction to U.S. occupying forces in Baghdad, as
well as rumors that the United Nations and NGOs operating in Iraq were under U.S. pressure not to report the numbers
of civilian casualties during the invasion. Indeed, Salam Pax was able to write openly about civilian casualties without
restriction and without any allegiance to a media network or government. Almost instantly, Salam Pax was giving interviews to the mainstream press – interviews that carried the authority of local knowledge. Pax’s influence – which extended
from The New York Times to Arab media, led Peter Maass (2003) to proclaim him the “Anne Frank of the war.” While
this may seem like one Iraqi lucky enough to have an Internet connection and global following, it marked the next stage of
New Media in a post 9-11 world. Dozens of Iraqis began blogging independently of Western cultural bias or the report-
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ing restrictions placed on embedded reporters.
While blogs were the earliest tool of New Media as Operation Iraqi Freedom began, New Media has since expanded
into video, Google Earth, voice-over-IP, photo sharing, Facebook, and micro blogging “tweets.” Each one of these rapidly
developing technologies has made it increasingly difficult to control official messages. When considered as a whole – or
”cloud,” New Media’s capacity to circumvent traditional information structures with real consequences for international
relations is being demonstrated with increasing frequency. Even seemingly inconsequential issues can now have a chilling
effect on policy when captured on New Media and distributed over the Internet literally millions of times. YouTube videos
are especially influential in magnifying incidents.
In March 2008, National Public Radio published a report about two Marines in Iraq who videotaped themselves tossing a
puppy over a cliff, with the puppy presumably suffering. Even though the U.S. government had held journalists under strict
reporting rules, New Media and the ease in which it spreads worldwide meant that the video posted by aloof Marines on
YouTube created an especially damaging situation that offended Americans and others alike. Even though massive human
suffering was taking place in Iraq, the “puppy toss” became a public relations nightmare for the U.S. military (as it seemed
to support critics’ argument that the occupation was inherently cruel). Other incidents such as the Abu Ghraib scandal
were captured with the tools of New Media – digital cameras – and spread within seconds across the globe once they were
released. As a consequence, the United States was condemned and suffered a major diplomatic setback. Because of socalled “YouTube moments,” blogs, and digital images, the United States lost political capital in Iraq that it may not have
lost on previous conflicts where traditional media prevailed.
State security at home and abroad may also be eroded by New Media, while non-state actors may be empowered. Although many staples of New Media like the satellite imaging service Google Earth are meant to spread knowledge
benevolently, there are emerging examples of the service being used by non-state actors to carry out attacks. In 2007, The
Guardian journalists Clancy Chassey and Bobby Johnson interviewed an Al-Aqsa rocket unit commander in Gaza who
explained how he used Google Earth to gather targeting data for targets in Israel. Indeed, the commander, on camera,
demonstrated the 3D modeling capability he used for targeting. Perhaps worried about a similar terrorist threat in Britain,
Scotland Yard has expressed deep concerns over the new Google Street View service which may allow terrorists or criminals to rehearse operations without ever being on-site before (Independent, 2009). In another example, Google Earth fans
have collaborated to catalogue North Korean military, civil, and government sites with Central Intelligence Agency-like
professionalism. In future conflicts, patriotic Internet users may collectively interpret Google satellite imagery to support
their cause, reports Evan Ramstad of The Wall Street Journal (2009).
However, New Media is playing a larger, more visible role in helping groups communicate in general. Perhaps the most
current example of New Media undermining government authority is in Iran. Following the much contested presidential
election results on June 13, 2009, opposition groups used Facebook to communicate and coordinate demonstrations more
efficiently (as Facebook is able to quickly disseminate information among social groups), the messaging service Twitter to
send short text updates to followers, Flickr to post in near real time photos of police brutality and blood-stained students,
and YouTube to spread propaganda with the dramatic images blended with Iranian music (MSNBC, 2009). The seeming
perfect storm of New Media involved in the Iranian unrest was so influential that the U.S. State Department requested
Twitter delay any system maintenance that would interrupt the Iranians’ ability to communicate via the service (MSNBC,
2009). Indeed, MSNBC reported that Iran’s inability to control digital media leaks may have forced the Iranian government to employ Twitter to tell its own version of the story. In any case, the Iranian example shows the latest, perhaps most
potent example of New Media’s creeping power. While Iran accuses the West of meddling in Iran’s internal affairs through
a cyber war, other closed societies may be taking copious notes as they ready their information security and surveillance
plans to counter New Media.
New Media is not invincible, however. Indeed, China has been able to create a “Great Firewall” staffed by, the U.S. State
Department estimates, around 50,000 censors (Council on Foreign Relations, 2008). In a move similar to the U.S. military’s initiative to incorporate embedded journalists during the Iraq invasion as to gain some control over the media, China
has incorporated some multinational New Media providers into its censorship apparatus in exchange for access to its
markets. The Council of Foreign Relations reports that U.S. companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo! are actively
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cooperating with Chinese censors and providing software to enable the suppression of illegal political information. Access to websites like YouTube, Flickr, Facebook, Twitter, and others is frequently and unexplainably denied. Even ordinary
access is filtered for politically sensitive information, suggesting that New Media does have its limits, especially when
multinational New Media corporations, like Google, have vested interests in the host state (CFR, 2008). Currently, New
Media poses the greatest threat to weak or transitional governments seeking to suppress information.
While New Media and the multinational corporations that administer it may be limited in areas of strong, organized state
suppression, the fact remains that – like newspapers 50 years ago – New Media is becoming a ubiquitous, legitimate form
of communication with an inherent, dual-use potential. Just as illegal printing presses in Communist Poland were used to
distribute anti-government Solidarity propaganda, blogs may be used to discuss pop stars or call masses to protest; YouTube may be used to promote the latest iPod or a cell phone video showing Egyptian police torturing a prisoner; Flickr
may be used to share vacation photos, or feed the world massacre photos before CNN could ever get visas for its journalists; Twitter may be used to follow Lindsay Lohan’s every move, or call students to launch denial of service attacks on government websites. In each case, New Media is both incredibly dynamic and, some governments might posit, unpredictably
dangerous. Except in those places, such as China, where the state can influence multinational New Media corporations
like Google, New Media will continue to play an increasing role in facilitating popular resistance to oppressive governments and make public relations management, even in democratic societies, a much more demanding task. To what degree
multinational New Media industry will erode state power is largely, it may seem, up to market forces to decide.
References:
BBC. 2003. ‘Baghdad blogger’: Iraq not free. (September 19), http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3123172.stm (accessed June
20, 2009).
Chassay, C. & Johnson, B. 2007. Google Earth used to target Israel. The Guardian (October 25), http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/ (accessed June 20, 2009).
Council on Foreign Relations. 2008. Media censorship in China. (March 18), http://www.cfr.org/publication/11515/#6 (accessed
June 20, 2009).
Gordon, M. 2001. A nation challenged: the media; military is putting heavier limits on reporters’ access. The New York Times. (October 21), http://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/21/world/nation-challenged-media-military-putting-heavier-limits-reporters-access.html
(accessed June 20, 2009).
Maass, P. 2003. Salam Pax is real. Slate. ( June 2), http://slate.msn.com/id/2083847 (accessed June 20, 2009).
MSNBC. 2009. Battle for hearts — and screens — of the world. ( June 16), http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31387533/ns/ (accessed
June 20, 2009).
NewsHour. 2003. Pros and cons of embedded journalism. (March 27), http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june03/embed_3-27.pdf (accessed June 20, 2009).
NPR. 2008. Puppy-toss video ignites the web. ( June 2), http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=87913539 (accessed
June 20, 2009).
Ramstad, E. 2009. Gulags, nukes and a water slide: Citizen spies lift North Korea’s veil. The
Wall Street Journal (May 22), http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124295017403345489.html (accessed June 20, 2009).
Richter, P. & Stelter, B. 2009. Twitter captures Iran’s rebels. The Age. ( June 19), http://www.theage.com.au/world/twitter-capturesirans-rebels-20090618-clx3.html (accessed June 20, 2009).
The Independent. 2009. Public urged to report Google Street view fears. (March 21), http://www.independent.co.uk/news/ media/online/public-urged-to-report-google-street-view-fears-1650832.html (accessed June 20, 2009).
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Let Me Help You Help Me
By Sean Tolbert
F
or decades Afghanistan has been an unstable hindrance to both Southwest Asia and the Middle East;
however since the American invasion Afghanistan
has become somewhat of a honey pot in the region. Each
of Afghanistan’s friends and allies (particularly the United
States, China, Iran, Pakistan, and India) has a hand in the
honey pot in an effort to make their own lives just a little
bit sweeter, while proclaiming that they are merely adding
preservatives to improve the honey contained within.
The United States is currently fighting the Global War on Terror
in Afghanistan, and has been for the last nine years. Liberating the
Afghan people and creating a democratic government is a priority for
America, though these are not the reasons that the U.S. military invaded Afghanistan in 2001. After the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001 the United States determined that it could no longer afford to let terrorist
safe havens exist. At the time Afghanistan was the largest and most well known terrorist safe haven, which also
happened to be the safe haven of the terrorists who were responsible for the September 11th terrorist attacks. It
is for this reason that America invaded Afghanistan, overthrew the Taliban and drove out al Qaeda.
While China has an extremely small land border with Afghanistan, they are interested in this chaotic country’s
stability for multiple reasons. Chinese insurgents known as Uighurs are trained and supported partially by the
insurgents in Afghanistan where they have a safe haven (Huq, 2010). The Chinese are also interested in exploiting Afghanistan’s natural resources through mining operations. China is particularly interested in copper in
Afghanistan and has invested over $3 billion in copper mining operations there (Russel, 2010). By investing in
mining operations in Afghanistan China is investing in transportation and other logistical aspects tied to the
mining industry as well (Huq, 2010). Additionally China has been investing in the digital infra structure of Afghanistan, specifically phone lines and switches (Huq, 2010). Economically China will prosper if Afghanistan
is stable. Instability in Afghanistan hinders the ability of Chinese businesses to turn a profit.
Iran’s large land border with Afghanistan leaves much more to be concerned about when it comes to national
security. The lawlessness permitted in Afghanistan allows anti-Iranian insurgents to train, resource, and plan
operations. In addition to national security interests Iran is investing in the infrastructure of Afghanistan. They
are working on a project to build a major railroad through Afghanistan as a cost of approximately $2 billion.
This railroad would connect Iran to China and Tajikistan and would ultimately benefit Iran. It would stimulate
the Afghan economy, putting Afghans to work building the railroad, and allowing businesses to transport goods
via rail (Russel, 2010). In an effort to gain political influence throughout the region Iran is investing a great deal
of money, they have even distributed large sums of cash to the office of the President of Afghanistan (Bremmer,
2010).
Pakistan like Iran has a large land border with Afghanistan. Also like Iran national security is a major concern
when examining the relevance of Pakistan’s failed state neighbor. While insurgency is an issue, Pakistan is primarily worried about India (Tiedemann, 2009). With India playing a key role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, Pakistan is worried that India may gain an influential ally along one of its largest land borders, particularly
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with Kashmir still being a disputed territory (Khattak, 2010). While Pakistan is focused on national security,
they have still managed to profit from the reconstruction effort in Afghanistan. Pakistan controls the major supply routes in and out of Afghanistan, particularly those used by NATO (Khattak, 2010).
While India does not border Afghanistan, it is a key participant in the reconstruction of the country. The Indian military is assisting in training the Afghan National Security Forces (Fair, 2010). Pakistan has historically
worked with the Taliban to train anti-Indian insurgencies, and India would like to ensure that Afghanistan cannot be used as a training ground and launching point for these groups (Fair, 2010).
Of the key countries involved in rebuilding Afghanistan that have been discussed here, none of them became
involved in Afghanistan because they cared about the well-being of the Afghan people. It just so happens that
there is a symbiotic relationship between the well-being of the Afghan people and each of these countries’ reasons for involvement in Afghanistan. When examining the national security motivations of each and every one
of these countries it is easy to understand how stability in Afghanistan equates to a more secure region overall.
When reviewing the economic motivations for the countries involved, the economic well-being of the Afghan
people significantly contributes to the economic prosperity of the countries investing in Afghanistan. While
the reasons behind each of these key countries involvement in Afghanistan do not seem benevolent, they are all
still working towards a common good. When examining international relationships common goals are important. As has been shown here multiple nations can work together to accomplish a common goal while primarily
looking out for their own interests. This is a fact that is all too often overlooked. So, in the future when examining international issues, consider how international partnerships could be established, remembering that the
incentives of the partners can ensure that the common goals are met. These incentives must also be remembered
when reviewing the overall progress towards the common goals, if for some reason things are not going according to plan it may have something to do with an ally’s progression to their incentive. If this is the case it may
very well lead to more problems in the future. Ultimately, symbiosis is essential to ensuring the partnership’s
goals are met successfully.
References
Bremmer, Ian. 2010. Iran, Afghanistan, and a Plastic Bag Full of Cash. Foreign Policy, (October 26, 2010), http://eurasia.
foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/10/26/iran_afghanistan_and_a_plastic_bag_full_of_cash (accessed February 14, 2011).
Fair, Christine. 2010. India in Afghanistan, Part I: Strategic Interests, Regional Concerns.” Foreign Policy, (October 26,
2010), http://afpak.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/10/26/india_in_afghanistan_part_1_strategic_interests_regional_concerns (accessed February 14, 2011).
Fair, Christine. 2010. India in Afghanistan, Part II: Indo-U.S. Relations in the Lengthening AfPak Shadow. Foreign
Policy, (October 27, 2010), http://afpak.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/10/27/india_in_afghanistan_part_ii_indo_us_relations_in_the_lengthening_afpak_shadow (accessed February 14, 2011).
Huq, Aziz. 2010. Chinese Takeout. Foreign Policy, ( June 15, 2010), http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/06/15/
chinese_takeout (accessed February 14, 2011).
Khattak, Daud. 2010. Stopping Regional Interference in Afghanistan. Foreign Policy, (December 1, 2010), http://afpak.
foreignpoliy.om/posts/2010/12/01stopping_regional_interference_in_afghanistan (accessed February 14, 2011).
Russel,Gerard. 2010. Can Economics Help Bring Peace to Afghanistan? Foreign Policy,( December 16, 2010), http://
afpak.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/12/16/afghanistans_neighbors_help_or_hindrance (accessed February 14, 2011).
Tiedemann, Katherine. 2009. The Forgotten Front. Foreign Policy, (November 6, 2009), http://afpak.foreignpolicy.com/
posts/2009/11/06/the_forgotten_front (accessed February 14, 2011).
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Women
in Iraq – Obstacles to Freedom
By Justin Razey
T
he creation of an Islamic state within Iraq could potentially silence the outcries for equality of men and women. Civil law has
the advantage of protecting/ruling fairly on the rights of not only
Sunni and Shia, but men and women alike. The demands for an Islamic
state come with the adherence to Sharia Law as the only acceptable form
of a judicial system. While Sharia does protect some rights of women, it
holds nowhere near the unbiased posture of a civil law. “The significance
of this decision for women is that Iraq’s civil laws could be overturned, and
stricter versions of personal status, criminal, and other laws would operate
in their place” (Zuhur,2006). The implementation of Sharia Law would
give clerics such as Muqtada Al-Sadr the legal standing to renounce and
© Edward Bartel | Dreamstime.com
restrict the modernization of women’s rights within that nation. They feel that a woman’s role
in life has been clearly defined, and any deviation from that goes against their religion’s best
interests. “Islamist movements have, in many countries, claimed that a return to “family values”
is necessary, and that women’s rising status as in Western societies is antithetical to these values”
(Zuhur,2006). The creation of an Islamic state in Iraq would only further complicate the issue
of women’s rights, and further set back the current movement for equality.
Another critical obstacle for women’s freedoms has to be the lack of emphasis or ability for the current in-place
government to address women’s rights. These are turbulent times in the country, facing a withdrawal of US
forces and an increase of responsibility placed on the government. With added pressure on the government to
not only sustain a new democracy but also quell domestic infighting, women’s rights have seemingly been placed
on the back burner. “…The budget of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs is now $2,000 a month, representing an
increase of its 2005 budget of half that sum” (Zuhur,2006). Women are also facing increased risk of violence
and discrimination, due to traditionalist ideals clashing with a government yet unable to maintain good order.
Zuhur points out that it’s not only radical followers, but also members of the police force in some areas that impose subjugation. They “…have imposed the full veil (not only hijab, also abaya), segregation of the genders, and
prohibitions on music and dancing, which led to attacks on female (as well as male) musicians” (Zuhur,2006).
Women’s rights will not be protected so long as the government is seemingly unable to protect the women
themselves. This is a critical issue that must be addressed, if women are to eventually enjoy the freedoms that
their male counterparts are entitled.
References:
Zuhur, S.D. 2006. Iraq, Women’s Empowerment, and Public Policy. Strategic Studies Institute, 1-51.
Other source for Sharia and related subjects: The Sharia News Watch. (2004). http://radio-weblogs.
com/0130256/
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Human
Trafficking - A Global Epidemic
By Connie Uthoff
T
he trafficking of humans has become such a widespread epidemic that
in recognition of the need to address it on a global scale, on January 4,
2011, President Obama declared the first month of the year, “National
Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.” As part of the proclamation, he declared, “Millions of people worldwide are held in compelled service,
as well as thousands within the United States. During National Slavery and
Human Trafficking Prevention Month, we acknowledge that forms of slavery
still exist in the modern era, and we recommit ourselves to stopping the human traffickers who ply this horrific trade” (White House, 2011). Though it is
difficult to track the actual number of human traffic victims, according to the
UN Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking, there are 2.5 million victims
worldwide (UN GIFT, 2010). The State Department estimates the number at
a much higher rate with the total number of global victims as a result of human
trafficking above 12.3 million (U.S. State Department, 2010).
Human trafficking is a term used to describe certain conditions of forced labor which include slavery, debt and
bondage and is specifically related to the act of a least one person keeping another for the purpose of cheap
labor. Victims can be male, female, children or adults. They can be held in servitude in their own country, taken
to another destination or moved around over the years. They are often harshly abused so they will not leave or
are threatened or physically restrained to prevent their escape. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act specifies that the following conditions indicate whether human trafficking has occurred: anyone who through force,
fraud or coercion is convinced to perform labor or commercial sex acts is considered a victim of human trafficking. All minors who are forced to commit commercial sex acts are victims of human trafficking despite the
presence or absence of force and coercion (Public Law, 2000).
The U.S. State Department breaks down labor abuses related to human trafficking into the following categories:
• Forced Labor
• Sex Trafficking, both Adult and Child
• Bonded Labor
• Debt Bondage among Migrant Workers
• Involuntary Domestic Servitude
• Forced Child Labor
As a result of globalization, world-wide depressed economies, the aftermath of natural disasters, the rise of
cross-border communication through the Internet as well as a population boom in third world countries, there
has been a significant increase over the years in the trafficking of individuals. The demand for low market prices
for goods and the growth of international trade, limits in national laws and prosecution for trafficking as well as
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an increase in international organized crime has made trafficking of humans easier and more lucrative.
To outline the challenges of human trafficking across the world and to measure the effectiveness and commitment of countries to address the human abuses, the U.S. State Department just released the 10th annual Trafficking in Persons Report. This year represents the first year that the United States is on the list as a show of
solidarity and responsibility in the fight against human trafficking. This recent report focused on certain current
trends which include “the suffering of women and children in involuntary domestic servitude, the challenges and
successes in indentifying and protecting victims, and the need to include anti-trafficking policies in our response
to natural disaster” (UN GIFT, 2010).
In regards to domestic cooperation to address the prevalence of human trafficking, in 2005, the FBI created
the Human Trafficking Initiative in order to identify the extent of human trafficking within the United States.
Though the problem occurs less in the United States, it remains a top civil rights violation priority. As a result,
the FBI has been able to break up 12 trafficking organizations (FBI, 2011). In working with communities, they
urge citizens to look out for some of the following warning signs of human trafficking:
• Signs of physical abuse
• If an individual seems deprived of food, water or medical care
• If someone is not allowed to communicate with others
• An unusual large number of occupants in one household
• Someone rarely seen outside
• Locks on the outside of doors and windows as if to prevent someone from leaving
• An individual who does not have documents for legal identification: passport, visa.
These are just minimal ways to address the problems with human trafficking. Much more is needed. Human
trafficking is so widespread, hidden or ignored that it will take a concerted international effort to combat this
issue. The United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking recognizes the need for cooperation
among nations. Their mission is to work with State and non-State actors in the fight against human trafficking
by limiting areas of human vulnerability in regards to exploitation and demand, to provide support to victims
and to aid in prosecution of offenders.
References:
FBI Website. (2011). Human Trafficking. http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/civilrights/human_trafficking (accessed March 14, 2011).
The White House. (2011). Presidential Proclamation-National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention
Month presented by President Barrack Obama. Office of the Press Secretary, Washington, D.C. http://www.
whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/presidential-proclamation-national-slavery-and-human-trafficking-preventionmonth.html (accessed March 14, 2011).
United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking. (2010). Brochure: Human Trafficking A Crime
that Shames Us All. http://www.ungift.org/docs/ungift/gift/_bro¬chureV2_2010.pdf (accessed March 14,
2011).
United States Department of State. (2010). Trafficking in persons report. Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, Washington DC. http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2010 (accessed March 14, 2011).
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Global News Alerts
Libya Under Seige
Over the past month, civil unrest has exploded in Libya, leading to a ‘major humanitarian crisis on the Tunisian border’ (BBC, 2011). The concern for human life
and the high number of casualties led the UN to pass
a resolution suspending Libya from its Human Rights
Council. It then followed with a resolution designed to
protect civilians from Col Muammar Gaddafi’s troops.
On Saturday, March 20, 2011, US-led coalition forces
began a campaign which included airstrikes in support
of the UN resolution.
In a conversation with Turkey’s Prime Minister, U.S.
President Barak Obama outlined the U.S. approach
to the conflict and the leaders agreed that “the implementation of UN resolutions on Libya will require a
broad-based international effort, including Arab states,
to implement and enforce the UN resolutions, based
on national contributions and enabled by Nato’s unique
multinational command and control capabilities to ensure maximum effectiveness. They underscored their
shared commitment to the goal of helping provide the
Libyan people an opportunity to transform their country, by installing a democratic system that respects the
people’s will” (BBC, 2011).
BBC News. (2011). Live Libya Crisis. http://www.bbc.co.uk/
news/world-middle-east-12776418 (accessed March 21, 2011).
telegraph.co.uk
Christchurch earthquake:
Recovery hampered by
weather
In the wake of Japan’s disaster, the
Christchurch earthquake seems all but
forgotten by the international community. Citizens of New Zealand are still
struggling to recover, however. Strong
winds during the weeks following the
earthquake made it difficult for recovery workers and there was concern that
all those lost under the fallen rubble
may not be able to be located.
Economic recovery is also on the minds
of New Zealand’s residents and business
leaders. Costs to rebuild may reach the
billions of dollars and some estimate
that at least a third of the building in
the city will have to be torn down.
msnbc.com
-27-
Global News Alerts
Volume 1 Issue 4
Pakistan Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti shot
dead [BBC News]
The only Christian minister among Pakistan’s
cabinet members, Pakistani Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, was shot and killed in
Islamabad by gunmen who ambushed his car
in broad daylight. He had previously received
death threats for encouraging reform to blasphemy laws and when he was on his way to
work, someone carried out that threat by shooting his car full of bullets and taking his life.
In a seemingly related incident, in January,
Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, who had also
opposed the law, was shot dead by one of his
bodyguards. Both gentlemen had been concerned about the potential abuses connected
with the law because its premise is that anyone
who insults Islam can be put to death. Some
have argued that the law has been a tool for
persecution and that believers in minority faiths
are not protected. The site of the execution was
littered with pamphlets by al-Qaeda and Tehrik-i-Taliban Punjab, a branch of the Taliban.
The government would not support reforms
to the law which included removing the death
penalty provision. According to a BBC report,
Christians, make up an estimated 1.5% of Pakistan’s 185 million citizens, and were horrified by
the death of Mr Bhatti.
Saudi launches $37 billion
benefit plan [Reuters]
At the beginning of 2011, a key U.S. ally, Saudi
Arabia, in an attempt to prevent social unrest and
to aid citizens who were struggling with the rise in
inflation and unemployment, dispersed $37 billion
in social benefits. Protests have rocked the Arab
world, spreading like a virus through Egypt and Tunisia and Saudi Arabia is working to prevent similar revolts. This could be a challenge as the Saudi
stock index posted its steepest drop in more than
two years.
With over 10 percent of local unemployment, the
relief from the Saudi king will help with housing
loans which, like the United States, has become a
concern over the past few years. Another concern:
an indication of Saudi and world recovery is that
the Saudi index fell 6.8 percent in its biggest drop
since November 2008 to its lowest close since July
13, 2009 (Reuters, 2011).
sconews.co.uk
-28-
Global News Alerts
Volume 1 Issue 4
Historic shift in Ireland
as dominant party falls
[Reuters]
Saudi Arabia and the United States were obviously not
the only countries impacted the burst in the real estate
bubble of 2008. Ireland, also feeling the impact of economic collapse, has responded by blaming the one party
that has dominated Irish politics for the past 90 years.
Fianna Fail. This year they almost lost their presence
in Irish politics complexly coming in with less than two
dozen seats in the 166-seat parliament.
The shift could usher in a new era in Irish politics, and
allows for the opportunity for younger leaders with
alternative, competitive views to have more power.
When the bank systems recently failed and the government was forced to take an $85 billion euro bailout,
many blamed Fianna Fail which was reflected in recent
elections. Traditionally representing the working class,
Fianna fall has been the largest party in every election
since 1932 and has been the dominant party for a majority of the last 79 years.
cbs.com
cnbc.com
Yemen unrest: Thousands
join protests against Saleh
[BBC News]
Tens of thousands of anti-government demonstrators gathered in Yemeni capital Sanaa,
voicing their demands for the fall of the government. On what has been called the “day of
rage” protestors responded to the deaths of antigovernment “martyrs” during protests, particularly in the southern port city of Aden. Various
reports have different accounts on the number
of victims. Some say that troops fired on demonstrators in that city at the end of last week,
killing four. Others say 11 people have been
killed, and the total death of protesters is currently 27. Despite the disagreement over the
numbers, protesters have passionately called for
a change in government. President Saleh, who
has ruled since 1978, says he will stay on until
elections in 2013, but will not run for another
term”
-29-
Global News Alerts
Volume 1 Issue 4
Over 30 arrested after
suspected Congo coup
fails [Reuters]
In what seems to be a growing pattern, more
unrest has reached the Democratic Republic of
Congo. More than sixty armed men, attempted
to break into the home of President Joseph Kabila
in a suspected coup. More than 30 people were
arrested and seven people were killed during the
[ Jesse Puga]
fighting that followed Sunday’s attack on Kabila’s
Kinshasa residence.
On January 24, 2011 Moscow’s Domodedovo
Security Alert: Moscow’s
Domodedovo Airport is
bombed
Kabila came to power when his father was assassinated in 2001. “He faces presidential and
parliamentary elections in November this year,
the second such polls since the of¬ficial end of
the 1998-2003 war. In a controversial Jan¬uary
15 move, parliament backed proposals by Kabila
to reduce the presidential vote to a single round,
get¬ting rid of the possibility of a run-off between
the two leading candidates if neither has an absolute majority. The change means the winner can
claim the presidency with less than 50 percent of
popular support. That is seen boosting Kabila’s
chances of victory because of the fragmented state
of the opposition” (Reuters, 2011).
International Airport was attacked by a suicide bomber, which killed 36 people and injured more than 180. The attack occurred at
approximately 4:40 p.m. as passengers from
several arriving international flights were leaving the airport after clearing immigration and
customs. The attacker entered the international
arrivals hall of the airport; a part of the facility that is outside the secure area and that is
commonly packed with crowds of relatives and
taxi and limo drivers waiting to meet travelers.
Russia’s Federal Investigative Committee later
identified the suicide bomber as a 20-yearold man from the North Caucasus, and said
that the attack was aimed primarily at foreign
citizens.
These news articles were taken from Twisted
Sifter. (http://twistedsifter.com/2011/03/
current-events-around-the-globemarch-2-2011/) Every Wednesday, the Sifter
posts summaries of the current events occurring around the world. All the news articles
come from Reuters and BBC News with the
exception of the last alert by Jesse Puga.
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GO Global OP-ED
WikiLeaks exposé justifies CIA’s ‘need-to-know’ culture
Jesse Puga, SIR/GO Op-Ed Writer
The recent exposure of U.S. cables by WikiLeaks has already made
the complicated issue of information sharing among U.S. government agencies more difficult. Many United States Intelligence
Community (USIC) organizations have long worried about the
implications of sharing information with outside parties, and
even more so with the recent conversion of secret information
from pieces of paper to digital files in order to form the large information sharing databases such as the Secret Internet Protocol
Router Network or SIPRNet, which is used by the Pentagon. As
WikiLeaks has shown, these digital files are much easier to steal
and easier to post on the Internet.
________________
Nevertheless, information sharing, or lack thereof, was reported by the 9/11 commission
to be one of several factors that
contributed to the nation’s inability to prevent the attacks of
September 11, 2001. Numerous
agencies had obtained bits and
pieces of intelligence concerning
terrorist plots, but compartmentalization by these agencies prevented them from putting all the pieces together,
which further hindered those who were charged with preventing such attacks.
The revelation of U.S. cables
by WikiLeaks has in many
ways vindicated the older
“need-to-know” culture of
the CIA...
The disclosure of U.S. cables by WikiLeaks will no doubt force the CIA and other
USIC organizations to conduct extensive inventories of their classified information. In addition, those who run human intelligence operations, such as intelligence
-31-
GO Global Op-Ed
Volume 1 Issue 4
collectors and counterintelligence personnel within the CIA and USIC, may have
more difficulty recruiting agents. It would be profoundly difficult to turn someone
into a traitor when that person has no confidence that their handler’s government
can keep their identity and actions secret, though it is important to note that agents
are not always aware of their handler’s real nationality.
Again however, sharing information is critical to the success of the CIA’s mission.
For example, the CIA is supposed to operate exclusively abroad, yet intelligence
gathered domestically by the FBI on enemy activities in the United States is often
needed to fill the many gaps in intelligence that exist. These gaps must be filled in
order to accurately inform policy makers and other intelligence customers.
Along with the creation of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) after the
intelligence failures of the early 2000s, more centralization and the expansion of information sharing was made more of a priority. It was deemed imperative to protect
the nation in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and the USIC’s “need-toknow” culture—a necessity during the Cold War—was now a handicap that threatened America’s ability to uncover, respond, and protect against asymmetric threats.
The revelation of U.S. cables by WikiLeaks has in many ways vindicated the older
“need-to-know” culture of the CIA, and cast a pall over recent efforts to expand
information sharing. There is now a little more doubt about creating larger information sharing networks and databases such as SIPRNet. Where do the CIA and the
USIC go from here? One did not think that this issue could become more problematical, but it just did; and the ramifications that result may or may not be in the best
interests of the America’s national security.
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GO Global Op-Ed
Volume 1 Issue 4
Egypt Protests and an Arab 2011
By Jesse Puga
It may be all about the Arab world this year and most certainly for the very near future.
Protests in Egypt began on January 25, 2011, with a series of street demonstrations,
marches, rallies, riots, labor strikes, and violent clashes primarily in Cairo and Alexandria,
but also throughout other cities in Egypt. Millions of protesters from a variety of backgrounds demanded the overthrow of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, an end to corruption and a lack of free elections, an end to police repression and brutality, and to have
more democratic reforms of the Egyptian political system.
Ever since Tunisia’s Jasmine revolution, pundits and world leaders have been weighing in about the probability
of this movement spreading to other countries in the Arab world. At the recent Arab Economic Summit, leaders
were so nervous that they pledged billions of dollars toward
economic development in an effort to relieve some of the
frustration felt by their citizens. However, apparently the
problems in the Arab world are not confined to economy,
where there are daily examples of civil and human rights
violations. The protests in Egypt have since become part
of a longer-term campaign of civil resistance in the Arab
world.
________________
Many Egyptian protestors have made it clear
that they were inspired
by the successful revolution in Tunisia...
The revolution in Egypt has caused concern around the
world and particularly for the United States for several
reasons, such as the fact that Egypt has been a key ally for
the U.S. in the region since the 1970’s, and is currently the
second highest recipient of U.S. foreign aid after Israel. This
fact has therefore made it difficult for American leaders
to take a solid stance about the event. Furthermore, Egypt has served as a key arbitrator in the Israel-Palestine
peace process and therefore Israel is extremely concerned about the situation in Egypt because President Hosni
Mubarak has preserved the peace treaty between the two countries for 30 years. Lastly, there are fears that the
protests around the Arab world will lead to power vacuums that may allow Islamist groups to step in exert influence or control.
However, the most apparent consequence is the domino effect it seems to be causing. Many Egyptian protestors
have made it clear that they were inspired by the successful revolution in Tunisia, which ousted authoritarian
President Ben Ali. Since the protests began, there have been major protests in Bahrain, Libya, Algeria, Kuwait,
Yemen, and Morocco, along with minor demonstrations in Jordan, Iran, and even Saudi Arabia. Tunisia and
Egypt’s successes seem to have given momentum to popular uprisings throughout the region. Most striking is
that the protesters are predominantly not Islamists or extreme leftists, but instead young people upset about the
current economic situation and lack of freedom, and who are willing to risk everything to demonstrate against
the current political regimes in power within their nations.
-33-
Career
Past Lectures
Center
VIRTUAL CAREER FAIRS
There have been many opportunities to attend virtual career fairs this last year. Here is an example of one that
was recently held from March 10th to March 17th, 2011. This was posted by Mike Janney in regards to the
Millcruit and MOAA Virtual Career Fair.
This gives you a step by step of what to expect and how to register.
The virtual career fair will open at 11:00 AM EST. Once you login, be sure to view the video in the main plaza,
and be sure to complete your profile at the bottom of the page. You will be able to upload a picture of yourself,
and insert your location and area of interest as well as upload your resume for recruiters to view.
Here is an attendee guide for your review. Be sure to view this before entering the virtual career fair:
http://www.veteranscareerfair.com/attendeeguidmilicruit.pdf
This event will include dozens of industry leading employers and government agencies who recognize the value
of a veteran.
Presented by: Milicruit
Live show date: March 10, 2011- 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM EST
Show hours: All day every day through March 17, 2010 until 5:00pm EST
On demand means after the live day, recruiters may or may not be online, however you can still visit their booth,
view/apply for jobs, submit your resume, and send recruiters messages
Please use the following information to access the virtual show on the day of the event here:
Link to Virtual Career Fair - https://event.on24.com/eventRegistration/EventLobbyServlet?target=registrati
on.jsp&eventid=235811&sessionid=1&key=97838A84D62993491667B65C9543B2BC&sourcepage=register
Email – [email protected]
Important: System Setup & Compatibility Check:
Test the computer that you will be using the day of the virtual show and make sure you have the minimum
technical requirements to attend. Allow sufficient time prior to the event for this test.
Test at http://vshow.on24.com/view/vts/tys/tys.htm
We’re looking forward to seeing you there!
Thank you,
Milicruit
www.milicruit.com
[email protected]
-34-
Impove Your Chances of Employmnet
By Joshua Maes
There are many ways to improve your chances of employment. One
of the best ways is by spicing up your resume and, if necessary your cover
letter that shows all applicable experience, but most especially has all the
correct and up to date contact information on it. If you are unsure about
the quality of your resume, have no fear, AMU/APU has a dedicated team
willing to assist all potential career seekers enhance their resumes. AMU/
APU has also started a site through the Office of Student Affairs called
the Professional Development program which will “provide students with
the resources needed to obtain professional opportunities while attending APUS as well as assistance in carving out a career path” (APUS 2010).
These resources obtained from AMU/APU include internships, scholaships as well as career resources and opportunities.
Another way to improve your chances of employment is by gaining face
to face contact with an employer. The dawning of the internet age has allowed
this process to become much easier with social networking sites, which allows
individuals the opportunity to give that first, lasting impression to an employer.
While these sites make it easier to make the necessary professional contacts,
they can also be detrimental to a career. Make sure that if you have an account
with one of these sites, personal or professional, that you keep the content and
photos commensurate to the type of person you are portraying to your potential employer. Also, always remember the rule about being mindful of what
you are posting, i.e. OPSEC, especially if you are serving in the military or in
support of military/government operations. My advice would be to stick to a
professional networking site, one provided by your institution, i.e. AMU/APU
Alumni Networking/Mentor Network or NACELink.
Other ways to improve your chances of employment are to gain invaluable experience during time volunteering or during paid/unpaid internships,
many of which can be found on USA JOBS with the U.S. Government as well
-35-
as in the Civilian Sector.
Career Center
References
APUS. Professional Development at APUS. 2010.
http://www.apus.edu/student-affairs-center/professional-development/index.htm
(accessed July 20, 2010).
Potential Employers
Potential employers range anywhere from Foreign Service organizations, state/
federal government, other governmental agencies (OGA), the United Nations,
the private sector (international business, non-profit organizations, etc.), high
school and university teaching/mentoring, banks, international organizations,
import/export organizations, travel industry, business and industry or public relations firms such as:
Accenture
American Foreign Service Association
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Footprints Recruiting Inc.
One Small Planet
SOSi Ltd.
Spectrum
Stanley Associates
The Peace Corps.
The United Nations
Trinity Technology Group
U.S. State Department
-36-
Career Center
Searchable Job Titles
Archivist
Demographer
Diplomat
Foreign Affairs Analyst
Foreign Affairs Specialist
Foreign Service Officer
Immigration Specialist
Import/Export Coordinator
International Bank Trainee
International Lawyer
International Public Administrator
International Relations Officer
International Relations Professor
Intelligence Research Specialist
Intelligence Specialist
Interpreter/Translator
Journalist
Language Instructor
Language Specialist
Legislative Correspondent
Market Research Analyst
Trade Specialist Research Asst.
Additional Research
https://apus-csm.symplicity.com/students/
http://www.apus.edu/student-affairs-center/global-mentor-network/index.htm
http://www.apus.edu/student-affairs-center/professional-development/index.htm
http://www.apus.edu/student-affairs-center/professional-development/focus-2.htm
http://www.apus.edu/student-affairs-center/professional-development/internships/index.htm
http://www.apus.edu/student-affairs-center/professional-development/scholarships/index.htm
https://forum.apus.edu/
http://www.jmc.msu.edu/ir/ircareers.pdf
http://www.linkedin.com/
http://www.onlinecareertips.com/
http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/
-37-
Quiz
Answers
International
Challenge
Answers
Past
Lectures
Answers to Test Your Knowledge
Game and Answers from : http://www.triviafool.com/page28.htm
1. Q: What 1938 pact caused Winston Churchill to utter: “We have sustained a defeat without a
war”?
A: The Munich Pact.
2. Which continent is the only one to have no glaciers?
A: Australia.
3. What world leader was originally known as Karl Herbert Frahm?
A: Former German chancellor Willy Brandt. He changed his name to escape the Gestapo.
4. What was the given name of the long-time Yugoslavian communist leader we knew as Marshal
Tito?
A: Josip Broz.
5. What country was once known as New Holland?
A: Australia, in the mid-seventeenth century.
6. What is the native language of the Fiji Islands?
A: Fijian
7. What Dutch colony was ceded to the British in 1667 in exchange for Dutch Guiana--the South
American country now known as Suriname?
A: New York--then known as Nieuw Amsterdam. The exchange was part of the Treaty of Breda.
8. What is the claim to fame of the Turkish site known as Hissarlik?
A: It is the site of ancient Troy.
9. Where do the Blue Nile and White Nile meet?
A: At Khartoum, the capital of Sudan.
10. Which ocean is the smallest and shallowest?
A: The Arctic Ocean.
11. How long is the Suez Canal the water link between the Gulf and Suez and the Mediterranean
Sea?
A: 105 miles long.
12. In what country does Domino’s Pizza have a reindeer sausage pie on its menu?
A: Iceland.
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