The cost of terrorist affiliated actions: (Iraq war) and its affects on the US economy.

What affects do terrorist actions have on the US economy?

      Each second the tax dollars of millions of US citizens go towards aiding the war in Iraq. The money that can be spent for schools, medical aid, and paying off the countries debts is being used to continue and unneeded war. For those of us who don't pay taxes, we don't understand the hard work that goes into making each cent in this tough economy. Watching the millions of dollars go to somewhat of a waste not only injures our pickets as individuals, but also as a whole country.
~ Each second $8,333 dollars are spent of the war in Iraq.
~ In one minute $500,000 dollars is all gone.
~ 34 schools can be built and all the teachers can be paid for in five minutes (in dollars).
The way for an economy to thrive is that the people make money, and in turn spend it  so it will go back into the circulation. And this cycle is how we avoid debt, both as individuals and as a country. When factors such as war come into play, it takes away from that "perfect" circulation, it allows room for faults. Aside from the reasons we entered this war, just by looking at it through the economists standpoint we are able to see how it is already wrong. How we are not in danger in anyway, if we do in fact decide to pull the troops out. That its self is another "choice" we have to make as a country. The opportunistic cost would be maybe be we would not have as much control over Iraq and the way they run their country. The plus side is that we will have troops home and even more importantly the money spent on the war can be channeled into schools, to help education the future generation and keep them out of trouble. It can also be put into paying off the country's great debt, that is now in the trillions of dollars. It can also be put into the economy its self, more investments so the slump we are in now will decrease. Over all the affects of the war have cost the US greatly and it would be more important to use that money to already fix the crack we have in our economy.

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/09/05-0

What can we do to prevent terrorist attacks? is it the United states's fault for wanting to control other countries that put us in the position of being attacked in the first place?

Terrorism Control over Media by Joshua Gomez

Does the government pressure foreign countries/it's own country into terrorism? By what use? The Media?


I believe that the government pressures it’s countries into terrorism by using several different methods. This blog will describe how the media plays such an important role. The government and the media seem to be co-effective in their goals, because the government wants you to know the truth and the media wants to enforce fear along with some truths. However, neither the media or government want to see terrorism, it appears. I see this as a constant problem, one with which United States society will continually have to struggle. I think the government and the media work together, which is the most effective way to establish a method to "censorize" terrorism. In a situation in which the media were to publicize foreign democracies, terrorists would have an advantage due to the weak political systems. If terrorism flourishes, freedoms dissipate, and in a society with ideological politicians, corrupt governments, and un-unified communities, then free press is the first to fade.



Terrorists commonly use publicity as a method to cause fear. Any publicity surrounding a terrorist act alerts the world that a problem exists, which cannot be ignored and must be addressed. For example, today we see countless acts of anonymous terrorism where no one claims responsibility and no demands are made. For example, The World Trade Center bombings were a major sign that through media, a terrorist can and will get his point across. Reportage is inevitable; especially if it includes false threats or hoaxes/speculation, coverage can advance terrorists' agendas, such as spreading panic, hurting tourism, and provoking strong government reactions leading to drastic measures, including restrictions on individual rights, which connects through economics through the pressure of intensive terrorism.


In conclusion, the media is known to be a powerful force between terrorists and governments. Media influence on the public may impact not only the actions of governments but also on those of groups engaged in terrorist acts. In the mind of a terrorist however, the media is a main channel to influence the young and put fear into the eyes of millions. With that in mind, governments can use the media in an effort to build a world opinion against the country or group using terrorist tactics. Public diplomacy and the media can also be used to motivate public opinion in other countries, in order to pressure governments to take, or reject, action against terrorism.

How should we overcome Terrorism? How do we eventually put a a stop to the Influence?

References:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/

2006/06/14/AR2006061402025.html

http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/354/united_states_and_terroism_in_southwest_asia.html

http://ace.mu.nu/archives/192561.php

Why do terrorists attack only certain countries?

Terrorists are smart. They are sneaky in what they do and sometimes people don’t know what move there going to make. Only a small percentage of terrorism is based upon religion, though many people believe that to be the primary cause. They do not only target US and Europe. Other Muslims, the ones they don't agree with, are targeted much more frequently than the U.S. and Europe. Israel is also a significant target of terrorism. The main reason that the U.S. and Europe have become targets is that we support the fewer major governments' efforts to fight terrorism, not always their methods. Terrorists have their own way of attacking certain people in certain places. They use tactics and certain weapons to overcome their job. Terrorists are causing harm by scaring people and religions. There armed with heavy artillery and they use their power to hurt. They have motives and can’t control the way they act. Some countries are being taken over by terrorists and they are starting a war in some places. We need to stop the violence that goes on in these countries and spend more time helping one another instead of targeting a particular place.

http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/terror.html

Why do terrorists act the way they do?

How were terrorists raised? Were they treated poorly when they were younger?

Human Nature, Violence, Anarchy=Terrorism by Joshua Gomez

Which government works? and should we trust most political leaders?

Though many people have already made up their minds, and take it as a given that we do, those who are not so sure are called anarchists. Anarchism is a term that is poorly understood. It is not synonymous with chaos. Modern anarchism is the belief that one does not need, and indeed should not have, a government with a monopoly on the use of force to maximize virtue. I personally think anarchist are born from countries that deal with arguments involving political decisions and government spending. For example, on March 06, 2010 the EU and US and many other donor nations pledged millions of dollars to Somalia, half of the money went to the Government, and yet Somali government was asking for more money. Now as a U.S citizen, we would think that the money given would be used for recreational use and invested to the state from political leaders who are assigned to run the government, however after gaining diplomatic and financial backing, these "leaders" just mooch off the economy's revenue. In result, inflaming the population, causing the public to branch off from relying on the government.

"Drastic times calls for drastic measures as one would say". Once a politician has failed to do something about the country, cities start to lie in ruin, many people can't find homes or jobs, children go hungry, there no schools and hospitals are dirty and have no equipment, women and children beg in the streets and turn to prostitution, children are kidnapped and sold into slavery or murdered for their kidneys or their eyes. All this chaos and loss of hope, can lead a person into terrorism. By understanding failure and corruption of a government, we see that many politicians are either going to work for the people or for himself. We as a people should live most of our lives without being told what to do by the state. We should basically be free to choose our friends, lovers, clothing, food, occupations and actions, However, the basic reason anarchists distrust the state is that they feel no one should be allowed to initiate the use of force against anyone else. Since taxation is forced out of us, taxation is coercion; and all actions taken by an organization that forces you to pay all its costs are illegitimate. Thus, government begins with violence. In retrospect, which political system optimally solves the violence problem, while giving us everything else we expect? Despotism, where one is jailed just for looking at a gun; anarchy, where the punishment for shooting someone could be anything from being shot oneself to nothing; or democracy, where rights are usually upheld but which still fall prey to Hobbesian traps? If you have already decided, you may be fortunate: people are still debating, and killing each other over, the answer.

Do we need government? Does the government pressure foreign countries/it's own country into terrorism?

Reference:

http://terrorfreesomalia.blogspot.com/2010/03/somali-government-faces-pressure.html

http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/05/in_god_we_trust_in_government.html

http://eng.anarchopedia.org/Anarchy_101

terrorisim and why it exists by Dawn Tahani

What are common motives behind terrorist attacks? and how does it weaken aspects of the country?


         Economics comes into play in this topic. Economics is all about choices and also based on trade, based on giving for getting and getting for giving. In this world we try our best to work hard to earn some sort of  money to buy things we need. We need incentives such as money or a raise to keep us motivated and make us want to work harder. 
         This to a normal person seems reasonable, but lets step inside the mind of a terrorist. What do they want most in life? They want to go to heaven, the want to know that all of their "hard work" will pay off. Their incentive is heaven. The main motive behind terrorist attacks are based on power and money, this is always the case, but those individuals who choose, who give up their lives to complete this action have a different motive, and that is to go to heaven.Alot of money is spent on recruiting potential terrorists from a supply-heavy market of poor, desperate, and angry youth with little to lose. 
            " From an economic standpoint, terrorism has been described to have four main effects
.First, the capital stock (human and physical)of a country is reduced as a result of terrorist attacks. Second, the terrorist threat induces higher levels of uncertainty. Third, terrorism promotes increases in counter-terrorism ex-
penditures, drawing resources from productive sectors for use in security. Fourth, terrorism
is known to affect negatively specific industries such as tourism." (Alberto Abadie { Harvard University and NBER
Javier Gardeazabal { University of the Basque Country)
                 Also a concept known as gun or butter also relates to this topic as well. Many countries that support terrorism spend more money and effort on training them and spend less time on growing crops and devoting more time on fixing their  country and governmental  issues.  They choose to spend more time and money  on military supplies ans bombs rather than grow food to keep the country flourishing and help aid the citizens that are suffering from these selfish acts. 
http://www.hks.harvard.edu/fs/aabadie/twe.pdf
http://www.teachingterror.net/Econ_bibliog.htm


Is it set to a certain religion or culture? or where did terrorism orignate from?



               

Terrorism by Shaan Khilnani

Terrorism

Terrorism is violent acts which are intended to create fear and are perpetrated for a religious, political or ideological goal. Terrorism has been practiced by a wide range of political organizations. Many people are innocently killed and brutally tortured. The war in Iraq and Afghanistan has been going on for many years now and hasn’t been stopped. More and more troops are being sent to Iraq and Afghanistan to risk their lives in the horrific war and some families members have died. War and terrorism isn’t right and should be stopped. Many terrorists are threatening other people and torturing them openly. People are frightened to death because they don’t know what might come their way. Being attacked is wrong and all the wars should be stopped.

terrorisim affecting people by Dawn Tahani

Does terrorisim and the result of terrorist acts affect people that are far away from the attack?

On september 11th 2001, hijackers crashed 2 commercial jets into twin towers of World Trade Center; 2 more hijacked jets were crashed into Pentagon and a field in rural Pa. Total dead and missing numbered 2,9922, 749 in New York City, 184 at the Pentagon, 40 in Pa., and 19 hijackers. Islamic al-Qaeda terrorist group blamed.
 This is one of the most recent tragic terrorist attack that occured in America. Although 9 years has passed by people are still affected by the horrific outcomes of this tragic incident. Although terrorist attacks happen all over the world and happen in all different ways by different people this incident happened to be a very big story.
Terrorisim is just like bulling, people are mean and commit selfish and manilpulative acts to get to where they want, and to get what they want. People acts this way and as a result others are affceted due to it. For example the terrorist attacj on sep 11 in 2001 affected peopel from ll over the united states not just New York. It affected familes and freinds not jyst those who dies. It affected people in middle eastern countries that now are looked down on and feared by others. It affected me a american citizen for so many years. I did not even tell people where i was from, because i was afriad they would be scared of me or not want to associated with me. That attack also placed a sterotype on certian people of a certain race and religion.

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001454.html

What are common motives behind terrorist attacks? and also how prominant is it throughout the world?

Introduction to International terrorisim

           My  interest in this topic is to better understand terrorist motives and find out just who are the real terrorist of this world. In order to get to that, we must first understand the concept of terrorism, which would be considered concepts of political discourse are hardly models of clarity, but there is general agreement as to what constitutes terrorism(josh gomez).
            Terrorism has been practiced by a broad array of political organizations for furthering their objectives. It has been a part of world history since the begining of civilization, and recently in 2001 America had its own tragic terrorist attacks. This time is was commited by a grop of people who were extremists and said they did it in the name of their god(shaan k).
           This topic intrests me personlly because i am middle eastern and after all these attacks poeple look down on me and my religion because they were ignornat, yet i also understood because they were scared. I have always beeninterested in why epoeple do what they do and terrorism sees to be so violent and uneeded but the fact is that peopel use acts of violent to get what they want. Similiar to bulling, just to a more extreme level. It seems very interesting to see how different forms of terrorism are around the world. How there are different types is relgion, political aspects, and between rivilry countries.
Types of behavior of terrorisim:

• ineluctably political in aims and motives
• violent – or, equally important, threatens violence
• designed to have far-reaching psychological repercussions beyond the immediate victim or target
• conducted by an organization with an identifiable chain of command or conspiratorial cell structure (whose members wear no uniform or identifying insignia) and
• perpetrated by a subnational group or non-state entity. (wikipedia)

( dawn t  and brandon b)
            All of these differnet aspects of terrorisim and how it affected by the choices we all make relates to economics and also relates to our everyday lives. This makes it interesting for all of us to research and learn more about what and who and where this all takes place and learn facts about it and put the questons we have in good use.

Economic Post 1

INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM
By Joshua Gomez

When you think of terrorism what do you picture? A majority would say weapons, Al Qaeda, and mass destruction. What if that wasn't the group to be pointing fingers at?
The picture above displays an ironic and insightful look at how terrorism and the powers behind it can be seen with different eyes. The media plays a big role on creating ideas for us and planting thoughts into our head. Personally, I find it interesting that this image allows the freedom of thought and imagination. It allows me to explore my political views.

My goal is to better understand terrorist motives and find out just who are the real terrorists of this world. In order to get to that, we must first understand the concept of terrorism, which would be considered concepts of political discourse are hardly models of clarity, but there is general agreement as to what constitutes terrorism. The economy plays a major role in terrorism. For example, if a country wanted to they could make the trading process of goods into a terrorist action. This would cause a huge stoppage on importation of products. Prices for the U.S consumer would be skyrocketed because of non imported products affecting consumers rights to purchase. the government would be forced to set higher standards and implement a monitoring system on other countries. As a point of departure we may take the official United States Code: "act of terrorism" means an activity that -- (A) involves a violent act or an act dangerous to human life that is a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or any State, or that would be a criminal violation if committed within the jurisdiction of the United States or of any State; and (B) appears to be intended (i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; (ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or (iii) to affect the conduct of a government by assassination or kidnapping. By knowing the motives of a terrorist organization we can figure who's putting the pressure on society, is it politics? Is it poverty and the diminishing economy? or is it something deeper?

Reference: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/258577/understanding_terrorist_organizations.html?cat=9
U.S Article Code On Terrorism: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/usc_sec_18_00002331----000-.html