International terrorisim occurs in all parts of the world, and affects poeple within the community and the world as well. The word "terrorism" is politically and emotionally charged and this greatly compounds the difficulty of providing a precise definition. Terrorisim is practiced by many groups such as religious groups, revolutionaries, and ruling governments. Examples of terrorist behaviors: violent – or, equally important, threatens violence designed to have far-reaching psychological
Friday, December 17, 2010
The cost of terrorist affiliated actions: (Iraq war) and its affects 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?
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Terrorism Control over Media by Joshua Gomez
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
Friday, December 3, 2010
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?
Thursday, December 2, 2010
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