...3 COUNTERTERRORISM EVOLVES In chapte r 2, we described the growth of a new kind of terrorism, and a new terrorist organization—especially from 1988 to 1998, when Usama Bin Ladin declared war and organized the bombing of two U.S. embassies. In this chapter, we trace the parallel evolution of government efforts to counter terrorism by Islamic extremists against the United States. We mention many personalities in this report. As in any study of the U.S. government, some of the most important characters are institutions. We will introduce various agencies, and how they adapted to a new kind of terrorism. 3.1 FROM THE OLD TERRORISM TO THE NEW: THE FIRST WORLD TRADE CENTER BOMBING At 18 minutes after noon on February 26, 1993, a huge bomb went off beneath the two towers of the World Trade Center.This was not a suicide attack.The terrorists parked a truck bomb with a timing device on Level B-2 of the underground garage, then departed.The ensuing explosion opened a hole seven stories up. Six people died. More than a thousand were injured. An FBI agent at the scene described the relatively low number of fatalities as a miracle.1 President Bill Clinton ordered his National Security Council to coordinate the response. Government agencies swung into action to find the culprits.The Counterterrorist Center located at the CIA combed its files and queried sources around the world. The National Security Agency (NSA), the huge Defense Department signals collection agency, ramped up its communications...
Words: 17150 - Pages: 69
...HUMAN: BUILDING A SAFER HEALTH SYSTEM H ealth care in the United States is not as safe as it should be--and can be. At least 44,000 people, and perhaps as many as 98,000 people, die in hospitals each year as a result of medical errors that could have been prevented, according to estimates from two major studies. Even using the lower estimate, preventable medical errors in hospitals exceed attributable deaths to such feared threats as motor-vehicle wrecks, breast cancer, and AIDS. Medical errors can be defined as the failure of a planned action to be completed as intended or the use of a wrong plan to achieve an aim. Among the problems that commonly occur during the course of providing health care are adverse drug events and improper transfusions, surgical injuries and wrong-site surgery, suicides, restraint-related injuries or death, falls, burns, pressure ulcers, and mistaken patient identities. High error rates with serious consequences are most likely to occur in intensive care units, operating rooms, and emergency departments. Beyond their cost in human lives, preventable medical errors exact other significant tolls. They have been estimated to result in total costs (in cluding the expense of additional care necessitated by the errors, lost income and household productivity, and disability) of between $17 billion and $29 billion per year in hospitals nationwide. Errors also are costly in terms of loss of trust in the health care system by patients and diminished satisfaction...
Words: 3171 - Pages: 13
...China’s budgetary system Year III Finance and Banking Balea Calin Dobrovolschi Natalia 2012 Content Introduction………………………………………………………………..pg 3 Traditional Budget Accounting…………………………………...……… pg 3 1.Taxonomy of Chinese Accounting……..…………….......................... pg 3 1.1 The Domain of Budget Accounting……….…………...………... .pg 3 1.2 Chinese units……………………………………………………... pg 4 2. Public Financial Management Process……………………..……….. pg 4 Conventional Budget Accounting …………………………………………pg 5 1. Overall and Unit Budgets…………………….…………………….. pg 5 2. Characteristics of the Chinese Budget Accounting System ….….…..pg 6 2.1 Accounting as a Budget Tool…………………….…………….. pg 6 2.2 Characteristics…………….…………………….……………… pg 7 The 1994 Budget Law………………………………..…………………… pg 8 1. Scope…….……………………………………………………….....pg 8 2. Institutional structure…………………………………………….....pg 8 3. Budget policy……………………………………………………….pg 9 3.1 General Policy…………………………………………………. pg 9 3.2 Separate Revenue System……………………………………....pg 9 3.3 Dual Budgeting System………………………………………...pg 10 3.4 Functional Classification of the Budget………………………...pg 10 3.5 Increased Budgetary transparency………………………………pg 11 3.6 Increased Effectiveness in resource utilization………………….pg 11 Further development………………………………………………………...
Words: 4741 - Pages: 19
...OurOur responsibility money, A Citizens’ Guide to Monitoring Government Expenditures by Vivek Ramkumar T H E I N T E R N AT I O N A L B U D G E T P R O J E C T Table of Contents Foreword and Acknowledgments PART I Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Introduction: Why Civil Society Groups Need to Track and Monitor Budget Spending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Chapter 1: Overview of the Budget Cycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Chapter 2: Why Government Expenditures Can Deviate from the Annual Budget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 PART II The Budget Execution Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Chapter 3: The Budget Execution Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Chapter 4: Case Studies on Successful Civil Society Initiatives to Monitor Budget Execution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 1: MKSS Undertakes Social Audits in India . . . . . . . . . . . .21 2: CSCQBE Carries Out Public Expenditure Tracking Surveys in Malawi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Chapter 5: Other Successful Initiatives in Monitoring Budget Execution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 PART III The Procurement Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Chapter 6: The Procurement Process . . . . . . . ...
Words: 45532 - Pages: 183
...China The first one is the economy. China's economy has been typically the best-performing economy or among the best-performing economies in the world since 1979 when reforms began, averaging about 7 percent growth. One note of concern, though, is that those conditions that allowed that 7 percent growth are not likely to be prevalent in the years to come, because for over 30 years, China has relied extensively on lower wage rates and export-driven growth. But wage rates have been bid up, as happens; the Chinese are victims of their own success, you could say. And secondly, the rest of the countries in the world are not going through high rates of growth, and they’re not going to be importing the way they had been historically. So, that formula isn’t going to be as successful going forward as it has been. China needs to shift away from an export-driven economy to more of a consumption model. It needs to be mindful about funding its state-owned enterprises, about subsidizing state-owned companies. It needs to lessen its reliance on low-end manufacturing and move up the value chain. By the way, these aren’t my observations; these are observations by Chinese leadership. If you follow any Chinese leader’s speech on China’s economic transformation, these are the points he’ll make. We would call that market rationalism or just normal evolution as a country rises to middle-income status. But there are also some countervailing impulses. There’s a strong streak of economic nationalism;...
Words: 31136 - Pages: 125
...influence of interest groups in Texas politics. Indeed, it is frequently not the individual, or even the more broadly defined “public opinion,” that influences government, but rather these interest groups that have the ear of public officials. However, interest groups are not necessarily “others” but are often “us” as we act in concert with like-minded or similarly interested citizens. An interest group is an organization of individuals sharing common goals that tries to influence governmental decisions. This term is often used interchangeably with the term “lobby group,” although lobbying is a specific activity or technique (discussed later) whereby interest groups attempt to influence legislation. Sometimes the term political action committee (PAC) is also used to refer to interest groups. PACs are organizations that collect and distribute money to candidates and, as such, are a more specialized kind of interest group. Often, broad-based interest groups have PACs associated with them. Interest groups play an important role in a democratic society. They are capable of exerting both positive and negative effects on political processes and outcomes. Public attention is often drawn to the negative influences; however, interest groups and their activities are protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which provides for the people's right “peaceably to...
Words: 7504 - Pages: 31
... AND PROGRAM MANAGERS FROM: Linda M. Springer Controller SUBJECT: Revisions to OMB Circular A-123, Management’s Responsibility for Internal Control OMB Circular No. A-123 defines management's responsibility for internal control in Federal agencies. A re-examination of the existing internal control requirements for Federal agencies was initiated in light of the new internal control requirements for publicly-traded companies contained in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Circular A-123 and the statute it implements, the Federal Managers’ Financial Integrity Act of 1982, are at the center of the existing Federal requirements to improve internal control. This circular reflects policy recommendations developed by a joint committee of representatives from the Chief Financial Officer Council (CFOC) and the President’s Council on Integrity and Efficiency (PCIE). The policy changes in this circular are intended to strengthen the requirements for conducting management’s assessment of internal control over financial reporting. The circular also emphasizes the need for agencies to integrate and coordinate internal control assessments with other internal control-related activities. The revised circular is effective for FY 2006. Agencies should take steps in FY 2005 to prepare for its implementation. OMB plans to continue to work closely with the CFOC and the PCIE to provide further implementation guidance. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT O F F I C E O F M...
Words: 12138 - Pages: 49
...Pamphlet Series No. 53 Governance of the IMF Decision Making, Institutional Oversight, Transparency, and Accountability Leo Van Houtven INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND 2002 Pamphlet Series No. 53 Governance of the IMF Decision Making, Institutional Oversight, Transparency, and Accountability Leo Van Houtven INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND Washington, D.C. 2002 ISBN 1-58906-130-6 ISSN 0538-8759 August 2002 The views expressed in this pamphlet, including any legal aspects, are those of the author and should not be attributed to Executive Directors of the IMF or their national authorities. Cover design and typesetting: IMF Graphics Section Please send orders to: International Monetary Fund, Publication Services 700 19th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20431, USA Tel.: (202) 623-7430 Telefax: (202) 623-7201 E-mail: publications@imf.org Internet: http://www.imf.org Contents Preface ............................................................................................... List of Abbreviations ........................................................................ I. II. Introduction ........................................................................... Quotas and Voting Power in the IMF: A System That Calls for Greater Equity ................................................... Role of Quotas and the Debate on the Quota Formula............ Further Work Toward Correcting Distortions and Enhancing Equity in Voting Power .....................
Words: 31743 - Pages: 127
...risks of their products, before harm occurs. It does not call for the elimination of all risk, nor does it ignore tradeoffs, as Sunstein has alleged. Rather, through burden shifting, the Principle legitimately requires risk creators to research and justify the risks they impose on society. By exploring where the Principle already operates successfully in U.S. law—examples often overlooked by the critics—I highlight the Principle’s flexibility and utility in regulatory law. This Article uses chemical regulation as a case study in how the Principle can guide Congress in an ongoing controversy. Congress is considering a major overhaul of the flawed Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 (TSCA), and this change could be one of the most significant developments in environmental law in a generation. This Article advocates implementing the Strong Precautionary Principle in a replacement statute for TSCA. Under my proposed licensing system, chemical manufacturers would carry the burden to demonstrate that their products do not pose significant risks to human health or the en* Associate Professor, University of Richmond School of...
Words: 29197 - Pages: 117
...DEL CASTILLO, ANJELAH AUBREY R. BSBA BLOCK-A I. THE PHILIPPINE DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM REPUBLIC ACT No. 10121 AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE PHILIPPINE DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, PROVIDING FOR THE NATIONAL DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK AND INSTITUTIONALIZING THE NATIONAL DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010". Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to: (a) Uphold the people's constitutional rights to life and property by addressing the root causes of vulnerabilities to disasters, strengthening the country's institutional capacity for disaster risk reduction and management and building the resilience of local communities to disasters including climate change impacts; (b) Adhere to and adopt the universal norms, principles and standards of humanitarian assistance and the global effort on risk reduction as concrete expression of the country's commitment to overcome human sufferings due to recurring disasters; (c) Incorporate internationally accepted principles of disaster risk management in the creation and implementation of national, regional and local sustainable development and poverty reduction strategies...
Words: 9149 - Pages: 37
...Strengthening the Ombudsman Institution in Asia Improving Accountability in Public Service Delivery through the Ombudsman About the Asian Development Bank ADB’s vision is an Asia and Pacific region free of poverty. Its mission is to help its developing member countries reduce poverty and improve the quality of life of their people. Despite the region’s many successes, it remains home to two-thirds of the world’s poor: 1.8 billion people who live on less than $2 a day, with 903 million struggling on less than $1.25 a day. ADB is committed to reducing poverty through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Based in Manila, ADB is owned by 67 members, including 48 from the region. Its main instruments for helping its developing member countries are policy dialogue, loans, equity investments, guarantees, grants, and technical assistance. Strengthening the Ombudsman Institution in Asia Accountability is essential for good governance, and in many Asian countries the ombudsman is the key accountability institution. Originating in the West, the concept of the ombudsman arrived relatively late in Asia. Yet more and more ombudsman offices are being established in Asia, and they play a critical role in the fight against incompetence and injustice on the part of government officials. This report presents in-depth research on Asian ombudsmen, with a focus on best practices and emerging issues, especially in the context...
Words: 148083 - Pages: 593
...Chapter 07 Foreign Currency Transactions and Hedging Foreign Exchange Risk Multiple Choice Questions 1. According to the World Trade Organization, what was the size of international trade in 2008? A) $7,000,000,000 (7 billion dollars) B) $70,000,000,000 (70 billion dollars) C) $37,000,000,000 (37 billion dollars) D) $16,000,000,000,000 (16 trillion dollars) Answer: D Level: Easy LO: 1 2. In the years between 1990 and 2001 when global gross domestic product rose 27%, what was the growth in global exports? A) 25% B) 75% C) 35% D) 50% Answer: B Level: Medium LO: 1 3. What is a “foreign exchange rate?” A) the price to buy a foreign currency B) the price to buy foreign goods C) the difference between the price of goods in a foreign currency and the price in a domestic currency D) the cost to hold all monetary assets in a single currency Answer: A Level: Easy LO: 1 4. Why was there very little fluctuation in the foreign exchange rate in the period 1945-1973? A) This was a period when the world economy was very stable. B) There was very little growth in the world economy between 1945 and 1973. C) Countries linked their currency to the U.S. dollar, which was backed by gold reserves. D) Most currencies were pegged to the British...
Words: 30626 - Pages: 123
...Armed Conflict in Syria: Background and U.S. Response Jeremy M. Sharp Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs Christopher M. Blanchard Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs September 6, 2013 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov RL33487 Armed Conflict in Syria: Background and U.S. Response Summary The popular-uprising-turned-armed-rebellion in Syria is in its third year, and seems poised to continue, with the government and an array of militias locked in a bloody struggle of attrition. Members of Congress and Administration officials are debating options for responding militarily to President Bashar al Asad’s forces’ reported use of chemical weapons in attacks on rebel-held areas and civilians. After the U.S. intelligence community concluded that Asad’s forces used weapons in limited attacks earlier this year, the Obama Administration had signaled a pending expansion of U.S. civilian and military assistance to the opposition. Earlier in the conflict, U.S. officials and many analysts asserted that President Asad and his supporters would be forced from power, but had difficulty articulating how that outcome would take place within the timeframes they set forth. Recent developments suggest that both the opposition and the Asad regime face considerable challenges in their attempts to assert greater control over Syria. Increasingly, analysts have focused on the potential for the regime and its opponents to carve out strongholds and prolong the fighting. Rapid escalation...
Words: 26279 - Pages: 106
...of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Sociology Advisor: Ronald C. Kramer, Ph.D. Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan August 2012 THE GRADUATE COLLEGE WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN June 29, 2012 Date WE HEREBY APPROVE THE DISSERTATION SUBMITTED BY Elizabeth A. Bradshaw ENTITLED Deepwater, Deep Ties, Deep Trouble: A State-Corporate Environmental Crime Analysis of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill AS PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF Doctor of Philosophy /^^y<^^<^ Sociology Ronald C^ramer, Ph.D (Department) Dissertatijzfh Beview Committer Sociology Gregory J. HowaroyPh.D (Program) Dissertation Review Committee Member Susan M. Carlson, Ph.D Dissertation Review Committee Member lymond...
Words: 81631 - Pages: 327
...2009 REPORT TO CONGRESS of the U.S.-CHINA ECONOMIC AND SECURITY REVIEW COMMISSION ONE HUNDRED ELEVENTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION NOVEMBER 2009 Printed for the use of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.uscc.gov dkrause on GSDDPC29 with K1 VerDate Nov 24 2008 08:23 Nov 10, 2009 Jkt 052771 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6012 Sfmt 6602 M:\USCC\2009\52771.XXX APPS06 PsN: 52771 M:\USCC\USChina.eps Report Documentation Page Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for the collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington VA 22202-4302. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to a penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. 1. REPORT DATE 3. DATES COVERED 2. REPORT TYPE 01 NOV 2009 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 00-00-2009 to 00-00-2009 ...
Words: 185166 - Pages: 741
