...remains – why on Earth don’t you lift it? So presumably the same question appeared in the mind of the President Obama. And lately, he has announced that he wants to re-establish diplomatic relations with Cuba. “To the Cuban people, America extends a hand of friendship ”, he said. ‘Since the President took office in 2009, he has taken steps to support the ability of the Cuban people to gain greater control over their own lives and determine their country’s future. Now, the President is taking the next steps to renew our leadership in the Americas, end our outdated approach on Cuba, and promote more effective change that supports the Cuban people and our national security interests.’( "President Obama Delivered a Statement on Cuba." The WHITE HOUSE. 17 Dec. 2014. Web. 1 May 2015. <https://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/foreign-policy/cuba>.) It seems to me as if this would be an especially good time for a change in America’s relations with Cuba and that the moment has finally come to put an end to this mess that not only economy of both countries suffers from but the real people too, and to admit that the embargo has to be lifted. The U.S. trade embargo on Cuba was placed after World War II by the President Eisenhower in October 1960, one year after Fidel Castro seized power. Thus, diplomatic relations were severed. It was an implicit reluctant recognition of the permanence of the Castro regime and an explicit signal of U.S displeasure with expropriation of American property and with...
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...Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González, and Rene González have been part of a long trial with minimal media coverage. The five aimed to seize the plans of anti-Cuban terrorist organizations, many of which are based in Miami, Florida. The trial lasted over six months, and became the longest trial in United States history. More than 119 volumes of testimony and over 20,000 pages of documents were collected and even with the testimony of three retired US Army generals and a retired admiral, who stated that no evidence of espionage existed, they were still sentenced. A statement by Fernando González Llort (2001) clearly states the Cuban-American National Fund (CANF) appears to be the primary foundation of such terrorist organizations, involving and gaining support from various American leaders. The acts of the Cuban Five would expose the wrong-doings of many American key figures and for such a reason; the heroes were made out to be the criminals. González Llort also states the only thing he and his fellow companions are guilty of is reporting, or more so warning, in the most docile manner, possible threats to Cuba by terrorists in the United States. Plastered all over the media in the year 1999, was a unique custody battle over Cuban born Elian González. Elian made it to Miami, after escaping Cuba with his mother and her boyfriend, who both drowned. González’s paternal uncles took custody of the child while Elian’s father, who resided in Cuba, requested his child...
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...From the 1890’s to the 1920’s, a new movement occurred, known as the Progressive movement. The main goal of this movement was to spread awareness of major issues to American citizens and ultimately, to discover solutions to major social, economic, and political problems. Eventually, the social reformers were successful, because of the changes brought to the workplace and the betterment of living conditions in large cities. During the early 1890’s, many companies had poor working conditions. These included long workdays, child labor, and no payment for injuries on the job. Social reformers used muckraking, or digging up scandalous information, to put the word out about these issues. One famous muckraker was Upton Sinclair, writer for the Chicago Tribune and author of The Jungle. His works, particularly The Jungle exposed the terrible working conditions of the meat packing industry in Chicago. This novel upset many, as it portrayed the awful lives of the men who worked at the plants. In addition to this revealing novel, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire also occurred. This fire was caused by smoking within the factory, and caused the deaths of many women, as the door was locked and the fire escape was blocked. This tragic event was an eye opener, and caused many reforms in the way workers must be treated. For example, the Adamson Act limited the workday to only eight hours. This was also made law by Holden vs. Hardy, while a law was passed in Oregon stating women could work...
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...Gumilyov The US and Iran: foreign policy and economy. Foreign policy Nowadays, there are no formal diplomatic relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, instead of exchanging ambassadors, Iran maintains an interests section at the Pakistani Embassy in Washington, D.C., while the United States has maintained a corresponding interests section at the Swiss Embassy in Tehran. Since December 2011, the United States has also maintained a virtual embassy on-line. Historical background. The United States and Iran (then called Persia) established diplomatic relations in 1883. 1979- revolution against the shah.-The United States broke diplomatic relations with Iran in 1980 after a group of revolutionary Iranian students, angered that the deposed Shah has been allowed to enter the United States, seized the U.S. Embassy Tehran and took 52 Americans hostage The United States has long-standing concerns over Iran’s nuclear program, sponsorship of terrorism, and human rights record. The United States and the international community have imposed comprehensive sanctions against Iran to compel Iran to engage seriously in discussions with the international community and address concerns over its nuclear program and human rights abuses. US sanctions against Iran refer to economic, trade, scientific and military sanctions against Iran. On July 14, 2015, the United States, along with China, France, Germany, Russia and the United Kingdom reached an unprecedented...
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...Assessment of the U.S relations and policies in the Middle East Gold and silver where the elements of wealth during the peak of mercantilism as the sole policy back then was the 3G’s policy (God, Gold and Glory) in the reign of the British and French Empires. Oil, however, climbed to the top of the chart of the most strategic commodities starting the early years of industrialization passing by the Second World War, when the U.S. became by far the largest oil consuming nation; consuming oil at abundant rates to support their troops overseas and to maintain the high rate of consumerism of the American lifestyle in the homeland. Soon oil grabbed the attention of the top industrialist nations as the most critical element of their survival as super industrial economies to ensure their growing manufacturing base is supported by adequate oil supplies. Having almost two thirds of the oil reserve in the world, the Middle East became the center of attention for all industrial nations, some of which had more strategic plans than others. Both, Britain and the United States realized that their wealth and survival as super powers is so much correlated with their level of control and development of the Middle East oil-rich countries. However, the feasibility of running the Arabian states both politically and economically faded in the 20th century, since maintaining their administration was too expensive for the United Kingdom, and gradually started granting the Arabian states their independence...
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...attack against the United States. However, many forget about a different terrorist attack, the aggression from the Iranians that humiliated American embassy members in 1979. Known as the Iranian hostage crisis, the siege at Tehran was a reaction by Iranian students towards American intervention in foreign affairs. Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, also known as the Shah, had good relations with America but was hated by his people. After being thrown out of power, Ruhollah Mostafavi Moosavi Khomeini became the leader of Iran and opposed alliance with the United States. Medical treatment of the Shah and U.S. intervention lead to the Iranian...
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...Robert Montgomery ENGL 1120 Amelia Lewis 4/25/13 The United States and the Middle East For the past few decades, United States foreign policy has revolved around the situation in the Middle East. This is due mostly to the fact that tensions between the United States and the Islamic countries of the Middle East are always high. Also with the United States’ most valuable resource, oil, found in highest supply in the Middle East, America has a vested economic interest into the political stability of the region. However, after a costly war in Iraq that tarnished our image not only in the Middle East but around the world and a situation in Israel that hasn’t shown any lasting progress for decades, it’s time for the United States to take another look at its political strategy for achieving lasting peace in the region. With the events of early 2011 in the Middle East, otherwise known as Arab Spring, the region has become highly unstable and vulnerable to the influences of terrorism. This is a critical time for the United States to reestablish healthy diplomatic relations in the region in order to decrease the spread terrorism and harsh anti-American sentiment as well as bring about a lasting peace. In order for America to improve its foreign affairs in the Middle East it needs to finish strong in Iraq and Afghanistan, reach a peace agreement in Israel, push for more diplomacy with Iran, and support the rebels in Syria fighting injustice. By involving the rest of the world...
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...Argumentative Essay 1915 November 22nd, 2015 World War Three’s a crowd: Iran, Israel, U.S.? Although officials of the United States, Iran, and Israel are currently attempting to solve problems through the use of diplomacy, relations are not improving quickly enough and could lead to the start of a nuclearized World War 3. Recent protests and slayings have led many people to pose the question of whether the heated relations between the two countries could lead to a World War three? Given continuously steady turmoil and mutual feelings of disgust for the two middle eastern countries, settling this dispute peacefully seems to be the furthest thing from possible. This drawn out dispute has the capability to escalate without warning very quickly and result into an outright bloody nuclear war. The United States is currently serving as a mediation tool for the Israelis, to soothe the Iranian government with the threat of the strength of the U.S. momentarily while it figures out it's next move. Little seems to be accomplished regarding peace, instead both sides seem to be preparing for War through their respective actions. However, if called upon the United States will prove to be a powerful and not easily subdued ally for the Israeli people. Though the future remains widely uncertain concerning this diplomatic dilemma in the Middle East, one thing is certain, growing tensions between the two must be settled very quickly if a peaceable solution is to be adopted. The potential...
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...The Growing U.S. Concerns with Iran Jeremy Bondy American Military University DEFM600 B001 Win 12 Dr. Oliver Hedgepeth February 25, 2012 Table of Contents Introduction 3 History 4 Assumptions 5 Secrecy of Iran's Nuclear Program 6 Evidence of Nuclear Weapon Development 6 Refusing IAEA Inspections 7 Closing the Straits of Hormuz 8 Iran Aid to Syrian Government 9 Iran's Supporting of Militant Groups 10 Replacing the Iranian Regime 10 Variables Used to Define a Model 11 Conclusion 12 References 13 Introduction As time goes on Iran is becoming an increasing area of concern and threat to the United States and its allies. Iran has been working for some time at trying to establish itself as a dominant power, especially within the Middle East. This quest for recognition has caused rising national security concerns within the United States and some of its allied countries. Some of the most recent concerns include; Iran's nuclear program, threats of closing of the Straits of Hormuz, the oil sanctions, and Iran's threats towards other oil producing Arab nations. Iran has also been working at strengthening its ties with Syria, the Hezbollah in Lebanon, Shiite groups in Iraq, and ties to groups in Palestine and Afghanistan. According to Mansour (2008), Iran has many tools in place that have a major impact on their surrounding countries and on the United States. Iran is gaining allot of ground on becoming a dominating force...
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...The Iran-Contra Affair In 1980, Ronald Reagan won the presidential election, and despite his efforts to keep the Republican majority in Congress, the Democrats swept both houses in the midterm elections. This democratic majority would complicate President Reagan’s agenda, specifically in regard to the Reagan Doctrine, a policy that promoted American support for nations resisting communism. One example of a complication would be the Boland Amendment. The Reagan Doctrine laid the foundation for monetary and military assistance to “freedom fighters” all over the world who were fighting against communism. It was the basis for not only America’s support for the Contras in Nicaragua, but also for Afghanistan against the Soviet Union and for the...
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...Iran is a country that is located in the Persian Gulf, Iran has a population of around 80 million, the large majority of whom (89%) are adherents of the Shi’a branch of Islam – the official religion which takes a predominant place even in politics. The real name of the country is Islamic republic of Iran and his capital Teheran. Geographically, Iran is taller than both France and Germany. Who has already heard about Iran recently? (levage de mains), why?? Good, as you may know, Iran is focus of actuality economic and politic. Through this presentation, we will answer two questions, First of all, we’ll see if Iran is key country and secondly, we’ll see the point of Iran as a threat to the peace of the world. Conflit interne Complex political strucure At the apex of the Islamic Republic’s power structure is a “Supreme Leader” who has vast formal powers and no term limits. Today it’s Ayatola Ali Khomeni. He is chosen by an elected body “the Assembly of Experts” which also has the constitutional power to remove bhim. He is responsible for “general policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran”, which include all aspects of domestic and foreign policy. He exercises considerable authority. He controls all of the armed forces and the Islamic Republic’s intelligence and security operations. He alone can declare war and peace. Throughout (au cours) career, has consistently taken hardline stances on regional issues, particularly toward Israel, often calling it a cancerous tumor that needs...
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...Running Head: The Carter Doctrine and the Cold War The Carter Doctrine and the Cold War United States Diplomatic Efforts During James L. Carter’s Presidential Time in Office In 1976 Americans chose James L. Carter versus Gerald Ford as their new president. The former governor of Georgia was appointed in hopes of defending American interests in the midst of the Cold War. Of President Carters’ administration, one of its most resilient adversities was faced Iran. Former President Dwight D. Eisenhower overthrew the leader of Iran in the 1953 Iranian coup d'etat, and used nuclear threats to conclude the Korean War with China. The New Look policy, the national security policy of the United States during his administration, called the New Look policy gave priority to inexpensive nuclear weapons while reducing the funding for the other military forces; the goal was to keep pressure on the Soviet Union and reduce federal deficits. Carter collaborated in this conquest. In response, Iran installed oppression of fanatical Moslem ayatollahs. This new government seized the American embassy in violation of the diplomatic law, withholding 66 hostages for the rest of the Carter administration. On November 14, 1979 President Carter immobilized the sale of weapons to Iran, banned all oil imports from them, and froze Iranian assets in the United States. The following year conditions for the release of the hostages were announced by the Shah but only in January 20th, 1981 when Ronald Reagan...
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...In September 1980, Iraqi military forces invaded Iran, sparking an eight year war. This war spread into the Persian Gulf, where Iraq retaliated against Iran by attacking oil tankers on its way to Iranian ports. In October 1987, a Kuwait oil tanker sailing under an American flag was attacked allegedly by Iran. In a separate incident, a U.S. Navy escort ship struck a mine in international waters. These attacks by both Iran and Iraq violated time honored rules of international law regarding neutral shipping and naval warfare. The United States soon retaliated by destroying two offshore oil production facilities owned and operated by the National Iranian Oil Company. Iran claimed that Iraq was to blame for both the missile and the mine, and brought a claim to the ICJ in November 1992 accusing the United States of unlawfully attacking and destroying the oil platforms. These attacks allegedly violated the Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations and Consular Rights between the United States of America and Iran by impeding the freedom of commerce between two parties. The ICJ can rule only when both parties have consented to its jurisdiction. In preliminary objections filed, the United States sought dismissal arguing that the treaty did not apply to questions concerning the use of force in self-dense. ICJ rejected the U.S. position. The court’s principal aim was to determine if the U.S. had violated its freedom of commerce obligations. The court rules that the ‘essential security interests’...
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...Iran-Iraq War, An Iraqi soldier carrying an AK-47 assault rifle during the Iran-Iraq War. [Credit: © Jacques Pavlovsky/Corbis](1980–88), prolonged military conflict between Iran and Iraq during the 1980s. Open warfare began on Sept. 22, 1980, when Iraqi armed forces invaded western Iran along the countries’ joint border, though Iraq claimed that the war had begun earlier that month, on September 4, when Iran shelled a number of border posts. Fighting was ended by a 1988 cease-fire, though the resumption of normal diplomatic relations and the withdrawal of troops did not take place until the signing of a formal peace agreement on Aug. 16, 1990. The roots of the war lay in a number of territorial and political disputes between Iraq and Iran. Iraq wanted to seize control of the rich oil-producing Iranian border region of Khūzestān, a territory inhabited largely by ethnic Arabs over which Iraq sought to extend some form of suzerainty. Iraqi president Ṣaddām Ḥussein wanted to reassert his country’s sovereignty over both banks of the Shaṭṭ al-ʿArab, a river formed by the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers that was historically the border between the two countries. Ṣaddām was also concerned over attempts by Iran’s Islamic revolutionary government to incite rebellion among Iraq’s Shīʿite majority. By attacking when it did, Iraq took advantage of the apparent disorder and isolation of Iran’s new government—then at loggerheads with the United States over the seizure of the...
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...The Pros and the Cons of Middle East Policies Name of Student Institution. The Pros and the Cons of Middle East Policies Background The international politics and relations are currently being dominated by the issue of the Middle East and the US relationship. It is, therefore, important to look at the factors that have resulted in a fragile relationship between the world superpower and the Middle East. For decades, the Middle East has been dealing with power struggles, Israeli-Palestinian border conflict, and the Arab-Israeli war. Some states in the region are pushing for constitutional monarchies or liberal democracies. My essay will examine the underlying animosity between these nations. It will also look at the pros and con of the American policies towards the Middle East and the ways it has succeeded. Hypothesis The USA is doing enough in its dealings with the Middle East. Analysis There has been an ongoing debate regarding the question of what the US’s foreign policies are towards the Middle East. Two main defense strategy objectives were resulting from the Pentagon’s Defense Planning Guidance between the year 1994 and 1999 (Reveron et al., 2014). This period was prior to President Bush Jr. Administration and has since then become more relevant. The primary objective was to deter another world war or an extreme enmity like the one portrayed between the former Soviet Union towards America. A new region strategy has therefore been put in place to prevent a hostile power from...
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