The US Multinational Companies - Report Example

diа jоurnаl Your name: Institution name: “US' new Africa strategy is 'welcomed by China” The is a persistent meme within the U.S multinational companies and the media that China’s rise in African continent represents a new form of colonialism or a “new scramble” for mineral resources on the continent (Lianxing, 2014). Contrary to this view, the increase partnership of Chinese government and various African States offers tremendous benefits for Africans through increased development and trade (Johnson, 2014). But the world two largest economies are “complementary rivals” on the African states whose interests don’t really overlap with one another. China has often been criticized for what is seen from other quarters, its “unfair strategy” when engaging the continent. Many critics claim that Chinese strategy has been more about exploiting the continent natural resources than spurring the Africa’s development (Lianxing, 2014). Other critics have also stated that China doesn’t contribute to human resource development or hire local workers, and aims to create favorable contracts for itself at the expense of the African continent (Lianxing, 2014). In addition, the American government officials, and, indeed U.S. businesses have started to see China as a major threat to U.S. interests in African countries (Johnson, 2014). The U.S-Africa Leaders Summit was one the effort to focus U.S attention on the many opportunities in Africa continent (Thompson, 2014), and despite effort by the U.S president, there is little change the U.S-Africa Leaders Summit will ultimately achieve its goal (Johnson, 2014). The U.S president, Obama delivered a mixed message in the summit why the U.S government is not competing with their counterpart the Chinese in Africa continent while repeatedly explaining why the United States should be the African continent’s preferred partner. Xinhua published an article headlined (Thompson, 2014). “The U.S-Africa Summit won’t affect China-Africa relations.” It quoted a South African academic. Gatsheni Ndlovu Sabelo as saying that China stands a better chance in African continent than the U.S (Johnson, 2014). “The advantaged of China is that its aid to Africa states has no strings attached and most African states tend to prefer Chinese loans and aids because it does not come with condition on democracy, human rights as well attempting to influence the African culture of African countries” (Lianxing, 2014). Professor Ndlovu reportedly said. For years, the U.S. has been saying China-Africa partnership was not a threat to American interests in Africa (Johnson, 2014). However, as a rising power (Thompson, 2014), China inevitably bumps against U.S. interests in Africa. China’s replacement of the U.S as Africa’s main trading partners 5 years ago has underlined Beijing’s progress. In conclusion, it is good for Africa counties to be wooed simultaneously by both the U.S and China. It is also good for the U.S and China to be challenged by one another, thus keeping both nations on their toes, with each country knowing that the global community is watching what they are dong in Africa continent. “Ebola Cases Reported Up Sharply in Liberia” If you had asked health experts few months ago whether an Ebola outbreak could turn into uncontrollable epidemic in West Africa (Bellu, 2014), they would have confidently that there was no way the disease will have spread so fast: the disease is not transmitted easily, and patient usually get so sick and die fast, it has little opportunity to infect new people (Gladstone, 2014). Then came mid 2004, the Ebola virus rulebook was rewritten. More people in West Africa have died from the Ebola virus in the last 4 months than the total number of Ebola deaths since the first case of Ebola virus was record in 1976 (Monica, 2014). The virus has also popped up in enough countries- first Guinea, then Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria, and now Senegal- and these case have add up to the world’s first Ebola epidemic There are a few characteristics that have made Ebola outbreak in West Africa more violent and different (Chowdhury, 2014). The Ebola disease hit countries that were unprepared in West Africa and in the past they had no previous experience with Ebola disease, and the Ebola virus quickly moved to densely populated urban areas (Monica, 2014). In Uganda, an East African country, as soon as the Ebola disease was identified in that country, health expertise in that country overwhelm all streams of news both visual and print media with messages about how people can stay safe Bellu, 2014). People did not leave their homes for fear of being infected, and suspected cases were reported to the health officials in that country. It was one of the reasons why the country successfully prevented the spread of Ebola, even those cases that were reported in urban areas. According to Dr. Antony Mbonye, Uganda's director of health services said the public-health awareness campaigning in West Africa counties did not start soon enough after the outbreak (Chowdhury, 2014). These countries in West Africa responded too slowly to make their citizens, communities aware of the Ebola virus. Poor access to health information, low level of literacy and delayed public health campaigning only increased the disease rumor mill (Bellu, 2014). There is no proven treatment for the Ebola disease but many lies about the supposed cures have spread fast (Chowdhury, 2014). One persistent myth about Ebola disease cure has been that hot salty water can stop the disease (Chowdhury, 2014). Others suggest hot chocolate, faith healing, raw onions etc will stamp out the Ebola virus. Additionally, the tree west Africa countries have weak health systems and little funds to spend on their health care system (Monica, 2014). Less than 50 dollars is invested per person per year on healthcare in most of West Africa and these countries record some of the worst child mortality and maternal rates on the planet. Journalist David Quammen has described it well in a recent New York Times op-ed: "Ebola is more inimical to humans than perhaps any known virus on Earth, except rabies and HIV-1. And it does its damage much faster than either” (Chowdhury, 2014). “Turkey Is Courted by U.S. to Help Fight ISIS” The Obama’s administration is preparing to carry out a military offensive against the ISIS in Syrian and Iraq (Coopersept, Gordon and Schmit, 2014). That may fail if the U.S. allies such as Turkey are not involved, according to senior administrations in the U.S government. But why Turkey is important to the Obama’s administration in the fight against ISIS in Middle East (Dalia, 2014). This is judging from Obama’s 10th September speech announcing the expanded operation against ISIS and the deal John Kerry hammered out in Saudi Arabia. President Obama is expecting a lot from Gulf States like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey. The Jedda communique pledged that countries should support the Iraqi government, seal ISIS off from the region, and implement the United Nations (UN) resolutions to eliminate terrorism in world (Sara, 2014). In addition, prevention of influx of arms and foreign fighters, and stop crude oil smuggling that has been funding the ISIS’ operations in Iraq (Coopersept, Gordon and Schmit, 2014). Take crude oil smuggling, a larger source of revenue for the terrorist group than donations from financiers in Middle East. Both revenue streams will be difficult for the U.S. to break, but crude oil smuggling will be more difficult because it’s a venture from which both sides of the parties benefit (Dalia, 2014). Those dealing with crude oil are more motivated by an economic opportunity, not radicalism (Sara, 2014). This makes it necessary to squeeze the cross-border crude oil business early and effectively. Turkey will be crucial to help tame this business, since a lot of the smuggled crude oil is passing across its border with Syria through movable plastic oil pipelines in some locations (Sara, 2014). In addition, Turkish border is also key in preventing arms and foreign fighters to Islamic State. But we should recall during the Iraq War in 2003, Turkey did not want to be part of the coalition during the war. It probably has the same concerns now that it did then: too little clarity on the post-war political solutions (Coopersept, Gordon and Schmit, 2014). In addition, Turkey government was not happy on the way the U.S. government was handling the Syria's Bashar al-Assad, wanting tougher sanctions against the Syria government (Dalia, 2014). Turkey have argued that action against Islamic State will strengthen Assad regime, particularly given the west plans for the endgame in Syria aren't clear. In conclusion, the Obama’s administration will need to appreciate that Turkey is status conscious, focused on what the ultimate political order in its region will look like, and doesn't take a simplistic view about the sources of Islamist radicalism (Dalia, 2014). These are, in fact, eminently reasonable positions for Turkey to take (Sara, 2014). References Bellu, J. (2014). Ebola has up to an 18% chance of coming to America. Here's why you don't need to panic. Vox. Retrieved from Coopersept, H, Gordon.M.R and Schmit, E. (2014). Destroying ISIS May Take Years, U.S. Officials Say. New York Times Newpaper Retrieved from< http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/08/world/middleeast/destroying-isis-may-take-3-years- white-house-says.html> Chowdhury, I.S. (2014). Ebola crisis: Sierra Leone lockdown declared "success".Observer Online Desk. Retrieved from http://observerbd.com/details.php?id=44715 Dalia, D. K. (2014). The U.S. Can’t Count on Regional Support in the Fight Against ISIS. New York Times Newpaper. Retrieved from < http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2014/09/15/does-the-us-have-allies-it-needs-to- fight- isis/the-us-cant-count-on-regional-support-in-the-fight-against-isis> Gladstone, R. (2014).Ebola Cases Reported Up Sharply in Liberia. NY Times> Retrieved from Johnson, K.(2014). China's African Adventure . Nairobi: Graham Holdings Company. Lianxing, L. (2014).   US' new Africa strategy is 'welcomed by China'. China Daily. Retrieved from < http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2014-09/03/content_18540356.htm> Monica. M. (2014). Ebola lockdown in Sierra Leone: nationwide three-day curfew. The Guardian. Retrieved from Sara, G. (2014). Turkey: Cautious partner in battle against ISIS. The Interpreter. Retrieved from http://www.lowyinterpreter.org/post/2014/09/22/Turkey-cautious-partner-battle-against- ISIS.aspx Thompson, D. (2014). "China's soft power in Africa: From the "Beijing Consensus" to health diplomacy"]. jamestown.org. Read More