Memorandum: International Issues - Essay Example

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND SECRETARY OF HILARY CLINTON RE: MEMO WINNING THE WAR AND PEACE IN AFGHANISTAN DECEMBER 9, 2009 Brief Background President Barack Obama acknowledges the need for the United States of America to win the war and peace in Afghanistan. It is in relation to this that the President has decided to send more troops to the latter in order to attain victory in the said war and bring peace back in Afghanistan. The question, however is, how the United States could properly deploy the said troops in order to ensure that they are successful in terms of winning the war and peace in the said country. The Issues The War in Afghanistan has already been going on for eight years and has faced tremendous criticism. The status of the war in the said country was considered to be one of the most pressing issues faced by President Barack Obama when he was still campaigning for his presidency. In fact, he ran on the promise that he would restore cold-eyed calculations of national interest to American foreign policy, a reaction against the tendency of former President George W. Bush’s to adopt a confrontational policy in terms of the freedoms it would achieve for nations that did not have them. It is then in this regard that it has become of paramount importance for President Obama to give utmost consideration to the issue of human rights in order to restore the support for this increasingly unpopular war. Thus, in winning the war and peace in Afghanistan, the President must be able to take into consideration the needs of the Afghans. Analysis As a policy analyst, I would say that it is of paramount importance that President Barack Obama addresses the issue with regard to winning the war and peace in Afghanistan by taking the welfare of the Afghan people into consideration. Eight years has passed since the war was launched and yet despite the entrance of a number of foreign troops in the country, peace never came. In general, people in Afghanistan viewed the American troops as inefficient for despite their possession of the best tanks and weapons, they never were successful in defeating the Taliban. Hence, it is then important that the roles that the new troops would play will go beyond than mere fighting in order to help the country in attaining sustainable peace. Policy Prescription As a policy analyst, I recommend that the United States of America adheres to the Policy of Diplomatic Engagement with the Afghans. Hence, in adopting the principles of such, it has become relatively significant that the extra troops to be sent will be given a more extensive role to play. In general, they must go beyond their traditional roles of fighting and instead, help in preventing the Taliban from crossing over from Pakistan. Also, they could focus on the training of the national police and army to enable the latter to start looking after for the Afghans’ own security. Conclusion The traditional confrontational nature of the US policy to Afghanistan must therefore be abandoned. Rather, the government must give paramount importance to the welfare of the Afghans through the policy of diplomatic engagement in order to ensure their victory in the war and peace in Afghanistan. TO: UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL BAN KI MOON FROM: RE: MEMO HANDLING THE CURRENT REGIME IN SUDAN AND THE PEOPLE OF DARFUR DATE: DECEMBER 9, 2009 Brief Background The situation in Sudan’s western province of Darfur is often referred to as the world’s worst humanitarian disaster. The radical Arab dictatorship of Sudan which was battling a popular rebellion in Darfur since 20033 has unleashed Arab militias that were tasked to murder, terrorize, and forcibly exile the predominantly non-Arab ethnic groups in that particular region. Until today, the Sudanese regime continues to hinder humanitarian aid efforts, cover up the atrocities of its militia surrogates and crush resistance through the deliberate starvation and expulsion of the non-Arab groups. The Issues The Bashir Regime of Sudan fails to comply with the rules and regulations imposed upon them by the United Nations with regard to the dissolution of the Janjaweed militias, the bringing of the leaders of the rebellion to justice and the provision of access to humanitarian aid workers. In general, this refusal is generally brought about by the resistance of the U.N Security Council to properly implement their proposed measures to put an end to terrorism in Darfur due to their financial interests in the Sudan Oil Industry. Analysis As a policy analyst, I would say that the apartheid in Sudan very much resembles the ethnic cleansing campaign in South Africa years back. It is in line with this then that the problem can be resolved in the same manner as the apartheid in South Africa was ended: through massive international pressure. However, the United Nations Security Council fails to positively act on this particular issue due to the financial interests that its members have on the economy of Sudan. In this regard, it is of paramount importance for the United Nations to come up with policies that would encourage the Sudanese government to put an end to the murder of the non-Muslim inhabitants of Darfur as well as allow the entry of humanitarian aid workers in the region to help in alleviating the citizens from poverty. Policy Prescription As a policy analyst, I recommend that the United Nations, under the leadership of UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to impose upon any economic aid to Sudan through the international financial institutions. Furthermore, the UN could also encourage other nations to follow the actions of the United States which imposed unilateral sanctions on Sudan due to its support for terrorism. The United Nations could also launch a populist divestment campaign to persuade the large institutional investors to ban investments in publicly traded companies that do business in the country. Through this, the Sudanese government may then adhere to the regulations imposed on them by the United Nations. Conclusion The Darfur Crisis will only end once the Sudanese government becomes convinced that the international community will not tolerate its repression of its own people. Hence, it is of paramount importance that sanctions be placed upon them in order for them to abandon their apartheid policies in Darfur and allow the entry of humanitarian and aid workers in the region. TO: FROM: RE: MEMO CAUSES OF TERRORISM DATE: DECEMBER 9, 2009 Brief Background Historians claim that the twentieth century was the bloodiest in human history considering that both world wards took place in this particular era along with other major conflicts which victimized most of the countries in the world. However, one could say that the onset of the twenty-first century did not guarantee complete peace to the entire world, as various threats to humanity such as terrorism begin to emerge. The Issues There are generally two main causes of terrorism: first, social and political injustice – people choose terrorism when they are trying to right what they perceive to be a social or political or historical wrong; and second, the belief that violence or its threat will be effective and will usher in change. Given these, the question is now related with regard to what the members of the international community must do in order to combat terrorism by addressing its causes. Analysis As a policy analyst, I would say that there is no sole cause to the act of terrorism. However, researchers have identified the following as the most common specific causes to terrorism in the twenty-first century: (1) ethnicity, (2) nationalism/separatism, (3) poverty and economic disadvantage, (4) globalization, (5) Western Society, (6) Disaffected Intellegentia, (7) Dehumanization and (8) Religion. As previously stated, terrorism is often used as a means by which social, political and historical wrongs are corrected. Policy Prescription As a policy analyst, I strongly recommend that issues with regard to the abovementioned be settled through peaceful means such as diplomatic talks and compromise. Opposing parties do not have to resort to violence in order to settle their differences. Aside from this, nations must also come up with foreign policies that tolerate differences with regard to political and religious ideologies so as to prevent the clash of civilizations that would often times result to terrorist attacks between the two opposing parties. Furthermore, the United Nations, most especially its Security Council, must also be able to come up with initiatives that would somehow bring about sustainable peace by eliminating the most common causes of terrorism as previously mentioned. Conclusion The issue of terrorism is grounded on the factors which entail the need to correct social or historical or political wrongs. In this regard, people would often result to violence in order to achieve such goals. Hence, it is of paramount importance that policies be drafted in such a way that these issues would be resolved through peaceful means such as compromise and diplomatic talks. BIBLIOGRAPHY Bieniek, P.M. The Twenty-First Century. Accessed December 8, 2009 from . n.d. Coughlin, C. Barack Obama needs to demonstrate he is committed to winning the war in Afghanistan. Telegraph UK. December 1, 2009. Heleta, S. Darfur and Sudan: A Revolution in the Making. Pambazuka New: 403. October 22, 2008. Keet, M. Causes of Terrorism. Accessed December 8, 2009 from < http://www.meteck.org/causesTerrorism.html>. 2005. Mixed Feelings on Extra Troops in Afghanistan. Accessed December 7, 2009 from . 2009. Philipps, J. Pressure Sudan to Halt Oppression in Darfur. US: The Heritage Foundation. October 4, 2004. Smith, B. Obama ‘Realism’ Faces Afghan Test. Politico. November 29, 2009. Zalman, A. The Causes of Terrorism. Accessed December 8, 2009 from < http://terrorism.about.com/od/causes/a/causes_terror.htm>. 2009. Read More