Entry #9 - February 26 2014

Trust Eroded, Obama Looks Beyond Karzai 

New York Times 

By.Tyler Plummer 

President Hamid Karzai refused to a sign a long term security agreement with US before he leaves office. Obama decided to look past Hamid Karzai decision and informed the pentagon to begin planning complete withdrawal of the American troops in Afghanistan by the end of the year. Obama was still open to leaving military force behind in Afghanistan to conduct training and counter terrorism operations but due to Karzai non response Obama took it that he does not want the offer. Many sources say that Karzai decision not to respond is a bad decision for them. Some people fear to say Obama has a good idea of leaving no troops in Afghanistan because of the fear that without any American or NATO troops, Afghanistan could revert to its status as a staging ground for terrorist plots against the West. President Karzai and the troops relationship has gone toxic because Afghanistan released 65 prisoners that where responsible for killing some US soldiers.

 

I think that Obama is making a controversial decision on moving all the troops out of Afghanistan because that leaves the possibility for Al Qaeda to start planning attacks on the west such American, Canada, etc. it may also be a good idea because Karzai showed no respect by not relying to Obama's offer and he released 65 prisoners that where responsible for killing some us soldiers which is sad because they are fighting to help make peace in your country. 

Entry #8- February 24 2014

Ukraine issues arrest warrant for ousted President Viktor Yanukovych

By . Tyler Plummer 

CNN

 Authorities in Urkaine has warranted an arrest for President Viktor Yanukovych for "mass killing" of civilians. But it’s been hard to arrest him because no one knows where the president is. This was just one of many dizzying developments that have engulfed Ukraine since parliament voted to oust Yanukovych as a concession to relentless protests that led to the deadliest violence in the country since its independence 22 years ago. For now parliament speaker Oleksandr Turchinow will wake over his duties. Even though Yanukovych is want for arrest for murdering civilans he has also done many good things for Ukraine.

I think that the authorities made the right decision on warranting an arrest on President Viktor Yanukovych because no one should get away with killing civilians even no matter how many good things he has done. I think that Ukraine will react well with Oleksandr Turchinow coming in.

Entry #7 - Feburary 20, 2014

Arizona's shameful 'right to discriminate' bill

by. Tyler Plummer 

CNN

 

A legislature has passed a bill giving people the right to discriminate. The bill was written by the center for Arizona Policy and Christian legal organization called the Alliance Defending Freedom. The bill protects all individuals, business and religions institutions from discrimination lawsuits if they can show that there discriminatory action were motivated by religion connection. This bill allows business to be able to discriminate anyone.

I think that this is a bad move for Arizona because there is going to be a lot of racial and religious conflicts. this is going to case the crime rate to go up because there are going to arguments and disagreements which will turn out violently. This will also push people out of Atlanta because they some people will feel like they are not wanted or welcomed there which is going to affect the economy. This bill is also going to be the first anti-gay bill to pass in any states which is not going to go well with the gay community in Arizona. I think that Arizona should have done this because it just bad to discriminate against any culture, religion, race etc. 

Entry #6 - February 10, 2014

N.F.L. Prospect Michael Sam Proudly Says What Teammates Knew: He’s Gay

by Tyler Plummer 

New York Times 

Michael Sam is a football defensive line man for University of Missouri where he has graduated. Earlier on in the season Coaches at the university divided the players into small groups to create team bounding and get to know each other better; this was when Michael Sam turn to his teammates, came out and said "I am gay". He was not expecting the reaction that he got from his teammates which was supportive and positive. He believed that if he could get such support from his Missouri teammates he can get support from anywhere. So he came out and told the world publicly. One of the reasons why he came out and told the world publicly because he didn't want it to leak out, he wanted everyone to hear it from him in his own way. Sam said he does not want to be labelled as that "gay football player"; he wants to be known as that great guy with good character.

I think Michael Sam decision to come out publicly and tell the world that he is gay will be one of best decision of his life. I think that he could live his life comfortably and not feel like he is hiding his true self. I also think it was good that he came out and said it himself and not let it leak out and cause speculations to interfere with his focus which is on football. I think that when Jason Collins came out and said he was gay and people gave a lot of positive feedback, it is giving athletes who are gay confidence to come out and be true to who they are

Entry #5- February 9 2014

Iran sending warships toward U.S. maritime borders

Tyler Plummer 

CNN 

 

An Iran naval official says that Iran will be sending out an warship toward the U.s maritime borders as a sign of a message. The plan according to Fars, is to response to the US beefing up its naval presence. Haddad claims that the warship is already on sea and on its way but that is not certain yet. A U.S. defense official said that this was not the first threat from Iran as they threaten to send warships in 2011

I think that the Iran military could be bluffing again because they said they were going to send out ships before in 2011 and they did not. I also think that the Iranian Navy is not a big threat to the U.S defense because there the smallest of its military forces. In my option the US defense has nothing to worry about the warships and needs to focus on other bigger issues that are going on to protect America. . But I wonder what massage are the Iranians trying to send? Maybe this is a way to show their strength? 

Entry #4 - February 9 , 2014

Schapelle Corby: Australian drug trafficker freed from Bali jail

Tyler Plummer 

BBC

Schapelle Corby an Australian drug trafficker who was convicted and jailed 20 years ago in 2005 for trying to smuggle marijuana into the tourist island. She was free from jailed and was escorted out of bali's kerobokan prison and in to a waiting minbus. Then she was then taken to complete parole formalities in the Balinese capital, Denpasar. Correspodents say she’s unlikely to return to Australia because she will have to remain in Indonesia until 2017 to finish her parole. She was granted five years off her sentence due to good behaviour and an appeal for clemency to the president.

I think that she was lucky to get out of jail for what she done, which was drug trafficking marijuana into tourist islands. But I also think that time in jail she learned from her mistake and changed for the better as her conviction was cut short due to good behaviour. I am surprise at this case because I never heard of any women lead in drug trafficking actions 

Entry #2 - Febuary 6, 2014

Syria Hits Areas Held by Rebels in Aleppo

by. Tyler Plummer 

New York Times 

The Syrian government aircraft continue to strike rebel held areas in Aleppo with makeshift bombs. this was a deadly strike killing at least three dozen people, most of them are women and children, anti-government activist. The bombs were dropped in the south and east neighbourhoods in the country's largest cities. This is a continue of the civil war in Syria as the president Bashar al-Assad has no interest in reaching a negation to end the civil war. The governments only comment on the attack that they stated in the state news media that its forces have killed "terrorists". These attacks and bombs occur due to the fact rebel groups clash with Syrian military and the government responds by bombing neighbourhoods where the rebels operate, often killing civilians.

I think that Syria is in a really bad state right now due to the fact that the civil war is getting worse and the president has no interest in settling it. Many innocent civilians are being killed in this civil war which is putting the Syria people in fear because they will be worrying about if their neighbourhood is next. I think that if Syria is going to continue this war that they will end up pushing people out of Syria which means they are going to losing money because people are leaving and no one will be going to Syria.