Abstract This paper looks at the abuse of prisoners in Abu Ghraib. The writer discusses how social psychology may have made inevitable what happened between the prisoners and the soldiers at Abu Ghraib .
From the Paper "Currently several military trails are going on following the revelation of abuse of Iraqi prisoners in Abu Ghraib prison. For example, Reserve Sgt. Gary Pittman went on trial for his involvement in the assault of an Iraqi POW, who later died. This paper examines the facts that led to this and other abuses at Abu Ghraib from the perspective of social psychology, in order to ask the question: Could social psychology have predicted ... "
Abstract This paper analyzes the biographical and ideological premise of Abu Hanifa's perception of Islamic law and religious beliefs. Abu Hanifa is responsible for creating laws that could be seen through modes of reasoning and logic, which had been unfounded in the initial stages of Islamic rule and expansion. In this legal perspective, the jurisprudence of Hanifa allows for certain variables to be either omitted or included in how Muslims and non-Muslims were judged under the law.
From the Paper "This history study will examine the life and legal ideology of the famous Imam Abu Hanifa. By realizing the scope of influence this great leader had in Muslim history, one can realize how he affected the written ideology of religious texts through the law. In this manner, Abu Hanifa became an innovator in organizing the laws and hadiths of the Prophet Muhammad. By realizing the scope of his life in dedication to Islam, the study will present his life and literary innovations in regards to his religious practice and piety. The biographical background of Abu Hanifa is important, since he was part of early interpretation of the various hadiths (prayers) and written text of the Koran."
Abstract This paper examines the Abu Ghraib prison scandal in Iraq, where discipline and military standards were disregarded by US military soldiers, who beat, humiliated, and tortured prisoners. The paper points out that the US did not start to reevaluate the standards and conditions of their prisons until more cases of prisoner mistreatment throughout prisons in Iraq started to surface. The American Army started to set new standards to enforce throughout its units since it could no longer place the blame on "a few bad apples." The paper argues that, while this might seem like a change for the better, the United States Army was already in the possession of the resources needed to prevent such an occurrence. The paper concludes that the events that took place at Abu Ghraib and other prisons could have been avoided with the presence of proper leadership, supervision, and enforcement of basic military standards.
From the Paper "During times of war, strong leadership and positive role models are essential in keeping order and focus in a group of people. Good leaders take charge, allot tasks, and enable others to cooperate to complete a project. In order to sustain their status and continuation of the group, soldiers take part in collective observational learning. This prevents corruption through negative reinforcement and strengthens camaraderie through mutual positive reinforcement. In my beast squad, my platoon sergeant was always present, setting examples for New Cadets to follow. My squad leader imitated his actions, always treating us fairly, and disciplined us when we needed it. In the case of Abu Ghraib, the presence of a positive role model was needed to prevent the distortion of military standards. The presence of a good leader would have allowed the soldiers in the prison unit to instill within themselves competence, loyalty, and honor to the tasks they were assigned. Furthermore, if Staff Sergeant Ivan Frederick II was a good leader, he would have instated the military standards in accordance with the Geneva Convention that he and his staff were trained in, and he would have felt the moral obligation to stop the mistreatment of prisoners. The soldiers tasked with guarding the prisoners would not have been free to abuse detainees had Staff Sergeant Frederick II followed his training and enforced orders."
Abstract This paper compares the prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib to that seen in Philip Zimbardo's landmark psychological experiment into group behavior and the effects of differential power. The paper relates that Zimbardo's experiment demonstrated that even ordinary citizens without any previous history or known predisposition toward violence or abusive behavior have the potential to become cruelly abusive under circumstances that combine authority, unsupervised autonomy, and authoritative control over others. The paper then looks at how, in many ways, the real-life abuses at Abu Ghraib paralleled Zimbardo's previous observations of human behavior during his 1971 experiment at Stanford.
From the Paper "The degree of abuse at Abu Ghraib was much worse than observed in the 1971 Stanford experiment, even after factoring in the fundamental differences between real life situations and controlled experiment. If anything, the fact that ordinary civilian students proved capable of such conduct on other civilians, even without the psychological stresses of a wartime combat zone and genuinely hostile prisoners, suggests that the risk of similar abuse in genuine wartime situations is much higher. "
Abstract Using polling data from the Israeli and American publics from the early 1980s, along with newspapers too, this paper studies how public support for the 2003 Iraq War and the 1982-1983 Lebanon invasion rebounded, despite the Abu Ghraib and Sabra and Shatila incidents.
From the Paper "The United States of America, scholars might someday say, happened upon the invasion of the Mesopotamian state of Iraq while searching for international terrorist groups in all of the wrong places. This is stated glibly because it is a very long and complex story. For the purpose of this study, it is only necessary to understand that having conquered Iraq, terminated its central government, and unwittingly facilitated the decline of civil society, the United States began detaining and interrogating petty criminals, former Ba'th party officials, violent insurgents, and frankly any other suspicious persons within the country's borders in March of 2003."
Abstract This paper provides a textual reading of a poem by one of Arabia's most celebrated wine song poets, Abu Nuwas. It focuses on the elements of Nuwas' poetry that are most reflective of Arabic wine songs as well as those elements uniquely his own, including his focus on the joys of urban life, wine and drinking, and lust for adolescent boys.
From the Paper " Philip F Kennedy maintains that Abu Nuwas is considered by most literary historians to be the finest wine poet of the Arabic tradition. Nuwas, a homosexual, devotes many of his wine songs to subjects relating to love lust and sexuality..."
Abstract This paper explains that the atrocities associated with the once American controlled Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq have been represented visually through a series of oft repeated photographs taken by American guards at the prison. The author points out that these images are of frequently naked, hooded Iraqi prisoners being publicly shamed and tortured by America soldiers, often shown smiling and referring to the spectacle with what can only be described as glee. The paper states that these pictures have left a lasting mark on the face of the war and on the image of the United States all over the world.
From the Paper "Another issue associated with these grave deeds and their photographic record is the obvious and frequent utilization of nudity as a manner to debase prisoners. The guards are shown fully uniformed (in a show of power over the prisoners) while prisoners, except for the covering of their faces are debased in scenes of immorality completely incongruent with their faith and their pride, yet interestingly congruent with the world view (as it applies to Islam) as it relates to hatred of western freedoms, including the manner in which the west freely depicts nudity and objectifies the body."
Abstract The paper states that like many of its neighboring countries, the United Arab Emirates has made enormous efforts in recent years in an attempt to reduce dependence on the dominant public sector and to provide private investors a bigger role in the economy. The paper discusses the case study which determines whether the Abu Dhabi stock market is efficient, what type of analysis mechanism is best suited for identifying investment opportunities, and its implications for investors and the state. The paper presents a critical review of the relevant, peer-reviewed, scholarly and organizational literature followed by an analysis of stock market performance in the region and what these findings suggest for the future. The paper provides a summary of the research and salient findings in the concluding chapter.
Outline:
Introduction
Review and Analysis
Methodology
Data Analysis
Results and Findings
Conclusion
From the Paper "In this regard, Schleifer emphasizes that, "The reason is that 'making money' in finance means making a superior return after an adjustment for risk. Showing that a particular strategy based on exploiting stale information on average earns a positive cash flow over some period of time is not, therefore, by itself evidence of market inefficiency" . In order to earn this profit, an investor may have to bear risk and his profit may just be a fair market compensation for risk-bearing; however, there is a problem in measuring the risk of a particular investment strategy and demands a model of the fair relationship between risk and return. For this purpose, one widely accepted model is the Capital Asset Pricing Model; however, this is not the only available alternative. "
Abstract The paper explores how a minority of the current generation of British Muslims, mainly children and grandchildren of Muslim Asian immigrants to Britain after World War II, turned to Islamic extremism. The paper discusses how Britain has become a breeding ground for Islamic terrorism and identifies the powerful influence of the fundamentalist cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri and his contemporaries on these young Muslims. The paper shows how Abu Hamza poisoned young minds and took advantage of young people who were often homeless and aimless. The paper makes it clear that Abu Hamza and his associates are by all accounts the extreme end of the spectrum of Muslim society.
Outline:
Introduction
The Spread of Islam Across Europe
The Influence of Hazma
Accommodation of Islam in Europe
Islamic Extremism in Europe Hearing
Summary and Conclusion
From the Paper "Humayun Ansari writes in the work entitled: "The Infidel Within: Muslims in Britain Since 1800" that "since the Second World War Muslims have migrated to Britain in much larger number than before 1945..." (2004) The post-1945 migration is divided into two groups according to Ansari with the first phase being workers from less-developed countries and the second phase starting with the oil crisis of 1974-74. The Muslim workers were willing to take jobs that other immigrant workers found to be "undesirable" and that paid very low wages."
Abstract This paper is a discussion of black activist, author, and self-described political prisoner, Mumia Abu-Jamal, author of "Live from Death Row". The paper looks at how Abu-Jamal, who is awaiting execution for a crime he insists he did not commit, has written scathingly about racism in America and the particular racism of the death penalty.
From the Paper "Abu-Jamal's writings convey the deep-rooted rage of many blacks in America who believe that justice is not color-blind but instead discriminates against black men, especially when their victims are white. Abu-Jamal is a powerful writer, though his writings are targeted to an almost exclusively black audience and his interest seems focused principally on inspiring his audience to political action. His fury, and the perspective that he represents, is almost diametrically opposed to the moderate, mainstream voices of civil rights activism most closely associated with the late Martin Luther King Jr. His writings are worth studying for the understanding they give of the ways that civil rights has failed many blacks in America and the suggestion that racism continues to be a powerful social issue."
An overview of the terrorist organizations Revolutionary Organization 17 November, Abu Nidal, Hezbollah, and Al-Qaida, and their use of the media to further their causes.
Abstract This research paper about terrorist organizations and the media, discusses four separate terrorist organizations in relation to their causes and the way they make use of the services of the media. The four organizations are: Revolutionary Organization 17 November, Abu Nidal, Hezbollah, and Al-Qaida. It also examines how these terror groups are linked and how the world governments, in particular, the U.S. government, are actively fighting terrorists to achieve peace for the world.
Outline
Terrorism-Then and Now
Greek Terrorist Organization: Revolutionary Organization 17 November
Armed Propaganda
International Terrorist Organization: Abu Nidal Organization
Lebanese Terrorist Organization: Hezbollah
Hate Speech on the Internet
Multinational Terrorist Organization: Al-Qaida
The Media, Government and Terror Organizations
From the Paper "Working in cooperation with November 17, the Abu Nidal Organization (ANO) a.k.a. Fatah Revolutionary Council, Arab Revolutionary Council, Arab Revolutionary Brigades, Black September, and Revolutionary Organization of Socialist Muslims, is an international terrorist organization founded by late Sabri al-Banna (a.k.a. Abu Nidal). Abu Nidal carried out terrorist attacks in twenty countries, killing or injuring approximately nine hundred persons (Abu Nidal, 2003). ANO is said to have committed ninety actions of violence, including a failed assassination attempt on Yaser Arafat (Abu Nidal, 2000). The targets of ANO include the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Israel, moderate Palestinians, the PLO, and various Arab countries. The group maintains its presence in Iraq currently. It has an operational presence in Lebanon too."
Abstract This paper contends that the changing economic climate has had various impacts on the process of urban development in the United Arab Emirates' cities. The paper presents a research proposal to assess urban development options through a case study of urban projects in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, such as Palm Island in Dubai and Lulua Island in Abu Dhabi. The conceptual framework is the regulation theory.
Outline
Introduction
Objective
Findings of Importance
Methodology
Literature Review
Conclusion
Bibliography
From the Paper "Just twenty years ago Dubai was a small trading port. The nineteenth century witnessed growth in the village when the Bani Yas tribe, in the number of around 800 individuals settled in Dubai. By the first of the 20th century Dubai had begun to witness settlers coming from Baluchistan, Iran and India due to the fact that Dubai contained 350 shops and was gaining in prosperity by this time. Dubai was said to be a "natural haven" (History of Dubai Online) for those who left Lingah, on the Persian coast. The Indian population that had made Dubai their home were active merchants and the village gained a "cosmopolitan atmosphere as well as an air of tolerance" and this began to draw more foreigners to the region. During the 1930's approximately one-fourth of the population were not native citizens or the amount of 20,000 member of the population plus, 2,000 Persians and 1,000 Baluchis."
Abstract This paper notes that examining the impact of media reports about the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by American soldiers in Abu Ghraib prison reveals the powerful emotional impact of photographs and video. The author points out that only minor attention was paid to the story until shocking visual evidence of abuse became available. The paper contends that the media controversy generated by Abu Ghraib demonstrated that reality itself has become a prisoner in America, bound and chained by political ideology and vulnerable to the whims of those in authority.
From the Paper "In examining the impact of media reports about the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by American military personnel in Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison, it is significant that only minor attention was paid to the story until shocking photographs and videos became available. Visual proof of prisoner abuse (Kick) altered the American public's perceptions of reality in a fundamental way and revealed the shallow and superficial knowledge many Americans have of what is happening in the world. The Abu Ghraib debacle and the controversy it generated exposed the manipulative nature of the Bush Administration and the mainstream media establishment, which both benefit from portraying American military operations as idealistic crusades against "evil.""
Abstract The paper imagines a future presentation about the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq. The paper discusses the graphic and disturbing images taken of prisoner abuse in the Abu Ghraib detention center in Baghdad and contends that there should be no censorship of these photos. The paper describes the hideously cruel and inhumane treatment being administered to Iraqi prisoners and Bush's allowance of illegal torture in contravention of the Geneva Convention. The paper also examines Congress' legislation against torture that was thwarted by Bush. The paper emphasizes the public's right to know and concludes that at a future exhibit, the photos of prisoners being abused at Abu Ghraib will speak for themselves - if they are allowed to be shown.
Outline:
Introduction
Thesis
Point 1
Point 2
Point 3
Point 4
From the Paper "One day not too many years from now there will likely be a high-visibility exhibition / exposition - featuring illustrations, graphs, charts, photography, audio and video clips along with timely printed information - about the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq. This presentation will cover the intelligence data and political arguments that were offered by the executive branch in order to justify the military venture. Under the scrutiny of post-invasion empirical analysis the exposition will reflect precisely how those previous justifications held up. And it will cover the military and political ramifications of the entire operation."
This paper explores the theory of planned behavior (TPB) by reviewing a journal article that modeled this theory and by applying TPB to the activities of American soldiers at the Abu Gharib prison in Iraq.
Abstract This paper presents a review of a journal article that modeled the theory of planned behavior and used an experiment-related exercise to show the facets of the theory. Also, the paper uses a very public example that was presented in the media to show the applicability of the theory of planned behavior to explain human behavior. The example chosen was the activities of American soldiers at the Abu Gharib prison in Iraq. The paper concludes with an interpersonal example that is linked to the major hypothesis of the theory of planned behavior.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Journal Article Analyzed: Modeling the Theory of Planned Behavior and Past Behavior
Mass Media Example of the Theory of Planned Behavior: Abu Ghraib Prison Behavior
Personal Interpersonal Example of the Theory of Planned Behavior
From the Paper "According to Stannard, Zimbardo's study showed that prisons are an institution that are designed to change the psychological make-up of the occupants; what is not clear, is how it affects other occupants, that are their by choice, most notably the guards. Stannard uses Zimbardo's study to state that prisons present an environment where the power differential is so uneven that it presents an environment for abuse, which is prisoners are powerless, while, guards have complete control and complete power."
