Abstract
This paper explains that, within its historical context, the IRA formed as a pro-Catholic organization in Northern Ireland to react against British rule, presents a religious issue: The guerrillas of the IRA count on sympathizers from the Catholic population on both sides of the border; whereas, Protestant fears of the Catholic threat became the stock in trade of the Unionist Party. The author points out that, in the modern era, the IRA is still using guerrilla and terrorist tactics and many of the efforts to restrain violence have failed; Even though recently there have been more meetings between the IRA and the British government, violence is a continuing problem with the peace agreements always breaking apart, and cease-fires appear presently to be very fragile. The paper stresses that coming up with a negotiating solution for the problem is difficult because both sides have objectives that are completely incompatible plus the continuing factors: The continuing tendency of the Tories to play for the Unionist MP's support; the inertia, which prevents any constituency arising in British politics to do and the deja-vu factor of hopelessness.

Table of Contents
Introduction
Current Problem
Possible Solutions

From the Paper
"In modern times of the IRA, which I consider in this report to be roughly the sixties to the present, political as well as religious issues must also be considered in terms of history. Ireland was partitioned into Northern and Southern Ireland in the 1920s, and the Irish Free State was formed after fighting and conflict. This involved political turmoil between Northern Ireland and the UK Parliament, as well as the Irish Republic and its government. The IRA was involved at this time at leading a war against the Irish Free State, which was designed to give Northern Ireland over to UK control."

Tags:guerrillas, catholics, protestant, cease-fires, fein

Abstract
In this article, the writer introduces, discusses and analyzes the book "Bordering Fires: The Vintage Book of Contemporary Mexican and Chicano/a Literature" by Cristina Garcia. Specifically, the writer provides a report on the book, including the major themes and ideas presented. The writer maintains that 'Bordering Fires' is a compilation of essays and writings about the Hispanic experience on both sides of the U.S./Mexican border, which attempt to define the unique cultural identity these people share. The writer concludes that written by some of the most well known and respected Chicano/a voices, the book creates a cultural heritage for anyone who reads it.

From the Paper
"Another man writes of his obvious charms to his female customers at the gift counter in a department store, and how he works the system and gets caught. There is something innocent about all these stories, even though the characters are not all innocent or even in some cases likable. However, just like the theme of the book, they show the melting pot that forms Chicano/a culture, and how so many different people and personalities make up these people. It also shows the view they have of one another, which is not always positive, and indicates again that all these writers are writing about people who are searching for their culture, their voice, and their purpose in a life that pulls them in two directions at once.
"Finally, the New Departures section is the hope of the culture in the future. These beautiful works, which read more like fairy tales or myths, indicate the hope the authors have for the future of Chicano/a culture and how it will change and grow, just as it always has done. One story sums up the theme of this book and this section quite well."

Tags:Chicano, Hispanic, heritage, culture

Abstract
This paper discusses the book "The Fires of Jubilee: Nat Turner's Fierce Rebellion," by Stephen B. Oates, a tale of what it was to be a slave in the South in the 1800s, and how it drove some blacks to violence and hatred. It analyzes the historical value of the book which is part novel and part biography and looks at the qualities of the main character Nat which make him a leader.

From the Paper
"From the opening paragraph, historian and biographer Stephen B. Oates sets the stage for the slave rebellion that would shake Southampton County in Virginia on August 22, 1831. The author shows in graphic detail the abject poverty of the slaves, the cruelty of their owners, and the utter hopelessness of the slaves' situation, from the "pungent" outhouses, to the ramshackle houses of the poor. He is carefully setting the stage to introduce the main character of the book, Nat Turner, famous for fathering a slave rebellion, and for the "justice" meted out after he was caught. The early portion of the book lays the foundation for the rebellion, by explaining how oppressed the blacks were, and how they felt they had no other option than to take the law into their own hands, and revolt. Oates succeeds in laying this foundation well, making us understand the desperation and disgust that led to these rash measures."

Tags:slave, rebellion, plantations, blacks, whites, negroes

Abstract
This paper looks at the loss of forests that are lost around the world every year due to fires. Statistics from around the world are brought into the discussion as well as some of the reasons why this is occurring according to researchers.

Abstract
The paper discusses how over the past sixty years, United Nations operations have reflected the peacekeeping mission statement of the UN, and have most commonly been implemented in order to supervise and help maintain cease-fires, to assist in troop withdrawals, and to provide an internationally supervised buffer zone between opposing and hostile forces. However, the paper notes that peace-keeping operations are flexible instruments of United Nations policy and have been adopted to a variety of uses, including helping to implement the final settlement of a conflict (Rikhye 55-61).

From the Paper
"Over the past sixty years, United Nations operations have reflected the peacekeeping mission statement of the UN, and have most commonly been implemented in order to supervise and help maintain cease-fires, to assist in troop withdrawals, and to provide an internationally supervised buffer zone between opposing and hostile forces. However, peace-keeping operations are flexible instruments of United Nations policy and have been adopted to a variety of uses, including helping to implement the final..."

Tags:un, and, iraq

Abstract
This paper discusses the Battle of Palmito Ranch during the American Civil War. The author describes the events leading up to this last major clash between the Union regiments and the Confederates. As there was a cease-fire agreement between the Union and the Confederates, the author also discusses possible reasons why this fight might have taken place. The war tactics employed by both parties in the battled are looked into and an analysis of the strategies employed is included.

From the Paper
"The Union regiments made several critical errors in their battle plan which led to their ultimate failure to attain the victory that Colonel Theodore H. Barrett so desired. Whether politically motivated or no, the young, fairly inexperienced colonel led his force through the arid, desert-like plains of southern Texas and allowed his troops to be pushed back by the Confederates, who numbered almost half as many. Volunteer battalions came in to aid both sides, but in the end it was the Union soldiers who suffered the heaviest losses, leading to the seemingly shameful loss to the Texas Confederacy."

Tags:civil war, confederacy texas

Abstract
This paper examines how the unification of Vietnam was a long and complicated process that involved many entities and individuals. It discusses the primary unification efforts, beginning in the 1940s through the early years of the 1970s. It looks at how these efforts involved three separate political entities: the communist-led nationalist movement known as the Viet Minh (the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, DRV), led by Ho Chi Minh and based in Hanoi in North Vietnam; the Saigon-based Republic of Vietnam (RVN), a collaborative effort between chief-of-state Bao Dai and Ngo Dinh Diem; and the Geneva Agreement of July 21st, 1954, that divided Vietnam into two cease-fire zones in the north and south, separated by the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) at the 17th parallel.

From the Paper
"In August of 1945, at the end of World War II, the nationalist movement of the Viet Minh seized power in Hanoi, Hue and Saigon, for the Viet Minh had developed a military force and popular base during the Japanese occupation of Vietnam, and it quickly moved to secure political authority before the imminent arrival of the Allied powers. Emperor Bao Dai, the Japanese puppet, abdicated in late August, and on September 2nd, 1945, Viet Minh leader Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam's independence as the democratic Republic of Vietnam. As Phillip B. Davidson points out, Ho Chi Minh "quoted from the U.S. Declaration of Independence and the French Declaration of the Rights of Man, first issued in the mid 18th century, in order to give some legitimacy to the claims of the DRV that would bring Vietnam into the fold as an independent Asian entity" (156)."

Tags:sigon, viet, minh, geneva, agreement

Abstract
This paper relates that the battle of control of "Heartbreak Ridge", like most battles glorified by the media of the time, is filled with nothing but half truths and downright lies; in reality, it was nothing more than a pawn for the negotiators at the peace tables. The author uses the newly released, under the Freedom of Information Act, "After-action Reports" (DF-214s) by the Department of Defense to graphic report about this "Police Action", which began in 1950, with the cease fire agreement signed and implemented in July, 1953, although a a state of war still exists on the peninsula of Korea. The casualties were heavy and soon the war on the home-front became quite unpopular and a political football; the main thrust of the 1952 election campaign between Truman and Eisenhower was this single issue.

From the Paper
"This created a salient in the lines which the Chinese quickly capitalized on. They drove Southeastward and cut off the 1st Marine Division and a contingent of other United Nations forces totaling nearly 40,000 from the remainder of the troops. Their only route of escape would be a forced march to the Sea to the port of Tanchon where they could be picked up by Naval forces and be returned to Pusan. This too is where the 2nd Division received its now infamous nickname. Previously and proudly the members of this proud Division proclaimed they were "Second to None." GI's being what they were at this time once they realized what had happened quickly tacked onto the proud motto the words "And First to Run" a motto that has forever stuck with this Division however unfairly attached it is."

Tags:infantry, airborne, truman, eisenhower, worthless

Abstract
The paper describes how the situation in the Darfur region of the Sudan has gotten worse. The paper discusses how there was supposed to be a cease-fire and intervention by UN and African Union peacekeepers, however, the government and Janjaweed appear to be working together to terrorize villages.

Tags:darfur, sudan, janjaweed

Abstract
This paper discusses the strange environment of Korea's Cold War theme park at Panmunjom, the Korean demilitarized zone. The paper relates that it is also known as "Disney World Meets the Twilight Zone." The paper examines the historical importance of the site and looks at what it contains.

From the Paper
"Korea's Cold War Theme Park, Described as "Disney World Meets the Twilight Zone:" Korea's cold-war theme park; "Panmunjom" is alternatively known as the "Joint Security Area", " JSA" or the "Truce Village." It was built in October on top of a village that was burned out during the war but that became famous for being the site where the Armistice Agreement was negotiated and subsequently signed by opposing commanders."

Tags:Korea, DMZ, Panmunjom, Joint Security Area, cold war, theme park, cease-fire