This paper discusses the effect the events of 9/11 and post 9/11 measures on America's view of itself in terms of its own might, its ability to secure its own citizens and to detect new kinds of enemies.
Abstract This paper explains that, as much as America would like to believe that its own self-image has not changed as a result of the events of 9/11, Americans, who saw themselves as the supreme force in the world, are now forced to acknowledge that their might has significant limitations. The author points out that, in the aftermath of the destruction, the United States came to realize that it had prepared for the wrong war by having anticipated another conventionalwar in which enemies with uniforms from specific nations would square off against U.S. military personnel in armed combat. The paper contends that the manner in which the US attempted to garner support for the war in Iraq is evidence that America's vision of itself has been modified as suggested by President Bush's frequent inclusive of other countries and the U.N. and his moderate tones with international diplomacy.
Table of Contents
Introduction
American Dominance
Attacking the Image
Image Altering Changes
Conclusion
From the Paper "Prior to the bloody and vicious attacks against the United States on that bright September morning in 2001 the American self-view of superiority, might and some may even say invincibility, were as solid and as unshakable as the World Trade Towers themselves. Americans saw their own might in the context of previous victories during the prior century and in the light that that was naturally cast by the sole super power in the world. Hence, the Americans viewed their own status as nearly incapable of being challenged let alone defeated. Symptomatic of this self-aggrandizing view was the almost complete ignorance and utter lack of understanding regarding the hate that was directed at the West and in particular directed at the United States. Indeed, the sleeping giant seemed wholly unaware of the growing anger and resentment toward the country. However, with the destruction of the Twin Towers and the resulting actions that were taken after the terrible events of that day, it has been incumbent on the American people to compulsorily revaluate themselves and to make serious changes in the way the nation viewed its own levels of strength that had clearly been at least partially complicit in facilitating the terrorist attacks against the U.S."
Abstract In this article, the writer notes that following the end of the Second World War there was an acute need to rethink the legal framework in which the atrocities similar to the ones that marked the tragic context of the first and second world conflagrations could be punished more severely. In this sense, there were a series of conventions and legally binding acts which tried to create a bonding obligation for the signing states to refrain from violent acts against civilians and other participants to wars. Nonetheless, the writer points out that taking into account the latest developments in the war in Iraq, there are serious doubts over the degree in which the legal system available to date is able to offer a comprehensive framework of protection.
From the Paper "Therefore, the Geneva Conventions of 1949 represent a legal system consisting of four acts: They are: the Convention for the amelioration of the condition of the wounded and sick in armed forces in the field; the Convention for the amelioration of the condition of wounded, sick and shipwrecked members of armed forces at sea; the Convention relative to the treatment of prisoners of war; the Convention relative to the protection of civilian persons in time of war.
"Despite the obvious complexity of the system set in place and of the areas under discussion, the historical context showed that the Conventions lacked a comprehensive and efficient approach of the legal matters on which they focused. In this sense, there was no clear distinction between the civil war and the liberation war. Thus, taking into account the fact that most conflicts following the Second World War were intra state wars, it was hard to determine whether the conventions would be applicable in cases such as the Korean War, the Vietnam experience, or even the Arab Israeli conflict."
Abstract This paper examines how the forces for and against slavery, the Constitutional Convention of 1787, the slave rebellions, the free black issues and the ACS, the abolitionists and the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments greatly affected the issue of slavery through the end of the Civil War and the Reconstruction era. It looks at how all of these actions eventually led to the abolishment of slavery and the creation of civil rights for the newly freed black slaves and how these events and actions will always stand out as a turning point in American history.
From the Paper "The issues and demographics surrounding slavery were greatly debated at the convention. The states of the deep south wanted it maintained; the North and the middle south was opposed. However, alliances between states kept some of the Northern states voting with the deep south, and any prohibition in new slave imports or import taxes were defeated (USConstition.net at http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_ccon.html). In exchange for a prohibition on export taxes, the South agreed to allowing the slave trade to continue for just 20 more years, and for imported slaves to be taxable. The Civil War, one of the most momentous events in American history, put constitutional government to its severest test as a long festering debate over the power of the federal government versus state rights reached a climax "
Tags: south, black, rebellion, amendment, civil, war
Abstract Humankind conditions its response by creating rules by which it must play the game. It does not matter what the game is. In the case of "just war" doctrine, the game is war. The primary concern of this thesis is to determine the applicability of these "rules" to the types of warfare that may be conducted in the 21st century. To achieve this goal, one must first understand the warconvention, so referred to by Walzer in his book, entitled "Just and Unjust Wars, a Moral Argument with Historical Illustrations" (3rd edition). The paper then explores the possible nature of war in the 21st century, with emphasis on applying, where possible, the "just war" doctrine. Finally, it touches briefly upon the problems involved in the revision of war doctrine as discovered at the 1992 Peace Symposium.
From the Paper "Is there just cause to start a war? This question is larger than it appears. From a pacifist point of view, there are no justifiable reasons to start a war. However, there are those who point to a perceived threat as a viable basis for war. This point of view dictates a pre-emptive strike even if there is no immediate action taken by the group making the threats. The rules of the game become clouded in this instance. ?The line between legitimate and illegitimate first strikes is not going to be drawn at the point of imminent attack but at the point of sufficient threat (Walzer 76-78).? The time span between the perception of harm and the harm itself is subject to scrutiny. Saddam Hussein may call for a jihad against the United States, but when does that threat constitute a reasonable cause for war? What are the consequences of ignoring the threat? How much time should pass before we take action? Is it possible to wait too long?"
Abstract This paper explains that both the Korean and Vietnam Wars were Cold War conflicts waged by the United States against what was believed to be the global communist of expansion. The author points out that, although the Korean War was a conventionalwar, the Vietnam War was a guerrilla war fighting an insurgency similar to the current Iraq War. The paper stresses that the difference is that this Middle Eastern war, to a significant extent, is being fueled by religious factors. The author concludes that LBJ and his advisers blundered their way into the wrong war at the wrong time in the wrong place just as Bush has done in Iraq.
From the Paper "By the early nineteen-sixties, the situation had deteriorated to such an extent in Laos and South Vietnam that President Kennedy increased military and economic aid and sent thousands of American military advisers to train the South Vietnamese Army. For these Green Beret advisers, training the South Vietnamese inevitably involved engaging in combat with Viet Cong forces, which resulted in the first significant American casualties of the Vietnam War."
Abstract This paper explores the history of conflict in Europe, focusing on modern day times, after World War II and specifically the end of the Cold War. The essay considers some implications of the end of the Cold War for future conflict in Europe and elsewhere. The Cold War itself is discussed first, as an extension of the familiar system of state, followed by a discussion of the Cold War experience, with consideration given to the means of making war, by whom war can be made, and implications for the future development of global power relationships.
Contents:
Introduction
Multipolar to Bipolar and Beyond: The End of Classical Theory
Who Makes War?
Conflict Beyond States
References
From the Paper "Prior to 1914, Europe was spared a full general coalition war during the 99 years between Waterloo and Sarajevo, but the Crimean War arguably fell just short of qualifying, while the years between 1815 and 1871 saw several wars between individual Great Powers as well as the nearly continent-wide abortive revolution of 1848. The nearly half-century between 1871 and 1914 (a period comparable in length to the Cold War era) saw no wars between major powers, but repeated wars in the Balkans, out of which a general great-power war finally arose. Going back further still, war was endemic in Europe through the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries."
Tags: russia, america, china, weapons, conventional, military, 20th, century
Abstract The paper explains that the just war theory is based on the ideal that war should be "restrained, made more humane and ultimately directed towards the aim of establishing lasting peace and justice." The paper discusses how in order for a war to be considered "just," it must fit a set of predefined criteria. The paper discusses President Bush's declaration of war against terrorism, the Vietnam war and the American Civil War. The paper reveals that the difficulty with forming a "just war" is that there is no person capable of applying the criteria; which person can impose a definition of harm versus good?
From the Paper "While humanizing war efforts is effective in minimizing cost, trade damage, and loss of life, it also has another significant advantage: by agreeing upon certain conventions for war, the two enemies have established that the war is between two rational parties that, despite their irresolvable conflict or conflicts, understand that war is an ends to a means and not a trend to be set and never revoked. "It is only when the enemy is seen to be a people with whom one will do business in the following peace that tacit or explicit rules are formed for how wars should be fought and who they should involve." "
Tags:conventions, conflict, peace, justice, subjectivity, harm, good
Abstract This paper explains the concept of a just war and examines the theoretical aspect and historical aspect of the just war theory. The paper explains that the theoretical aspect is concerned with ethically justifying the engagement of war as well as the forms of warfare and that the historical aspect is concerned with the historical body of rules or mutual agreements existing in various wars across the ages. The paper also explains that the idea of a just war has historical precedent and can be seen as far back as biblical times and extends down through the Middle Ages and the time of Shakespeare.
From the Paper "The idea of a "just war" is a conundrum. How can one group of people consider their actions "right" or "just" to apply military force against a another group. When can one group's actions, which will create devastation, economic difficulty, and death to thousands of people, be considered "right"? In a civilized society, the concept of a "just war" has become the centerpiece of many discussions, and has acted as a gate keeper, restraining hawkish tendencies of nations who pride themselves in freedom, and individual liberty. In order for a nation to engage in an activity which creates harm for another group, there must be a justifiable reason."
Abstract This paper defines and examines a wide variety of factors that influence government's decisions to go to war and public opinion about war. The paper reviews a number of literature sources, focusing its study on the following issues: racism, Islamic-phobia (or negative attitudes toward Muslims), religious dogmatism, terrorism, conventional vs. guerrilla war and global war.
Abstract This article provides an analysis of Jean Elshtain argument that force should be used against terrorists. The writer contends that although Elshtain makes a persuasive case for a realistic version of the Christian just war doctrine to fight terror, she fails to spell out certain aspects of her thesis.
From the Paper "This research paper describes and assesses Jean Elshtain's argument for the use of force against terrorists in her book "Just War Against Terror" and assesses it in the light of just war theories and my own approach to the subject. Since the end of the cold war international peace and order have been threatened by the potentially lethal consequences of internal political instability within states including conflicts of ethnic and religious origin, the rise of terrorist groups and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction ... "
Tags: just, war, jus, ad, bello, jus, in, bello, war, convention
Abstract This paper discusses and examines the possibility of terrorist factions within Japan waging a war against the U.S. The paper discusses the possible scenarios under which the U.S. might be attacked by Japan and looks at potential U.S. targets for Japanese terrorism.
From the Paper "No matter how improbable, the possibility exists that a war starting with a terrorist attack could be waged upon the United States by the nation of Japan. Perhaps slightly more probable the attack could come from one or more factions within Japan including the Japanese paramilitary forces backed by Japanese industrial conglomerates, members of a terrorist organization or a religious cult. This terror attack could take many forms. For example it could be a conventional military attack by Japanese defense forces on..."
Tags: Speculative war, japan, militarism, terrorism, non conventional warfare, red army, sarin gas
Abstract The paper discusses how to attract more convention business to a city. The economic benefits of conventions and expositions are outlined. The paper addresses the issues of space--hotel facilities, exhibit space. It also looks at monetary issues.
Abstract This paper compares of two articles dealing with the Constitutional Convention process and North-South differences. It looks at the issue of slavery and the three-fifths clause to accommodate the South. It also examines the negotiation process at the conventions and the role of James Madison.
Abstract This essay focuses on British Soap Opera and its conventions. It gives a brief history of the soap opera genre and it origins. It gives examples of current and past british soap operas and their popularity and reasons for it. It also looks at theories of audience enjoyment and uses for such media.
From the Paper "The soap opera genre originates from the American radio serials of the 1930's so called because of their sponsorship by major soap powder companies. Due to its incredible success the genre grew and by the 1950's it had developed into television productions. The first soap to be televised in Britain was The Groves, which first aired in 1954 and lasted for three years. It was followed by what is now the longest running and most successful soap in Britain, Coronation Street. Rival terrestrial channels soon picked up on the success of Coronation Street (and the soap opera genre in general), this resulted in the arrival of Channel 4's Brookside in 1982, followed by the BBC's EastEnders in 1986."
Tags:conventions, eastenders, genre, soap, television, viewing, opera, British, BBC
Abstract This paper explores the conventional, alternative and combined treatments for irritable bowel syndrome. This paper discusses the risks and benefits associated with each of the therapies, and with a combination of all three therapies.
From the Paper "Irritable bowel syndrome is a common gastrointestinal disorder which affects up to 20 percent of the North American adult population. The condition is characterized by chronic symptoms of pain and changed bowel habits. Irritable bowel syndrome produces a serious impact on quality of life, and also creates an enormous drain on healthcare resources. The use of alternative medicine either alone or in combination with conventional medicine is effective in resolving these issues."
