Complicated Syria

The Syrian war has become more complicated as Western powers have strengthened their resolve and have dedicated more firepower toward this country. The interests of Western powers like Russia, France, and the U.S. will certainly have an affect upon this crisis and how it develops in the future.


This article in the Wall Street Journal highlights the many facets of these battles and how there are many players. The Syrian army, rebels and ISIS forces have all collided together, and with the international community becoming more involved things will certainly only become more complicated.


This region is extremely unstable, and ISIS is a constant threat. With so many groups converging with a great variety of interests, no matter who wins the war the path to peace will be fraught with conflict.

Climate Talks

Talks have begun in Paris between world leaders to discuss the current climate condition and the possibility of lowering human created greenhouse gasses. The goal is to come together as a global community and agree to transitioning to a more nature friendly mode of human industry and life.

However, it's not just the environment that is taken into consideration with such decisions. The economy, individual security, competition and a whole plethora of other self considerations make coming to an agreement perhaps near impossible.

This goal of lowering greenhouse gasses has come to a common interests problem, and what country will be willing to sacrifice its own interests for the common good. Will this be possible?

Read article here.

Aftermath of Paris

France, Belgium and the UK have upped security spending and are all three on high alert following the terrorist actions of the Islamic State unleashed upon Paris. Brussels is currently on the highest terror alert and schools and metro lines have been shut down. Pictures of soldiers patrolling near empty streets have circulated the internet, a haunting image of the response to these terror threats.

Though the United States is far from Europe and the Middle East, these threats have reached our borders and many fear that attacks will be planned within our capital and major cities. Though the fear is understandable, it should not be crippling.

In this time it would be more productive to evaluate security measures, and strengthen the fight against ISIL. Belgium will reopen schools and metro lines on Wednesday, though they will continue their search for any affiliates of ISIS. Life continues, but the response has just begun.

Read article here.

How to React to Paris

In the aftermath of the Paris terrorist attacks and the growing security threat terrorist groups pose, Europe and the rest of the world face difficult decisions concerning counterterrorism and civil liberties. The people hurt most in this debate? The refugees.




Countries like France, Belgium, England, Germany and the United States have right to fear future terroristic actions on their soil, and strengthening protective measures is a necessary step. However, how far does one go to protect citizens and ignore the plight of innocents trying to flee the same terror?




In this difficult question to answer we can see how some European Union Nations have been reacting. The ease in which Belgian terrorists entered into France is alarming, and ending a passport free Europe has been discussed. But what this problem truly hinges upon is how to deal with the refugees, and what rights citizens are willing to give up.




Read article here.

Paris Brings Retaliation

Russia has already announced it intends to destroy ISIS, the United States has long been building a unified front, and now with a destructive terrorist attack launched against Paris, it seems everything is being pushed into new drastic actions.

France has launched airstrikes in Syria in retaliation to the terrorist attacks, and this seems just the beginning. The whole world has cried out in outrage for the death toll the terrorists wreaked on France, and fear for what target will be next. The world is weary of ISIS, and it seems the perfect time for attacks against the terrorist organization to be enacted. To compete with Russia and maintain control and authority in the Middle East the United States too will be expected to strengthen their presence in the area.

How this will effect the course of events already stimulated by anger and frustration is uncertain. But retaliation has already been set, and hopefully one that will not led to further pain and suffering.

Read article here.

More Migrants

In recent months the spotlight for migrants has been focused upon the Middle Eastern conflict and the masses of people fleeing from Syria. Africa has been overlooked, but comparable numbers of African refugees have crowded to the Northern African Coast in desperate attempts to find a better life.


Europe, the final destination for many of these displaced people, is not keen on taking these asylum seekers. Fences and higher technology has been placed in Morocco to bar those who try to cross the borders. Which raises the question, why the Syrians? Why not the Africans?


Despite the harsh measures taken against their crossing, the African migrants refuse to return to their home countries. They are a lost people, living in horrid conditions and clinging to the hope that they can one day enter Europe.


The center of this problem lies in the countries, from the governments and terrorists these people are fleeing. They assume life in Europe will be so much better while Europe strains under the pressure of an influx of foreigners. To curb this problem, the source must be resolved.


Read article here.

South China Sea

China has built up artificial islands in an act that many fear is an attempt to gain more control of the South China Sea. If they succeed in this mission it will greatly affect a number of nations in that area that use the sea for trade and natural resources. But China has met resistance by the United States of American who have exercised what they claim is their rights to freedom of navigation and overflight. This passive aggressive move is a clear indication that the a United States does not recognize the artificial islands as Chinese territory and will not  act as if they are.


The United States may soon be joined in these fly-overs and sail-byes by their close ally, Australia. Australia is one of the greatest powers in that section of the world and the attempt by China to control the South China Sea should be seen as a threat to national security. Australia has admitted that there are plans in the making, but has not shared when or if they will be enacted.


China is protective of its islands, and clearly considers those lands as territory that the United States has no right to be flying or sailing so close by. Australia should be concerned.


Read the article here.

Canada's Withdraw

With the dawn of Canada's new administration under Justin Trudeau many changes seems to be on the horizon. One change that has already been enacted is the campaign promise that Canada would withdraw their jets from a campaign against ISIL. Though President Obama appears to have taken this declaration calmly, this action would drastically change Canada's role in the international community.


Trudeau promised more military trainers to aid Iraqi forces, but the overall involvement of the country in the fight against terrorism will be minimalized. How this action will affect other countries views on Canada is yet to be determined. This action is perhaps drawing Canada into a more isolationist attitude that could deeply affect its future involvement in global affairs.


After Canada's announcement U.S. officials have stated that Canada will still be a valuable member of the global coalition. However the U.S. led campaign in Iraq and Syria must now readjust, and how this action will ultimately affect foreign relations is still to be seen.


Read article here.

Staying in Afghanistan

In a recent article in the Washington Post, President Obama's promise made while campaigning for president was broken as he declared that instead of withdrawing all, or near all, troops from Afghanistan the troops would instead stay. This news has come in the wake of renewed fighting in the area and with the growing Middle Eastern threat from Russia and the rising problem with the Kurds.


While some may criticize President Obama for failing to keep his promise, his decision is well with reason and very understandable. Withdrawing the U.S. from Afghanistan could allow for extremists to occupy the land and further complicate and extend the problems in the region.


However, some military officials says that the current military presence is not strong enough to fully accomplish the U.S. goals in the region. It is not enough, they claim, for President Obama to simply leave the forces there and ignore the problem, letting it pass to the next President.

The Problem with the Kurds

This article posted in the Washington Post highlights how complicated the fighting in the Middle East has become, especially when the Kurds are concerned.

Turkey expressed concern over Russian aid to the Kurdish group within Turkey, a group labeled by many countries as extremist. Turkish leaders are concerned over the safety and integrity of their country and are quick to criticize any actions that lead to the enabling of this group that has been threatening national security. 

Russia has been quite active in this area in recent weeks, and this new action in Turkey could indicate attempts to gain further control within this region. Turkey is a very strategic country geographically, any turmoil could give outside countries a chance to gain control. Russia is very interested in gaining control, and is willing to use the Kurds to obtain it.

Turkey turned to the United States to complain about the arming of Kurdish extremists in Turkey. While the United States have acknowledged the Kurdish in Turkey as a terrorist group, the country is using the Kurdish in Syria to help in their fight against ISIL. They have provided weapons to the Syrian Kurds, an act that Turkey decries for fear those weapons will eventually be handed to the Turkey Kurds. But is the United States willing to give up a military force for what may happen?

The multifaceted issues of this problem are many and tightly interrelated. The Kurds are a people group that not many are certain how to deal with, and this issue brings that to harsh reality. In both uplifting and putting down the Kurdish forces more turmoil is certain to arise. 

Who to Blame?

Bombing a hospital is a horrific act, considered a war crime by all and the most recent result of an airstrike by U.S. forces. Though the U.S. has now claimed that Afghan forces requested the strike, as seen in this article, many still question the authenticity of their late and contradictory sentence and decry the act as unforgivable.

This news has come in the wake of Russia's broadening attacks in Syria and casts the U.S. in a negative light and has set a majority of its own citizens against the continued actions in the Middle East. The general public has grown weary of the continuing conflict, and as such stories reach back to the states further resistance grows.

But when Russia is advancing what the United States needs is not resistance but further support if they wish to keep the Middle East from Russian control.

Russian Goals

Russia has become more involved with the Middle East, sending in military forces to Syria, an action the United States has been refusing to take. The Russian force has met very little effect and many question if such a small force will affect anything in the country for the long run. However, while Russians are willing and calling for more troops, military conquest is not at the forefront of Russian action.

The article here suggests that the Russian action was made to undermine United States presence and control in the area. Russia and the U.S. have been historic enemies, and even after the fall of the Soviet Union the rivalry has not ended. In the new global age the two countries vie for control in Europe and the Middle East. This is Russia's next move, and though their future actions are not certain they will certainly be calculated toward one goal: undermining the United States of America.

The United States much react to this threat.

The Cyber Age

This article provides details and commentary on the most recent developments between the U.S. and China over the issue of cyber warfare, and takes a relatively positive tone about the issue. The cyber world has grown rapidly, and is a relatively new frontier that is now being tested as a battle ground. This deal may very well be the first of its kind and could pave the way for further such deals between other countries.

As technology advances international relations adapts and expands, and the threat of cyber attacks has become real and troubling and must certainly be addressed. The article expresses concerns over the integrity of the Chinese government in adhering to the deal, but that is not the sole concern, nor the biggest one. How do we define this new international border?

Republicans vs. Democrats

In an article published on the New York Times the hesitancy of the Republicans to accept the Iran Nuclear deal and possible outcomes is addressed, albeit a somewhat critical perspective. The Republicans believe the deal will threaten Israel and other countries and will be counter-beneficial to the United States and do not place much confidence in the Iranian leadership and are thus doing all they can to post-pone and hopefully stop the deal.

The Democrats view this strategy as detrimental to the whole of the United States and distracting to other important issues. Many Democrats believe the deal will ultimately aid in the problems of the Middle East.

Ultimately this divisions over the Iran Deal lies in differing world views and opinions of what it is important. The Republicans and Democrats have very differing ideas of how the United States should act, and in this case the battle between ideologies is being waged in Congress.

Pope Francis and President Obama

What President Obama expects to discuss with Pope Francis is laid out in this article published by the Washington Post. Pope Francis has quickly proven that he is an advocate not only for the Catholic Church but for the global community and is deeply concerned about the wars in the Middle East and global warning. However, while he is expected to discuss such topics with the president of the United States the extent to which his words will affect the president or any other political leaders pre-existing ideas I believe will be minimal. He is still a foreign religious leader, whose only hold upon such topics is in his position and not on any real knowledge or authority. Though I personally believe he has optimistic ideas of how to deal with these problems, I fear that despite the weight his words have garnered they will effect very little change within the leaders of the United States. President Obama's meeting with the Catholic leader is at base, a simple pleasantry.

Iran-U.S. Relations

Despite the recent discussions between the United States and Iran, hope of further talks has been quickly bashed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. While Americans are divided over the nuclear deal struck between the two nations, Iran seems little confused over the objective of the deal. Iran seeks economic openness and the nuclear deal will remove the sanctions the United States had formerly imposed upon the country. However, while the United States was hopeful that talks would continue to other realms, Iran refused.

Iran, its leaders and people continue to view the United States as a great evil and are unwilling to work further with the country. Iran is using this deal to achieve its own ends, economic freedom, but is completely unwilling to sacrifice much in return. Does the United States truly want to make any deals with a country who loathes it and refuses to even discuss other topics of interest?

Read the article from the Wall Street Journal here.

Refugee Crisis and the United States

The plight of the Syrian refugees fleeing to Europe was dramatically brought to center attention of the world by the tragic photo of a three year old child's drowned body washed upon the shores of Turkey. The world was dumb-founded and cries for action have been ringing through the press in response to such devastating stories. Europe has been attempting to cope with this influx of refugees, but many have criticized their response and claim that more needs to be done and welcome and aid these displaced people.

 This article from the New York Times, article here, details the story of the poor drowned child and addresses the issues surrounding how he his life had been ended. For the United States this humanitarian crisis may seem distant, but as a nation, as humans, it is crucial that even we step up to take our part in aiding these people. Offer asylum, pressure Europe to open their doors, stand against the regimes that are forcing these people to such extreme measures, in such times as these everyone is obligated to help as much as they can.