Field Observation/ Interview

VIDEOS ON BARACK OBAMA:

" One of the failures of foreign policy over the last seven years has been a secretive type of foreign policy, that is not informing the American people of what's happening , what's at stake, how decisions are being made, what are the risks and benefits of any particular course of action."
" I would like to be open, make sure that people have access to my decision, advisers. I'm going to make sure that we are explaining our policies in a very clear manor, to makes sure that people can develop and restore a since of trust that my administration is making the best decision based on the best advice, the best information and based on the beliefs of the American people. "

"He is no longer talking about the war of terror, he is talking about a specific well defined enemy, Al Quaeda. He is not going to use terms such as Islamic facism. He is going to focus on Al-Quaeda withouth eliminating the rest of the Arab world.
“My job to the Muslim world is to communicate that the Americans are not your enemy,”

" No country will find it exceptable to finding missiles ranning down on the heads of their citizens."
" When you see civilians whether palestinian or Israeli harmed undergoing heardship, it's heartbreakin, and obvioulsy what it does, is make me more determined to break a deadline that has gone on for decades. "
" I think that if you look at what happened under the Clinton Administration and the Bush Admninistartion, you are seeing general outlines ofn an approach, and players of the region are understaning the comprimises that are going to need to be made."
"The reason for the United States to be involved and engaged emediately, not waiting until the end of their turn is because working through the politics of this requirs a third party, and the Obama Administration can create it."

For my Field Observation, I looked at several intervies of Barack Obama on youtube. The main theme through out all of them, is that Barack OBama is moving forward, finding a solution for the Middle East, going and talking to the Arab world, and assuring them that the U.S no longer wants to be their enemy. Barack Obama has great plans for the middle East. The main goals for Barack Obama's foreign policy are : to secure loose n uclear materials from "terrorists, to pursue tough, direct diplomacy without preconditions to end the threat from Iran, and to renwet the American Deplomacy. Watching vidoes on Barack Obama was timeconsuming, but extremely fun. He is a great public speaker, and I learned a lot. I am so happy to of done this project on him, and pleased that he is now the President of the United States.

Response #11 : Obama Steps Up and Expands War on Taliban

This article proved that the OBama administration has already taken action in the middle East. Obama has intentions on attacking the Taliban and the Al-Quaeda. But will that lead to a genocide? is sending military troops in, really the right thing to do? I do not know the answers to those questions. We are just going to see what happens.

Article #11 : Obama Steps Up and Expands War on Taliban

- The Barack Obama administration is planning to send troops against the Taliban and al-Qaida in Pakistan.

- Taliban militants are using the area to launch attacks on U.S.-NATO forces in southern Afghanistan.

- Obama has continued the policy of former U.S. President George W. Bush of launching strikes by unmanned CIA-operated Predator drones against the Taliban and al-Qaida hideouts.

- "A new energy is evident in President Barak Obama's prosecution of the war" against the Taliban, a U.S. official said.

- "I think we'll see a much more intense effort," said Middle East expert Tony Cordesman. "The war will be expanded in a comprehensive way, but just what resources that will entail isn't clear yet."

- A total of nine U.S. airstrikes against the Islamic militants has already been launched by the new administration as opposed to a total of 30 attacks dating from last September when Pakistani President Asif Ali Zadardi assumed power.

- On March 12, a Predator fired missiles at a Taliban training camp and weapons depot in Kurram killing 24 militants, U.S. officials said.

- "You could definitely say [the attacks] represent an expansion of the air war on the Taliban," an administration official said.

- However, expansion of the war could provoke opposition from some Democrats who fear a deepening U.S. entanglement in Afghanistan, U.S. officials said.

- Currently a policy review is underway and should shortly be presented to the president, they said.

- On March 15, a Predator targeted for the second time a Taliban weapons depot in the town of Jani Khal in the Bannu district of the jihadist stronghold of the Northwest Frontier province.

- Two al-Qaida and two Taliban operatives were killed, according to Pakistani news reports confirmed by U.S. officials. The dead were not identified but were not "high value" targets, these sources said.

- In any case, the Taliban were quick to retort. On March 16, a force of 50-60 fighters savaged the al-Faisal terminal.

Response to article #10 : The pluses of a regional grand bargain

This article helped me on the Iran field. I now know what Iran is likely to do and how it is vital to return to speaking conditions with them. Becoming allies with Iran will make the American withdrawal from Iraq easier, and cool down the conflict in Afghanistan. Personally, I agree completely with this article. I now need to find more articles like this concerning Iraq, Palestine, and all the other countries in the Middle East.

Article # 10: The pluses of a regional grand bargain

- The Obama administration has declared a peace process concerning Afghanistan and Pakistan and re-establishing communication with Syria and Iran.

-Obama is considering speaking with some of the Taliban in Afghanistan to wind down the war there.

- Washington and Tehran have not talked in a sustained way for 30 years.

- The list of things the US and the West do not know about Iran is long

- Iran will settle for a deal on its nuclear enrichment capabilities; whether it wants a nuclear bomb

- Iran has already achieved its important first goal, despite intense American-led threats, warnings and sanctions.

- It has established a spinning-centrifuge-based system for enriching uranium. Now confronted with the Obama approach of talking rather than only sanctioning, the Iranians now face many new possibilities.

-Iran (like Syria on a smaller scale) is strategically placed to both talk and work on many fronts. It has communications withI raq, Afghanistan, Syria, Hizbullah and Hamas. This provides opportunities for the US.

- Iranian leadership has fear of bargaining with the US, because of the tension between Washington and Tehran.

- Achieving a grand bargain is complex.

- A grand bargain on Iraq, Iran, Syria, Afghanistan and Arab-Israeli peacemaking would require satisfying needs for all sides.

Final Focus: further research needed.

My final research is going to consist of two articles, and an interview or field experience. When writing my blog essay, I discovered that I need to know more about what Obama is planning on doing about the current situation in the Middle East. A question that occurred during my thinking process is: Is sending more troops in Afghanistan really necessary? I need to draw out more research on what has been done to stabalize the Middle East, and draw conclusions on what I think should be done as well as Obama. For further reaserach for my presentation, I need to find some photos, i will make a slideshow.