Confessions of a News Junkie

Consumer behavior at the pump surprises general predictions that higher gas prices would limit consumption. But it seems that Americans live to consume. Wal-mart, for example, continues to grow faster and gain more profits than almost any other American company (Exxon is number one). Sure the prices are cheaper, but such megastores expose customers to a parade of useless items. One example of wasteful products include "Easter shoes" - which little boys and girls wear two, maybe three days each year. Americans resist their materialistic lifestyles in addition to the freedom of driving far as far as they feel necessary to achieve their daily goals. Gas consumption will most likely decrease if prices soar to $7 or more.

Also, proponents of discount stores argue that low prices enable low-income households more money for necessities like food and clothing. Although I agree that poor individuals and families need such products, excessive spending habits will only depleate their meager bank accounts more rapidly. The absence of such ludicrous shopping add-ons may impel all citizens to spend their time checking out books and movies from the local library, or visiting a local park. If American spend reallocate their time from shopping to new diversions, perhaps we won't all be blamed for Wal-mart's success. A lack of exposure to waste will drive down spending habits and help everyone save money.

The war in Iraq. Or is it the war on terror? Is the national debt subject to funding both the sources of military interventions?
The Patriot Act's policies have only shaken American confidence in its own government, though previous presidents have also limited civil liberties. Two abuses of executive control include Japanese-Americans during World War Two (1942-1944), under President Roosevelt and the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798, under John Adams. Of course, the Patriot Act has different implications on America's future than shameless racism or a young government's attempt to block invasion from oppresive royalty. The threat is terrorism, which isn't as distinguishable as race or nationality.

But "terrorism" is associated with Islam, the one unifying feature of Kurds, Shiites, and Sunni Iraqis. The United States has been unable to unite the three factions in order to stabalize a government independent of American presence. The US employs some Iraqis to work with the embassy as investigators and translators between local militia and American officials. These individuals risk every second of their lives with the vision of a peaceful future for Iraqi civilians. But the military is suspicious of the investigators, some are even volunteers, because they fear that the Iraqis are militia with disguised motives. In any case, more of the veteran investigators are being fired each month, and few Iraqis apply for the dangerous position. These investigators provide insight into local culture and are helpful resources for mediating relations between Iraqis and American troops.

The United States government ialso lacks confidence in the average American. As demonstrated by public opinion polls, the relationship is mutual, and Americans advocate a more defined timetable for leaving Iraq. And both the Senate and the House represented their constituents in voting for pulling troops from Iraq by 2008, but the President stands the stubborn course by both sacricificing soldiers and lacking effective plans to unite one Iraq from three differing disparate groups; groups that share a nation and the bitterness of ineffective American policies.

The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics is considering a ban on male participation in female practices. The vote is scheduled for January 2008.

Some collegiate programs facilitate enhancing female athletic opportunities by integrating male volunteers into sports practices, such as basketball, soccer, and volleyball. Critics of the male/female interaction argue that female athlete's contribution to practice or limited when the men are present, thus reversing goals of Title IX; the 1972 law that forbids gender discrimination in school sports.

In order for any college athlete to improve both her skills and competitive performances, she must challenge herself to extreme physical limits during practices. The NCAA should allow men to participate in female sports practices because such interactions can enhance female athletic development. Enabling a co-ed practice environment does not under ride Title IX, but rather builds on creating more resources for women to reach their peak performance capabilities.

http://www.mercurynews.com/search/ci_5459907

The Senate rejected a proposal to begin pulling troops from over the next four months. Well, the Republicans rejected the measure. Specifically, one Democrat voted against the requirement, while one Republican voted for it. Are policymakers laying political games with the lives of American troops? I am baffled that the security risk of dropping soldiers in a battle zone embedded by religious fundamentalists is a partisan issue.
There is countless evidence that terrorism will persist in Iraq and throughout the world on account of a retaliation of violent American intervention in Islamic societies. Most recently is the uprising of another Islamic terrorist group, similar to Al Qaeda in strength and numbers.
The war on terrorism is linked too intimately with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The enemy is unpredictable and recruits martyrs daily. What hasn't mitigated terrorism in four years continues to obstruct American military goals. It is important to highlight, however, that evicting a war criminal from controlling the lives of millions of Iraqis was a victory. But the aftermath of various destructive interventions in Iraq and globally has resulted in invertible waste of lives, not to mention billions of dollars.

For more information about the new faces and names of terrorism, please see:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/16/world/middleeast/16jihad.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

Although New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof outlines a comprehensive strategy for reconstructing a future for victims in Darfur, there are still more structural and emotional obstacles in rectifying the genocide. Somalia, for example, has received hundreds of thousands of dollars in assistance from international organizations, but the diversity of the population in addition to political instability has obstructed peace keepers and aid programs from reaching and unifying communities. Also, in order for the state to overcome the crimes against humanity, just retribution of perpetrators may only be possible through public shame and prosecution.

But, there are political barriers in prosecuting Sudanese officials and individual warlords because many refuse to comply with international law and claim state sovereignty in refusing international intervention. Another argument against using international tribunals to reconcile crimes is that the trials may further divide community members, the state, and local clans over the best mechanism for a future of peace.

http://select.nytimes.com/2007/03/13/opinion/13kristof.html

The city of Hargeysa is a rare faction of peace in Somalia. Somalia has been unable to sustain a stable government since the central political system collapsed in 1991, resulting in 16 years of interim presidents and frequent violence between various national clans. Hargeysa rests in the Republic of Somaliland, which became independent of the country in 1991, but without international recognition as a separate country. Perhaps the exclusive nature of Somaliland has contributed to the State's social and political success. In other words, in absence of international interventions, Somaliland has empowered a diverse population of warlords, distinct tribal members, farmers, and politicians. The groups unified in order to gain Independence from Somalia. The government systematically removed weapons from the population, including the militias.
While Somalia has been endowed with hundreds of millions of dollars for peacekeeping assistance since 1991, the striking success of peace in Somaliland is that it has received no international aid.
Arguably the simplicity of regional politics and society can facilitate the localization of community needs, which results in attainable initiatives relative to population dynamics.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/07/world/africa/07somaliland.html

*** The following article demonstrates the importance of localizing policy and reform in Iraq and Afghanistan. The author's argument compliments the evidence of advancing peace sans UN, Nato or US intervention.
http://select.nytimes.com/2007/03/07/opinion/07stewart.html