Counterinsurgency in Iraq Free Essays

Since the start of the Iraq insurgency in 2003 before the ruling of a new supreme government within its borders, the armed resistance of Iraqi security forces, insurgents and militia bursted, as Iraqi rebels instigated an ‘asymmetric war’ with much foreign assistance coming from NGOs and countries like Iran. Instead of attacking only the coalition forces and the acting government, insurgents started to attack even the less significant supporters. This paper suggests that the counterinsurgency in Iraq had been presenting immense risks and destruction to all parties, but especially to the U. We will write a custom essay sample on Counterinsurgency in Iraq or any similar topic only for you Order Now S. , which had something to do with demography, economy, and power. By evaluating the event using the three basic criteria, it shall be concluded why counterinsurgency in Iraq should be brought to a halt. As social chaos and economic constraints have not been treated very well, the act of counterinsurgency has only made matters worse, as it brings destruction even to the United States of America. Main Body Criterion #1: demography-related ruin In terms of demography, counterinsurgency in Iraq had only made matters worse since 2003. In the Information Clearing House article written by Linda Bilmes and Joseph Stiglitz entitled ‘The Economics Costs of the Iraq War: An Appraisal Three Years after the Beginning of the Conflict’, it is said that there were approximately 2,000 American combatants who had died from March 2003 to January 2006, and about 16,000 American combatants who had been wounded during those same years (2006, p. 2). However, as of now, the number of deaths went up from 2,000 to 4,147 in totality (Casualties in Iraq, 2008); while the number of wounded went up from 16,000 in early 2006 to exactly 30,561 in totality as of now (Casualties in Iraq, 2008). As of early 2006, this number of deaths led to benefits and insurances that totals a staggering $100,000 death benefits and as much as $500,000 life insurances (Bilmes Stiglitz, 2006, p. 2). These numbers project the conclusion that demography-related ruin of the United States in the Iraq War damages not just the lives but also the economy of the nation. It can be evaluated that, in terms of demography, destruction brought by the Iraq War projects staggering amount and, thus, a disparaging situation. Criterion #2: economy-related ruin Secondly, in terms of economy, counterinsurgency in Iraq had only made matters worse since 2003. In the newspaper article also written by Linda Bilmes and Joseph Stiglitz entitled ‘The Iraq War Will Cost Us $3 Trillion, and Much More’, it was said that failed war at this age costs $3 trillion and that the costs and damages of the Iraq War has surpassed the financial costs of the World War II (2008, p. B01). As it was written, â€Å"As we approach the fifth anniversary of the invasion, Iraq is not only the second longest war in U. S. history (after Vietnam), it is also the second most costly—surpassed only by World War II† (Bilmes Stiglitz, 2008, p. B01). With a ‘conservative’ estimate of about $12 billion expenses per month (or $16 billion if the one in Afghanistan would be included), the Iraq War depletes America’s resources that should have been allotted to other expenses at this present age. These numbers project the conclusion that economy-related ruin of the United States in the Iraq War damages not just the economy but also the future of the nation. It can be evaluated that, in terms of economy, destruction brought by the Iraq War projects staggering amount and, thus, a similarly disparaging situation. Criterion #3: power-related ruin Lastly, in terms of power, counterinsurgency in Iraq had only made matters worse since 2003. Together with the demographic and economic ruin, national power is being depleted because of the fact that â€Å"population [is] one of the most important indicators of national power because of its importance for determining economic and military power† (Yoshihara, 2008, p. 2). According to Susan Yoshihara (2008), Hans Morgenthau has pointed out the eight means of power appear to be the following: (1) geography, (2) natural resources, (3) industrial capacity, (4) military preparedness, (5) population, (6) national character, (7) national morale, and (8) quality of government (p. 3). Therefore, because the Iraq War is destruction to both demography and economy, the third, fourth and fifth means of power that are industrial capacity, military preparedness, and population are also being negatively affected by the war. Destruction to these three means of power implies destruction of power. This projects that demography-related and economy-related ruin of the United States in the Iraq War means power-related ruin. Thus, it can be evaluated that, in terms of power, the Iraq War projects destructive elements that lead to a similarly disparaging situation. Conclusion From the stated paragraphs, it appears that the counterinsurgency in Iraq had been presenting immense risks and destruction to all parties, even to the American population. In relation to the three criteria that is demography, economy, and power, we can evaluate that counterinsurgency in Iraq should be brought to a halt. The war had only succeeded in bringing the country more than 4,000 deaths, more than 30,000 wounded, about $3 trillion worth of financial costs, with depleting power and less economic resources. It only brought social chaos and economic constraints. We should bring it to an end. Counterinsurgency can be defined as â€Å"military and political activities undertaken by a government to defeat a rebellion or guerrilla movement† (Counterinsurgency, 2008). As the United States started to invade and occupy Iraq in 2003 (Pirnie O’Connell, 2008, p. xiii), it is evident that counterinsurgency had been quite tough, as numerous armed groups were united with a common theme that â€Å"[t]he occupation of Iraq by foreign forces is bad† (Pirnie O’Connell, 2008, p. xiii). Yet, the case appeared to be a lot worse than just plain revolt. References Bilmes, L. , Stiglitz, J. E. (2006, January). The economic costs of the Iraq war: an appraisal three years after the beginning of the conflict. Information Clearing House. Retrieved August 26, 2008, from http://www. uncle-scam. com/Breaking/jan-06/ich-1-9. PDF. Bilmes, L. J. , Stiglitz, J. E. (2008, March 9). The Iraq war will cost us $3 trillion, and much more. The Washington Post, p. B01. Casualties in Iraq. (2008). Retrieved August 27, 2008, from http://antiwar. com/casualties/. Counterinsurgency. (2008). In Encarta dictionary. Retrieved August 26, 2008, from MSN database: http://encarta. msn. com/dictionary_1861600753/counterinsurgency. html. Pirnie, B. , O’Connell, E. (2008). Counterinsurgency in Iraq (2003-2006). RAND Counterinsurgency Study, Vol. 2. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation. Yoshihara, S. (2008, March 29). American demographic trends and the future of U. S. Military Power. Paper presented at the annual convention of the International Studies Association, San Francisco. Retrieved August 26, 2008, from the All Academic Research database: http://www. allacademic. com//meta/p_mla_apa_research_citation/2/5/0/6/3/pages250636/p250636-1. php. How to cite Counterinsurgency in Iraq, Papers

dionysianism Essay Example For Students

dionysianism Essay DionysianismIf you look hard enough, you can see Dionysianism in a lot of places. This is a state of mind where a person does all sorts of wild things. They are very free willed and adventurous. This is the very opposite of the more conservative Apolianistic life style lived by others.In the movie Gimme Shelter we see a lot of this. We see people doing all sorts of free spirited events. Gimme Shelter is a great example of Dionysianism. In this movie they document a concert in San Francisco that is headlined the Rolling Stones. The people at this concert often striped in open site of everyone, and did other acts of craziness. The big controversy about this festival was that there were huge riots at the end of the show, when the Rolling Stones came on.Looking at the film, there didnt appear to be any Apolonion people at the show. This lifestyle isnt just seen in this film. It can also be seen in the works of Nietzsche. If he could have seen this video, he would have flipped. There is w ay too much worshiping of Dionysis for him. He believed that every person has these two ways of thinking, that of Apollo and Dionysis, and we all need to find the right balance of these to succeed.He would have thought the two producers of this movie were crazy too because they put such a thing together. There are some things we have talked about in class that have agreed with the movie. For instance, the Bacchae by Euripdes is a play featuring Dionysis as one of the lead characters. This play speaks highly of wild and crazy behavior, and killing, just like the movie.I can only imagine what it must have been like at beat one of these concerts in the 1960s. It must have been a great feeling knowing that you were part of such a huge group of people and everyone had the same feelings as you did. O course, these were Dionysis-like feelings. I have been to a few concerts, but none of them were as crazy as the one we watched in the movie. I strongly believe that music also helps with the craziness. From just watching the movie and listening to the songs, I felt the energy that was at that concert. It was incredible. Euripides would have agreed with a lot of the things that went on at that concert in 1969.Nietzsche would defiantly have opposed it though, just because it was way too unbalanced for normal human beings. The Directors of the movie lived in a time where dionystic things happened all the time. This is just another example of Dionysianism.

Cross Cultural Management National Culture Profile

Question: Discuss about theCross Cultural Managementfor National Culture Profile. Answer: Introduction Culture, in simple words, can be defined as the basic morals, ethics, beliefs, religion, cuisines, clothes, etc. that a particular social group follows. Culture can differ from people to people and it has become very important for business organisations to manage the cultural differences as they can prove to be very harmful for the overall productivity and efficiency. In this assignment, we will discuss the cultural preferences in Iran with an objective of starting a new business venture of tourism in the country. We will carefully analyse the cultural profile and identify two risks that the business would face while being operated in Iran. National Culture Profile Iran, also known as Persia and officially known as the Islamic republic of Iran, is located in the Western Asia. The country is a major religion and middle power and has an abundant reserves of fossil fuels (Commisceo-global.com, 2016). Let us now analyse the cultural profile of Iran based on the model suggested by Geert Hofstede. Power distance Iran scores 58 on the power distance index. The intermediate score of Iran on power index implies that the country prefers a hierarchical society. The country accepts differences in power that are given to individuals and is distributed in a hierarchical order. Every person in the society has a place and the distribution of power does not require any kind of justification (Geert-hofstede.com, 2016). Individualism this particular culture dimension deals with the feelings of togetherness or separated. Iran scores 41 on the individualism index, which implies that the country prefers a collectivist society. In Iran, people show a long term commitment to groups, whether the group is a family, a relation or an extended family. The country shows a high degree of loyalty towards the society. Similarly, an unethical offence leads to shame and loss of respect in the society. Masculinity with a score of 43 on the masculinity index, the country depicts a society which is more feminine rather than masculine. In Iran, the quality of life that a person keeps is an indicator of success while standing out from the crowd is not considered to be admirable. In Iran, people have a high preference for equality and quality of their work lives. In Iran, the society believes in working in order to live (Geert-hofstede.com, 2016). Uncertainty avoidance with a score of 59 on the uncertainty avoidance index, Iran shows a highly uncertainty avoiding society. In such a society, there is a high preference to maintain rigid codes and behaviour. The society emotionally requires rules and regulations eve if they dont seem to work in the long run. Precision and punctuality are given a lot importance in the society and security needs are the prime reason for employee motivation (Persians Are Not Arabs, 2016). Long term orientation this particular dimension deals with the preference of the society to e connected with the past and at the same time dealing with the issues or challenges that the future will bring along. The country scores 14 on this cultural dimension and shows a strong normative culture. People in Iran have a preference to establish the absolute truth. Iranian society has a great respect for traditions while the propensity to save for the future is relatively low. The society also has a great focus towards the achievement if quick results (Geert-hofstede.com, 2016). Indulgence this particular cultural dimension defines the extent up to which the society can control its desires and impulses. The country has a score of 40 in this dimension and shows a restraint culture. Further, the society also has a less tendency towards spending leisure time and can easily control their desires. Risk Analysis Risk 1Terrorism One of the biggest risks that haunts business organisations operating in Iran is the terrorism that the country experiences. The United States of America has recognized Iran as the most active state sponsor of terrorism and has been accusing Iran for terrorist activities since 1984. One of the best examples that shows the extent to which terrorism can be damaging in the country is the hostage crisis of 1979. On November 4, 1979, 500 Iranians entered the American embassy in Iran and took 90 employees and victors captive. The Iranians left the non-Americans and held 52 employees for 444 days. The demands put forward by the Iranians was the unblocking of Irans frozen assets in the United States. They also demanded a U.S based Shah of Iran to be arrested and given back to the Iranians. As a result, US had to pay $8 billion in frozen assets in exchange of the hostages. Further, the country has also experienced a number of assassinations in the past. Some noticeable assassinations were that of the Prime ministers Mohammad Javad Bahonar, Shapour Bakhtiar, Amir-Abbas Hoveida, etc. The above mentioned cases clearly show the instability that exists in the country and the extent to which terrorism can damage things. For a tourism venture, it is highly possible that the terrorist activities can have an effect on the tourists that visit the country. Even though Iran is being potentially considered as the best tourist destination for this year, terrorism still poses a great threat to the tourism industry in Iran. Risk 2 Corruption Corruption is defined as the unethical misuse of power bested in a person in order to achieve some personal gains (Corruption-agenda.org, 2016). Particularly in Iran, corruption is the way of life for the people. Only a few people in Iran have openly criticised the existence of corruption in the country also suggesting the social unrest that can be caused by corruption. Recently, a billionaire tycoon based in Iran, Babak Zanjani, has been sentenced to death for corruption. The 41-year-old business tycoon has been accused of fraudulent pocketing of $2.8 billion (The Huffington Post, 2016). The government of the country is large. The presence of the government of the country can be visibly seen in all corners of life. The corrupt behaviour demonstrated by the employees working in the government and public sector can be attributed to the lower pay which they are offered, which also makes it difficult for the employees to meet their own or their familys needs (Middle East Eye, 2016). The existence of corruption in the country is a great risk for any business organisation that wants to expand its operations in Iran. The fact that the venture is being run by an outsider makes the venture even more vulnerable to corruption (Eulerhermes.com, 2016). Mitigation Strategies It is important that the owners of the new business venture should carefully undertake strategies that can help them in overcoming the risks that are posed by corruption and terrorism. The business venture should, first of all, recruit a lot of employees from Iran itself as they would be better aware about the ins and outs of the business. They should be having a thorough knowledge about the ways in which the business can easily take all the permissions that it requires to operate in Iran. Even some of the high positions in the company should be offered to the Iranian employees as they have better understanding of their country and they would make it easier for the company to deal with the risks identified in the above sections. Further, the company should also establish relations with the governmental organisations and offer them high tourism incomes in exchange of security for the delegates or the foreign victors that visits Iran through the company. It should also be ensured that the tourists are adequate insured against natural and man-made disasters while they visit Iran while the business venture should also ensure that the security of the tourists is in the hands of the government of Iran. Recommendations Iran has a stable cultural profile, as discussed in the beginning, which makes the country a potential opportunity for business organisations while the country is also preparing for a tsunami of foreign visitors. Further, the county has also started to lose its visa rules which is making it easier for the tourists to get visa and visit the country. Therefore, the country is one of the best countries that offers tourism opportunities to localities as well as business organisations. Iran is a country that has a lot of potential for being selected as the best tourist destination in the present times but the risks of corruption and terrorism makes it difficult for business organisations to start new business ventures in the country. If business organisations come up with the right approach to deal with terrorism and corruption, Iran can offer a lot of business opportunities to them. Therefore, the business organisations should carefully assess the risks to their ventures and use appropriate strategies that can help them in mitigating the risks that exist in the country. References Commisceo-global.com. (2016).Iran - Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette. [online] Available at: https://www.commisceo-global.com/country-guides/iran-guide [Accessed 29 Oct. 2016]. Corruption-agenda.org. (2016).What is Corruption?. [online] Available at: https://www.corruption-agenda.org/getting-started/what-is-corruption [Accessed 29 Oct. 2016]. Eulerhermes.com. (2016).Country risks analysis | Euler Hermes Group. [online] Available at: https://www.eulerhermes.com/economic-research/country-risks/Pages/country-reports-risk-map.aspx [Accessed 29 Oct. 2016]. Geert-hofstede.com. (2016).Iran - Geert Hofstede. [online] Available at: https://geert-hofstede.com/iran.html [Accessed 29 Oct. 2016]. Middle East Eye. (2016).Corruption a way of life in Iran. [online] Available at: https://www.middleeasteye.net/columns/corruption-has-become-way-life-iran-1127296548 [Accessed 29 Oct. 2016]. Persians Are Not Arabs. (2016).Persian Culture. [online] Available at: https://www.persiansarenotarabs.com/persian-culture/ [Accessed 29 Oct. 2016]. The Huffington Post. (2016). [online] Available at: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/majid-rafizadeh/irans-corruption-and-huma_b_8382140.html [Accessed 29 Oct. 2016].

Symbolism Great Gatsby free essay sample

The Great Gatsby, is about Jay Gatsby and his quest for his own American dream, the love of his life, Daisy. The story is narrated by Nick Carraway, a young man who moves in next door to Gatsby and becomes friends with him. The Great Gatsby has three main themes. These are materialism and wealth, the american dream and appearance and reality. Fitzgerald has used symbolism and theme along with other techniques to enhance these themes along with the readers enjoyment of the novel. One symbol used by Fitzgerald is the green light. Green is the colour of hope, but also the colour of envy, and it first appears when Gatsby stares out across the bay towards a green light at the end of the dock. â€Å"a single green light, minute and far away†. Later the reader finds out that this light stands on Daisy Buchanan’s dock. In the context of the novel this green light represents Gatsby’s hope to meet Daisy again and a chance to win her back. We will write a custom essay sample on Symbolism Great Gatsby or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page â€Å"Gatsby believed in the green light†. I think the green light is an effective symbol and it cleverly represents Gatsby’s longing for Daisy. Another clever symbol used in the Great Gatsby is that of the Valley of Ashes. It is first introduced in chapter two, the valley of ashes represents the moral and social decay that results from the uncontrolled search for wealth, as the rich indulge themselves with thought for nothing but their own pleasure. The valley of ashes also symbolizes the troubles of the poor, who live among the dirty ashes and lose their vitality as a result. I think the Valley of Ashes is another effective use of symbolism and it helps to emphasise the theme of materialism and wealth as it represents the social decay between the rich and the poor. The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg are a pair of fading, eyes painted on an old advertising billboard over the Valley of Ashes. â€Å"The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg are blue and gigantic -their retinas one yard high†. They may represent God staring down upon and judging American society’s morals, though the novel never makes this point explicitly. They could also be a symbol of the conscience of American society itself. I think that the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg emphasise one of the main themes in the novel which is the decline of the American dream although they could also be said to represent the theme of materialism and wealth. F. Scott Fitzgerald has also used names as a major symbol in The Great Gatsby. The name Daisy is and example of this. A daisy is a tiny flower; it is small and extremely delicate. The colours of a daisy also suggest innocence; the daisy is white and gold, very angelic. Myrtle’s name is also symbolic. A myrtle is a sturdy herb although it is still beautiful it is not delicate like a daisy. These two names reflect the women they have been given too and Fitzgerald’s use of symbolism is very effective in this case. Overall F. Scott Fitzgerald has used symbolism in his novel very effectively. The use of symbolism has helped my appreciation of the novel as it adds layers. The use of symbolism is also allowing Fitzgerald to comment on society through his novels. Symbolism has also helped to emphasise the main themes of the novel.

Political, Ethical, Economic and Legal Issues UK and Finland. Case Study Sainsburys and Nokia Companies

Public Speaking †I Hate It!

Public Speaking – I Hate It! Free Online Research Papers It was the fourth grade. I always heard rumors and gossip about a certain teacher. This year, kids said to take any teacher except Mrs. Rivera, the oral project teacher. Of course in elementary, we did not have a choice of which teacher to choose. Boy, I was shocked when I glanced at the window that had my schedule. Mrs. Rivera would be my teacher. No problems, all I need to do is stand in front of the class and speak. Of course, I always hated talking in front of the class. I did orals in second and third grade; but it couldnt be that bad. Nothing could go wrong. Thats what I thought. The season changed with cold rains and blistering chills to blooming flowers and emerging birds. It was spring, and the school year would be over soon. This is when I finally knew why everyone hated her class. Mrs. Rivera gave us the dreaded and most painful oral, The Play. It consisted of singing, dancing, acting, and prancing across the gym. Could it get any worse? Of course it could. On a piece of paper, stuck to a wall with eight pushpins and long-lasting duct tape, it stated, Invite people you know to The Play. A couple days after the announcement, a white envelope came in the the name Mrs. Rivera pasted on the return address. Why wasnt I surprised to find out this was an invitation to The Play for my parents? There were no more excuses. I had no choice but to join the play. We first started by taking roles in different dramas. I rushed through a crowd of kids and hunted for a small lined part. I would be a dashing soldier, protecting the country of Rome from evil dragons while doing my best to keep the Gods happy. Next, we all took bells and canes for the singing, prancing, and dancing part of the play. I received a tiny scratched bell with a little red piece of yarn. It was the ugliest bell, but I became use to these consequences and I did not have any problem in going forward with progress. After getting our red-striped canes and other materials, we rehearsed our parts. Well most did. Personally, I hated the whole thing, especially the singing roles. When the kids werent in tune, she blamed it on me and forced me to sing more. When we had to jingle the bells for a beat, my bell would just make an ugly thump sound. Even with all these problems, everyone seemed ready for The Play. It just started to get dark and people piled onto the benches. Today was the day all our preparation came into action. Cameras covered the scene with parents making sure they did not miss anything. I was doing well. The Roman drama went perfectly and we excited the crowd with our acting skills. The singing and dancing were just as great. We sung with utmost excellence and made it to our spots with no wrong steps. That was the last major oral project we did in fourth grade. It was a pretty awful school year, but I gained a lot of knowledge from it. I learned how to speak in front of an audience in a firm and clear voice. I gained more confidence and I did not worry about orals as much. I guess fourth grade was not that bad, after acknowledging all the accomplishments I made that year. However, I sure would not want to go through the dire fourth grade again. Research Papers on Public Speaking - I Hate It!The Spring and AutumnStandardized TestingHip-Hop is ArtHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationPersonal Experience with Teen Pregnancy19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraThe Hockey GameMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductCapital Punishment

Special Weapons And Tactics essays

Special Weapons And Tactics essays Alright boys were goin in. John you take out the guard on the right. Mike, take out the guard on the left. Me? I got the two in the center, and remember, dont shoot any of the big shots (businessmen) Greg said. We were just three guys looking for an easy way to make money. The plan was perfect, so perfect that it had to work. We decided to hold up the VISA (credit card) Tower. Just go in there, take the money and leave, but something went wrong. We entered the room with our guns loaded and ready. BOOM BOOM BOOM, three guards hit the floor before we knew it. But there was one more, the one we forgot about. We told them our demands, but they werent co-operating very well, so we showed them what happens to people who dont co-operate. We shot one of their executives in the head. Everything was perfect, until somehow they got the call. Yo you guys we got the call, some three terrorist are holding up the VISA building and we are going after them! Phil exclaimed with excitement. Jerry, Jake and Nick were ready for anything; they loaded up into the SWAT helicopter and were off to the building. The helicopter dropped them off at the 113th floor (helipad/roof). Apparently they didnt know which floor we were on so it took them a while to get to us. The time was 3:05 am and the Vice President of Income was transferring the money to each of our bank accounts. We would get our money, leave and pretend like nothing happened at all. Somewhere between 3:30 and 4:00 am, the guard that we forgot about, walked into the room. He ended up getting shot about three or four times. The bullets were loud enough to hear from the very top floor, so it gave our position away. The transaction to the bank accounts had been completed and we were just about ready to walk out when one of the executives pulled out a gun and shot John in the ribs. ...