12/5/11 Aid Agencies in Afghanistan Fear Reversals After U.S. Exit (New York Times)

Aid Agencies in Afghanistan Fear Reversals After U.S. Exit

By ROD NORDLAND

Published: December 5, 2011

Although President Hamid Karzai hopes to continue aid to Afghanistan for another 10 years, the American withdrawal from Afghanistan is already being felt among civilian aid workers, raising anxieties that Afghanistan will be abandoned and that the hard-earned development gains will be reversed.


The US provides two-thirds of all development assistance in Afghanistan, but it cut its $4 billion aid budget to $2 billion in the 2011 fiscal year. In 2012, it might be going to cut the budget more.


CARE has lost 80% of its budget here. CARE is deeply involved in setting up schools and improving life for Afghan women. 400 of its 900 workers were unemployed. Other American-based charities are suffering from the budget cut.


Mercy Corps, which is another American-based aid organization, has lost its $32 million "Cash for Work" program in northern Afghanistan and gone to an end. International Rescue Committee's budget for Afghanistan next year is also almost halved to $9.5 million although the committee is still hopeful.


Total foreign aid to Afghanistan in 2010 was equal to the country's entire GDP, $15.7 billion. The World Bank said that this cannot be sustained. By 2018, it is predicted that 90% of that aid will be gone.

12/10/11 U.S. Troops Could Stay in Afghanistan Past Deadline, Envoy Says (New York Times))

U.S. Troops Could Stay in Afghanistan Past Deadline, Envoy Says

By ROD NORDLAND

Published: December 10, 2011

The American ambassador to Afghanistan raised the possibility that the US combat troops could stay in Afghanistan after the 2004 deadline. The deadline has been set by the White House for their withdrawal.


The ambassador, Ryan C. Crocker reported that if the Afghan government wanted American troops to stay longer, the withdrawal could be slowed. But, such a decision has not made yet.


In June, President Obama said that  American troop withdrawals would begin the following month, December 2011, with 10,000 of the roughly 101,000 American troops. Then, an additional 23,000 troops would be withdrawn by the summer of 2012. According to NATO official, 4,000 of the 10,000 have already left.

11/24/11 Egypt Orders 3 American Students Released, and Journalist Is Assaulted in Detention (New York Times)

Egypt Orders 3 American Students Released, and Journalist Is Assaulted in Detention

By ANTHONY SHADID

Published: November 24, 2011

Egyptian court ordered the release of three American students. The students were arrested during their protests in Cairo's landmark Tahrir Square. A prominent documentary filmmaker, Jehane Noujaim, was also arrested. The students had been during a semester-long study abroad program in the American University in Cairo.

However, that the students had been freed is unclear because there was no immediate confirmation. Interior Ministry officials said that the students just need to be processed through Egypt's court system.

The Egyptian-American journalist, Mona Eltahawy, who was arrested, was freed. However, she was so badly treated:

On her Twitter account, she wrote, “5 or 6 surrounded me, groped and prodded my breasts, grabbed my genital area and I lost count how many hands tried to get into my trousers.” She said the beating and assault stopped once she was transferred from the police to the military, though military interrogators kept her blindfolded for hours. (New York Times)

Eltahawy's accusation, according to a military official in Cairo, Col. Islam Jaffar:

“She complained to me that she was beaten and sexually assaulted by Central Security Forces,” Mr. Jaffar said. “But what did she expect would happen? She was in the middle of the streets, in the midst of clashes, with no press card or form of ID. The press center had not given her permission to be in the streets as a journalist. The country is in a sensitive situation. We are under threat. She could be a spy for all we know.”

The group's Middle East and North Africa program coordinator claimed:

“Filming is not a crime, and authorities must release Noujaim immediately,Tte military and the police must stop using physical violence and detention to silence or intimidate journalists.”

Occupy Wall Street

Not knowing is sometimes disadvantage. It is not right to have an opinion without knowing. Well...it's may be right, I mean 'not wrong,' but it is not cool.

I didn't know much about the protest, Occupy Wall Street. One group in my school is protesting the decision of increasing tuition. One of my friends told me today that SUNY decided to increase tuition. SUNY stands for State University of New York. It is a group of public colleges and universities in New York. I heard that the tuition increases by $300 for in-state students and $600 for out-state students, and in four years, the tuition is going to be its 160%.

I am not sure where the source from, and I do not know what increasing to 160% is referring to. Actually, I was confused when the friend was telling me, but, at least, the tuition increases.

Occupy Wall Street protests have multiple reasons to protest and purposes to pursue. Based on one of the reasons, the school protesting group is protesting against SUNY: increase in tuition.

I met my other friends and talked about this. Our opinion is that it is good that schools repair buildings that should be repaired. However, we do not want the school to make new things for the future students with our money. I mean that if the school wants to cut its budget, it has to try so. It is not supposed to spend more money for new stuffs. It is supposed to provide good educations and to make the environment where more people can study. This is our opinion.

We do not pay for school to build new stuffs. Broken things have to be fixed, but the school does not need new things that do not equally help its students.

Schools now are cutting budgets for the stuffs that students want and spending money to things that students do not necessary need. This is not 'saving,' but is just 'shifting' money. My school is saving paper, water, electricity, etc, and to offer us more money? because it wants to have new, clear stuffs? because it wants to just get more money? No Way! Why is a public school benefiting? Why is it increasing its tuition? because of inflation? No. To cut budgets. Is it really cutting budgets? Maybe. BUT it is spending as well...to have things that students are not desiring.

Actually, what motivated me to think about this is because of my feeling that I don't want to pay more money and that I don't want the tuition to increase. But, this became a good opportunity for me to start focusing on such protests. I have been unlikely focusing on motions of individuals or relatively small actors. Thanks, Occupy Wall Street.

11/16/11 A U.S. Marine Base for Australia Irritates China (New York Times)

A U.S. Marine Base for Australia Irritates China

By JACKIE CALMES

Published: November 16, 2011

President Obama announced that the U.S. planned to deploy 2,500 Marines in Australia to shore up alliances in Asia. However, China accused Mr. Obama of escalating military tensions in the region.

The agreement with Australia has been long discussed since the end of Vietnam War. 

"The president said the moves were not intended to isolate China, but they were an unmistakable sign that the United States had grown warier of its intentions." (New York Times)

"While the new military commitment is relatively modest, Mr. Obama has promoted it as the cornerstone of a strategy to confront more directly the challenge posed by China’s rapid advance as an economic and military power. He has also made some progress in creating a new Pacific free-trade zone that would give America’s free-market allies in the region some trading privileges that do not immediately extend to China." (New York Times)

The U.S. have some bases in the North Pacific area but does not have those in Southern area. Therefore, having a base in Australia, South Pacific, would be great for the U.S. The U.S. is not going to build a base of its own in Australia, but is planning to use Australian military facilities instead.

10/24/11 U.S. and North Korea Begin Groundwork for Talks (New York TImes)

U.S. and North Korea Begin Groundwork for Talks

By NICK CUMMING-BRUCE and CHOE SANG-HUN

Published: October 24, 2011

In Geneva, the United States start two-days talks. American officials have said that they will test the ground for a possible resumption of wider discussion of the nuclear program of North Korea. 

At the end of the first day, in a statement, Mr. Bosworth said:

"I think we are moving in a positive direction. We have narrowed some differences, but we still have differences that we have to resolve.

He described the discussion as 'very positive,' and added: 

"I am neither optimistic nor pessimistic but as I said, we have made some progress. But we have issues still to resolve, ans we will work hard to do that."

 Last week, American officials said that the discussion is to determine whether North Korea is serious about the problem.


In September 2005, North Korea agreed to abandon its nuclear programs in exchange for economic support and diplomatic incentives from other parties to the six-party talks, including China, Japan, Russia, and South Korea as well as North Korea and the United States.
-----terrible levels of malnutrition children
-----6,000,000 North Koreans needing food aid


"Nearly half of North Korean children were chronically malnourished and the situation has been getting worse." (New York Times)

11/11/11 Premier Says Japan Will Join Pacific Free Trade Talks (New York Times)

Premier Says Japan Will Join Pacific Free Trade Talks

By HIROKO TABUCHI

Published: November 11, 2011

Prime Minister of Japan, Yoshihiko Noda said that Japan is going to join the talks of the pacific free trade called TPP, which stands for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Joining TPP is concerned to be encouraging exporters who seek new markets but to endanger farmers: the farmers are very angry about this.

The Asia-Pacific economic summit meeting will be held this weekend in Hawaii, and President Obama is going to promote the far-reaching TPP regional trade agreement. The aim of the agreement is to cut import tariffs to zero. Nine governments are joining the discussion.

Mr. Noda strongly claimed that global competition eventually makes a domestic economy, including a more competitive agricultural sector, stronger.

The United States has been buying more from Japan than it has been selling to Japan. Therefore, the United States has pushed for better access to Japanese markets. One concern for the US is that Tokyo's participation may complicate talks if Japanese government is unable, or unwilling, to commit to slashing some tariffs.


The pact for Japan means lower tariffs that encourage some imports and exports. Of course, the effect reaches to highly protected domestic sectors like farming.


Japan is now just entered the negotiations, but there is already protesting campaign.


Japan's farmers have been protected under very high tariffs, such as 777.7 percent levy on imported rice. Those farmers are protesting the government against the pact.


The protesting campaign is supported by the public, while free trade proponents argue that consumers benefit from cheaper imports, such as of food.


Even members in Noda's Domestic Party strongly oppose Noda's policy, and the party split, dooming his government.


Exporters claim that without the pact, Japan risks being left behind in the world economy. They believe that joining the pact create a better condition for Japan against regional rivals like South Korea.


South Korea already has a free trade agreement with European Union and the United States, whereas Japan doesn't.


Calls for free trade has been discussed at a very high pitch.


Yoko Ishikura, a professor of global business at Keio University in Tokyo, said at a recent economic forum that the government had:

"not done a great hob of explaining the benefits, and the debate has become emotionally charged."

and she added,

"we need to ask, 'what if Japan doesn't join?' That could be the bigger risk."

Thus, there are many supporters for the pact as well as many protesters against the pact. One problem claimed in Japan is that the government is not providing enough information to the public. Many people do not know what would happen if Japan joins the pact. Another problem is that Mr. Noda very quickly decided to join the pact. Whether Japan joins the pact has long been discussed for several years, but a large earthquake happened in March this year, and the government suspended the discussion for a while in order to focus on the damage of the earthquake.  

---------------------

The Governments Attending: 9 + Japan = 10 governments.

• Australia (20 November 2008)
• Brunei (28 May 2006)
• Chile (28 May 2008)
• Japan (11 November 2011)
• Malaysia (October 2010)
• New Zealand (28 May 2006)
• Peru (November 2008)
• Singapore (28 May 2006)
• United States (February 2008)
• Vietnam (November 2008)

Source: Wikipedia "Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership"


You may find more details here, Office of the United States Trade Representative, Trans Pacific Partners

Here's my reaction.

11/5/11 Leaving Iraq, U.S. Fears New Surge of Qaeda Terror (New York Times)

Leaving Iraq, U.S. Fears New Surge of Qaeda Terror

By MICHAEL S. SCHMIDT and ERIC SCHMITT

Published: November 5, 2011

As you may know, the United States has decided to withdraw its troops from Iraq by the end of this year. According to the article, senior American and Iraqi officials are expressing growing concern that Al -Qaeda's offshoot.

"Qaeda allies in North Africa, Somalia and Yemen are seeking to assert more influence after the death of Osama bin Laden and the diminished role of Al Qaeda’s remaining top leadership in Pakistan." (New York Times)

Due to the Death of Osama bin Laden, the organization was certainly weakened and is not likely to regain its prior strength. However, American and Iraqi analysts said "the Al-Qaeda franchise is shifting its tactics and strategies to exploit gaps left by the departing American troops and to try to reignite sectarian violence in the country." (New York Times)

Iraqi analysts express fears that:

ties between Al Qaeda and members of the former ruling Baath Party may be re-forming. “The government is afraid from an alliance between Qaeda and Baath precisely in this time, after the American withdrawal from Iraq,” said Ehssan al-Shemari, a political science professor at Baghdad University. “The security issue is the biggest challenge for the government in the next stage.” (New York Times)

According to General Buchanan,

there are 800 to 1,000 people in Al Qaeda’s Iraq network, “from terrorists involved in operations to media to finance to fighters.” A document released by the military in July 2010 said Al Qaeda had about 200 “hard core” fighters in Iraq. The weak Iraqi economy is providing a large pool of young and vulnerable recruits, analysts say. (New York Times)

11/3/11 U.S. Report Accuses China and Russia of Internet Spying (New York Times)

U.S. Report Accuses China and Russia of Internet Spying

By THOM SHANKER

Published: November 3, 2011

As the title shows, the Untied States accuses China and Russia of internet spying.

According to the new intelligence assessment, "Both China and Russia hide behind the anonymity of proxy computers and dispersed routers in third countries to pilfer proprietary corporate information to accelerate their own economic development." (New York Times)

The report also warns that some allies of the United States are also spying the U.S. information of technology, economy, etc.

The information is assumed to by spied not only bu countries, but also by foreign companies and individuals.

The report was concluded with some recommendations, such as how openly information should be accessible for companies.

10/26/11 Panetta Says North Korea Remains a ‘Serious Threat’ (New York Times)

Panetta Says North Korea Remains a ‘Serious Threat’

By ELISABETH BUMILLER

Published: October 26, 2011

In Seoul, Korea, “Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta on Wednesday called North Korea a “serious threat” and told American and South Korean troops here that they were on the “front line” of defense.” (New York Times)

The reason why Leon Panetta went to South Korea was to consult with South Korean leaders on “how to respond to North Korean provocations without escalating the long-running conflict.” (New York Times)

By his trip, Leon Panetta’s purpose was to warm North Korea and China that the United Stated won’t reduce its force in Front Line even with defense budget cut coming.

Panetta wrote “Working together, our militaries will continue to deter North Korean aggression and stand prepared to defeat the North should it ever force war upon us” in an opinion article published on Wednesday in Chosun Ilbo, South Korea’s largest newspaper. (New York Times)