Slide 1: World Issues 120 Mr. Denton
Slide 2:  Foreign policy is a set of beliefs or guidelines that a countries develops as a means to deal with other countries. Ex. Human Rights  Domestic policy is how a country deals with its own internal issues.  What a country believes in for its own citizens will have an impact on how it deals with other countries.
Slide 3: 1. 3. 5. to maintain international peace and security to develop friendly relations among nations to cooperate in solving international problems and in promoting respect for human rights be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations 7.
Slide 4: 1.  the General Assembly Parliament of nations where all countries meet to discuss admitting new members or vote on UN budget 2.  the Security Council Maintains international peace and security. 3.  The Economic and Social Council responsible for overseeing humanitarian work of the organization 4.  the Trusteeship Council Assists territories in gaining self-government and independence 5.  the Secretariat Conducts the administrative work of the UN 6.  the International Court of Justice Located in the Netherlands it settles disputes between willing nations
Slide 5:  Membership  15 Council members  Five of these are permanent members  — China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States  The other 10 are elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms  Operations  Decisions of the Council require nine yes votes.  Except in votes on procedural questions, a decision cannot be taken if there is a no vote, or veto, by a permanent member.  When the Council considers a threat to international peace:  first explores ways to settle the dispute peacefully (settlement / mediation)  If fighting, the Council tries to secure a ceasefire. (peacekeeping)  enforce its decisions. (economic sanctions / arms embargo)  rare occasions, use "all necessary means," including collective military action
Slide 6:  a "parliament of nations”  Decisions on such key issues are decided by two-thirds majority:  international peace and security  admitting new members  the UN budget  Other matters are decided by simple majority.  In recent years, a special effort has been made to reach decisions through consensus, rather than by taking a formal vote.  The Assembly cannot force action by any State  its recommendations are an important indication of world opinion and represent the moral authority of the community of nations.
Slide 7:  carries out the substantive/administrative work as directed by the General Assembly, the Security Council and the other departments of the UN.  At its head is the Secretary-General, who provides overall administrative guidance.  consists of departments/offices with a total staff of some 7,500 under the regular budget, and a nearly equal number under special funding.
Slide 8:  The Problem:  Russia placing nuclear missiles in Cuba giving the Soviet Union first-strike capability on the US.  The Possible Solutions:  Air strikes  Ground Invasion of Cuba  Blockade of Ocean around Cuba (not favoured by US military) – CHOSEN COURSE OF ACTION  The Deal  Soviets remove missiles and agree never to bring them back  United States agrees to never invade Cuba  United States privately agrees to remove out-dated missiles from Turkey 6 months from the time of the agreement.  This part of the deal HAD TO remain secret.
Slide 9:  What is a Just War?  A conflict fought by a country for reasons that easily defended and in a manner which can easily be defended.  Pax Romana  war justified in bringing all groups under civilized central administration of Rome.  The Middle Ages  power moves to smaller kingdoms and nobles. War justified in defending small power bases. Catholic Church provides moral voice only  Philosophers build on old Greek ideas of universal laws  All men under natural law regardless of title  Only legitimate rulers can conduct war and must be for right reasons (Accomplish Good / Defeat Evil)
Slide 10:  Early Modern Era  Church declines in power as nation states arise  Leaders of sovereign nations equal  Problem – if all equal who settles disputes between them?  Law of Nations develops – nations must follow same natural laws as people. Early form of current international law  Concert of Europe  Balance of Power prevents major wars.  Allows Europe to stabilize and enforce its beliefs on the rest of the world  States not answerable to anyone but themselves  Only held accountable through treaties, accords, international agreements
Slide 11:  Collective Security  20th century approach to use international organizations  League of Nations  United Nations  Settle international conflicts in a forum  Protect collectively (everyone helps everyone)  Problems  Who defines aggression?  Getting members to act when others threatened  United States vs. Soviet Union  mutually assured destruction  End of Cold War  US only remaining superpower – alliances/collective security still needed?  Terrorism – not nation states/move across borders. Who is responsible/accountable?
Slide 12: Truman Doctrine Goal Approach Stop spread of communism Defensive -push enemy back -restore status quo Bush Doctrine Protect U.S. from external threats Offensive -attack enemy before they attack you -remove enemy and establish friendly democratic regime Poorly Defined -who is the enemy? (terrorists or countries) -what is considered to be a threat? Problems Slow -45 years to ultimately outlast USSR Indirect Costly -primarily done by fighting -financial burden of many through other countries simultaneous conflicts (Afghanistan, (Korea, Vietnam, Middle Iraq, Iran) East) -international reputation suffers
Slide 13:  1920 – Land formerly known as Mesopotamia is renamed Iraq and is given to Great Britain to govern by the League of Nations  1920-30’s - Iraq slowly gains more independence.    1939 - Iraq sets out to conquer Kuwait but at the last moment the king of Iraq dies in a car crash and the invasion was called off.    1958 - Iraqi monarchy overthrown and Iraq becomes an Islamic republic    1956 - the U.S. began sending technical and military assistance to Iraq.    1970’s - Iraq has been under military rule for 20 years unofficially by Saddam Hussein    1979 – Saddam Hussein officially takes control of Iraq  
Slide 14:  1980 – Iran/Iraq War begins    1988 – Iran/Iraq War ends with a mutually agreed upon cease-fire.  1990 – Iraq invades Kuwait    January 1991 U.S.-led coalition launched a UN-sanctioned massive attack on Iraq.    February 1991 – Iraq defeated and pushed out of Kuwait.    1991-1999 U.N. Led weapons inspections conducted in Iraq with varying degrees of co-operation from Iraqis.    1993 - former American president George Bush visits Kuwait and there is an alleged attempt on his life. President Clinton retaliated with a cruise missile attack on Iraq. T air strikes on Iraq that continue throughout 1999.    1998 - Britain and U.S launch Operation Desert Fox and begin series of about 100  
Slide 15:  1999 - UN Security Council voted to relieve sanctions against Iraq.    2000 – Iraq invited to attend Arab League summit.  2001 - Iraq accused of being behind the anthrax deaths of five Americans prompting Bush to push for weapons inspections.  2002 – Iraq is labeled by the Bush administration as part of the "axis of evil,"  January 2003 - Weapons inspector head Hans Blix reports that "Iraq hasn't come to terms yet with the world's demand that it give up its weapons, and has yet to cooperate fully in the search for them." in Iraq.  February 2003 - Blix admitted that no weapons of mass destruction had been found  March 2003 - Operation Iraqi Freedom made up of the United Stations and a Coalition of the Willing invade Iraq  May 2003 – Bush officially declares combat operations of Operation Iraqi Freedom over. “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!!”
Slide 16:  Justifiable Policy?  Impact of terrorism on US thinking  Role as world’s superpower  Role of US in UN  Pledged to work within UN to solve disputes  UN disagrees so US goes alone (unilateral)  Consequences for US action  UN weak?  Loss of reputation  UN response?  Sanctions again US/military action? (even possible?)  Issues with Security Council (veto)  UN funding
Slide 17:  Oil Would Fund Reconstruction  Repair costs to oil infrastructure drastically underestimated.  Oil tech needs massive updates/cost of sabotage a major issue  Iraq industrial base/utilities in terrible shape and need massive upgrades.  Iraqi Troops Would Help Keep the Peace  plan was to use some of Iraq’s 400,000 troops to aid the small invading force once Saddam was removed  faulty assumption — Iraqi troops would stick around to surrender  majority simply disappeared and some of those exsoldiers are now continuing to attack the American occupiers.
Slide 18:  Resistance Would Fade Quickly  The Pentagon anticipated a certain amount of postwar resistance — a small amount that wouldn't last long.  Reality:  thousands of American troops under almost constant attack by guerrillas  many of the fighters would be foreigners who regard the U.S. occupation of Iraq as a huge holy war.
Slide 19:  What event or issue inspired the cartoon?  Are there any real people in the cartoon? Who is portrayed in the cartoon?  Are there symbols in the cartoon? What are they and what do they represent? cartoon?  What is the artist’s opinion about the topic portrayed in the  Do you agree with the artist’s opinion? Why or why not?
Slide 20:  Most people think that military force may be used if a vital national interest is threatened.  What is a vital national interest?  Attack by a foreign country on your country/country of an ally  Disagreements over :  protecting precious commodities (oil? Water? Food?)  Situation is of no immediate threat to your country but could in the future. (US situation before WWII)  Human rights/humanitarian aid? (US required as the only superpower to intervene?)  How to use military force?  Unilateral action? (go it alone?)  only act with allies/United Nations?