Guantanamo Bay, Human Rights, and American Empire

Using the notes from the documentsyou viewed in class, respond to the following statement. Make sure your work includes a thesis statement and ample proof!

The Guantanamo Bay U.S. Nacy detention camps are a violation of human rights.

Discuss...

American Intervention in Latin America

In class, students presented their brief reports about American Intervention in Latin America in the 20th Century. The questions we answered in class were the following:

•What happened?(Knowledge)
•Why did the U.S. intervene? (Comprehension)
•How did the intervention hurt/help democracy/freedom?(analysis
•How did the intevention serve American interests?(evaluation)

Discuss the preceding question: •How did the intevention serve American interests?(evaluation) Try to develop new questions about America's role in Latin America and our committment to freedom and democracy in the region. Cite facts from the case studies. A response that does not directly cite facts from at least two case studies will not be read and is not an effective response.

John McCain and the Presidency

John McCain will be the Republican candidate for president of the United States this year. Several weeks ago a comic, yet academically interesting, debate emerged about whether McCain is eligible to be President of the United States. He was born in 1936 within the Panama Canal Zone while his father, a Navy officer, was stationed in that American colony/territory. The U.S. Constitution says one thing, but the U.S. code say another! Although the conversation is academic, it is worth thinking about...

Is John McCain eligible to be President?

Respond to your peers comments, think about American colonialism, and the current opinions about John McCain. If you find any good sources on this topic, please feel free to share them!

Here is a link to the documents we saw in class today:

John McCain Docs

Latin America: The Lost Continent

Today we viewed several photos of Latin America from my personal collection. The countries represented were Honduras, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Peru. Many people had some idea of where the photos were generally from. Our work was a good introduction to imagining Latin America and thinking about it as a "lost" continent. We also spoke at length about the idea of the "lost" continent. In our blog today reflect on the term "lost" continent.

What are your thoughts about today's lesson?

Why is Latin America a lost continent?

Below is a link to interview in case you want to read more:

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/latin_america/jan-june04/summit_1-13.html

Final Reflection on the MIddle East Unit

After completing our Middle East projects, we had a vibrant discussion regarding what the U.S. should do in the Middle East. A-block's discussion focused on the role of oil in our relationship with the middle east and B Block focused on the role of the U.S. in world affairs. Discuss the question below by responding, questioning, and critiquing each other's comments.

Final Reflection:

What should the U.S. do in the Middle East?

What leads you to believe this is the best option?

What are your concerns, worries, or thoughts?

Post at least three times today by 10 p.m.

Bush's War:From 9/11 to War with Iraq

We spent much of class today learning about the different players in Bush's cabinet: Rumsfeld, Rice, Wolfowitz, Powell, Tenet. These advisors to President George W. Bush all had various ideas about what should be done to respond to Al-Qaeda(a worldwide terrorist organization based in Afghanistan) and Osama bin Laden(a Saudi Arabian, it's leader and co-founder) who are accused of responsibility for the 9/11 attack. Very early on its clear that some of these same advisors had their sights set on implicating, or involving, Iraq and President Saddam Hussein in the new "global war on terror." The plot is well-documented in the film and website: Bush's War. Here is the link.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/bushswar/

Please investigate the website and share something NEW that you learn from this site regarding the tragic turn from fighting Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan to going after Saddam Hussein in Iraq. Summarize what you learned from a photo, event, quote, video clip, interview. Be very specific in what you learn by using quotes, share the web link, and share your thoughts. 

Try using this question to guide your search of this website:

Why did the U.S. start out trying to bring Osama bin Laden to justice after 9/11 by invading Afghanistan, then in 2003 invading Saddam Hussein's Iraq in spite of the fact that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11?

Saudia Arabia

Saudi Arabia is a country in the heart of the Middle East. The King is friendly to the United States, but some of its people are hostile to the U.S. The most notorious Saudi is Osama Bin Laden: the accused ringleader of al-Qaeda and a supporter of the 9/11 attacks. We spent much time today looking at the basic elements of Saudi Arabia-its history, economy, politics, culture, religion, and relationship to the United States.

Read one or two of the excerpts from Osama Bin Laden's interview in May 1998(Handout 2). Once you read the excerpt think and answer the following question: Why is Osama Bin Laden so angry at the U.S.? Is he justified in his grievances? Do American actions in Saudi Arabia warrant a violent response? What conditions or problems in Saudi Arabia might lead Osama bin Laden to recruit supporters and sympathizers?

Respond to others in the blog and discuss this controversial topic with your peers?

Here is the link to full interview transcript:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/binladen/who/interview.html

Also note there is a picture of a few troops guarding me and MLC students in Egypt. Maybe this picture gives us a clue about Osama bin Laden, Saudi Arabia's(and Egypt's), and 9/11.