Blog 9: Israel

Growing numbers of people are being killed, tortured, maimed, and imprisoned in Israel. Israel has been getting away with daily war crimes because the world leaders, who should act, do nothing. Children in this area are losing their innocence and are enduring daily harshness. Families are being terrorized and children are being treated like adults. On Thursday, Israeli tanks, armored personnel carriers and soldiers invaded Gaza. These kinds of attacks occur often and for no specific reason at all. Innocent lives are being taken. Palestinians live in a virtual war zone.

War crimes are being committed pretty much every day and Israel and no one does anything about it. Innocent civilians are often caught in an endless cycle of terror and anti-terror crackdowns. These small-scale conflicts that are occurring in Israel and Palestine are creating new problems for global order. Institutions like the United Nations have the power to go into Israel and stop the random attacks but they do not. This causes global conflict because no one knows why Israel is able to get away with such acts of war with no punishment or consequence.

Ashley Moore

11/08/2013

Blog 9

12:03 pm

http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article42950.html

Blog 8: Israel attacks

A large explosion took place this week at a Syrian missile base near the Mediterranean coast. They claim that Israel is responsible for the attack but the Israeli government has declined to comment. If Israel is found to be responsible for the explosion at the Syrian missile base, it would be the fifth attack since January. Israel denies any responsibility for the attacks, but still warns that if air defense systems are delivered to Hezbollah, that they will take action. Over the past year, Israel has increased the amount of flights over Lebanon because they are concerned that Hezbollah is trying to gain additional advanced weapons. Israel was made aware of Hezbollah’s attempts to gain new weapons by the United Nations diplomatic sources.  When Israel flies over Lebanon, it is a breach of international law and is regularly protested by the United Nations and the Lebanese government; however, Israel says that the flights are necessary until Hezbollah is no longer a threat.

This conflict is part of the arms race. The arms race is where countries compete with each other by acquiring or inventing new weapons that are stronger/ more deadly than any of the weapons that other countries have. The United Nations tries to control dangerous interactions between countries. Israel feels that flying over Lebanon will keep Hezbollah from obtaining new weapons and competing in the arms race. Israel and Hezbollah have had previous conflicts and if Hezbollah receives greater weapons, the conflict may escalate.

Ashley Moore

11/01/13

11:40 am

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Security-Watch/2013/1031/Israel-blamed-for-airstrikes-at-Syrian-missile-base-video

Blog 7 : Indian and Pakistani Conflict

Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged gunfire and mortar rounds over the territorial lines dividing the two countries. At least 12 people have been injured including innocent women and children. Both sides, India and Pakistan, blame each other for the escalation in the conflict. Each of the countries is nuclear-armed and has a very long history for always having animosity. A retired Indian diplomat feels that the violence and the rising tensions between the two countries could be an attempt to draw international attention to the conflict. There has been an increase in cross-border attacks in both countries. The latest violence was between India and Pakistan in the Jammu and Kashmir region along the Indian and Pakistani border. There were reports of gunfire at a dozen of the posts along the border and was a violation of the cease-fire. In 1948, the cease-fire line was created to split control over the region and is now called the “line of control”. An estimated 68,000 people have been killed in this conflict.

With each country being nuclear-armed, this conflict is a huge social problem not only for India and Pakistan, but is an international social problem. As of now, the two countries are only using small arms in the conflict but it has potential to reach a point where weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and nuclear arms could be used. This is an issue of state terror because it involves a cycle of revolutionary terror between two countries. This terror, has stated by a retired Indian diplomat, may be an attempt to grab headlines and command attention. That is the power of terror. Innocent lives may be lost in order to gain international attention to a pressing issue in a country.

Ashley Moore

Blog 7

10/25/2013

11:53 am

http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2013/10/25/kashmir-tensionsriseasindiapakistanexchangegunfireoverborder.html

Blog 6: Taliban

Taliban fighters launched an attack on a convoy of vehicles in Eastern Kabul Friday evening. First, a car bomb that was detonated by a suicide bomber took place, followed by gunfire near an international compound. This was the first major attack near the capital since July. The actual target of the attack was Green Village, a residence for military contractors and other international staff. The car bomb that was detonated in front of Green Village, the international compound, destroyed two or three vehicles belonging to foreign forces. There is some dispute about rather or not the attack took place within Green Village or just “around” Green Village. The Green Village was also put under attack last year by the same forces.

Suicide bombers are becoming more common in order to gain political attention to a certain issue. Suicide bombers either place a bomb into a car or even strap the bomb to their body to detonate in a crowded place. Radicals, such as the Taliban, typically only use suicide bombers; however, they are becoming more common. International compounds are a great place for the Taliban, or other radical groups to gain International attention. The Taliban are “students” who strictly study the Qu’ran. Over the centuries, the Taliban have been tolerant of religious and social diversity; however, the Islamic fundamentalism has grown to be more political causing several disputes.

 Ashley Moore

10/18/13

11:25 am

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/18/us-afghanistan-attack-idUSBRE99H0GX20131018

Blog 5: Libya

A car bomb exploded outside a building in the Eastern Libyan city of Benghazi that houses Swedish and Finnish consulates badly damaging the building but no casualties were reported. The bombing resulted in a reflection of the weakness of the central government in the North African nation as Islamic militant groups run rampant. Swedish and Finnish consulates are a part of the few diplomatic posts still operating in Benghazi. A Libyan security official stated that the bomb was detonated by a remote control that was in an upscale neighborhood in Benghazi. The consulates at the diplomatic posts perform functions such as issuing visas and helping with citizen services. Foreign diplomats have been targeted several times because of Libya’s constant instability.

Car bombs are a new, severe threat that has been taking place all over the world. National terror plays a major role in this. Immigrants go to other places all over the world to detonate car bombs or even “suicide bombs” to draw attention to the cause they are trying to promote or to their religion. Suicide bombers sacrifice their lives for their beliefs. Many foreigners are targeted because of their beliefs or their actions in the other nations.

Ashley Moore

10/11/13

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/10/11/libya-car-bomb-swedish-consulate-benghazi/2964827/

11:18 am 

Egyptian Terror

In Egypt on Friday, at least four people died (Brotherhood Supporters) in a clash between two neighborhoods in Cairo to reinstate Mursi. An Egyptian army vehicle fired live rounds into the crowd of the Brotherhood supporters who were trying to enter Cairo’s Tahrir Square. Riot police were told to fire tear gas into the crowd to cause them to fall back from reaching the presidential palace. The Brotherhood used to be very popular in 2011 but after Mursi’s rule they became very unpopular. Egypt has suffered a lot of political and economic turmoil since Mursi was overthrown. Friday’s violence was due to Mursi supporters trying to enter Tahrir Square. Also on Friday, the Salafi Jihadi militant group stated that any Bedouin leader who cooperated with Egyptian authorities would be targeted.

Fear of terror has spread around the world. The power of terror is to command attention to an issue and this has successfully been done here. State terror is becoming a pressing issue in Egypt due to opposing rulers and states because the different supporters go after each other causing clashes as what happened Friday. Innocent people are dying because of the political and economic turmoil from different leaders. It may become even more dangerous in Egypt as the economy and politics become worse with the new leader. Suicide bombers may become an issue.

Ashley Moore

10/4/2013

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/04/us-egypt-protests-idUSBRE9930HV20131004

4:42 pm