Radical Islamic Groups - An exploration into the history and future of a tumultuous relationship

In the years after World War I the Ottoman Empire was split into multiple different countries.  During the split European powers did not consider the conflicted religious views of each new country.  The area's claim to fame is oil.  It is estimated that 80% of the world's oil comes from the region.  A formation of terrorism movements came about in the 1960s when Sunni and Shiite Muslims wanted to remove Western influence in their countries.  After the 1979 invasion of Afghanistan, religious groups such as Hezbollah and the Egyptian Islamic Jihad formed. Then after the cold war a few countries had their governments fall.  During the tumble the people were given advanced weaponry.  The same weapons are being used today.

    A few of the most notable Islamic terrorist groups include:

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS, ISIL or the Islamic State)

 Salafi Jihadist Militant Group that follows Islamic Fundamentalist, Wahhabi doctrine of Sunni Islam

Responsible for:

• Brussels Attack (2016)

• San Bernardino Shooting (2015)

• Paris Attacks (2015), & Garland

• Texas Shooting (2015) 

ISIS/ISIL Flag

Boko Haram

Jihadist group based out of Northeastern Nigeria, Chad, and Northern Cameroon

Pledged allegiance to ISIS/ISIL (March 2015) 

Responsible for:

• Northern Nigeria Attacks (January 2014)

• Kano, Nigeria Attacks (December 2015)

Boko Haram Flag

Al-Qaeda (the Base)

A militant Sunni Islamist global organization 

Responsible for:

• February 26, 1993 World Trade Center attack

• 1998 U.S Embassy Bombings

•  September 11, 2001 Attacks

•  2002 Bali Bombings

al-Qaeda Flag

Former Leader Osama Bin Laden

 Solutions for defeated ISIS vary from country to country.  The United States and Russia use airstrikes.  The U.S. also cuts of supplies and aid.  In defeated these groups the U.S. collects a lot intelligence in order to stop attacks before they happen.

Documentaries on Islamic Terrorist Groups:

The rise of ISIS 

The War against Boko Haram

War Against Terror - AL Qaeda 

For more information on Islamic terrorist groups

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/03/what-isis-really-wants/384980/ 

http://www.opec.org/opec_web/en/index.htm  

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/al-qaeda-terrorism.html

http://www.nytimes.com/topic/organization/al-qaeda 

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13809501 

https://africacheck.org/factsheets/factsheet-explaining-nigerias-boko-haram-and-its-violent-insurgency/ 

http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/28/africa/nigeria-maiduguri-boko-haram/ 

Work Cited

DePetris, Daniel R. "The 5 Deadliest Terrorist Groups on the Planet." The National Interest. Center for National Interest, 16 Nov. 2014. Web. 22 May 2016. 

OPEC. "OPEC Countries." OPEC :. Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, 2016. Web. 22 May 2016. 

Abubakar, Aminu, and Brianna Duggan. "Boko Haram Attacks in Nigeria Kill 52." CNN. Cable News Network, 29 Dec. 2015. Web. 22 May 2016  

Washington Redskins Appeal To SCOTUS On Trademark And Seek To Tie Their Case To That Of The Slants

Unit 4
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20160426/04294334275/washington-redskins-appeal-to-scotus-trademark-seek-to-tie-their-case-to-that-slants.shtml

The Washington Redskins Official Logo

 

The Washington Redskins have been owning the National Football League headlines by signing big name free-agents and releasing the former number two overall pick in the draft, Robert Griffin III.   In a less appealing story the infamous redskins trademark has been cancelled.  This is due to a massive support of American Indians claiming the team name was disparaging to their people.  The team has since appealled to the United States Supreme Court.  They have "teamed up" with the Asian music group, The Slants.  The Slants have a similar case in that their name is disparaging.  The two groups are considered to be back by the 1st Amendment.

The Asian music group, The Slants

 

 The two groups are looking to be granted writ of certiorari.  This will allow for the highest court, the United States Supreme Court (SCOTUS) to review the case.  Judicial Philosophy could play an important role in the case.  It seems the case are constitutionally in favor of the Redskins and The Slants but it is in some moral gray area.  The death of Antonia Scalia is a key piece of information because he was a big proponent of the Constitution which would favor the Skins and Slants.  With only 8 justices a swing vote could be the difference between a final verdict and a tie. 

The current Supreme Court with the deceased Antonia Scalia

Mayor to Streamline City Bureaucracy in Attempt to Better Help the Homeless

Unit 4
http://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2016/04/11/mayor-to-streamline-city-bureaucracy-in-attempt-to-better-help-the-homeless.html

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has instituted a new plan to improve services for homeless people after a 90-day review.  An new essential part of driving down the homeless rate is prevention.  Over the last 20 years New York homelessness has increased over 115%.  "Shelters used to be overwhelmingly single adults, now shelters are predominantly, people in shelters are predominantly families," de Blasio said.  The mayor launch a program called HomeStat which uses outreach teams to bring people in off the street, and reforming the conditions and improving security, responding to longstanding concerns about violence and illegal activity in shelters.  To improve accountability and track results the city's Department of Homeless Services and human resources administration will now answer to one commissioner.

A homeless man sleeping in the streets of New York city.

 The mayor of New, Bill de Blasio, is taking important steps to reduce homelessness in New York City.  Blasio is by passing all the red tape and launching programs.  He took the bureaucracy and speed it through the process in order to help the homeless New Yorkers now.  The new structure of the Department of Homeless Services and human resources administration, which is a civil service branch, will allow the information to all go to one place.  A few bureaucrats are upset and want extra steps to be taken.  They believe they need to hire someone who can represent the homeless in meetings.  Because of the Open Meeting Law (1976) the spokesperson could attend and speak on the conditions of the homeless.

Sonia Gonzalez, a homeless woman whose hoard of grocery and laundry is the scourge of the Upper West Side, drags carts up Tenth Avenue.

Rep. Greg Walden - 2nd Oregon - Republican

Rep. Greg Walden has occupied Oregon’s largest district since January 3rd, 1999. He was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives in 1988 and served in the House until 1995, when he was appointed to the Oregon State Senate to fill a vacancy.  Walden served on Bob Dole’s presidential campaign as Oregon state chairman. In November 2014, Walden’s House Republican colleagues unanimously re elected him to serve as chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee.  Walden was appointed as the chairman of the House Majority Transition Committee.  Also served on the Energy and Commerce committee.  Walden has also worked hard to ensure that Oregon service members and veterans receive the benefits they have earned.                                          

 Bill #1 H.R. 4528: ENCRYPT Act of 2016

Walden is for this bill.  In his tech savvy district, Walden would believe it is an invasion of privacy.  A strong proponent against this bill is Silicon Valley, home to some of the largest technology companies, and its only just across the border from Oregon.  Encrypted phones allow for privacy.  States should be allowed access into the privacy of private companies.

Sponsor of the ENCRYPT Act of 2016

 

California's 33rd congressional district Ted Lieu

Bill#2 H.R. Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act of 2016 

Walden is for this bill.  It would reduce Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) spending from $17 million to $6 million.  The bill will also allow the FAA to focus on U.S. Air Transportation safety.  It also saves taxpayer's money.  Although the bill is sponsored by a Republican, the biggest democratic supporter is fellow Oregon Representative Peter DeFazio. 

Sponsor of the Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act of 2016 Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district Bill Shuster

Bill#3 H.R. Sentencing Reform Act of 2015 

Walden is for this bill.  Reducing the sentences for drug related crimes is a positive idea.  Prison overcrowding is a big issue in this country.  We as a country are running out of space to put criminals.  Instead of giving early releases to rapist and child molesters, give minimum sentences and reduce sentences to drug-related criminals.  They should still keep up with their parole officers while also taking drug tests.  Citizens should not be put away for life because of drug-related crimes.

Sponsor of the Sentencing Reform Act of 2015 Virginia's 6th congressional district Bob Goodlatte

Gay Utah Senator’s Sneezing ‘Mini-Filibuster’ Kills Anti-Gay Amendment

Unit 4
http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/johnwright/watch_anti_gay_amendment_dies_on_utah_senate_floor_as_clock_strikes_midnight

District 2 Utah State Senator Jim Dabakis

In the spirit of March Madness, what District 2 Utah State Senator Jim Dabakis did was run out the clock.  Three minutes left in Utah's state legislative session and an anti-gay amendment was on the agenda.  The amendment, from anti-gay from LaVar Christensen, would have barred same-sex couples from being joint tenants for tax purposes.  This bill, Senate Bill 252, had already passed once but it needed the senators to agree with the new changes.  The new changes were instituted by Christensen.  When Senate President Wayne L. Niederhauser asked for the roll call vote, Dabakis stalled by clearing his throat, sneezing, fumbling his words and pondering his vote.  Realizing the stalling tactics, Niederhauser said "Passing, passing, go to the next one. C'mon, let's go."  But when the clerk called Niederhauser said "Aye, but we ran out of time. All right, we're done." Dabakis' mini filibuster worked. 

District 32 Utah state Senator LaVar Christensen

  The Utah state Senate was scheduled to vote on an anti-gay amendment this past Thursday.  This private bill was voted on before and passed.  District 32 Utah state Senator LaVar Christensen amended the bill and the changes needed to be voted on.  The majority leader District 9 Utah state Senator Wayne L. Niederhauser held a roll call vote.  Openly gay District 2 Utah state Senator Jim Dabaski made a desperate shot to not have this bill passed.  He showed a lot of courage to stand up and have a mini filibuster.  To bar same-sex couples from being joint-tenants for tax purposes when same-sex couples can is sickening.  This vote will do great things against the discrimination of the LGBT community.  Dabaski should be praised for his act of courage.

Anti-gay amendment filibuster

Illinois' ballot requirement for third parties struck down by federal judge

Unit 3
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/feb/29/us-judge-strikes-down-illinois-law-on-3rd-parties/

U.S. District Judge Andrea Woods

 U.S. District Judge Andrea Woods ruled that requirement that third parties must present a full slate of candidates in a district before any one of its candidates can be on the ballot to be unconstitutional.   This law stood for 84 years in the state of Illinois.  Woods permanently barred the state from enforcing the law.  Her ruling in Chicago stems from a civil lawsuit brought in 2012 by the Libertarian Party in Illinois.  With the law now struck down, more names and parties should appear on county ballots in the upcoming general election in November. "I think (her ruling) is clearly intended to send a message that these are fundamentally important rights,” said David Schoen, the plaintiffs attorney. “The little guys should not always get shut out by the Democrats and Republicans.” The ruling won’t directly impact current races for the U.S. Congress and president in part because the statewide and national ballots have been smaller and easier for third parties to fill.

A graphic of the few other political parties include the Independent American Party, Libertarian Party, Constitution Party, and the Green Party.

 A third party is a political party in opposition to the existing two major parties in a two-party system.  The two existing parties are the Democratic and Republican parties.  This ruling gives third party candidates an opportunity to be on ballots without having to have a entire slate of third party candidates.  It would be unlikely but we could see a party realignment where voters start voting for the third party instead of the major two parties.  With more and more names on the ballot its possible the candidates in the running could see votes taken away from them and used on third party candidates.  No longer will there be a two-party system in Illinois. The voting will not affect the national race but voting in local government will be changed forever.  This ruling will have a positive affect on Illinois voting. 

 

Motto of the Libertarian third party.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voters Tear Gassed in Uganda Amid Voting Delays

Unit 2
http://www.voanews.com/content/poll-stations-wait-for-ballots-late-to-open-in-uganda/3196056.html

Police in Kampala leave a polling place with empty ballot boxes, spilling many boxes onto the road as they hastily departed. E. Paulat/VOA 

 

Voters in Kampala, Uganda became outrage when public officials closed ballot boxes early on Thursday February 18th.  This caused police to fire tear gas into the crowds of outrage voters.  A journalist for VOA says police started firing when the crowd came close to the police lines.  The chaos ended when police stood down and the crowd dispersed.  The Ugandan electoral commission announced that "polling has started on time in various parts of the country" but noted delays in parts of the capital and in Wakiso District.  The statement said the commission expresses its regrets for the late delivery of polling materials to those locations. 15 million Ugandans have registered to vote in the elections.

Poll workers preparing for voters to come inside at Mulago polling station in Kampala, Uganda, Feb. 18, 2016. (J. Craig/VOA)

 

 

In Uganda register voters are strictly only allowed to vote for a president, parliament and local government seats.  There are no referendums on a voting ballot in Uganda.  Just like the 26th amendment in the U.S. the voting age is 18.  In Uganda the population is just under 40 million.  There is a significant number of citizens who are eligible voters while only 15 millions are register voters.  The current president has been in power for 30 years.  He actually faces a challenge of 7 different opponents this year.  It is public opinion that the voting system is rigged.  Social media played a large factor in the outrage.  If the closing of polls is happening in large cities, one can only think what happens in small villages.

Two police officers in riot gear talk as the line of angry voters in Kampala advances. E. Paulat/VOA