Shelling and Air Strikes During a Ceasefire in the Syrian Civil War

The Syrian Civil War, a conflict between the Assad government and its rebels, has been ongoing since 2011. On Tuesday Feb. 27, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a five hour "humanitarian pause" in the Civil War in order to create a corridor at the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta to let trapped civilians leave the enclave. However, within a few minutes of when the ceasefire was supposed to start, there was reported artillery fire and shelling from the pro-Assad positions which led to many injuries and the death of a few people and children. After hearing this, the Syrian regime and their ally Russia continued to accuse the rebels for shelling of the humanitarian corridor. But Putin's original order wasn't clear about when the ceasefire would start, or how it would be enforced, which therefore may have led to confusion about his proposal. Previously, an attempt to have a 30 day ceasefire had also failed, as the UN did not support the idea.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/02/syria-war-eastern-ghouta-ceasefire-violations-kill-180227081259783.html

     Questions:
1. Why is the shelling of the humanitarian corridor immoral?
2. Should people have trusted Putin that there would be a peaceful exit of civilians?
3. What potential conflicts could arise from the disregard of presidential order?

President Xi Jin Ping's Bid For Long-Term Power

The Chinese Communist Party under President Xi Jinping intends to drop the two-year term limit put in place following the deaths of Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. It looks like President Xi is hoping to keep his position of power for many years, so it would be prudent to look to the past to predict his future policy. He has been famously adept at controlling dissent and using a cover of anti-corruption campaigns to suppress his political opponents. He has stressed and enforced the idea of a strong centralized government. His stances on Taiwan and Hong Kong in relation to Chinese sovereignty have been strict.

Read About It Here

Questions

1. American response to this topic has been surprisingly sparse. In fact, the entire world has been quiet about the Chinese Communist Party's intentions. Why has such an important event elicited only a mediocre response from the world stage?

2. Many find Xi Jinping's posturing to lengthen his stay in office frighteningly reminiscent of Mao Zedong's dictatorship. Should America be more concerned with this issue?

3. Based on Xi Jinping's past policy, what should be expected from a China under his "reign?" Will China's intention to lead the world in green energy production be affected by Xi's newfound power?

President Trump Proposes Arming Teachers As Solution To School Safety

After the school shooting that happened at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine's Day, President Donald Trump proposed an idea of giving teachers the ability to carry guns at the school. It would be called a "concealed carry" where teachers would go to special training making schools no longer a gun-free environment. This means that some teachers, who are adept to holding a gun, would be holstering one at all times. He backed up his statement by talking about assistant football coach, Aaron Feis, who took his own life to shield three students who were in the line of fire of the gunman. He stated, "If he had a firearm, he wouldn't had to run he would've shot and that would be the end of it." However, President Trump is up for debate and will go into further study with his idea. He wants to see both sides and has asked questions on what other ways we as a country could fix this situation.


Discussion Questions

1. If this proposal is taken in to actual consideration, do you think this will create a safer or more dangerous environment for students? Why or why not?

2. What is another solution that can ensure a safer campus for all schools?

3. After already having over a dozen of school shootings in 2018, do you think this is putting the second amendment at risk and should the US consider getting rid of it?

Parkland, Florida

 American Mass Shootings Statistics

This recent Valentine's Day, in Parkland, Florida, 17 people were killed and 15 were injured due to a lone gunman with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle. In the wake of this tragedy, high school students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School have been advocating for gun control through a movement dubbed #NeverAgain. This movement has sparked national debate, and has exposed many facts and statistics that show the underlying cause for the disproportionate amount of American mass shootings in comparison to the international sphere. In the 52 days of 2018 alone, there have been seven school shootings. Since 2000, there have been 188 school shootings. In 1994, Congress banned the manufacturing of AR-15s, but the bill expired in 2004, and failed in the Senate to be reinstated. As of today, only 18 states require consumers to go through a background check before purchasing a firearm. On average, there is about 89 guns for every 100 people in the United States. In comparison, the next highest ranked country is Yemen, with 55 guns for every 100 people. The NRA, or National Rifle Association, donated more than $54 million to fund candidates throughout elections in 2016. $30 million of that went to Donald Trump, our current president.

1. What can be done in legislation that will make mass shootings less common and less deadly?
2. Do you believe that civilians need guns for self-defense, and if so, do you believe that civilians should have access to semi-automatics such as the AR-15, and that use of this weapon is justified in the protection of oneself?
3. The NRA has immense financial power in the political sphere, resulting in inaction of congress for gun safety laws. What can be done to combat that, since politicians rely on money to campaign and run for office?

Syrian Bombardment Takes Its Deadliest Toll in Years

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On Tuesday, Assad's government bombarded the rebel-controlled suburb of eastern Ghouta, near
Damascus, with airstrikes. They killed more than 200 people, including civilian families and
children. Residents of this area believe civilians were targeted, as Ghouta is besieged and the
government has not allowed civilians to leave.

However, the government argues that there aren't many civilians in this Damascus suburb and
terrorist organizations which endanger Syrians reside there.

The UN wants to stop these attacks to defend the human rights of civilians.

Turkey has gotten involved by bombarding Afrin to give Syrian refugees in Turkey a safe place
in Syria to return to. Pro-government forces have rushed to assist Kurdish militias in keeping
Turkey out.

Questions:

1. How will Assad's assistance to the Kurds increase military engagements with other countries, if at all?
2. Do you believe Assad's government is justified in the attack on eastern Ghouta? Why or why not?
3. Should the UN get involved in the name of human rights?

Israeli Police Find Sufficent Evidence To Charge Prime Minister Netanyahu On Criminal Charges

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Israeli police stated there is “sufficient evidence,” to indict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on criminal charges for two corruption cases, having found evidence of him “accepting bribes, fraud and breach of trust.” The two cases are known as Case 1000 and Case 2000. In Case 1000, he is suspect of having received gifts from businessmen overseas totaling in approximately $280,000 from 2007 through 2018, focusing primarily on Netanyahu’s relationship with Arnon Milchan, Israeli billionaire and Hollywood producer. In Case 2000, police say Netanyahu discussed “bartering” with Arnon “Noni” Mozes, owner of one of Israel’s leading newspapers, Yedioth Ahronoth, for more favorable coverage. Police will pass the evidence to the attorney general who will decide on whether or not to indict Netanyahu. By Israeli law, he is only required to step down if he is convicted, which could take years; however, he could face public pressure to step down earlier. The US considers the police statements to be an internal Israeli matter.

Discussion Questions

1. Do you believe the US should be more concerned about this issue? Why or why not?
2. Do you think Netanyahu should step down without having to wait for the attorney general’s decision? Why or why not?
3. How do you think this will affect negotiations between Palestine and Israel?
   

Trump warns Israel about 'dangerous' settlements

Since the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 1967, more than 140 settlements have been created in those previously only Palestinian regions, in which now reside over 600,000 Jews. These settlements, though illegal under international law, are discreetly encouraged by the Israeli government, who is viewed as hoping these settlements will further Israeli plans for a takeover of those lands. However, they create a point of contention between Israel and the US. 

President Trump warns that these illegal settlements could greatly complicate Israel-Palestine peace talks, telling an Israeli newspaper: “We will be talking about settlements. The settlements are something that very much complicates and always have complicated making peace, so I think Israel has to be very careful with the settlements.”

While this is true, the President is certainly not the leading figure in the peace talks anymore, ever since his declaration that the US will be recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. This decision led the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas to say that he will no longer accept the US as a mediator.

But Palestine and Palestinian refugees rely heavily upon US financial aid, almost $125 million to a single organization alone, of which the US threatens to withhold $65m unless Palestine carries out “reforms."

1) It is fair or moral to withhold aid as a political strategy? How far can the bounds of politics go?

2) What could happen to the people living in the settlements if a two-state solution is reached? How will that problem be remedied?

3) Should Israel face repercussions for encouraging these illegal settlements?