Iraq

-90% of oil out of all countries.

-There are 26,000,000 people that live in Iraq.

-Single nation country that was overthrown by the British.

-1958: British King was overthrown by Iraqi people.

-1963: CIA took over Iraqi president because they were too close to the USSR.

-Saddam Hussein made a conference to expand his party.

-Saddam entered war with Iran in 1980.

-Brutal tactics used in the war like chemical weapons.

-Ba'ath Party- Ruled from 1963-2003.

-Iraq supported by France, USSR, and the U.S.

Iran: 1979

-Citizens are Shi'ite Muslims.

-Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi had sufficient income to do government projects from the oil industry.

-No desire to help the people of the country.

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini- Inspired and led protests.

-Took over the Shah and promised a democratic government.

Ayatollah- Member of Iran's leading sect, Shia Muslims who make up 10% of Muslim population.

-Believed in the Quran and the government should respect religion.

SAVAK- Barbaric secret police that assassinated many ayatollahs.

-The Shah was very wealthy and spent money on luxuries.

-Khomeini got people to protest against the Shah even after his exile.

Iranian Hostage Crisis- US embassy held hostage for more than a year.

-The Shah said US was "Great Satan" and quit working with them.

-The Shah died of cancer.

Equal and Opposite

The oceans are vast.
Blue with their shimmering lights.
Reflections can be seen.
There is always a new image.
Every one is different.
Unique as can be.
This is the way everything should be.
There is no right or wrong.
But, instead a right for everything.
Everything is different and unique in fashion.
If only everyone could see it with their eyes.
Maybe they would notice.

Painted Skies

Sunny skies.
Oh so blue.
Each time I look up I see the clouds.
They are like cotton painted with a brush.
The true artist within is at work.
Making a masterpiece within the skies.
Everywhere I look there is a new piece.
It makes me smile to know there is always something new.
I will never get bored when looking around.
I will always know there is something out there.

School of the Americas

School of the Americas (SOA)- A U.S. based military training center for Latin American military forces.

-SOA has trained over 60,000 Latin American soldiers from 22 countries.

-From conventional infantry combat, counterinsurgency, and special warfare, counter-narcotic operations, and military intelligence.

-To protect against the USSR during the Cold War.

-Many trainees returned home and committed acts of violence.

SOA- Established in 1946 as the U.S. Army Carribean Training Center in Panama.

-Assist in professional action for the forces.

-In 1984, under the terms of the 1977 Panama Canal treaties, the school was transferred to Fort Benning.

February 5, 1997- U.S. House of Representatives said the SOA had some of the worst human rights issues.

-The initial bill to end the SOA was defeated, as well the second in 1998. 

1999- Congress voted 230-197 to cut approximately 10% of the SOA funds.

Diamonds

Diamonds.

The jewel for the wealthy.

It's shimmer is what attracts.

It is a given whenever choosing jewelry.

They are expensive, even when very tiny.

But, most people don't know their background.

Where they come from, or who mines them.

It's a struggle for those who do.

Payment is low, as well hard labor.

Out for hours on end trying to find one.

It is their only hope to come upon one.

Because they may get rewarded.

So be lucky for who you are,

and think about tiny things you usually don't notice.

Because they may be the biggest.

Blood Diamonds in Sierra Leone

            Diamonds in Sierra Leone were mostly used in the war for money to buy military equipment. These are widely known as a blood diamonds. They can be defined as, a diamond traded by rebellions against the government for war needs. During the war in Sierra Leone, vast amounts of diamonds were mined around the country by the rebels. They would use children and others to mine them and then later trade them for large amounts of money. This money would then be used to buy military equipment such as guns, ammunition, clothing, shoes, and medical aid. The rebels used this to their advantage to attack the government to take over. The mass amounts of murder and blood involved can explain the meaning of a "blood diamond", since they were used to facilitate in killing people. Many years after the war, many Africans would wear these diamonds as signs of wealth and "bling". Sierra Leone was such a rundown and poor country after the war, so people would wear "bling" or diamonds to look fancy and fake. Fake in context of looking different because of the rarity of being wealthy. It think that the diamond trade isn't fair to all the people involved because of the treatment they get. Workers work in harsh environments with very little clothing, or none at all. Also they receive very little pay, while the owners are very wealthy and are the only ones benefiting from it, while the country suffers from poverty.

NSA Surveillance Programs

Metadata- Number making and receiving to and from a phone. Also how long a call lasts.

-Phone companies such as AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile give metadata information to the NSA.

PRISM- Cooperation of social media networks collecting information about users.

-Facebook revealed between 18,000-19,000 user data in 2012 to the NSA.

XKEYSCORE- Software made by the NSA that can track any data from social media.

-The NSA selects specific targets outside the U.S. or "suspected terrorists".

Foreign Intelligence Surveilence Act (FISA)- Prohibits recording of domestic communications.

FISA Court- Provides warrants to the NSA to carry out spying on U.S. citizens.

-37,664 numbers and emails tapped from 2001-2007.

-8% were domestic: 2,612 numbers and 406 emails.

-Used to find terrorists and illegal immigrants.

-The NSA needs 51% confidence to get information from someone.

-These acts committed by the NSA are against the 4th amendment.

-The NSA can keep the information for up to 5 years.