www.thediplomats.org

DOES AMERICA LIFT THE TRADE SANCATIONS AGAINST IRAN?

admin — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The United States could lift the trade sanctions against Iran, but what would be the purpose of doing so? If the purpose is to negotiate with the regime, then there would have to be a point to that, as well.

The United States has tried to negotiate with the Iranian regime in the past with few results. In fact, negotiating has only served to prop up the regime. It is in America’s best interests for the regime to fall.

While sanctions alone may not topple the Iranian regime, they are an important part of America’s strategy. A bad Iranian economy creates unrest in that country that needs to be encouraged. Negotiating with the regime discourages dissenters.

The truth is that the Iranian regime is implacable. They don’t want to engage with the West because they don’t want Western influence changing Iran. The West is also a convenient scapegoat for regimes that routinely mismanage their economies the way the one in Iran does. The Iranian regime’s ultimate goal is to develop nuclear weapons. Any money they get from trade with the U.S. will be used for that purpose. The United States must prevent the Iranian regime from running out the clock.

HAS THE AMERICAN DOLLAR WEAKENED IN THE GLOBAL MARKET?

admin — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Since 1944 under the Brentwood Agreement, the U.S. dollar has been the reserve currency for the world. Having reserve currency status means the U.S. dollar would be the standard in international trade and business transactions. So, when an exporter in South Korea quotes a price for a distributor in France, both parties will use the U.S. dollar in their negotiation. Once the deal is complete, the distributor in France will most likely convert Euro dollars to U.S. dollars to pay the exporter in South Korea.

Trillions of dollars of transactions have taken place everyday around the world with the U.S. dollar being the desired currency for exchange. However, the decades of worldwide prestige and dominance may be on the decline for the U.S. dollar as its demand has weakened in the global markets.

The U.S. dollar in November 2000, was worth 1.1909 against the Euro dollar. As of September 2011, the U.S. dollar is only worth .7038 against the same Euro dollar. Most of the U.S. dollar decline comes from the strength of competing currencies, U.S. government debt and the ease of foreign currency exchange with online banking. Since very little hope is on the horizon to strengthen dollar stability and demand, further decline is likely to occur.

CONNECTIONS BETWEEN AMERICA AND THE EUROPEAN UNION.

admin — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

United States and European Union have had warm relationship throughout all these years which in many ways has been mutually beneficial for both regulatory institutions. The relationship consists of many points such as trade, energy, global security, and much more. The mutual points also include mutual assistance in energy efficiency and investment in both institutions. Last meeting that took place in Lisbon, Portugal in 2010 entrenched all these points and assured cooperation between two parties.
First of all, it is important to highlight the cooperation in terms of business and education of U.S. and EU. For many years now, both institutions have been especially interested in air transport, energy, and environmental policies. Air transport policy has been long in talks but it only took effect in 2007 where both institutions agreed to reduce many restrictions of Europe and U.S. which greatly benefitted businesses. Also, energy has been a vital topic for years now which resulted in both countries agreeing to work towards more efficiency of energy usage and more. In terms of Environmental policies, both institutions have annually agreed to cooperate in preserving the environment for better future.
In addition to business policies both countries have also focused on education and research. Hundreds of students from Europe and United States apply for study abroad. This resulted in many research cooperation including biochemical research and counterterrorism.

MILITARY TRAINING WITH PAKISTANI SECURITY FORCES.

admin — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

America has made some questionable decisions in the past with foreign affairs and it seems that the White House has failed to learn from the mistakes of others. To see what I am talking about you have to look no further than Pakistan. For those who do not know, Pakistan borders Afghanistan and controls the main seaport used to supply the United States war in Afghanistan. Without that port, the supply chain would be broken and the war effort would erode as quickly as the supplies dried up.

So how has the United States government been able to convince the Pakistan government to let us use their outlet to the sea? Money, that’s how. The United States government has been wasting millions in tax revenue each year by improving Pakistan’s infrastructure, all while equipping and training the Pakistani military. Tax payer-s money wasted for a country that might have had a part in the hiding of Osama Bin Laden, though the government swears that they were not involved in his hiding.

The military training is a program initiated by the United States government, with hopes that Pakistan military will learn valuable techniques of fighting terrorism once the United States leaves Afghanistan. Once again it looks like the government is getting involved with the wrong countries and that tax payers are going to be the ones who get stuck with the bill. Eventually America has to leave Afghanistan and it can not come soon enough.