The US Has No Plans On Leaving Afghanistan Or Syria

 

The Biden administration has launched a strike in Syria. This was directed at Iranian backed militias that allegedly attacked US personnel. President Biden has not given any time frame about an exit from Afghanistan. The longest war in US history may continue even longer. The attack on Syria also demonstrates that President Joseph Biden is not committed to reestablishing the nuclear agreement. A plan for improvement of relations has not been articulated. When Americans voted, they desired a change in foreign policy and an end to long term military intervention. As domestic issue mount, military engagements will only harm the economy. The US is attempting to undermine Iran's influence in the Middle East, but without a powerful Iraq this is not possible. The Biden presidency is following failed policies from the past three  administrations. The Taliban  remains resistant to the US-NATO force. If this continues the US will see a conflict worse than the Vietnam War. The Obama administration attempted regime change in Syria and this only resulted in a larger Russian presence in the Middle East. President Joseph Biden's policy is regime change with the use of US funded armed groups. America's quest for global hegemony comes at a price. Lives lost, higher taxes, and the violation of international law will become more common.    

Protests Against President Jovenel Moise Escalate

 

Massive demonstrations against President Jovenel Moise have occurred throughout Haiti. Moise has attempted to challenge the presidential term limit. This evokes memories of the Duvalier dynasty which kept the country under authoritarian rule. Since 2019, Moise has faced calls for his resignation. A crumbling economy and rising fuel prices have pushed the Haitian public to extreme discord. The political corruption has gotten worse with little attempts by the administration to stop it. Moise has been in office since 2017 and it appears as if he has no intention to leave office. The constitution states that term limits are five years. Moise has not acknowledged this and has arrested Supreme Court judges to prevent any legal challenge to his take over. Jovenel Moise claims these judges were part of  a coup plot. This is designed to end the independence of the Supreme Court so that term limits will not be enforced for the presidency. The protest movement has been active since 2018, but may be too disorganized to force his removal. The reason Jovenel Moise survives is that he has the support of the United States. There has been no change in policy in regards to Haiti, even with a change in presidential administrations in America. Haiti may not even have elections this year. Coups and protests are not new to Haiti. What is different about the current conditions is that Haitians are developing a new political consciousness. If there is a return to an authoritarian regime, the public will not remain silent.   

The European Union Renews Arms Embargo Against Zimbabwe

 

The European Union has renewed  the arms embargo against Zimbabwe. Sanctions still remain in place. The claim is related to the country's human rights situation, but other African nations that favor EU policies are exempt.  While sanctions against  government officials can be justified, economic warfare against the population is not. The UK is the most vocal in keeping sanctions. The reason is not out of the concern for human rights, rather to have influence over a former colony. There was little condemnation with the military coup in 2017 that ended the Robert Mugabe presidency. The reason was due to the idea that President Emmerson Mnangawa  would be more accommodating to EU foreign policy objectives. His  repression became more apparent with the imprisonment of journalists and opposition figures. Zimbabwe internal politics need reform, but it should not be directed by external foreign entities . The African Union can be a place of dialogue and regulation of arms being imported into Africa. The global arms trade is a challenge to stability because it aids in the continuation of various conflicts. This arms embargo is not designed to stop some form of military aggression or protect the public from a coup. Zimbabwe may be gradually weakened for future regime change. Whatever the true intention is Zimbabweans still live under unfavorable conditions.   

Rush Limbaugh Mocks The Chinese Language And Hu Jintao (2011)

 

Rush Limbaugh conservative radio personality and talk show host has died at the age of 70. The repeal of the Fairness Doctrine gave rise to the domination of conservative talk radio. Rush Limbaugh was the leader of this making racism and xenophobia his business model. He appealed to a segment of the population that was deeply prejudiced  and more in favor of the Republican Party. Limbaugh's radio program would make commentary not just on domestic policy, but on foreign policy. When President Obama met with President Hu Jintao Limbaugh criticized the meeting as America caving to Chinese interests. The audio clip above is of Limbaugh mocking the Chinese language. He then claims it sounds no different from Japanese and there were no translators at the meeting. These claims were false, but they were stated for a purpose. Instilling fear in people helps with getting the Republican Party votes. China and its leaders from the Obama years to present  have been demonized as a threat. The Democratic Party also plays on this with the concept of   the Chinese challenge. The Hu Jintao presidency during this time was making significant successes in relations with African nations, which created tension with America. Economic competition continues to be a source of  contention  between the two countries. Before President Trump, Rush Limbaugh was already expressing anti-Chinese rhetoric. Rush Limbaugh is a reminder that racism is fostered through media outlets.  

Frederick Douglass (1818-1895)

Frederick Douglass was an   orator, writer, government official,  and abolitionist. His life was dedicated to human rights promotion and to enhancing the American democratic system. Born enslaved in  antebellum era,  during his youth he was determined to not only gain his own freedom, but to be a crusader for other African Americans in bondage. At age ten he was sold to another slave owning family. When Frederick Douglass turned 21, he made his escape to freedom. Fleeing to New Bedford Massachusetts, this was a place of large amounts  abolitionist activism. There he was able to have a platform to fight against slavery. As time passed he became a skilled public speaker. He did this at enormous risk to his life. The risk of being kidnapped by slave catchers or killed by racist mobs was a constant danger . Douglass was more determined than ever to see slavery eliminated and became a dedicated lecturer  about its abuses. Around the 1840s he travelled through out New England and the North telling his life as an enslaved person. Frederick Douglass  also did speaking tours in Ireland and Great Britain gaining a profile outside the United States.  His oratory got so much notoriety that colleagues suggested he write a book. This resulted in the publication of  Narrative of  the Life and Times of Frederick Douglass .   The autobiography was released to the public in 1845.  The exposed the American public to the brutality and violence of slavery rarely discussed. By this  time , Douglass evolved both politically and philosophically. Radical action had to be taken to accelerate the end of slavery.  

     Frederick Douglass by the 1850s became a member of the Liberty Party. Around this time the nation was becoming more divided than ever and closer to civil war. Douglass wanted a from politicians a commitment to the abolition of slavery. The Liberty Party was willing to meet that demand than the accommodating Republican response of  stopping its expansion . John Brown sought Douglass's aid in the raid on Harper's Ferry. Frederick Douglass  told Brown that he did not object to armed uprising, but understood chances of success were limited. Although Douglass did not participate in the raid on Harper's Ferry, he became suspect. Federal marshals sought his arrest and Douglass fled to Canada . This exile would not last long. The US was about to have one of the most violent conflicts on its own soil. The American Civil War was a chance for to finally bring about the end of slavery. Frederick Douglass made it a goal to pressure the Lincoln administration to allow African Americans to serve in combat and gain their freedom. The pressure from Frederick Douglass and the abolitionist movement caused President Abraham Lincoln  to have a change in policy. African Americans were mobilized for war and the Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1863. Frederick Douglass became involved in recruitment efforts for the Union Army. 

       When the American Civil War ended slavery was abolished, but the fight for liberation was far from over. Fredrick Douglass continued the quest for racial equality. His efforts focused on securing voting rights for African Americans and women. Few men at the time supported women's suffrage, which made Douglass somewhat unique. Frederick Douglass also emphasized the importance of education as a means of  advancing the African American community. He opposed emigration to Africa or relocation to the North on the basis that African Americans could build a strong political and economic  base in the South . Reconstruction failed to produce the multi-racial democracy that Douglass envisioned .  This is why he would continue to do lecture tours, get involved in politics, and be involved in activism up until the end of his life. The Freedmen's Bank was established to aid the formerly enslaved to get loans and have an institution for personal savings. Frederick Douglass would become president of the bank, seeing it as a means  of African American's gaining economic power. The panic of 1873,   which was the worst economic depression of the 19th century caused the bank's failure. Under the Benjamin Harrison administration Frederick Douglass was appointed consul-general to Haiti and charge d' affaires to the Dominican Republic. When he realized this was an attempt at establishing American empire in the Caribbean he resigned. The world was dramatically different in the 1880s. America was transitioning from an agriculture based economy to an industrialized  world power. Frederick Douglass died of a heart attack in 1895, but his work influenced a new generation of leaders in the 20th century. Ida B. Wells, Booker T. Washington, and W.E.B Dubois became the next wave fighters for the cause of black liberation. 

References 

David, Blight. Frederick  Douglass Prophet of Freedom. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2018. 

Adams, Russel. Great Negroes Past and Present . Chicago: Afro-Am Publishing Company, 1964. 

Bangladesh Relocating An Estimated 7,000 Rohingya Refugees

 

Bangladesh  since December of 2020 has  been moving Rohingya refugees to Bhasan Char island. The estimated of people relocated so far has been 7,000. This has the potential to be a human rights violation. The government has stated this is voluntary, but some reports have claimed some refugees were forced to get on boats for transport. There is no guarantee that conditions will be any better than the camps that are on the border with Myanmar. The United Nations has not been able to evaluate the island for safety concerns. Refugees are not permitted to leave Bhasan Char once they arrive. This relocation of refugees indicates that either Bangladesh either is preparing for another wave of people crossing the border or is making preparations for future deportation. It cannot be said for certain what the motive is. The sudden coup that has occurred in Myanmar  will at some point impact Bangladesh. More people might flee to the country as protests and violence escalate . The overthrow of a democratically elected government leaves little hope that the Rohingya can be repatriated . As long as ethnic strife continues, Bangladesh may become the Rohingya's permanent home.   

Jeff Bezos Resigns As Amazon CEO

 

Jeff Bezos has quit his role as CEO. This does not mean he is going into retirement or leaving the e-commerce giant. It has been implied he will focus more on Amazon's marketing. The circumstances for his resignation are not clear. However, there are major issues the company faces. Amazon has been engaging in wage theft from its workers. During the COVID-19 pandemic it did not provide the adequate  personal protective equipment for employees. Although the company and its founder is powerful it is only a matter of time before Amazon will face multiple lawsuits. The company has become resistance to workers organizing unions in warehouses. As working conditions get worse the more vexed employees become. Low wages are inexcusable considering Amazon's high stock value and enormous profits. All of these problems gradually emerged over the decades. Amazon was founded in 1994 and now has become one of the most recognizable e-commerce corporations. Bezos sudden exit demonstrates that there is a vast network of corruption and exploitation occurring at Amazon. Jeff Bezos' unethical practices are being exposed and it is unlikely that Amazon can avoid investigation.  

Cicely Tyson Awarded The Presidential Medal of Freedom (2016)

 

Cicely Tyson (1924-2021) was an actress who had a career that lasted seven decades. She was a pioneer in film and television in an era in which opportunities were limited for African American actors. Prior to acting she was a fashion model. Tyson caught the eye of a photographer working for Ebony  magazine . Cicely Tyson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016 by President Barack Obama. Today the entertainment industry is more diverse compared to half a century ago.  Cicely Tyson gained  acclaim in one of her most  notable roles in  Sounder. The movie  tells the story of an African American family in the Deep South during the Great Depression. Released in 1972, the film was a box office success. Cicely Tyson also did acting in theater productions which included Moon on a Rainbow Shawl and The Trip to Bountiful. 

A Military Coup Has Occurred in Myanmar

 

Myanmar is in a state of emergency, with the military once more seizing  power. The military insisted this was a response to accusations of fraud in the elections. Aung San Suu Kyi has once more been detained along with other senior officials. It appears that the military wants to overturn the results of the general election and impose resurrect the military dictatorship. This is not the first time this has happened. The National League of Democracy did win the general election back in 1990. The military then launched a coup. The NLD became the ruling party of the country starting in 2015. They had a majority of seats in parliament. The military claims it will hold on to power for one year. Similar to Thailand, the military has large amounts of influence over government. The experiment in developing a democratic system  that began in 2011 appears to be coming to an end. Myanmar already has ethnic conflict and might be on the brink of civil war. The return to military rule will certainly cause some from of reaction from the public. This could either take the form of mass demonstrations or armed resistance. There are multiple armed groups in the country either fighting the military or seeking to create independent states. Myanmar may require a federal system to address issues related to regional and racial tensions. The Rohingya crisis demonstrates that just having elections or democratic government does not eliminate oppression. The NLD  allowed the military to wage war on an ethnic group, because it could have cost them politically with  the Buddhists in the Rakhine state. The only way the military regime will be defeated is through unified action of all ethnic groups and regions. However, political and ethnic divisions may be too vast to form coordinated mass resistance .