Why the President Did Not Give an Apology to Japan on His Visit to Hiroshima

President Barack Obama is the first sitting president to visit Hiroshima. During the visit he placed a reef in memory of the victims of the US nuclear attack during World War II. There he did not give an apology, but made a case for the reduction of nuclear arms. The question remains why was there no simple apology for the actions of the Truman administration. This can be elucidated by examining the past. The President did not give an apology, because he supports the idea that US actions are always right. This hubris that the United States holds influences its foreign policy and it views toward other nations. It is the superpower and other nations must submit to its will, because it has a "moral compass," This is a fabrication used to justify criminal acts and violence. President Obama's plea to live in a world free of nuclear weapons seems facetious , considering it has a large stockpile. The US has more capability to cause harm to millions and yet it arrogantly calls itself the leader of the Free World. What this trip really demonstrated was a cleverly crafted public relations campaign. A simple message that television viewers receive is "forgive and forget." This violent moment in history cannot be forgotten. The lack of apology reveals how the United States feels about certain peoples and nations. Asia has now gradually becoming an American sphere of influence and Asian leaders are allowing it to happen. Vietnam and Japan are forming an anti-China alliance rather than trying to solve regional disputes by themselves. However, there are Japanese who are not willing to follow this vision. Okinawans are protesting US military facilities and the criminal acts by US soldiers in the area. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has to act for the sake of his nations pride and national sovereignty. Failure to do so makes Japan look like a puppet or in the process of being colonized by the United States. President Obama's failure to produce an apology shows how much the United States believes it is above international law.
        The United States has been the only country in the world to use nuclear weapons. The common belief was that it was necessary to defeat the Japanese Empire. The facts tell a different story. Japan toward the end of the war was faced with defeat. It had lost territory due to the island hoping strategy. Nazi Germany had been defeated and Japan was the only Axis nation still fighting. The Soviet Union declared war on Japan, which was something they were trying to avoid. Emperor Hirohito attempted to make peace by writing a letter to President Harry s. Truman. The terms of the surrender were not unconditional, which might explain why it failed. Another reason was that the Allies put themselves in an unnecessary obligation by demanding unconditional surrender of Axis powers in the Atlantic Charter. President Truman made a decision that would change history forever and authorized the atomic attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Normally, American historians say that it had to be done, because an invasion would cause massive casualties. This seems to be a distortion. Japan was weakened and Soviet forces could have easily assisted American and British troops in an invasion of the home islands. The United States wanted to drop the new atomic weapons not to defeat Japan as a primary objective, but to indirectly threaten the Soviet Union. The nuclear attacks demonstrated that America was a superpower not to be messed with. Having such power gave the US ability to impose its will upon various nations and expand economic influence.

No American or Allied nations were prosecuted in civilian deaths from the nuclear attacks. Japan was occupied by the US and it became vital to its regional foreign policy. A myth emerged from World War II that the US was the righteous protector of freedom and democracy. As the decades progressed this myth was repeated constantly in film, radio, media outlets, and television. Today it presents itself in the concept that "America can do no wrong." The nuclear attacks that were committed had been done, because the Japanese Empire left the US no choice. There were numerous options which included a negotiated peace, invasion, or blockade. However, the United States was more interested in promoting its self as a supreme global power. President Obama holds this view and instead of acknowledging a past wrong "expressed regret." Regret is not the realization that a horrible act was committed. 

His act was more so disingenuous. The call for a world without nuclear weapons falls on deaf ears, because of the level of contradiction. America has so far been the only nation to use nuclear weapons in warfare, but demands other nations to relinquish their arsenals. Many times nations have disarmed and found themselves victim of US or European invasion. One of the reasons Iran and North Korea continue to seek nuclear weapons is to ensure they are not attacked. Libya gave up its weapons of mass destruction and was later attacked by the NATO alliance. This contradiction demonstrates how the US feels about other countries and peoples. 

       The United States through out its history did not have positive relations with East Asian nations. Anti-Japanese racism was present in the US before World War II. The Immigration Act of 1924 imposed a quota system, effectively giving preference to Northern Europeans. The Japanese in the 19th century were threatened by US gunboat diplomacy. The US forced Japan in 1853 to open up trade when Commodore Matthew C. Perry sailed into Tokyo in naval battleships. That was a major shock and Japan set out on a project of rapid industrialization and modernization. The Meiji restoration saw Japan grow from a place of potential colonization to a regional empire. Yet it was not accepted into the community of world empires, because it was a non-white nation. Many lamented the fact that Russia lost a war to the Japanese in 1905. President Theodore Roosevelt negotiated peace terms between the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire not for altruistic reasons, but to prevent Japan from becoming more powerful. The Russo-Japanese War put many European states in a condition of  fear. Kaiser Wilhelm II coined the term yellow peril to describe the dangers of growing Asian power. This racist and xenophobic concept was born out of the fear that one day all colonized peoples might look to Japan as a model and revolt against their oppression. The Japanese Empire fought with the Allies in World War I. After the war they proposed a racial equality clause at the Paris Peace Conference. This was rejected by the Western powers on the basis that it demanded the freedom and respect for all colonized peoples. Japan unfortunately adopted a more aggressive policy in the  Asia Pacific region. The militarists took over government and the vision of the Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere was materializing. The Konoe government  attempted to reach a solution with America and keep it out of the war in Asia. This changed with the rise of Hideki Tojo who chose confrontation instead. After Pearl Harbor, an intense wave of anti-Japanese racism swept across America. 

Japanese Americans were placed in internment camps and their property seized. They were targeted because of their race and their love of the US meant little. Japanese Americans even served in the fight against fascism, even when their country treated them as enemies. When the war ended, America continued to act as imperial power in Asia. Korea was the first test for the policy of containment and ended in a stalemate. The United States then became involved in Indochina. Vietnam was brutal causing the death of millions of Laotians, Cambodians, and Vietnamese. Japan continued to recover, but not through military force. Economic advancement and business brought it back from the devastation of war. Electronics, automobiles, and agriculture became major business sectors. Japan even had success in American markets. This created another wave of anti-Japanese sentiment that is often forgotten. The decline of US heavy industry in the 1970s and 1980s caused many to look for a convenient scapegoat. The automobile industry at the time was suffering in the US while Japanese companies were entering the US market. Instead of blaming the failures of the capitalist system, poor political leadership, and weak US tariffs, the US public turned their hostility toward the Japanese. This culminated in the murder of Vincent Chin by an unemployed former automobile worker and his son. Chin who was actually Chinese American was mistaken for Japanese . What the murder showed was that the US still had an issue with Anti-Asian racism in general. The American mindset is that certain peoples do not deserve justice or the same rights. The President not apologizing indirectly supports this conviction. The belief that just because a nation is more powerful it does not need to adhere to the respect of others or a code of conduct represents arrogance. 

         Japan and the US are in an odd relationship. Japan has less than impeccable relations with South Korea, but the US needs it to balance North Korea. The President claims he wants a world without nuclear weapons, but his Asia Pivot will only encourage countries to gain nuclear capability. The fear from invasion or regime change has caused governments across the world to either distrust or fear the United States. Nuclear weapons could be a guarantee of  security for many countries who are threatened by the United States. The aggressive nature of the US has to be humanized in the rhetoric of freedom and democracy promotion. If this myth is constantly promoted the public will believe it as fact and accept war crimes or various atrocities. President Obama uses this same tactic when he visited Hiroshima. Japanese citizens will a strong knowledge of history can understand why an apology did not come. Victors justice is something the United States or any winning nation in a conflict will always promote. This has been promoted for the past seventy years in discussions about World War II. Any rational scholar will admit that there were atrocities by both belligerents. However in the context of  American exceptionalism these facts are either ignored are downplayed. Not acknowledging or understanding this history puts a strain on US-Japan bilateral relations. The US and Japan went from enemies during World War II to allies during the Cold War. 

This relationship may see another shift. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said he wanted a revision to Japan's pacifist constitution. His argument is that Japan has to have a role in fighting terrorism, especially after the murder of Kenji Goto by ISIS. His other argument is that China must be countered. Japanese remilitarization  has nothing to do with security. It has everything to do with Japan trying to assert itself as a world and regional power. The feeling that Japan should be a regional leader of Asia has never disappeared. The United States does not want to see a powerful Asian nation emerge or any potential challenger to its hegemony. For now, an expanding Japanese military is acceptable as long as it is directed at China. A divide Asia is a weaker Asia. At some point US and Japanese relations will become more complicated. The lack of apology for past wrongs foreshadows possible disagreements. 

       The timing of this visit was done this way for a particular reason. It was done to consolidate a growing anti-China alliance. Yellow peril paranoia has not gone away and at this point is directed  at China's growing economic and political power. This visit to Hiroshima was more so a public relations event to improve the image of the administration. The failing policies in Libya, Syria, and Iraq have been taking their toll in the last few months. The West Asian and North African  policy of the Obama administration seems to be in turmoil, but East Asia provides an area of new opportunity. American racism and xenophobia will hinder progress in the region. Only now did the US end using the term "oriental" in its official government documents.Japan is in America's perspective not worthy of an apology and it echoes the racist sentiments of the past. While it can be said that an American President going there is a large step, it hides the harsh realities. There are still Americans who believe that the nuclear strikes at Hiroshima and Nagasaki were right and completely justified. This is coming from a nation that does not want to confront its own history of hatred and violence. Slavery and the genocide of the Native Americans are evidence of the country's general disregard for human rights or liberty. The United States must learn that other nations are part of the world community and deserve respect. An apology for past wrongs shows that the US is ready to change and form a better future. Failure to learn from mistakes of the past will have negative consequences on foreign relations . The hubris that has imprisoned the American mind must be discarded.           

        

        

   

Anti-IS forces move in on Falluja, Iraq - BBC News

Iraq has been collapsing under the weight of terrorism, US intervention, and corrupt government. ISIS seems relentless in its goal to form a theocratic state from both Iraq and Syria. The Iraqi Army a few days ago attempted to take Falluja. This will be an almost impossible task. When the Saddam Hussein regime was overthrown, that became a major area of resistance to US forces. The insurgency became more powerful across the country and the US responded by a troop surge.President Obama, no wanting to repeat his predecessor's mistakes decided to withdraw US forces. There was still a presence, mostly US intelligence in Erbil. The attempt to depose Bashar Al-Assad created ISIS and now the President has sent military advisors to Iraq. It is clear that more US military escalation will continue. The parallels with the Vietnam War are growing and it seems that the United States will be stuck in a long term conflict.    

Donald Trump, American Politics, and the Real Nature of White America

Donald Trump is now the Republican presumptive nominee. His rise is now too large to ignore and it is causing concern even among foreign leaders. Trump's abrasive and condescending tone has targeted many groups that have been marginalized by American society. Political scientists and media commentators are having difficulty comprehending his rapid popularity. To other observers of race relations it is more obvious. Donald Trump is popular among whites mainly because of his anti-black, anti-Arab, anti-Muslim, anti-Hispanic,  anti- Chinese and general anti-immigrant rhetoric. The other policies or lack of them matter little to followers. This should not be shocking. White America is by nature exclusionary. It can no longer be argued that this is a small minority of whites. American politics has never reached a general consensus and the rise of Donald Trump is another chapter. Not all Republicans favor Trump for a number of reasons. Their efforts are futile, because the electorate has been energized. This Trump sensation has the ability to bring new voters into the Republican Party. This movement is motivated by hatred, fear, but also the desire of white Americans to segregate  non-white groups from society or possibly remove them from the country. The alternative to Trump Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders are not equipped to deal with America's growing racial and economic problems. The political system is on the verge of being broken from social issues, war, and economic turmoil. When examining the history of the United States, Donald Trump's rise in politics is not surprising. 

          American politics has functioned on division since its founding. Political factionalism was present since its establishment in 1776. It was a conflict between state government and federal government and the roles they would play. This political issue was complicated further by slave owners and abolitionists who were in conflict over the institution. The nation was contradictory espousing freedom and political rights, while denying African Americans liberty. The Civil War brought the planter class, the northern industrialists, African Americans seeking freedom, and abolitionists into a devastating confrontation. Ever since the end of that war, the North and the South have never been in a general political consensus. The expansion of US territory added another dimension. Many former slave owning planters went west stealing land from Native Americans. Racist hatred would be a large motivator for whites going to the ballot box. The modern two party system emerged  with the Republican and Democratic Party becoming prominent. The Democratic Party went through shift during the 1960s. The Civil Rights Movement caused many pro-segregation Democrats to change their allegiance to the Republican Party. Barry Goldwater capitalized on the resentment of the Civil Rights Movement by getting more Democrats to vote for him as a Republican candidate in 1964. He lost, but this new group that was developed would return in full force in 1968. Richard M. Nixon took Goldwater's method and expanded it, which became the southern strategy. Capturing white racists votes and the middle class grew his base to what was known as the silent majority. The country was rapidly changing in terms of race relations and sexual politics. The Republican Party utilized white America's hate and fear to gain power. The catastrophe of  the Vietnam  War and the Watergate scandal made the public turn against the Republican Party. President Jimmy Carter however, did not offer an alternative. He was a Democratic president that continued to support brutal regimes and dismantled detente. When the Iran hostage crisis occurred it gave Ronald Reagan the presidency. Ronald Reagan ushered in a neoconservative revolution, which changed the nature of US foreign policy. The United States would embark on military interventions, nation building, an arms race, and continue to promote itself as a global hegemon. The American public was becoming more divided on the role of government, abortion, war, race relations, and economics. During the Clinton and Bush administrations both parties became more irascible in terms of government affairs. Under President Obama it reach unsustainable levels. US leaders function best when people are either divided or marginalized in the political process. Division allows leaders to have various groups fight among one another while they amass power to themselves. Donald Trump appealing to the anger of tea party Republicans, when establishment figures were losing credibility. This fractious nature in political discourse is another cycle in America's long history of division and exclusion.
        Donald Trump has gained support from a section the public, because he is not by trade a politician. Donald Trump has never been a congressmen, senator, governor, or secretary for a governmental department. Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton have decades long records of experience, yet it seems enthusiasm for them is diminutive compared to Trump's following. The only experience he has is being manager and owner of his real estate empire. Donald Trump claims his net worth is close to four billion. There is also a more vicious reason that he has gained support. Donald Trump has no problem disparaging African Americans, Muslims, Mexicans, and women. His remarks are incendiary and have emboldened some to act violent. He claims that "political correctness" is stifling genuine conversations on serious issues and that he is only "being truthful." The blatant insults and attacks invigorate the extremist and racist sections of the population. They like that he is not using coded language and presents his thoughts in an unsophisticated manner. Trump's lack of professionalism in political atmospheres does not bother voters. To them he is truthful and genuine, even if the facts state otherwise. The core of his voting demographic is white men across the socioeconomic strata.The common stereotype is one of a rustic southern individual, but the Trump movement extends far beyond that. This includes a sizable portion of Republicans who were vexed that President Obama won two elections and the tea party Republicans. These two groups feel that the  party establishment failed them in some way. Many issues such as immigration, abortion, and America's wars are major focal points. Donald Trump realized that their were many people who would follow him simply out of resentment of the traditional Republican establishment. Scapegoating is his favorite tool. Immigration induces many emotions in the public and remains on the list of wedge issues. When he said "Mexico sends over rapists and murderers" that was what energized his presidential campaign. Donald Trump also is an entertainer and he knows how to use the media. When that comment was broadcasts anti-immigrant supports discovered a candidate that would fight on their behalf. Donald Trump has tapped into xenophobia that is a prominent characteristic of the US. China and Syrian refugees are other targets of Trump's campaign. He accuses China of "ripping America off" to gain the support of working class whites in manufacturing. Michigan and Wisconsin saw unemployment in the manufacturing sector due to outsourcing. Rather than examine the flaws of a neoliberal capitalist economic system, it is more simple to blame another country. Muslims and Syrian refugees are framed as possible terrorists. He initially proclaimed that "all Muslims should be banned from the country." Months later he altered his position saying "it was a suggestion." His argument is it needs to be done until it is understood what is going on. What is obvious here is Trump's attempt to pander to Islamophobia. Paranoia surrounding terrorism and a rising hate for Islam has given the Republican Party a new section of scared voters. Donald Trump is also trying to appeal to evangelicals by saying "women should be punished for abortions." This cover of religious argument is nothing more than a general anti-woman sentiment.Eradicating reproductive rights has been the best way to control women in a society. Donald Trump does not value women as important or essential and it shows in polls he has disapproval among women voters. This movement a combination of populist, far-right, nativist, racist, misogynistic,   and ultra-nationalist ideology forming is unique because it is appealing to a section of the mainstream. This demonstrates the harsh realities of the United States.
      White America has never been kind to its fellow African, Asian, and Latino Americans. The Native American population once dominated this land and found themselves victims of genocide upon contact with white settlers. The United States was built by the enslaved Africans, who were kidnapped from the West African Coast and interior. The non-white immigrants were never allowed to be part of the melting pot. The Chinese were subject to discrimination through the law. The Chinese exclusion Act of 1882 effectively prevented a group from entering the country. Donald Trump basically wants legislation like that to reemerge, except be directed at a religious group. The law was repealed in 1943, but real change did not come until the Immigration Act of 1965.  South Americans and particularly Mexicans have had nothing but negative experiences in the United States . The Mexican War was a major turning point in which America expanded and conquered territory. Mexicans that remained under US subjugation were subject to inhumane treatment. Texas was a state notorious for lynching Mexicans and suppressing their votes. The struggle of the African American people against slavery, Jim Crow, segregation, discrimination, and policy brutality still continues. Not a day goes by in which it has been reported that their was a shooting of an unarmed black American. What people of African descent have experienced in the US is by all accounts persecution by the state at the federal and local level. The way drug laws and policies are structured, they are designed to fuel a prison industrial complex. This has become a new form of slavery targeting African Americans. The abuse that non-whites have received from white America is enormous. The conclusions that can be drawn from this are obvious. White America is hateful, exclusionary, violent, but also arrogant. American exceptionalism has racialist overtones, exalting the US above the "lesser nations." The changing demographics also induce fear. The fear comes from the fact whites one day  will not be in control of this country or the world and that their former victims will seek revenge. These negative and spiteful attitudes are not held by a few, but a large portion of the white American population. Donald Trump understands who his primary base is. The angry white men who do not want to share the country with the growing Hispanic, Asian, and African American populations. The white liberals of the country either have a limited understanding of race relations or only discuss problems if it can get them votes. The liberal wing of the Democratic Party abandoned the Civil Rights Movement during the late 1960s, because in their view they believed most of the goals had been accomplished. Today many white Americans refuse to acknowledge white privilege or white supremacy are still factors in American politics. The post-racial America concept is an idea developed by racists to cover the increasing violence and hate making a resurgence in the United States. Donald Trump is attempting to make what would be far-right extremist rhetoric and actions politically mainstream. These ideas would no longer be regulated to hate groups or other white supremacist organizations, but would become socially acceptable in public discourse.
       The American political system now in a state of crisis. Voter apathy, political extremism, racial hate, and economic decline will cause major political shifts. Decades from now, it could be possible that a third party could emerge if both the Democratic and Republican party fail or collapse. As long as powerful and wealthy donors remain the two parties could still exist, even if a formidable party emerges. Donald Trump seems more like a third party candidate, because his statements reveal he may not genuinely be an American conservative. That explains why more people are coming into the Republican Party, because he energized and entice people who felt left out or who were shunned from the political system. A simple and crude presentation style also attracted people with little education or knowledge of history, politics, or international affairs. The more sophisticated voters who want a Trump presidency just want a Republican to win the presidency no matter what. The fact the President Obama won two terms still bothers the Republican establishment. This irrational emotion is the product of racial hatred and the fact that Republican Party is coming to the realization that the country is changing in more ways than one.If they want to maintain political power, adjustments will have to be made to address demographic shifts. Here is the basic conundrum of  American conservatism. How does one remain conservative and change to a shifting political climate? This is impossible from a political science perspective. The contradictions and vacillations of the neoconservative and social conservative are slowly collapsing. What started with Ronald Reagan could end with a Republican president. Donald Trump is appears to be doing a conservative revolution of his own. His rapid rise with no political experience or basic knowledge of government, economics, geography, or political theory causes much trepidation. Donald Trumps wealth is also a threat, because he is not dependent on other organizations for funding of his campaign. This means he will not be influenced by certain interest groups or individuals. A common practice is to outspend your opponents to get the nomination. Donald Trump at the moment has a huge amount of resources at his disposal. Although he has been successful so far, it is unclear who will be the next president. Polls are misleading, so predictions at this time would never be precise or accurate. Who ever the next president will be they will have to be equipped to handle a declining US economy, growing class conflict, racism, expanding warfare, and possible civil unrest.              
                      

Mars the Red Planet

The planet Mars is similar to Earth in the sense it has ice caps, desert plains, mountain ranges, volcanoes, and canyons.The planet has captivated astronomers and science fiction writers for years. This planet was named after the Roman God of war probably because of its red color.NASA intends to do a Mars landing with astronauts. This has the possibility of being bigger than the Mars Pathfinder Mission in 1997. Mars is a terrestrial planet. Its physical size is smaller than Earth. The magnetic fields on Mars are weak compared to other planets. This was discovered by examining residual magnetism in older rocks. There is a possibility that it was stronger at one time. There is also speculation that a planetary disaster caused Mars to become the dry and dusty place it is now. Some how it was initiated by the loss of the magnetic filed when the iron core froze. Then the solar winds changed the planet. The diameter is 6,780 km with a mass 0.11 times Earth. One is about 687 Earth days. Internally the planet consists of solidified iron core, rocky crust, and a silicate mantle.Mars seems to be the best candidate for terraforming. At the moment it is beyond human technological ability, but in the future it could be a reality. More needs to be known about Mars for such an ambitious project to take place. Humanity has gather for now, a sizable portion of knowledge on the red planet.
       Mars has an atmosphere composed of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and argon. Carbon dioxide is estimated to be about 95.7%  and nitrogen 2.7 % of the total atmosphere. Argon is only 1.6% of the atmosphere of Mars. Besides a harsh atmosphere, dust storms can be intense. The air of  Mars is thin and has enough density to form weather. The accumulation of high winds exacerbate the sands of Mars. The red sand covers the majority of the surface, which means dust storms can be both regional or planet wide. The atmosphere does contain diminutive amounts of oxygen, carbon monoxide, and even water vapor. Spectroscopy was helpful in discovering the nature of the Martian atmosphere, before the rise of spacecraft. The surface temperature can be 70k cooler than that of Earth. Mars has a high level of ultraviolet radiation making it hard for life to develop or thrive there. Solar winds can go up to supersonic speeds creating an environment of violent weather.

The atmosphere seems inhospitable, but the surface also is a difficult place. There is no vegetation or water. Water could have existed at one time on the planet according to the findings of the Viking orbiters. What they found were runoff channels and outflow channels.Runoff channels are large in length extending hundreds of kilometers on Mars.They are located in the southern hemisphere. The runoff systems are similar to the structure of rivers on Earth. The valley networks as some astronomers refer to them reveal a Mars that was once warmer and possessed a thicker atmosphere.

The outflow channels indicate that there was intense flooding.These structures appear at the equatorial region.        

       The red planet's surface is frozen rock desert surrounded by dunes and craters. Mars has volcanoes and canyons throughout the planet. Mars is a terrestrial planet of the inner solar system. The great part of Mars being close to Earth is that  surface features can be recognized as small as 100 km across. The suns rays still effect observation and topographical information is difficult to extrapolate. Mars's  surface can also be effected by seasonal changes. This is from the axial tilt of the planet and the unique nature of its orbit. The polar caps increase or decrease in size depending on the season. During the summer they decrease due to rising temperature. The polar ice caps are frozen carbon dioxide. This can be referred to as "dry ice." Water ice mixed in produce a swirling pattern, which indicates the direction of the winds. Mars does have some differences in structure in both its northern and southern hemispheres.The northern hemisphere contains mostly volcanic plains. These structures were probably formed by eruption of lava from surrounding volcanoes. Volcanic rocks are prevalent. The cratered highlands are native to the southern hemisphere. The craters could be the result of incoming meteoroids. The plains of the north are less cratered, which may mean that it is younger compared to the south. Astronomers estimate that the craters in the south are 4 billion years old and the the ones in the north are 3 billion years old.

      Mars is unique due to the fact it has enormous volcanoes. They are thought to be the largest documented in the solar system. The largest seen is known as Tharsis bulge and Olympus Mons . Olympus Mons is 700 km in diameter and stands at a height of 25 km. These volcanoes are on particular hot spots on the Martian mantle.Smaller volcanoes can be located in the northern plains. It is not lucid that these volcanoes are active. It appears in some observations that some have erupted only in the last few million years.Examining the caldera of Olympus Mons reveals the age of volcanic structures. The large central pit has five rings. The are remnants of the summit collapse, which was induced from eruptions of reservoir magma. The youngest ring has been estimated to be 140 million years old. Lava is believed to erupt through fissure on the side of Olympus Mons as far back as 20 million years ago. The volcanoes of Mars probably were active 100 million years ago. The shield volcanoes as they are classified are not the result of plates. The reason volcanoes on Mars achieved immense height is due to the nature of surface gravity. It is low, which results in lava weighing less and it can accumulate easier. The structure is dependent on how much weight it can support. Mars has a surface gravity value of 0.38 g that allows for volcanoes to be 2.5 times as high. 

        Mars also contains a vast canyon system. It makes the Grand Canyon look miniature in comparison. The most notable is the Valles Marineris canyon system. It was discovered in 1971 by the Mariner Probe 9. The valley began as a narrow slit in the crust. Tharsis Rise generated intense pressure. Water was at one time present allowing for erosion and the creation of sedimentary rocks. The absence of water ice may have caused landslides which caused valleys to increase in width. Mars becoming devoid of water and moisture 3 billion years ago caused major geological changes. There are also networks of basins as well. The recognizable structures include the ophir chasma and aureum chaos. The Ophir Chasma is located in the north side of a series of basins, which is at the center of the main canyon complex. Landslips could have possibly destroyed higher grounds in between canyons, that led to the formation of  Ophir Chasma and Aureum Choas. Mars has been geologically active for millions of years. 

The dimensions of the Mariner Valleys are 700 km wide . It is about 8 km deep. The total length is calculated to be 4,000 km. This is an impressive structure that could mean Mars was more than a dusty wasteland.  

        The most debated mysteries is the question of water on Mars. Runoff channels provide a clue. There are systems far in length that twist, connect, and merge. These systems seem similar to river systems of our planet Earth. Geologists have speculated that these are the remains of dried up rivers.Mars could have had an early period of rivers, lakes, and oceans on its surface. There is an opposite perspective. Other astronomers believe that these structures are the product of tectonic forces. The Mars Global Surveyor has revealed what could have been a delta. Findings also suggest that Mars has carbonate layers. This means that oxygen and carbon could have been in ancient oceans . There is a possibility today that Mars's water could be gathered into permafrost. The evidence for a permafrost layer could be the impact crater Yuty. It shows that liquid was in this crater, rather than an impression from other objects. A high temperature impact could have melted the permafrost. The appearance of  ejecta. Around 2002 there was another break through. The Mars Odyssey detected deposits of  water ice crystals. These were mixed with hydrogen and Martian surface layers. Ice appeared to be 50% of Mars's soil . This means that Mars once contained oceans located in polar regions. As more space craft is sent more is revealed about the former environment. 

     Mars has satellites, which are the moons known as Phobos and Deimos. First documented in 1877 , they project little light. The moons are heavily cratered, contain low density, and small. There infinitesimal size makes some astronomers convinced they are asteroids caught by Mars's gravitational force. The Martian moons contents include carbon rich rocks. 

    

Deimos orbits Mars in a total of 30.3 hours. This is at an altitude of 20,040 km. Phobos takes 7.66 hours to orbit. Its altitude is much lower calculated at 5,980 km. There still is debate if these are genuine moons. Further study is needed to determine the true nature of these objects.

     There remains another fascinating question. The possibility of life on Mars. It may have had life in the past. Life used in this context is not Earth centric. Not all life is carbon based that emerged from a liquid water environment. Mars as previously explained is a harsh biome. Liquid water is rare or generally limited. The atmosphere so thin enables high amounts of radiation to enter. Combined with the lack of ozone and magnetism creates a more unbearable environment. There is speculation by scientists that microorganisms could exist. The surface could have microbes that can digest oxygen rich compounds. This may explain why the Viking spacecraft did not detect organisms. The polar ice caps may possess life, but the Viking lander was not sent there. The Mars Pathfinder did not find life either. The Mars Pathfinder to much shock did find some water in the Martian North Pole. The planets of the solar system continue to full of surprises. Conclusions should not be reached until Mars can be explored more extensively. The question of life will still continued to be debated. There have been thousands of exoplanets discovered and some could be Earth like. It is not impossible that there could be life forms on other planets besides Earth. Mars may be what Earth will be like billions of years in the future. Whatever the circumstances of its development, Mars will continue to generate interest in the scientific community.   

Further Reading 

Chaisson, Eric. Astronomy Beginners Guide to the Universe. New York: Pearson, 2010. 

Rees, Martin. 30 Second Astronomy.  New York : Metro Books, 2014. 

Couper, Heather. Space Encyclopedia. New York: DK Publishing, 1999. 

                  

       

Kenya-Taiwan Tension

Kenya deported Taiwanese who allegedly had links to a telecom fraud crime network. This has caused tension between Taiwan, Kenya, and even China. The question is one of jurisdiction. China still considers Taiwan a part of China. Taiwan is in reality functioning as its own independent state. Kenya deported at least 45 Taiwanese to China. Taiwan is a sensitive issue for China and at times it has caused problems with  diplomatic relations with Africa. China at onetime broke relations with Chad, when it recognized Taiwan. This could escalate into a much larger conflict. The question remains in which country will the accused be tried. Asia is already going through a shift induced by the Asia pivot by the Obama administration. Taiwan has a newly elected president that may be more hostile to China than the previous administration. African nations may find themselves caught in the middle of  conflicts between Taiwan and China. Taiwan is vexed over Kenya's deportation, but it has a right to do so for people who are not citizens.