Kofi Annan's Statement on Iraq (2003)

Kofi Annan (1938-2018) was UN Secretary General from 1997 to 2006. He wanted a United Nations that favored a rational diplomacy as opposed to military based intervention. There were many challenges during his tenure. The Second Congolese Civil War, the NATO invention in Kosovo, and the Iraq War. The Bush administration wanted to get support of the United Nations for military action against Iraq. Secretary of State Colin Powell went to the UN claiming that Iraq was arming itself with chemical and biological weapons. This message of weapons of mass destruction was based on unreliable intelligence and had an ulterior motive to it. The US was not honest about Iraq and was seeking to remove Saddam Hussein to remake the Middle East. Kofi Annan urged the US and UK not to intervene. This nation building project led to the rise of ISIS and a more powerful Iran. Kofi Annan had been a supporter of responsibility to protect, which some criticized as violation of national sovereignty. The reason he became an advocate of such a policy was due to the Rwandan genocide. The UN was under criticism for the conduct of the Yugoslavian collapse in the 1990s. Annan as shown in the video from 2003 shows that he advocates peaceful resolutions, rather than humanitarian intervention by means of military force. Kofi Annan was attempting to reform the United Nations and prevent the world from losing faith in the international organization. The Ghanaian diplomat will best be remembered for reforming an international body in which the world powers too often dominate. His leadership encouraged other to change the way in which the UN was run, but challenges still remain in the complex world of international affairs.     

RIP Aretha Franklin

Apple Has Become A Trillion Dollar Company

The company that was started by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak has become a trillion dollar company. Apple may have more wealth than the US government in the future. While this is an example of stunning business, it causes complications. The possibility that Apple could use its influence on politics or consumer advocacy would be cause for alarm. If other companies cannot remain competitive, Apple may end up being a monopoly in which consumers have little choice. Microsoft continues to be Apple's main rival  in the field of information technology. However, it does not have the same level of enticement with consumers compared to Apple. Some have criticized the company of creating a technology cult and exploiting customers. There was a void that was left after the death of Steve Jobs. He was an innovator who thought of technology that one would imagine in a science fiction film. This did not harm the profitable company seeing as it reached a milestone in terms of net worth. If  the company has reached a trillion dollar mark, this means there is no legitimate excuse not to increase employee wages or salaries. As long as the principle of supply and demand operate in an economic system there should relative stability. Apple's biggest challenge is to continue to be innovative and produce new technology. If it does not a gradual decline will occur. There comes a time in which companies may fail or deteriorate due to various factors. Apple may face this same fate if it does not continue to explore new hardware, software, or new computing technologies. Simply making iphones with minor variations every few years may not be enough to placate long time customers. Another issue with such immense power of a trillion dollar company is the protection of consumer data. What has occurred with Facebook could be happening with other tech companies . Apple has a responsibility to consumers to protect user data and make terms of service policies clear. Without such regulation,  the right to privacy may be at risk. Apple should also be willing to pay its proper share of taxes. Regardless of popular belief, tax breaks to not encourage growth or more employment. There will be other companies attempting to reach a trillion dollar net worth and this may cause certain social and political problems. The disparity in wealth, a distorted federal income tax,  and the possible stifling of competition and creativity could generate discord in public spaces and the market place.        

Noam Chomsky on Free Speech