About the Instructor | Speaker's Biography Introduction to course Issue 1A: New Orleans (read three articles, and present one) "New Orleans Blues: Charged with rebuilding ... still uninhabitable." Newsweek "Hope in the Ruins: Battered But Proud, a New Orleans ..." Newsweek "Freret Street Revisited: Throughout New Orleans ..." US News "Bush Sees Renewal After Katrina" (AP) US News "Floods, Tornadoes, Hurricanes, Wildfires, Earthquakes ... Why We Don't Prepare" Time Extra resources: Sierra Turner '06, history of federal disaster management, outline. [PPT slides (slow)] [Html slides (quicker)] Discussion and Critical Thinking Questions:
- Are the political and economic causes of failure portrayed carefully in these stories?
- What organizations must cooperate in order to rebuild?
- What are the prospects of a second disastrous flood in the same city?
- What are the best routes for avoiding future disasters?
- How should the federal, state and local governments alleviate suffering?
- How should the levels of government rebuild the disaster struck areas?
- Should the Army Corps of Engineers perform the work of rebuilding?
- To what degree is federalism and dispersal of authority to blame for failed planning?
- Where the causes of failure are too complex and widespread, must journalists focus on leaders and victims?
Weekly Essay Questions (due Sunday by 7pm; copy and paste your chosen question into your answer):
- Given an impending storm surge during hurricane Katrina, what were the governmental, geographic, and social causes of the disaster in New Orleans?
- How much progress has been made since hurricane Katrina in recovering from the disaster in New Orleans, and why is recovery incomplete?
Week: One | Two
| Three | Four | Five
Issue 2A: Bush Administration's Rhetoric on Iraq war [Map] [Outlines] "How Bush Plans to Repackage the Iraq War". Time Joe Klein, "What Bush Should Have Said" Time [Twillia] Niall Ferguson: "The Nation That Fell to Earth" Time Fareed Zakaria, "Why Iran is no Nazi Germany." Newsweek Wolffe and Bailey, "The Islamofascists" [on Bush administration's rhetoric]Newsweek [Rodger] Paul Bedard, "'Security moms' still on board, Republicans say," US News David E. Kaplan, "Iraqi public opinion: bad news and good," US News Damien Cave, "Troops Cut Death, but Not Fear, in Baghdad Zone," NY Times [Kim T] Recommended, from Stinebrickner 2A, The Presidency: 17. David J. Rothkopf, "Inside the Committee That Runs the World," Foreign Policy, March/April 2005 18. Stephen M. Walt, "The Blame Game," Foreign Policy, Nov/Dec 2005 19. "A Hot Line to Heaven," The Economist, Dec 18, 2004 20. Eric Alterman, "Bush’s War on the Press," The Nation, May 9, 2005 Recommended: Special Report, "Air Power: An Enduring Illusion," Economist, 20 Aug - 1 Sep '06, pp.20-21 [see via HC library's EBSCO Host or InfoTrak databases; or read via email or hardcopy]. Meanwhile, Afghan war heats up [Map]: Carlotta Gall, "New Assault Takes Big Toll on Taliban, NATO Says," [includes map] NY Times AP, "US Planes Mistakenly Kill Canadian in Afghanistan," NY Times Articles not discussed 31 Aug. "Bomb, Clashes Kill at Least 50 in Iraq" US News "At Least 23 Dead in Iraq Violence" [front page, to register] Wash Post "Shiite Militia Clashes with Iraqi Troops" New York Times 10. Andrew J. Bacevich, "Requiem for the Bush Doctrine," Purkitt (ed) [Ben] 4. James Madison, "Checks and Balances," Federalist Papers, 51, Stinebrickner (ed) Discussion and Critical Thinking Questions:
- Does the level of sectarian violence in Iraq equate to a civil war?
- What are the ethnic and religious divisions of Iraq?
- Should the US remove its troops from Iraq?
- Can democracy ever be built in a country by external force? Can you think of successful examples?
- Is the US an imperial power, and if so, is it like the old European empires?
- Is the presidency too powerful in foreign policy?
- Which is a better source for foreign policy, idealism (spread demoracy abroad) or realism (limit ourselves to where our power is effective)?
Weekly Essay Questions:
- 1A: What progress has been made in the US war in Iraq, and what are the prospects for success or failure?
Issue 2B: Educational pressures (an annual story in early September, alternates with educational failures in inner cities!) [Outlines]
- Peg Tyre, "The New First Grade: Too Much Too Soon?" Newsweek [Kim B] [PPT]
- Elizabeth Weiss Green, "Taking Measure of the No Child Left Behind Act: (Study: Most support law's goal, but not strategy)," US News [Rodger]
- "No Child Left Behind Act," Wikipedia
- Discussion and Critical Thinking Questions:
- Is "accountability" for student progress a proper function for the federal governmnent?
- Does the NCLBA's requirement of "accountability" over-promote testing and pressure in schools?
- How typical is the first grade experience as seen in Tyre's article.?
- Weekly Essay Questions: (due Sunday by 7pm; copy and paste your chosen question into your essay)
- 2B: What does the No Child Left Behind Act provide, and to what degree has it worked?
- "Details Emerge in British Terror Case" New York Times
- 29. Ernest R. May, "When Government Writes History, " Stinebrickner (ed)
- 10. Harold Hongju Koh, "On America’s Double Standard," Stinebrickner (ed) [Kim B] [PPT]
- Lecture Resources: Terrorism index | Essay |
- 2D: What are the causes and consequences of the London bomb plot of Aug. '06?
Issue 3A: Public Opinion on National Security, 5 Years After 9/11 Attacks. [Outlines]
- "Is America Ready? Former 9/11 Commission Co-Chair Lee Hamilton Answers ..." Newsweek, 11 Sep. '06[Kim T]
- Mike Allen, "Why Bush's Security Pitch May Not Work This Time." Time, 10 Sep. '06 [Rodger]
- Joe Klein, "The Middle is a Bad Place to Be," Time, 10 Sep. '06[Kim B] [PPT]
- New York Times Poll Watch index
- Robin Toner and Marjorie Connelly, "0/11 Polls Find Lingering Fears in New York City," NY Times, 7 Sep. '06 [Della B]
- Carl Hulse and Marjorie Connelly, "Poll Shows a Shift in Opinion on Iraq War", NY Times, 23 Aug. '06 [Twillia F]
- Linda Robinson, Men on a Mission: U.S. Special Forces are retooling for the war on terror. Here's their plan. US News, Sunday, 3 Sep. '06 [Twillia F]
- Also recommended, less central to this group's topic:
- Jay Tolson, Accepting 'The New Normal': We mourned, united, and adapted. But five years after 9/11, we are divided once again. US News, Sunday, 3 Sep. '06
- Michael Otten, "How We Remember," Time, 8 Sep. '06 [note: a personal memoir, less suitable for discussion]
- Sameer N. Yacoub, "65 Bodies Found in Latest Iraq Bloodshed," Associated Press via US News, 13 Sep '06. [see especially the second half comments on federalism]
Discussion and Critical Thinking Questions:
- How far has the public recovered from the 9/11 trauma?
- Has the public turned against the war in Iraq on principle -- or merely becuase it is causing too many casualties?
- Can the Republicans run for re-election on a national security platform, for the third time?
- How can a sample of only 1,200 Americans speak for nearly 300 million?
- Why does NYT/CBS give measures such as the margin of error and N (sample size)?
- Are the questions fairly worded, and the answer categories fairly offered?
- Are the polls factually explained?
- Are they contextually analyzed, beyond the simple facts?
Weekly Essay Questions: (due Sunday by 7pm; copy and paste your chosen question into your essay)
- 3A: How has US public opinion changed during the war post 9/11/01 against terrorism, and during the war in Iraq?
Issue 3B: Psychological issues: Education, Child Development and Torture [Outlines]
- Charles McGrath, "At 9.95 a Page, You Expected Poetry?" New York Times, Sun. 10 Sep. 2006.[Rodger]
- Nathan Thornburgh, "The Kidnapper's Trick", Time, 10 Sep. '06) [Kim B]
- Ron Susskind, "The Unofficial Story of the Al Qaeda 14: Their Torture by the CIA ...", Time, 10 Sep. '06 (see second half)[Cheryl R]
Discussion and Critical Thinking Questions:
- Is McGrath's article to be taken straight -- or is it ironic?
- To what degree is McGrath providing evidence that cheating has become overwhelming in the modern American classroom?
- Does it make a moral difference if purchased papers are really badly written and poorly prepared?
- Why would a kidnapped daughter turn against her parents?
- Will suspects reveal truth under torture, and is it ethical or successful to use torture against terrorists?
Weekly Essay Questions: (due Sunday by 7pm; copy and paste your chosen question into your essay) 3B: What do the articles by McGrath, Thornburgh and Susskind tell us about psychological manipulation? Issue 3C: Leadership Change in British Politics [Outlines] [note: for NY Times you may have to register first]
- Alan Cowell, "Brown Denies Role in British Political Coup" New York Times, Sun. 10 Sep. 2006.
- Alan Cowell, "Blair to leave office" New York Times, Sun. 10 Sep. 2006. [interactive mulitmedia feature for broadband connections]
- "Criticism Follows Blair’s Likely Successor Even as He Begins Discussing Policy Plans ," New York Times, (September 9, 2006)
- "An Uneasy Partnership in Britain ," New York Times, (September 8, 2006)
- "Blair to Give Up Post as Premier Within One Year ," New York Times, (September 8, 2006)
- "Pressure on Blair Mounts as 8 Aides Resign ," New York Times, (September 7, 2006)
Discussion and Critical Thinking Questions:
- How does the prime ministerial system differ from the presidential system?
- How do flexible or fixed terms of office affect politics?
- Given record election victories for Labour, why is Blair so unpopular within his party?
- Is the alliance with the US in Iraq enough to destroy the prime minister of UK?
Weekly Essay Questions: (due Sunday by 7pm; copy and paste your chosen question into your essay) 3C: What has Tony Blair accomplished, and why might he resign from the prime minister's position before the end of the parliamentary term?
Issue 4A: Election Campaign '06 [Outlines]
- Adam Nagourney, "In Campaign Ads for Democrats, Bush Is the Star", New York Times, 17 Sep. '06, [print version] [page version] [Rodger]
- Robert Pear, "The Ad Campaign: Is the Incumbent Too Close to Bush? Or Not Close Enough?", New York Times, 17 Sep. '06, with video box of CT 5th race with Nancy Johnson [print] [page version]
- Howard Fineman and Holly Bailey, "The Democratic Entourage: Can Rahm Emanuel deliver the House? Newsweek, 17 Sep. '06. [page version, with print button][Della B]
- Gallup Poll, 8 Sep. on salient issues (thanks, Kim Barnhart) [watch commercial to get article free]
Recommended (may be shown in class):
- NY Times videos online about Washington Politics [Online video]
- NY Times videos online TV spots in 2006 elections [Online video]
- Video ads by Democrats, New York Times [Online video]
- Adam Nagourney video about TV spots, NY Times [Online video]
- Adam Nagourney video, on Poll showing Lowest approval of Congress in decades, NY Times [Online video]
- Hillary Clinton for President '08, animated cartoon, '06. [Web Fun]
- JibJab 'Toons. [Web Fun]
Discussion and Critical Thinking Questions:
- Why are the Democrats highlighting President Bush in their campaigns?
- Will the highlighting of relations between Republicans and president Bush help or hurt Democrats in their 2006 campaigns?
- What do approval ratings mean, and does it matter if the president or congress have low approval?
- What is the purpose of a political campaign for a democracy?
- Do political TV spots have less policy content than the evening news -- or more?
- Is it wrong to attack your political opponent in a TV spot -- even if factually correct?
- Which is worse, a "warm fuzzy" spot without policy, or a "guilt by association" spot
Weekly Essay Questions: (due Sunday by 7pm; copy and paste your chosen question into your essay) 4A: Why are the Democrats highlighting Republicans' relations with president Bush in their campaigns, and will it work? Issue 4B: Islam's relations with the West [Outlines]
- Jeff Israely and Andrew Purvis, "The First Casualty of the Pope's Islam Speech", Time, 15 Sep. '06 [print version] [page version] Pope's recounting a mediaeval religious debate sets off stormy reactions in Turkey. [Kim T]
- [text of Pope's remarks] mediaeval quote in middle of discussion of reason in religious dialogue.
- Jon Meacham, "A Pope's Holy War", Newsweek, 17 Sep. '06 [page] similar to Time article above. [Kim B]
Discussion and Critical Thinking Questions:
- Did the Pope really make an offensive speech -- or was his remark taken out of context?
- Is muslim reaction to the Pope's speech a sign of raw sensitivity among muslims?
- What is the status of muslim opinion around the world towards US foreign policy?
Weekly Essay Questions: (due Sunday by 7pm; copy and paste your chosen question into your essay) 4B: Did the Pope really make an offensive speech -- or is it a sign of raw sensitivity among muslims? Issue 4C: War in Iraq and Possible War with Iran [Outlines] [Map of Iran]
- Michael Duffy, "What War With Iran Would Look Like", Time 15 Sep. '06 [may have to view an advertising screen to see this, print version] [page version w/graphics] Look for a scenario of the potential war with Iran, including difficulties of bunker busting, counter terrorism, and keeping open oil lanes in straits of Hormuz. [Rodger]
- Sally Donnelly, "Exclusive: The Soldier Who Led the Marine Squad in Haditha", Time, 17 Sep. '06 [print version, no graphics] [page version, with graphics] Sergeant who led squad accused of rampage against civilians discusses career, but unable to discuss the incident. [Kim B] [Slideshow PPT]
Discussion and Critical Thinking Questions:
- How difficult would it be for the US to destroy all nuclear capability in Iran?
- How could Iran retaliate against US strikes against its nuclear capability?
Weekly Essay Questions: (due Sunday by 7pm; copy and paste your chosen question into your essay) 4C: What is the risk of a war between the US and Iran, and what problems would there be in fighting such a war? Issue 4D: Corruption in democracies [Outlines]
- Adam Zagorin, "Who's the Next Target in the Abramoff Probe?", Time, 15 Sep. '06 [print] [page version] Look for the scale of investigations nationwide.
- Edward Wong and Paul von Zielbauer, "Iraq Stumbling in Bid to Purge Its Rogue Police", New York Times, 17 Sep. '06, print version] [page version] -- may require free registration. Look for the scale of issues in corruption in Iraq. [Twillia F]
Discussion and Critical Thinking Questions:
- What is the difference between bribery and merely accepting gratuities?
- How powerful is the Representative accused in the scandal?
- How serious are the charges?
- How widespread is the problem in the federal congress?
- Are the Republicans now in power "cleaner" than the 50-year democrat majority used to be?
- What are the problems of corruption in Iraq's police?
- How do the problems of Iraq's new police force compare with corruption issues in the US?
Weekly Essay Questions: (due Sunday by 7pm; copy and paste your chosen question into your essay) 4D: Compare the issues of corruption in democracies found in this agenda section. Issue 4E: Rising women [Outlines] Discussion and Critical Thinking Questions:
- Do these cases have anything in common: role model, education, skills -- that propelled them to success?
- Do these examples indicate that discrimination against women formerly was a major factor holding back women from career success?
Weekly Essay Questions
- 4E: Is there any cause of female success in common among these examples -- or is this just a celebrity feature?
Conclusions and review of course 1 Credit