Syria’s government says it has driven the Islamic State out of Palmyra

Is the Syrian government captivity of Palmyra a step forward for the Syrian government? Why is Palmyra so important?

On Sunday March 27, 2016, the Syrian government seized the Palmyra, a UNESCO world heritage site known for its Roman-era ruins, from the Islamic State also known as ISIS. The Syrian government were able to do this thanks to the Russian’s help. The Russians withdrew troops, but Russian warplanes stayed in Syria. Putin, the Russian President, called al-Assad, the Syrian President, to congratulate him on this victory. “Taking the city helps clear a path for pro-government forces to possibly push on to Raqqa, the city in eastern Syria that is the Islamic State’s self-declared capital”. The Syrian state-run television reports the pro-government forces victory and eliminating ISIS from Palmyra. However, and activist and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group, state that even though many of the ISIS’s militants withdrew, there are still clashes in the northeastern part of Palmyra. ISIS have destroyed many historical monuments just like Palmyra. The recapture of Palmyra means that ISIS is weakening in Iraq and Syria by Assad fighters and U.S.-backed Kurdish and Arab forces. Syrian has received support from both Russia and United States even though they are supporting different sides of this conflict, but share the same enemy, which are the Islamic State.

The Syrian Civil War is one of the most confusing conflicts. For example, my above statement, Russia and the United States fought the same enemy even though for their own different reason. The United States are supporting the Kurds and some Arab forces from the rebels, while Russia support pro-Assad fighters. Both, US and Russia, have an interest for ISIS to go down. This was supposing to be an Arab Spring uprising; the people rebelled against the dictator and wanted democracy. However, it looks more now like a proxy war because this conflict brought regional and global power. Its really hard for other countries to stay away. For example, this Syrian conflict has created a lot of Syrian refugees to migrate especially to Europe and other countries near by. These migrations are changing the dynamic of the country; for example, some countries do not have the resources and the money to maintain all these new comers? Religion is also involved in this war. On the Shia side are the Syrian government, Iran, and Russia  support and the other side are the rebels, the Gulf states supporting, and Turkey, on the Sunni side. Additionally, there is ISIS who have strong Islamic beliefs and have strong ideas against Western ideologies and lifestyle. There are many reasons now for this conflict than what it originally was intended. 

The recapture of Palmyra means Hope for the Syrian government, but it can also just mean just a battle won. I believe ISIS is intelligent enough to know to back down, when it is outnumbered. Come on now, the US trained some of the ISIS members. The whole Syrian conflict is saddening because innocent people are dying and there is a lot of destruction just like in Palmyra. This Syrian conflict is become very confusing with many different reason toward this chaos. Its time people start looking for peace and making agreements.

Thoughts on the landing of Air Force One in Havana

Why is the Obama family visit to Cuba such an important event? What historical context is involved? Why is this event relevant today and what does the Obama visit mean?

            This historical event of the Obama’s visiting Cuba is important because it is opening door for both sides. However, the Cuban population are divided on the Obama visit. Some Cubans fear and are “overwhelmed by the Colossus from the North” and believe that the USA will try to interfere in the countries affairs. Additionally, Cubans are worried that the something could go wrong, for example, Obama having a misinterpretation of the Cuban history. The other side, the majority side, are excited about the visit and believe this visit could benefit the country. If the trip successful, there will be more tourism, trade between both countries, and travel freely among both countries. These Cubans view the economic prosperity of having relations with the USA. If there is trade, Cuba can get some of the popular U.S. brand products; if these is U.S. investment, there will be good jobs and better wages jobs. Obama’s visit is being contained and controlled by the Cuban government. There would be no large outdoor speech, but a small one with hand-picked people in the audience.  Obama can meet with local entrepreneurs, however, it has to be private. Feinberg discusses that President Obama was the right President to visit Cuba because he is humble, respectful, and sense of irony. The prediction of this visit is that it will be successful.

            The historical context is very important for analyzing the meaning of Obama’s visit to Cuba because of the Cold War. Cuba allied with the Soviet Union and had missiles directed to the USA. There is also the tension over democracy vs. communism. USA showed its imperialist power in history especially in Latin America. For example, in El Salvador civil war was a Communist Party trying to overthrow the Salvadorian government. The United States intervened by aiding the government to stop the spread of Communism. The USA wanted to prevent another Cuba in Latin America.  I understand the fear of some of the Cubans that believe that the USA will be this imperialist country that will try to control them. History has shown that the USA tend to do that; for example, the creation of the Panama Canal. The USA built the Panama Canal because it benefited the USA. I just hope that history can stay history and these two countries can move forward. I feel like both countries can benefit. Cuba would be able to invest with a great power like the USA. The USA will not be left behind on world invest and affairs because it is trying to amend relations with Cuba. I also truly believe Obama was the best President to go to Cuba. He is very humble and being a minority, he can relate to the people. Overall, I also predict relations with the USA and Cuba will improve.

Homemade guns used in Palestinian attacks on Israelis

The first map portrays how the Palestinian and Israelis are divided and how Israel is surrounded by many Arabs nation. The second map portrays how the Palestinian loss of land has evolved since 1947. Could it be possible that maybe Israel could take over the whole territory and expel the Palestinians? 

Why is this homemade gun issue important in Israel?  What measures are the Israeli security service taking to prevent or cease the production of these homemade guns? How do today conflicts relate to imperial history?

In Israel, the usage of the homemade guns, in particular the “Carl Gustav” or “Carlo” submachine guns, have increased in attack by Palestinians toward the Israelis. These guns are being made at small metal shops These guns are very cheap compared to the expensive modern machine guns. The advantage of these guns is that these guns do not have serial numbers so it makes it difficult to trace.  Since October 2015, there have been 68 shooting with the usage of these homemade guns. The attackers are using these guns to attack Israeli soldiers at checkpoint or for example, the Damascus gate of Jerusalem’s Old City. “Concern over the increasing use of the weapons has prompted a drive in recent weeks by the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and Israeli army to break up production of the homemade guns”.  The Israeli security services are raiding to try to seize as many homemade gun as possible. There is a video that portrays the Shin Bet raiding home and finding these homemade guns wrapped around cloths and hidden behind plasters in a ceiling. Additionally, the officers are arresting gunsmiths that are making and selling these types of guns.  The Israel police spokesman has even stated that these guns are getting close to being “military grade” weapon. The Shin Bets have been aware of these weapons since 2012, but they paid little attention to them because they did not think the Palestinian and Arabic-Israelis would use it on the Israeli. Violence is increasing in Israel.

            Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one of the most historical and still present issue in the Middle East. “The roots of this lie in the rise of secularism and nationalism in Europe during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, which transformed the ways many Jews conceived of themselves. Traditionally, Jewish identity had been rooted in pre-Christian Rome’s expulsion of thousands of Jews from the province of Palestine (British colonized) I n136 CE, following a revolt against imperial domination” (Anderson, p.352). Israel is a Jewish nation surrounded by a lot of Islamic nations. Why would the Jews want to stay in a place that is surrounded by people that are not like them? Israel is their homeland; their religion history is in Israel. This conflict is another example of how imperial power has left conflict and no solution. I understand both sides of the argument. The Palestinians have already been settled there when the Jews want to come back. However, the Jews were there first and were expelled. These groups want their own nation. The imperial power has controlled them and now they want to have their own place. If only these two groups could get along, so people will not create homemade guns and attack one another; its like they have their own terrorist groups miles away. I just can’t believe how much hatred both ends of both groups have toward each other. This article was on how Palestinians are attacking the Israelis, but so are the Israelis attacking the Palestinians.  My main question on this Israeli-Palestinian conflict is: Will there ever be peace in Israel/Palestine? Could they ever resolve their issues?

Sources for Map:
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5574/14924511545_a9911aae4a_o.png
http://www.datemplate.com/postpic/2009/11/israel-political-map_423941.png

Anderson, Sheldon. "International Studeis: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Global Issues". Colorado. 2015. Westview Press. Print.