US vs Iraq (Article and YouTube Website)

The article I researched focused on how the marines would prefer to move their forces out of Iraq and into Afghanistan. This would mean that the Army would be transported to fight the Iraq war while the Marines would take over for the Army and handle the situation in Afghanistan. U.S. officials agree that this tactic would be more effective for both forces as it continues to fight against terrorists. As of October 11th 2007 there was no Marine troops in Afghanistan and there were about 26,000 Marines in Iraq. This idea of bringing Marines into Afghanistan would relieve the pressure on the Army. Also, the Marines are more of a lethal force when it comes to combat and air force showing no mercy to the enemy.
(http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/11/washington/11military.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&ref=world)

The youtube video that I found was a very interesting video. It displayed the U.S. Marines Air Force at work. It shows a great montage of various shots of U.S. aircrafts over Iraq, all this happening to the tune of “Liberate” by the rock band, Disturbed. Also, the video shows us some U.S. forces fighting not only in the air but on the ground as well. This video although short and high in intensity, brings the viewer into the real world of what life is like in Iraq for U.S. forces fighting the battle for all Americans.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uVnN_KBVVQ)

Israel Lobby

I was not able to read this entire article but from what I did get read made me kind of upset and confused. For part of this article it talks about how the United States feeds Israel three billion dollars each year. 25 percent of that money, it is stated that Israel basically does whatever it wants with it. We have even provided them with three billion dollars to develop weapons systems! Now, I understand that Israel was at one point our ally against nations like Russia and China but this is insane. Has America forgotten that these kinds of people put our nation in a state of panic by killing innocent Americans and destroying our Twin Towers in New York? But, we are providing them with money for defense and F-16 jets, how does this make sense? Isn’t America supposed to be number one in defense against any other nation? Why are we providing and coming to the aid of people that have tried to strike fear into the heart of America? Washington D.C. needs to start thinking clearly and realize that we are actually supporting this country’s war of terror. For God sakes Israel along with other nations have spies on the inside learning the secrets behind America’s defense strategies. This article lit a fire within me because as a natural born American I feel as though we are hypothetically shooting ourselves in the foot. We need to break ties with them effective immediately.

Jimmy Carter

To be honest I do not enjoy reading about the Middle East in any way, shape, or form. Yet, I did not mind Jimmy Carter’s Palestine Peace Not Apartheid. In a way it read as though President Jimmy Carter was present and was speaking to me. The timeline was not very interesting because I had no prior knowledge of the specific dates that were listed. Besides that part of the reading the rest of the chapters actually kept my interest. Carter describes how he met with many people from either Israel or Palestine. I know it’s not just me but it would be difficult to open your door and invite a foreigner especially one from the Middle East into your home. Jimmy Carter, who was the President at the time, graciously invited these people into his home (the white house). He ate and discussed certain issues with these people from the Middle East. The book also explains some of President Carter’s and his wife’s journeys throughout the Middle East. Their was one example where the First Lady at the time went to a hospital and they were not allow to use the ambulances because of the strict rules that were being enforced. I am extremely thankful that I live in America. We have all the freedom that the Middle East does not. I know it goes along with the song, but I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free. After reading all of the required chapters, I learned that the Israelis basically isolated Palestine. The maps in some of the chapters helped me to visually understand what I was reading about. Overall, not a horrible read but I wouldn’t go as far as to refer to it as a New York Times bestseller.

The Koran

This text called the Koran is the main source of religious guidance in the Islamic culture. As soon as I began to read part of this text I discovered names I have read in the Bible before. Names such as God, the prophet, and Adam were mentioned in the Koran. It is stated that the Koran focuses not on the story of religious events but rather the importance of them. Also, instead of praying to God like Christians do, the Koran reverts to Muhammad. I had a difficult time understanding what I was reading from the Koran.

Orientalism

After reading the article on Orientalism on the Wikipedia site I discovered that this study has many theories regarding its origins. It supposedly is the study of Eastern cultures but through peoples of the West. I’m confused by what this article is trying to achieve. If this statement were in fact true then why would people from the West travel all the way to study the cultures of the East. Back then, automobiles and other modes of transportation were not available. It seems like a strenuous hike to one part of the world to another on foot.
I personally, do not know much about the Middle East and or of its cultures. What I do know has come from films and or the news. In some sense, Orientalism reminds me a little bit of the Renaissance era, a time of artistic and literary expression.
Edward Said, the American-Palestinian is claimed to have paved the way for understanding of the Middle East.