Despite beheadings, US against hostage ransoms Sep 17 Unit 2

http://news.yahoo.com/despite-beheadings-us-against-hostage-ransoms-173454277.html

Even though ISIS has been making multiple threats and taking credit of executions, the U.S. is staying strong to their idea of not negotiating with terrorist.  The French have reportedly made deals with them recently and this has frustrated Obama and many other countries.  The idea that some countries are giving into terrorism is a sign of strength for ISIS.  This is why we can't do it.  That is the idea.

While that theory of not negotiating makes since the hostages that have been taken also have a right to be defended by the government.  Is it right to just doom the hostages to their death? No, of course not, but what else can we do.  Is there ever a right time to negotiate?  Earlier in the year 5 Taliban detainees were exchanged for 1 U.S. Sergeant.  Is this not a form of negotiation.  What made this ok, but it isn't ok to exchange money for journalist.

Obama vows U.S. will not fight another ground war in Iraq Sep. 17 Unit 2

http://news.yahoo.com/obama-vows-u-not-fight-another-ground-war-163703817.html

Recently President Obama has vowed that any military sent to Iraq will not lead to another ground war in Iraq.  He said "The American forces that have been deployed to Iraq do not and will not have a combat mission."  The troops sent will be there to help train, assist, and equip our partners.  He wants to lead a broad coalition of countries.

Many people have  issues with this idea.  To me if there are troops assisting in Iraq then they will end up actually doing some of the fighting.  Obama says that he can make exceptions, but that he will make decisions case by case.  This just seems too close and I think it would be too easy just to let things get out of hand.

Then you get into the question of whether our troops should be fighting on the ground.  Robert Gates, former U.S. defense secretary doesn't think we can be successful just fighting in the air and giving assistance.  Some people are saying that we should try and deal with the problem right now instead of letting it go on for longer.  Should we get into another full on war in Iraq?  Are we already at war or is it inevitable?

Link to the beating of disabled man

http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/08/us/viral-videos---beating-arrest/index.html?hpt=us_c2

Teens charged after videos of mentally disabled man being beaten go viral Sep. 10 Unit 1

Several videos went viral showing a disabled man getting beat by a group of teenagers in Delaware.  The man suffers from neurodevelopmental disorder.  One of the videos shows the man being beaten by the teens and ridiculed by them.  The mans family says that he had thought of the teens as his friends and now he is suffering emotionally and physically.  The teens are being charged with misdemeanors and the local schools have promised proper punishment for those that were involved.

It is obvious that certain actions are required when an incident like this occurs.  These teens need to be punished for what they have done.  The question is how far do you go into punishing them though.  If you go to far then you completely ruin these kids future and that would put them at high risk of causing even more/worse trouble later in their lifes.  One of the kids that turned himself in was only 14.  What would be the limit to how far we can go to punishing them?

Obama delays next round of amnesty orders until after election sep. 8 Unit 1

http://humanevents.com/2014/09/08/obama-delays-next-round-of-amnesty-orders-until-after-election/

Recently president Obama has decided to delay his plans to fix the order problems.  He felt like it would be a better idea to wait until after the 2014 elections to address the issue of illegal immigrants.  While the president said he wanted to do this in a way that was best for the country and would be the most long lasting.  The truth is that he doesn't want to make a decision that would hurt his party before the upcoming elections.

An issue that I have with this decision is that it seems kind of like the president is procrastinating a tough decision.  Our country is having a major crisis with border control and everybody knows it.  Earlier in the year Obama had promised the border states that he would attend to the issue before the end of summer.  Time is up and nothing has happened, and now he is delaying it until after the elections in November.  To relate this to class, some people consider Obamas earlier executive order for amnesty was considered by many as an abuse to his power.  Should the President have the power to hand out citizenship.