Monday, March 16, 2020

How US Foreign Aid is Used in Foreign Policy

How US Foreign Aid is Used in Foreign Policy US foreign aid is an essential part of American foreign policy. The U.S. extends it to developing nations and for military or disaster assistance. The United States has used foreign aid since 1946. With annual expenditures in the billions of dollars, it is also one of the most controversial elements of American foreign policy. Background of American Foreign Aid Western allies learned the lesson of foreign aid after World War I. Defeated Germany received no help restructuring its government and economy after the war. In an unstable political climate, Nazism grew in the 1920s to challenge the Weimar Republic, Germanys legitimate government, and ultimately replace it. Of course, World War II was the result. After World War II, America feared Soviet communism would creep into destabilized, war-torn regions as Nazism had done earlier. To counter that, the United States immediately pumped $12 billion dollars into Europe. Congress then passed the European Recovery Plan (ERP), more commonly known as the Marshall Plan, named after Secretary of State George C. Marshall. The plan, which would distribute another $13 billion over the next five years, was the economic arm of President Harry Trumans plan to combat the spread of communism. The United States continued to use foreign aid throughout the Cold War as a way to keep nations out of the communist Soviet Unions sphere of influence. It has also regularly disbursed humanitarian foreign aid in the wake of disasters. Types of Foreign Aid The United States divides foreign aid into three categories: military and security assistance (25 percent of yearly expenditures), disaster and humanitarian relief (15 percent), and economic development assistance (60 percent). The United States Army Security Assistance Command (USASAC) manages military and security elements of foreign aid. Such aid includes military instruction and training. USASAC also manages the sales of military equipment to eligible foreign nations. According to the USASAC, it now manages 4,000 foreign military sales cases worth an estimated $69 billion. The Office of Foreign Disaster Administration handles disaster and humanitarian aid cases. Disbursements vary annually with the number and nature of global crises. In 2003, United States disaster aid reached a 30-year peak with $3.83 billion in aid. That amount included relief resulting from Americas March 2003 invasion of Iraq. USAID administers economic development aid. Assistance includes infrastructure construction, small-enterprise loans, technical assistance, and budget support for developing nations. Top Foreign Aid Recipients U.S. Census reports for 2008 indicate the top five recipients of American foreign aid that year were: Afghanistan, $8.8 billion ($2.8 billion economic, $6 billion military)Iraq, $7.4 billion ($3.1 billion economic, $4.3 billion military)Israel, $2.4 billion ($44 million economic, $2.3 billion military)Egypt, $1.4 billion ($201 million economic, $1.2 billion military)Russia, $1.2 billion (all of it economic aid) Israel and Egypt have usually topped the recipient list. Americas wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and its efforts to rebuild those areas while countering terrorism have put those countries at the top of the list. Criticism of American Foreign Aid Critics of American foreign aid programs claim that they do little good. They are quick to note that while economic aid is intended for developing countries, Egypt and Israel certainly do not fit that category. Opponents also argue that American foreign aid is not about development, but rather propping up leaders who comply with Americas wishes, regardless of their leadership abilities. They charge that American foreign aid, especially military aid, simply props up third-rate leaders who are willing to follow Americas wishes. Hosni Mubarak, ousted from the Egyptian presidency in February 2011, is an example. He followed through on his predecessor Anwar Sadats normalization of relations with Israel, but he did little good for Egypt. Recipients of foreign military aid have also turned against the United States in the past. Osama bin Laden, who used American aid to fight Soviets in Afghanistan in the 1980s, is a prime example. Other critics maintain that American foreign aid merely ties truly developing nations to the United States and does not enable them to stand on their own. Rather, they argue, promoting free enterprise within and free trade with those countries would serve them better.

Friday, February 28, 2020

Twin Turbo Engine Repair Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Twin Turbo Engine Repair - Research Paper Example A twin turbo engine is that type of engine which has two such turbo chargers installed at its intake manifold. Twin turbo chargers can be used for in parallel (to increase the amount of charge) or sequential (to increase the pressure of charge) operation. Examples of cars using such engines are Toyota Supra and BMW N54 etc. The current paper addresses one of the major repair problems for a twin turbo engine. Overhauling a Turbocharger: Most of the turbocharger users prefer to replace the whole turbocharger assembly in case of a fault. This is because of the complexities that arise during the repair of the assembly. The most important challenge during a turbocharger repair arises due to the small size of the components. This makes the vital parts such as bearings, turbine and compressor blades, seals etc. inaccessible for the repairer. Specialized tooling is required to perform most of the operations which is not readily available. All the operations from checking bearing play to misa lignment of the components require special expertise. However, we shall discuss here the challenges that arise while cleaning the insides of a turbocharger in a twin turbo engine. In a normal engine overhaul, engine degreasers are used to clean the insides of the engine and make it spot free.

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Ancient world artifacts Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Ancient world artifacts - Research Paper Example It was during this civilization that important inventions such as the wheel, the art of writing and communication, and the development and construction of cities were made (Pollock, 1999, Pp.3). The civilization flourished between 4000 – 1200 B.C., although the development and settlement of civilizations began as far back as in the 7000 B.C.E. during which the ancient Mesopotamians first learned to farm and herd cattle for livelihood (Armstrong, 2002, Pp.1). The artifacts studied for the purpose of this paper, include: The Sickle sword and the Cylinder seal with modern impression of a winged horse, both of which belong to the middle Assyrian period. The Assyrians were known for their cuneiform writings / inscriptions on clay as well as other instruments. The cruciform form of writing was a way developed during this period to record history and is found in several historiographic documents during this period (Thomason, 2005, Pp. 51). Overview of the Objects:? i) The Sickle Swor d 13th Century B.C. Middle Assyrian Period Source: www.metmuseum.org This curved sword belonged to the Middle Assyrian period, during the 1307 - 1275 B.C. in Mesopotamia. It is made of bronze and contains cuneiform inscriptions on it which mentions the name of the then ruler and King of Assyraia, thus indicating the period and the owner to whom it belongs. The sword has inscriptions on three different places i.e. on both the sides of the blade as well as on the edge / handle. It is called a ‘sickle’ sword because of its unusual curved shape (Bromiley, 1995, Pp. 1037). In ancient Mesopotamia almost all the swords used were sickle shaped and in fact, straight edged swords came into use much later after the end of the first millennium B.C.E. The unique quality about these sickle shaped swords was that they were considered to be very effective for slashing, rather than stabbing during warfare and the shape made it easier to harm the enemy (Bertman, 2003, Pp. 264; Bromiley, 1995). Another quality of these swords was that it was made from one single piece of metal, thus eliminating the need to attach a handle separately, which made it sturdier than the other types of swords (Gabriel, 1990, Pp. 44). The sickle sword first appeared during the Middle Bronze Age II in various places throughout Mesopotamia. It was believed to be an improvement from the battle axe which was used during the previous years. It was used during the reign of the Assyrian king Adadnirari I (Shalev, 2004, Pp. 55). ii.) Cylinder seal, 13th century B.C. Middle Assyrian period Source: www.metmuseum.org, Somervill, 2009, Pp. 22 These seals or 'stamps' were used during the middle Assyrian period as a way of stamping / signing important documents. The cylindrical object i.e. the pipe shaped objects were used to identify individuals. These seals were carved from various materials such as wood, limestone, ivory, and other similar hard materials / stones. The carving on each of these seals / stamps was unique just like signatures. The seals were used for marking goods, letters and for signing official documents. These cylinders first appeared during the 3500 B.C.E and were used continuously throughout the Assyrian period (Somervill, 2009, Pp. 22). These seals were considered to be one of the finest artifacts as well as a significant achievement of the ancient Mesopotamian civilization. The cylinder seals were first created by the Sumerians and were used in the

Friday, January 31, 2020

Art Movements Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Art Movements - Essay Example Han dynasty is one of the most prestigious dynasties in China. Confucianism and Daoism became official religions during this era. Confucian and Daoist teachings of immortality and nobility and uprightness of the human soul influenced artists during the Han dynasty to predominantly paint human figures and scenes of daily social life. Zen artists view art as a representation of the essence, â€Å"the eternal qualities of an object.† This is already existent even before the artist arrives. His job therefore is to suggest by the simplest possible means the inherent nature of an aesthetic object. The economy of means is important to convey the purity and simplicity of the eternal nature of an object. His aim is not to create an illusion of reality, as what western artist does, but rather to produce something that makes one think beyond reality towards the essence of reality. Though seemingly simple, creating the abstract representation of the innate essence of the object requires t ime and patience. After the comprehending the essence of an object, an artist can effortlessly and spontaneously paint his masterpiece. Stupas represent the Buddhist belief that they can also achieve the enlightenment that Buddha achieved in his lifetime. The monument which is composed of parts represents the elements that would lead to enlightenment, is an edifice that would make Buddhist connected with their goal of enlightenment. Art, in this case, is a tool to remember the spiritual aims and purpose of man. Set B 1.) Modernism is an art trend that stresses the power of human beings to create, improve, and reshape their environment, with the aid of scientific knowledge, technology and practical experimentation. Many of the previous movements had failed to realize their goals. Painters of the 19th century believed that art should present images that contain and reflect moral and ethical values for others to emulate (Witcombe). However as scientific breakthroughs provided a possibility of debunking conservative values, a new, progressive world order emerged. From Neoclassicism, Romanticism, and Realism all of which portrayed life as it is, Modern art, focusing on possibilities, emerged. 2.) Most of the American painters during the 19th century were trained and worked in European countries. The

Thursday, January 23, 2020

Business Research Reactions of Employees to Performance Appraisal Essay

Appraisal Attitudes of employees towards performance appraisal system of a Transport and Contracting Company. 1.0 Introduction After the selection process the next formal assessment of the individual employee is the performance appraisal. Most organizations recognize that there is a need to monitor the effectiveness of their employees and to promote avenues for their improvement. Enormous amounts of time, energy and money have gone into the development of performance appraisal systems, but their successful implementation rests with the supervisors and managers who carry out the appraisal. Ultimately all human resource matters are matters of subjective judgment and the available research evidence suggests that assessors give more accurate ratings when they are not shown to employees and the final outcome does not involve promotion decisions. Assessors are often fearful of the negative impact of their appraisal on the individual?s pay, promotion and on the job security, as well as its potential to damage or even destroy a previously excellent working relationship. In the past most of the attention has focused on the development of appropriate measuring device and rating scales. However recent trends indicate a shift in emphasis from the procedures to the process and the dynamics of the supervisor-subordinate relationship. Employee development must be an ongoing process if organization is to retain its capacity to respond to the challenges of the future. It is an investment which pays off in the survival and growth of the organization. Employee development can only be effective if it is based on needs identified during the performance appraisal. The potentially relevant research for performance appraisal is very ... ...t will add to existing Knowledge? Existing literature and research reports that I have read concentrates more on to: use of rating in appraisal, ethical dilemmas facing performance evaluators and employees, comparing performance appraisal with total quality management, relationship between motivation and job satisfaction of the employee to the performance appraisal and relationship between productivity and performance appraisal. Since appraisal is done by a human, it can create serious motivational, ethical and legal problems in the workplace. Appraiser sometime tend to judge the work performance of others including subordinates, naturally, informally and arbitrarily. Here lie the roots for changing of attitudes of employees. In my research it will concentrate on the current working environment and the effect of determination of the issues by employees.

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Colonialism and Slavery

Colonialism and Slavery â€Å"l hate imperialism. I detest colonialism. And I fear the consequences of their last bitter struggle for life. We are determined, that our nation, and the world as a whole, shall not be the play thing of one small corner of the world. † (Sukarno) When it comes to taking over another country, the selfish reasons behind it cloud the minds of the colonizers into thinking that what they are doing is to the advantage of the victims.The lived experience of Okonkwo and Linda challenges the argument that defenders of colonialism and slavery made by proving that the colonizers trying to civilize and ring Christianity to the colonized countries worsened their lives instead of improving them by pushing out their culture and religion, and physically and mentally abusing them; through discovering the reasons for colonialism, then comparing them to the stories of Okonkwo and Linda the truth of what colonialism said it was doing and what it actually was doing to a colonized or slave person. There are many reasons why colonialism and slavery have thrived for many years.Westerners wanted to beat the competitor within the Western countries. White upremacy is a major advocate in the onslaught of colonialism. The idea of racial entitlement and genetic inferiority is what pushes the movement of imperialism. Blatantly narcissistic gauges of the worth of non-European peoples – skin color, fashions in or lack of clothing – receded in importance; measurements of cranial capacity, estimates of railway mileage, and the capacity for work, discipline, and marking time became the decisive criteria by which Europeans Judges other cultures and celebrated the superiority of their own. Adas, 146) Europeans considered all ther cultures â€Å"uncivilized† and wanted to bring to them the idea of modernity. No other culture lives up to the mindset of European culture and they know that and use that to their advantage.

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Cognitive Observation - 1488 Words

Method Media Used: Narrative, Pen and paper Time: Started 1.00pm Finished 1.10pm Number of Children Present: 4 Number of Adults Present: 2(including myself) Ages of children observed: 2:6 years 2:8 years 3 years 6.5 years Aim Rationale of observation: My aim while carrying out this observation was to observe a group of children, specifically the 2nd youngest child, aged 2yrs 8 months and his cognitive response to an activity involving numeracy. The type of cognitive skill I was looking for is what cognitive developmental stage children need to be at to be able to conserve and my colleague used Piaget’s Conservation Test involving Numbers to determine this. Background Information I am using†¦show more content†¦At this stage of development a child is more capable cognitively to conserve. Piaget considered the concrete stage a major turning point in the childs cognitive development because it marks the beginning of logical or operational thought. The child is now mature enough, cognitively, to use logical thought or operations (i.e. rules) but can only apply logic to physical objects (hence concrete operational). Children become less egocentric and better at conservation tasks. This means that the child understands that although the appearance of something changes, the thing itself does not. For example, if you take two pieces of string that are the same length and scrunch one up, a child will reply that the scrunched one is shorter, if conservation hasnt yet been reached. The other two children, aged 2.6 years and 3 years were still also in the Pre Operational Stage of development and so neither were at the cognitive development stage to enable them to conserve. Personal Learning: I found after carrying out this observation that children respond very well on a one to one basis, i.e. when the teacher was asking each individual child the questions relating to the Conservation test they all responded well and enjoyed the activity. I feel they felt they really belonged, therefore I was able to piece together the Aistear theme of Identity and BelongingShow MoreRelatedChild Observation : Cognitive And Language Development1711 Words   |  7 Pages Child observation: #1 Cognitive and Language development Introduction: Name of the child: CJ Age: 2yrs and 10months (34 months) Date of observation: 6/19/2016 Time: 2.40pm to 4.40pm Context: Observation took place in their home. The living room dimension is approximately 16 x 20 feet, giving enough room for movement. On entering the living room, on the east corner is a 50-inch television and to the west is the dining set. 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