1. Can the recent U.S. border security plan effectively stop smuggling along the U.S.-Mexican border?
2. Will the Employee Free Choice Act pass the Senate?
3. Why did the Czech government collapse?
4. Will Michael Bloomberg win a third term as New York City mayor?
5. What grade does Great Britain deserve for its anti-terror strategy?
6. Will the creation of a Labor-Likud governing coalition force the Kadima party to join a national unity government?
7. Should the U.S. government aid failing newspapers?
8. Should the Kurdistan Regional Government work closer with Turkey to cripple the PKK?
9. Will the AIG bonus debacle give the GOP a winning issue for the 2010 midterms?
10. Why is 2009 looking grim for the airline industry?
Category: International Extemp Page 50 of 56
1. Should AIG be forced to give back their bonuses?
2. Will Madgascar’s political situation get worse?
3. How serious should the saber rattling between North Korea and South Korea be taken?
4. Will tight economic times prompt states to abolish the death penalty?
5. What insight does the appointment of David Hamilton to the U.S. Court of Appeals give about Obama’s judicial philosophy?
6. Is the Vatican’s stance on condom use counterproductive to AIDS prevention efforts in Africa?
7. How can Israel secure the release of Gilad Shalit?
8. Is increased U.S. intervention in the Mexican drug war a good idea?
9. Will Vermont become the third state to allow same-sex marriage?
10. Should the U.S. be worried about its growing national debt burden?
1. Will the arrest warrant for Omar al-Bashir eventually lead to the disintegration of the CPA?
2. Are North Korea’s threats of war to be taken seriously?
3. Will the recent violence in Northern Ireland weaken Sinn Fein’s leadership?
4. What are the chances of an Israeli-Syrian peace accord by the end of the year?
5. Is it time for America to end the war on drugs?
6. Should America’s school day be longer?
7. Is Rush Limbaugh the most powerful figure in the Republican Party?
8. Will the EPA’s attempt to require major U.S. industries to measure greenhouse gasses hurt the economy?
9. Should the U.S. government quit bailing out AIG?
10. Why is Obama facing Congressional resistance to his budget proposals?
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued its largest arrest warrant to date when last Wednesday they targeted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity for actions that have taken place in Sudan’s Darfur region from 2003-2008. Bashir is alleged to have provided support and ordered the violence in that region of the country which has left over 300,000 people dead and displaced up to 2.5 million people. Due to the actions of Sudan’s Arab population in killing blacks farmers in Darfur, there has also been charges of genocide leveled against Bashir’s regime, although the ICC decided not to issue an arrest warrant with that charge attached.
The arrest warrant against Bashir marks the first time that a sitting head of state has been charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes in world history. Supporters of the ICC hail this as a milestone in international justice, as it shows world leaders that they are not immune from prosecution for their acts against civilians or enemies in combat zones. Opponents of the ICC say that the arrest warrant will only further inflame disputes in Sudan and that Bashir will never be tried before the court.
This brief will break down a brief history of the ICC, so that extempers can best understand the circumstances behind the arrest warrant, explain why the arrest warrant was issued, and look into some implications for what the arrest warrant may mean for Sudan’s tenuous political situation and for future world leaders who could be targeted by the court.
1. Does Obama’s current push for universal healthcare have a better chance at succeeding that Bill Clinton’s attempt?
2. Should Russia be willing to exchange support for actions against Iran for U.S. abandonment of a missile defense shield in Europe?
3. Was Hillary Clinton’s announcement that she plans to press for a Palestinian state bad for Israel?
4. Is Zardari hold on Pakistan weakening?
5. Should the U.S. pay more attention to Mexico drug problem?
6. What changes should be made when No Child Left Behind is reauthorized?
7. Will more planned education spending by the Obama administration improve the quality of American schools?
8. Should Minnesota re-run its Senate election?
9. Will the recent lawsuit filed by gay rights advocates for federal benefits lead to DOMA being declared unconstitutional?
10. Is it wise to let the Bush tax cuts expire?
1. Is it wise for Republican governors to reject stimulus money?
2. Should Kadima enter into a Netanyahu-led Israeli government?
3. Would a nationalization of some major U.S. banks be good for the economy?
4. By the end of 2009 will the U.S. still have an embargo on Cuba?
5. Do fertility clinics need more oversight?
6. Can Obama cut the budget deficit in half by the end of his first term?
7. Should the U.S. government encourage Uribe to run for a third term?
8. Was Hillary Clinton’s recent tour of Asia a success?
9. Is China’s purchase in global companies over the last month wise?
10. Should Burris resign?
Should China continue to buy U.S. debt?
How will a Netanyahu-led Israeli government alter U.S. foreign policy in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
Will the Sri Lankan governments fight against the Tamil Tiger soon degenerate into a guerilla war?
How can Mexico get its drug violence under control?
Are Saudi reforms too late?
Why is Chile’s government best able to stimulate its economy than other countries in Latin America?
Should Chavez’s victory in Venezuela frighten other Latin American leaders?
Is the trial of Tuol Sleng good for Cambodia?
Will improved Iraqi Kurdish relations with Turkey pave the way for the creation of a Kurdish state?
Is Ukraine headed for a debt default?
Does Iraq need a strong central government or a more decentralized model?
What happened to Club Med?
Can Labour win an election with Gordon Brown at the helm?
Should the ICC look into indicting CIA officials for abuses of prisoners held in the war on terrorism?
How is Italy doing as leader of the G7?|
What government or organization should take up the cause of policing international waters against pirates?
Will the ICC be successful in obtaining an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir?
Why are European companies rushing to rebuild Iraq?
Will a cease-fire continue in the Swat region of Pakistan?
How is China benefitting from a global fire sale?
Was Hillary Clinton successful in reenergizing key US ties to Asia on her recent visit?
Will Tzipi Livni join Benjamin Netanyahu?
Will Benjamin Netanyahu be forced into a centrist stance in order to form a government?
Why has Canada been largely protected from the global economic crisis?
Why did Barack Obama select Canada as the location for his first international visit as president?
Is North Korea open to negotiating its stance on its nuclear weapons program?
1. Is Obama’s plan to drop the “car czar” a good idea?
2. Who should be tapped to create Israel’s next government?
3. Is Pope Benedict XVI alienating mainstream Catholics?
4. Why did Chavez win his term limits referendum?
5. Is space junk a major problem that warrants international attention?
6. Are Pakistani concessions with the Taliban an indictment of the U.S.’s war on terror strategy?
7. Is the Israeli election or the upcoming Iranian presidential election more important for Middle Eastern stability?
8. Are fixing America’s banks the key to economic recovery?
9. Is the window closing for a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict?
10. Did Obama mishandle the presentation of the economic stimulus package?
What effect would Russian support have on NATO dealings in Afghanistan?
Hugo Chavez for life?
Will Ireland default on its debts?
What does Hugo Chavez’s victory over term limits mean for Venezuela’s future?
By the end of 2009 will the LDP still be a strong political force in Japan?
Should the world get more serious over “space junk”?
Will Europe’s economic problems be a boon for the far right?
How should the world respond if North Korea proceeds with a planned rocket launch?
Should Russia aid NATO in Afghanistan?
After recent elections, Who should be Israel’s next prime minister?
Is Pakistan’s governments willingness to negotiate with the Taliban a sign of weakness?
Will the scandal involving Carl Neihaus damage the ANC’s political prospects?
How can Mexico stop violent crime?
Is Saudi Arabia becoming more moderate?
Are Moammar Kadafi’s plans to shake up the Libyan bureaucracy sound?
Why is Somali President Sharif Sheik Ahmed getting good reviews?
Is Iraq’s stability being threatened by its stagnant economy?
Are sectarian tensions between Sunnis and Shiites in Iraq beginning to ease?
How is mobile banking changing commerce in Africa?
Should the Obama administration rescind the American Service Members Protection Act?
What challenges are resulting from increased urbanization in Latin America?
What has been the cost of a joint operation to eliminate the LRA in Africa?
What does Richard Holbrooke hope to gain from his “listening tour” in Pakistan?
Who holds the keys to opening a new line of dialogue between the U.S. and Iran?
Why did the Pakistani government call a true over the Swat valley region?
Will a recent collision of nuclear submarines lead to changes in “waterspace management”?
Will Italy’s plan to crack down on “criminal content” on the internet result in a loss of freedom of expression?
Considering all the recent tension in the Middle East, it is no surprise that the recent Israeli parliamentary election was watched closely by governments across the world, especially those keen on the Middle East peace process. The election was a test for the ruling Kadima Party and its leader Tzipi Livni and was also a referendum on what course of action Israeli citizens preferred to the violence that has come their way from Hamas and Hezbollah in recent years.
The recent Israeli election was started back in September of last year when the Kadima Party, created by former prime minister Ariel Sharon in 2006, decided to replace embattled prime minister Ehud Olmert with foreign minister Tzipi Livni. Livni was given six weeks to form a new government after Olmert submitted his resignation. However, Livni was unable to create a governing majority in the Israeli parliament, known as the Knesset, and on October 26th recommended that early elections be held to establish a new Israeli government. This kept Olmert in the prime minister post on an interim basis.
This brief will describe the outcome of the Israeli election, what message voters appear to be sending, and what a future Israeli government may look like.
1. Will the economic stimulus package hurt the Democrats chances in 2010?
2. Are Asian countries complaints about how the West is responsible for its economic problems valid?
3. Was Tom Daschle’s withdrawal as Secretary of Health and Human Services a blow to Obama’s healthcare plans?
4. Is the current global economic turmoil bad for global stability?
5. Should NCAA athletes get paid?
6. Why has the honeymoon ended so soon for Obama?
7. Will current economic unrest in China provoke a Tiananmen Square II?
8. How can the U.S. get more support from its allies for its current operations in Afghanistan?
9. Will Hugo Chavez win his referendum to lift term limits?
10. How long will Zimbabwe’s new unity government last?
In light of recent wildfires, should the Australian government revise its “stay and defend” policy?
Were Australian officials prepared to deal with recent wildfires?
Is the U.S. government willing to accept the reality of a nuclear North Korea?
Will the Kadima Party suffer significant losses in upcoming Israeli elections?
How did the Israel-Gaza conflict shape this week’s elections?
What effect would Benjamin Netanyahu’s return to prominence in Israeli politics have on the country?
Was China successful in defending its human rights before the UN Human Rights Council?
Can George Mitchell do for the Middle East what he did in Northern Ireland?
Will Europe support the call for additional Western forces in Afghanistan?
What group has benefitted the most from passage of the Schengen Agreement?
Why is Ukraine’s financial state going from bad to worse?
Is Iran ready to reverse its anti-American stance?
Was Prime Minister Erdogan’s recent statement a setback for Turkey’s emerging role as Middle East peace broker?
Will Venezuelans vote to lift term limits?
How will the world receive an China-sponsored international TV news channel?
What is wrong with Britain’s military?
Why does Thailand’s government worry about refugees?
Were foreign complaints about the U.S. economic stimulus package valid?
Should China quit using GDP growth figures to judge local officials’ performance?
Will Qaddafi be able to accomplish his pan-African goals as leader of the AU?
Due to recent political developments in Zimbabwe, should sanctions be lifted against the country?
Will Ukraine’s economic woes negatively impact the development of its democracy?
Is the latest criticism about the Vatican overblown?
Will Canada’s latest budget save the Conservative government or did it just temporarily put it on life support?
Why is isolationist sentiment rising in Switzerland?
Was the UN’s Universal Periodic Review of China’s human rights record thorough?
What is the state of press freedom in Sudan?
Did Israel commit war crimes in Gaza?
Is Bangladesh’s democracy slipping back into corruption?
Why is Russia scrapping plans to station short-range missiles in Kaliningrad?
Are recent protests against the Russian government only a sign of things to come?
Will a Likud victory in the Israeli parliamentary elections make war with Iran imminent?
How will Mexico’s recession impact elections there this July?
Are free speech rights being eroded in the Netherlands?
Is there too much political meddling in the trial of Chen Shui-bian?
Will Thailand’s lese-majeste laws be abolished soon?
Should the U.S. force Pakistan to hand over terror suspects to India?
Does the world have al-Qaeda on the defensive?
Is the fighting in Gaza over?
Will rising unemployment in China threaten the position of the Communist Party?
Who should be NATO’s new secretary general?
Why did Zimbabwe’s opposition agree to join Robert Mugabe’s government?
Is the ICC mishandling the prosecution of Thomas Lubanga?
Who was the big loser in the recent Iraqi elections?
What is the most important outcome of the recent Iraqi provincial elections?
Should Iceland join the EU?
Is Iraq finally taking control of its future?
What will be the legacy of Umar S. Israilov?
Is a coup on the horizon for Madagascar?
How can the European Central Bank ensure equal benefits in a bailout?
How will the naming of Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed as president affect Somali politics?
How will Bolivia benefit from the global push for hybrid vehicles?
Can the government of Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis regain credibility?
Why has the recent snowstorm in London ground the city to a halt?
Will other nations agree to Qaddafi’s plans for a single African state?
1. Will the recession change America’s dismal savings rate?
2. Why was 2008 a bad year for the FARC?
3. Should Senate Republicans block the economic stimulus bill?
4. Is Muammar Qaddafi’s goal of creating a single African state realistic?
5. What do tax problems by some of his cabinet appointments say about the Obama administration?
6. Should the international community be worried about Iran’s successful launch of a satellite?
7. Can Michael Steele reverse the GOP’s decline?
8. Should Pope Benedict XVI step down over the lifting of the excommunication of Richard Williamson?
9. Will economic problems bring about a political transformation in Russia?
10. Is the nomination of Judd Gregg as the new commerce secretary a shrewd political move by Obama?
1. Is it too late to stop Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon?
2. Has Michelle Rhee done a good job so far in changing the Washington D.C. school system?
3. Is the stimulus bill just a pork bill in disguise?
4. Can Rwanda successfully root out the FDLR in the DRC?
5. Will Bolivia’s new constitution heal the nation’s divisions?
6. Why are sexual discrimination complaints falling?
7. Will Obama’s stance on fuel emission standards create more trouble for Detroit’s automakers?
8. Will the Obama administration be more confrontational with China than the Bush administration?
9. Will closing Gitmo be a setback in the war on terrorism?
10. How would the election of Benjamin Netanyahu as the next Israeli prime minister affect the Middle East peace process?