Category: International Extemp Page 57 of 59

On April 9, 2008

In International Extemp, U.S. Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Should the Federal Reserve be given more power over the U.S. economy?

2. Is Israel’s political system dysfunctional?

3. Why are John McCain’s poll numbers rising?

4. Why are North Korea-South Korea relations worsening?

5. Should the DNC force Hillary to drop out?

6. Would another Berlusconi government be bad for Italy?

7. Is legalized gambling the answer for state budget woes?

8. Would Condoleeza Rice be a good vice-presidential candidate?

9. Should the Olympic torch relay be cancelled?

10. Would a EU military be a benefit or a death blow to NATO?

Topic Brief: Turkey Banning the AK Party

On April 8, 2008

Overview

Seeking EU membership, Turkey has been trying to keep its politics on the up and up for quite a few years now. As things start to smooth out on Cyprus and human rights abuses against the Kurds seem less common, it seemed that Turkey had achieved a level of stability that would hurry it ascension to the EU. However, that momentum seems to be quashed as the high court is considering outlawing the AK party – the current ruling party of the nation. Turkey has multiple provisions that are intended to ensure that the government remains secular, and has banned parties with Islamist leanings before;, however, this would represent the first time that the president, PM and majority of parliament would all be a part of the banned party. As such, the potential ruling of the court will not only immediately threaten the stability of Turkey, but also may hamper the long-term ambitions of the nation’s leaders.

Extemp Questions for the Week of April 2nd-8th, 2008

On April 2, 2008

In International Extemp, U.S. Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. What does the rising number of Americans on food stamps signal about the state of the U.S. economy?

2. How can Australia resolve its water problem?

3. Will its refusal to accept an independent Kosovo doom Serbia’s chances at becoming an EU member?

4. What is the state of e-commerce?

5. Is Argentina being careless with its economy?

6. How will the political changes in Pakistan affect US-Pakistani relations?

7. Is Hezbollah still a threat to Israel?

8. Would a Olympic boycott produce change in Chinese policy making?

9. Is our military getting the support it deserves?

10. Should Hillary drop out?

Topic Brief: 2008 Zimbabwean Elections

On April 1, 2008

Overview

Because the big news of the weekend was the elections in Zimbabwe, and the fact that they could bring an end to the twenty-eight-year-rule of Robert Mugabe, we thought it would be a good subject for a briefing. However, April Fools on us, because the results haven’t come in yet, so we will give you a rundown of what has happened so far, and what victory means for either side.

Extemp Questions for the Week of March 26th-April 1st, 2008

On March 26, 2008

In International Extemp, U.S. Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Has the Jeremiah Wright controversy doomed Barack Obama’s campaign?

2. Why have Islamic parties lost ground in Pakistan?

3. Is Mugabe losing his grip on power?

4. Should the U.S. government put a cap on gasoline prices?

5. Why is there a growing rift between the U.S. and Belarus?

6. How can John McCain seize control of the economic agenda?

7. Is Washington D.C.’s handgun ban unconstitutional?

8. Are riots in Tibet only a glimpse at what is to come?

9. Would a Democratic ticket led by Al Gore diffuse the divisions in the Democratic Party?

10. Should the NCAA men’s basketball tournament be expanded?

Extemp Questions for the Week of March 19th-March 25th, 2008

On March 19, 2008

In International Extemp, U.S. Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Will Spitzer’s resignation reflect poorly on Democratic candidates in November?

2. Is China’s growing power threatening international stability?

3. Should the U.S. be concerned about recent job loss numbers?

4. Has Sarkozy’s opportunity to reform France passed by?

5. Should the world be more vocal about China’s response to recent protests in Tibet?

6. Is the UMNO’s setback in recent Malaysian elections good for the country?

7. Should the Georgia-Tennessee border be redawn?

8. How effective has Brazil’s AIDS program been?

9. Is Keny’a political peace afford falling apart?

10. Should the GOP be concerned about Dennis Hastert’s congressional district’s recent change to blue?

Topic Brief: Tibet Protests

On March 18, 2008

Protestors: Free Tibet! Free Tibet!

Peter Griffin: I’ll take it!

[He runs to a nearby phone booth]

Peter Griffin: Hello, China? I have something you may want. But it’s gonna cost ya. That’s right. All the tea.

Overview

While hardly a new issue, a week of violently suppressed protests has brought Tibet back to the political forefront. Specifically, Tibetan monks started non violent protests in the city of Lhasa on March 14^th. As the protests grew in size and intensity, the government response got increasingly heavy handed. This issue is especially timely considering its proximity to the Olympics and Taiwanese elections. Ever since Chinese Communists occupied the independent nation of Tibet in the 1950’s there has been struggle between the Chinese government and Tibetan separatists. Tactics that have been used to quell separatism have ranged from the outlawing to Buddhism and closing of regional boarders (both now discontinued), to the violent suppression of all dissent and cultural imperialism. Further the responses from international governments tend to be inconsistent and ineffective.

Extemp Questions for the Week of March 12th-March 18th, 2008

On March 12, 2008

In International Extemp, U.S. Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Who should John McCain choose as his running mate?

2. Was Russia’s presidential election fair?

3. Why did the socialists prevail in recent Spanish parliamentary elections?

4. How should the DNC handle Florida and Michigan’s delegates?

5. Is the construction of a US-Mexican border fence a violation of international law?

6. Have poverty prevention programs in the U.S. been a failure?

7. Should the Pakistan People’s Party impeach Musharraf?

8. Are we on the eve of a new intifada?

9. Would an ANC split be good for South African politics?

10. Should Spitzer resign?

Extemp Questions for the Week of March 5th-March 11th, 2008

On March 5, 2008

In International Extemp, U.S. Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Is a long Democratic primary race already reaping benefits for John McCain?

2. Why is Thailand’s Muslim insurgency worsening??

3. How should the U.S. respond if Venezuela invades Colombia?

4. Can Simba Makani defeat Robert Mugabe in this month’s Zimbabwe presidential election?

5. What is the next boom sector of the global economy?

6. Can mandating the purchase of health insurance create a successful universal health care system?

7. What would be an ideal plan that would lead to the unification of Cyprus?

8. Has education fallen off the political radar?

9. Why is South Korea’s newly elected president Lee Myung-bak off to such a poor start?

10. What is the legacy of President Putin?

Topic Brief: Somali Politics

On March 4, 2008

Overview

When Somalia’s government suffered an insurgency in the early 90’s, the United States engaged the country in a disastrous military operation most people know of through Black Hawk Down. Unprepared to deal with a multisided urban war, the US mission found itself being bested by insurgents and warlords at every turn. After the failed undertaking, the US withdrew from Somalia and–leaving the country in shambles–without a functioning government for nearly two decades. However, this changed last year when the Council of Islamic Courts (CIC) appeared poised to take power in Somalia and establish a stable government. However, as the CIC gained control of the capital of Mogadishu last January, providing the first hope for peace in decades, the United States backed an Ethiopian invasion of Somalia, providing the money, weapons, and air strikes needed to topple the CIC. Since then, Somalia’s situation has deteriorated from minor political hotspot to incomparable disaster.

Extemp Questions for the Week of February 27th-March 4th, 2008

On February 27, 2008

In International Extemp, U.S. Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Is Nader a spoiler?

2. How should the upcoming Iranian parliamentary elections be viewed?

3. Is the idea of a North American Union realistic?

4. What is the legacy of Fidel Castro?

5. How should Medicaid be reformed?

6. Is the WTO finally getting tough on China?

7. Can Al Gore unify a fractured Democratic party?

8. Is the world ignoring drug resistant TB at its peril?

9. How should the U.S. war on drugs be changed?

10. Should there be public financing of all U.S. election campaigns?

Topic Brief: Castro Leaves

On February 22, 2008

Overview

Viva Revolution! It is the end of an era in Cuba. Fidel Castro has stepped down as leader of the island. Fidel Castro had ruled the island since he led a Socialist revolution to overthrow the dictator Fulgencio Batista in 1959. Batista had opened the island to US business – especially casinos. However, when Castro took power, he forced the companies to sell their assets to the government at extremely low prices. The companies saw this as theft, though the pries they were offered were the values they had set on their businesses to avoid Cuban taxes. Castro originally denied any ties to Communism and set up a meeting with president Eisenhower. However, when the US snubbed his diplomatic envoy – mainly because the country had lost a fortune when he took over, Castro turned to the Soviet Union to support his new government. Considering his status as a Socialist and ally to the USSR has led to an US embargo on the island since 1962. On February 24, 2008, he handed the presidency to his brother Raul. Considering this change will affect Cuba, US foreign policy, and international leftist politics, it is certainly worthy of a little extemp examination.

Extemp Questions for the Week of February 20th-26th, 2008

On February 20, 2008

In International Extemp, U.S. Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Should the U.S. have recognized Kosovo’s independence?

2. Is Myanmar’s plan for constitutional reform a farce?

3. If you were Obama’s campaign manager, how do you deliver a knockout blow to the Clinton campaign?

4. Has Ukraine become the battleground of a new Cold War?

5. Who won the Hollywood writers strike?

6. What does Fidel Castro’s resignation mean for Cuba’s immediate future?

7. After losing $722 million in the fourth quarter of 2007, what’s next for GM?

8. What has President Bush’s Africa trip accomplished?

9. Should the Church of England be disestablished?

10. How can John McCain endear himself to conservative voters?

Topic Brief: Birth of Kosovo

On February 19, 2008