US plan to combat ISIS
Today in History
Wesley Wright G uest W riter
In recent weeks, ISIS has re leased videos of its members beheading American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, all the while, claiming to have more prisoners to execute unless the United States forces cease their airstrikes and immediately withdrawal allpresence from the region. With a continuing series of crises, President Obama has finally unveiled a plan in his ad dress to the nation. During the televised talk, he declared that anyone who threatened America would “find no safe haven.” The president called for 475 US military personnel to be sent to Iraq in strictly non-combative roles. A systematic campaign of air strikes against ISIS targets into regions of Syria will also be on the table. President Obama called for assistance to be given to ground forces that are fight ing against the terror group with restrictions against rebels who are deemed a threat to US. na tional interests. The president also highlight ed the development of counter terrorism methods as well as continuing humanitarian assis tance to the millions of civilians who have been displaced in the fighting.
1630: City of Boston, Massachusetts is founded 1775: Invasion of Canada begins with the Siege of Fort St. Jean 1787: The United States Constitution is signed in Philadelphia 1862: The Allegheny Arsenal explosion occurs resulting in a numerous civilian disaster during the war 1939: The Soviet Union joins Nazi Germany’s in vasion of Poland 1941: Soviet forces enter Teheran P hoto C ourtesy of A ssociated P ress
PLAN FOR ACTION— President O b a m a announces h o w air strikes are the best w a y to deal with ISIS at the moment. Secretary of State John Ker tional law. ry was specifically tasked with Meanwhile Americans at bringing Arab countries to the home are apprehensive about table from a coalition against the prospects of entering into ISIS. Ministers representing another war. While Pesident Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Obama said that this would not Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qa be a ground troop operation, tar, Saudi Arabia and the United war-weary Americans are tired Arab Emirates have already of of involvement in conflicts in fered their support. the Middle East. The CIA has Russia has expressed its dis also reported that its original approval of expanding airstrikes estimations of the number of from Iraq to Syria and believes ISIS fighters was inaccurate and that without the backing of the that there may be closer to thirty UN. Security Council, the plan thousand fighters in both Syria will be a violation of interna and Iraq.
1974: Bangladesh, Grenada and Guinea-Bissau join the U N. 1991: North Korea joins the U N . 1991: The first version of the Linux kernel is re leased to the internet. 2001: The N e w York Stock Exchange reopens after the Sept. 11 attacks, making it the longest closure since the Great Depression. 2011: Occupy Wall Street movement begins in N e w York City.
Source: Wikipedia
P ERSPECTIVES
Can Scotland afford to depart from the U K? Andrew Gomez-Seoane W orld Co-Editor
In less than a few days, Scot tish citizens will be asked to make the one ofthe most impor tant decisions in their lifetimes. Should Scotland be an indepen dent country? The fallout from a yes-or-no decision has the pos sibilityto ring beyond the shores of the United Kingdom. More than a dozen states and provinces across the European continent will be holding their collective breath to see if Scot land does indeed become its own nation after more than 300 years of unity under British rule. Taking such a step may well trig ger similar movements in areas such as Catalonia where ethnic pride takes precedent over na tionalistic loyalties. In the world of hypotheticals itdoes beg the question of what would happen to an independent Scottish people. Would they flourish on their own as many in the pro secessionist movement claim or would the country face an inevitable decline without the queen’s watchful eye? Many on both sides of the de bate have made claims as to the possibilities that lie ahead for Scotland in the upcoming days before the vote. Nevertheless among all of the typical cam paign rhetoric and fear mongering, there are real consequences
North Pole. This leaves Scotland with the option of continuing to rely on depleting natural re source or find a way to reinvent itselfin the face of declining in dustry in a globalizing world. The other important issue at stake is the need to establish a permanent currency if inde pendence comes to fruition. The proposal by the leaders in the independence movement to peg Scotland to the British pound is unlikely to come about with rising tensions from party lead ers in London. This would leave the new nation to rely on the European Union, which could be reluctant to recognize such a*move with similar movements boiling on the surface. Scotland faces an uncertain future. Should it remain with the UK. itcan rest assured of its continual protection and long term economic stability. But, the allure of regaining the Scottish IT’S ALWAYS BETTER THAT W E ’RE TOGETHER- Supporters gathered ahead of the ref homeland from the English may erendum taking place on Thursday for the ‘Lets Stay Together’campaign in Trafalgar Sqaure in be more pressing. London. These are all pro-union supporters w h o do not want Scotland to be separated. The prospects of more auton that will likely come to pass re- into the early 20th century. The North Sea in the late 1970s be- omy over itsaffairscould be seen gardless of the path that istaken. nation would see its nationalis gan a second boom in the Scot as worth any economic or social Officially joining the UK. in tic tendencies re-emerge once tish isles, which fueled develop upheaval in the future. W e will 1707, Scotland managed to re the Second World War receded ment of a robust industry that soon discover if a new nation would allow the UK. to reap is born and whether the British tain a separate identity, with its into public memory. During the 1960s many of .many of the benefits. That boom will see their former empire con distinct educational and legal systems. During this time the Scotland's industries began to reached itszenith at the start the tinue to fade ever so slightly into the vast pages of history. region emerged as an industrial decline and ultimately disap millennium. The referendum to decide the Today, many predict a con powerhouse in the 19th century pear by the reign of the Thatcher and carried more than its fair government in the 1980s. At the tinued decline in oil production fate of Scotland is to be held on share of economic weight, well same time discovery of oil in the as exploration shifts toward the Sept. 18.