Jihad Leader Killed in Northern Mali

MUJWA is just one of the Jihadist groups in West Africa

       The man purportedly behind numerous high profile attacks and kidnappings has been killed by French troops.  The man, Ahmed el Tilemsi, was the military head and co-founded the jihadist group called the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJWA).  He ran one of the several groups active in the region.  In December 2012, the U.S. Government designated el Tilemsi as a terrorist and offered up to $5 million for information leading to him.  He was killed on Wednesday night in a French military operation, which was coordinated with the Malian forces.  Approximately 10 other suspected terrorists were "neutralized" in the same operation.  The former colony of France says they were either killed or taken captive.  The group has previously abductee aid workers, attacked police bases and kidnapped diplomats.  The attacks all took place in Algeria and since 2012 the group has been relatively quiet.  

       This man had been a known suspect for a number of years and I think that the french government was correct in their actions and reasonings.  Upon further investigation, el Tilemsi was a former member of al Qaeda and in September 2011, broke off into the Islamic Maghreb.  This man has been a known terrorist for many years past.  However, over the past two years, el Tilemsi and his group have been rather quiet in the realm of jihadists.  Many argue that the price of death is wrongful to impose on a person because of their actions.  They go on to say that life was not given to you by a government therefore, the government should not be able to take that away from you.  There are definitely pros and cons to all beliefs and thoughts towards this matter.  However, European governments do not seem to be open to other thoughts on this matter.  I think we can all agree though that it is a good thing that people like el Tilemsi are put to rest.

William Deo

Adapted from:

http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/11/world/africa/jihadist-leader-killed-mali/index.html?hpt=wo_c2

The Garner Verdict Will Not Be Let Up

Obama on Garner verdict: 'We are not going to let up'

       On Wednesday President Barack Obama said that he and Attorney General Eric Holder are not going to let up in the effort to solve the problem of racial tensions that exists between law enforcement officers and minorities in communities nationwide.  These remarks came after the second controversial non-indiction of a police officer in the past month.  Eric Garner, an unarmed black man was subject of a chokehold death in July.  The Justice Department is currently investigating the death of Eric Garner and whether civil rights were violated. Obama claims that the government must work to strengthen the trust and accountability that exists between American communities and law enforcement division.  Many white representatives thank the Staten Island grand jury for doing justice even though, unlike in Ferguson incident, there is video evidence of the police's confrontation with Mr. Garner that exists. 

       I think that the American government needs to realize that this is an American problem.  Not just simply a black or minority problem.  The entire identity of the country is tarnished if every person is not being treated equally under the law.  I think Obama needs to spread this message to his people.  I think now that multiple examples of such cases have taken place, law enforcement need to improve training and become more accountable in order to regain and strengthen trust within local communities.  I think that the government needs to be entirely scrupulous in researching and investigating cases where accountability and partiality are concerns.  Charlie Rangel, a representative for the 13th District of New York said that we need to take this cancer in the American system and cut it out once and for all.  I fully agree with Rangel, all law enforcement must be completely impartial and accountable for all actions. 

William Deo

Adapted from: http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/03/politics/obama-eric-holder-on-eric-garner/index.html?iref=allsearch 

We Never Talk About Race Until Something Bad Happens

Often criticized for speaking out, Mr. Barkley provides
some harsh realities.

       Is it true?  In a recent interview with CNN, Charles Barkley, the man that does not mean to create controversies, just bring them to our attention, is once again doing his job.  Barkley said that he firmly stands by his comments he recently made.  Those include calling people who torched Ferguson buildings "Scumbags" and fellow black men degrading successful African-Americans as not black enough.  Barkley also agreed with the grand jury's decision not to indict former Officer Darren Wilson.  During the interview, Barkley repeatedly returned to the point that he does not believe that white cops are out to shoot black people because of racism.  He claims that we never discuss race in this country until something bad happens, even then, it usually reflects the tribe mentality.  This tribe mentality trumps everything else our minds, giving us the thought that no matter what, our group is correct, regardless of any other thoughts in our minds.  Barkley reminds that the black community has a lot of crooks and thieves, and that is that main reason that the police racially profile the African-American community, something Barkley does not always see as correct.  

       It is with extreme caution that I say that I agree with the words of Mr. Barkley.  While they are slightly too extreme for me to utter, this idea is something that is logical.  The fundamental idea is that this racial profiling has been brought upon black people, by black people.  Over decades and decades.  I disagree with the angry and destructive protests that ended up taking place after the grand-jury had announced their decision.  Anybody who is willing to peacefully protest is a great symbol of the United States of America, because that is the way that the country has developed and evolved.  This was shown most beautifully when NFL players held up their hands towards the sky as a symbolic gesture to Michael Brown and his family.  However, burning property, police cars and destroying houses of unknown owners is completely unnecessary and just leads to further racial profiling.  The police truly aren't out and about looking for black people to kill, the black community needs to engage in some self-examination in order to understand exactly what is happening in my opinion.   

William Deo

Adapted from: http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/02/us/charles-barkley-on-race/index.html?hpt=us_c2

ISIS Wife arrested in Lebanon

The woman suspected of being al-Baghdadi's wife

       According to a source, Lebanese authorities have arrested a wife of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.  He is the man spearheading the Islamist terror group's rampage across Syria and Iraq. According to the source, Saja al-Dulaimi is one of Baghdadi's two wives.  Her arrest came after weeks of planning this operation.  She is recognized as a powerful figure that is heavily involved in the movement.  However, this claim has not been without opposition.  Other sources claim that this woman is al-Baghdadi's ex-wife, not a current one.  Nevertheless, Al-Baghdadi is calling for the release of his son who was captured along with his wife at the border.  Al-Dulaimi was released from Syrian custody in March as part of a group of 150 women who were freed in exchange for a group of Syrian Nuns.  

       Mystery surrounds the arrest of a woman who may be the ISIS leader's wife.  I think that the plan of capturing all suspected members of ISIS at first hint is a good one.  Not only does this exclude them from all operations for the time being, but it can also lead to crucial information being released in an effort to stop the radical movement.  While little is known such as the exact date or even the gender of al-Dulaimi's child, we do know that this event took place.  Lebanon in recent years has been cracking down on border security in an attempt to prevent members of ISIS seeping into Lebanon.  They are trying to avoid problems spilling over from Iraq and Syria.  However, there are many questions as to why al-Dulaimi might be trying to escape Syria to enter Lebanon.  Is he estranged from them?  Were they trying to escape from him?  These all are possibilities, although nothing has been proven yet.  Yet the question still remains, is she simply an ex-wife who was married to a bad guy and had  a child?  Until this question has been answered, no further assumptions can be made.  

William Deo

Adapted from: http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/02/world/meast/lebanon-isis-leader-family/index.html?hpt=hp_t2 

President Says "Mexico Must Change"

Nieto has come under fire for his slow reaction to the
disappearance of 43 college students

       Mexico's leader, President Enrique Pena Nieto, has proposed a series of reforms Thursday that he hopes will combat the widespread crime and corruption that are facing his country.  For example, In September, a group of students boarded buses bound for the nearby city of Iguala.  They have not been heard from since.  Also on Thursday, authorities announced the discovery of 11 partially burned bodies of young adults found in southwestern Mexico, just an hour's drive from where the students attended classes.  While there is yet to be any official connection between the bodies and the students of a small college devoted to training students to become teachers in impoverished areas of the country, authorities are near certain.  Many authorities believe that the students were captured by the Iguala police, turned over to a gang then decapitated and executed in Cocula, approximately 14 miles away.  

       While Mexico's leader has been under fire for his relatively slow reaction to the crisis, I think that he is on the right track.  The likely convicts of the crime are called the Abarca, and since the discovery at least 75 people have been arrested for known connections with the group.  Though the incident sparked protests and unrest around the country, President Nieto managed to keep his country calm in this time of internal crisis.  Part of Nieto's action plan to combat crime and corruption in Mexico exists in the form of more than a dozen proposed reforms.  These would include a constitutional change that would give the state control over localized police and would set up a nationwide emergency number, something that is present in all modernized and developed countries. I think that Nieto is on the right track, though many will accuse him of being slow to react, I think that he is just being cautious, which is essential.  

 William Deo

Adapted from: 
http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/27/world/americas/mexico-guerrero-bodies/index.html?hpt=wo_c1

The 30 Cent Kit That Could End Malaria

The biotechnologist turned entrepreneur is the one responsible
for the breakthrough. 

        It only takes a mosquito bit and you may be infected.  There were 627 000 deaths in 2012, 90% of them coming from sub-Saharan Africa.  Ashley Uys is the South African biotechnologist who is hoping to bring that number down to zero. The self-testing kit can be used to diagnose the disease in less that 30 minutes.  From the number of dots observed in the tube, you can then detect what type of malaria you have. This is especially important so doctors know which treatment to give you and then they can also see if the treatment is working.  They cost roughly 30 cents each and are easily accessible to the public.  All you must do is prick your finger, run the test and wait for the results.  

        In the midst of this year's Ebola virus outbreak, many have forgotten about the malaria disease.  Malaria, as mentioned above, killed 627 000 people in 2012.  Contrastingly, Ebola to date has killed 5459.  Many have forgotten about the population still suffering from malaria and have shifted gears to search for the cure for Ebola.  Uys is only 30 years old, a native of South Africa he was driven to develop something that would help the people whom he grew up with in his childhood.  I think we need more people like Uys, those whom take things that were unnecessarily bad or painful from their past and look to develop a way to make it easier or less painful.

 William Deo

Adapted from:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/13/world/africa/the-kit-that-could-end-malaria/index.html?hpt=wo_bn7

ISIS Establishes Crucial Ally

Thousands of families have been relocated to eliminate
 cover for any potential tunnels between Egypt and Gaza.

       It appears that ISIS has a new residency in Egypt according to a message posted Sunday.  The group is a Sinai-based militant group Ansar Beit al-Maqdis (ABM).  If true, this would be the newest and most dangerous chapter in the book of the deadlies group in Egypt.  The group has killed hundreds of Egyptian police officers and soldiers, though the size of the group is still under suspicion, it is estimated that there are 700-1000 members.  Numerous checkpoints have been established in northern Sinai to prevent the movement of weapons and fighters.  A shoot-on-sight curfew goes into effect between Arish, the largest city in Sinai and Rafah, the border crossing with Gaza.

       What is even more interesting about this group is a little known detail of history.  Approximately two years ago, just previous to the overthrow of President Morsy, the group had been associated with al Qaeda.  If you go back in read my first blog it outlines more in general the silent on going war between ISIS and al Qaeda.  However, the group had previously proclaimed their allegiance to al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.  In the circles of these extremist groups, this is one of the biggest faults that you could make.  However, later ABM refused any allegiance to al Qaeda.  I think that this could have a terrible impact on the Egyptian country itself.  As the country heavily relies on the tourism industry, it is becoming increasingly difficult to attract vacationers to their country.  Previously ABM was only targeting government officials, however now fears turn to civilians, foreigners and tourists.  The U.S. State Department will meet later this week to address and outline any precautions that will be necessary.

 William Deo

Adapted from:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/11/world/isis-egypt/index.html?iref=allsearch

Transition Plan Implemented in Burkina Faso

Compaore announcing his intention to amend the constitution

       Burkina Faso, the West African nation, has agreed that the country's political transition should last a full year, which will then be followed by elections in November 2015.  The military has been in charge of the country ever since President Blaise Compaore was stormed out of office last week.  Yet there have been no discussions of who will head the transitional government, however the African Union (AU) has given Lt Col Isaac Zida two weeks to hand over power to a civilian or the country will face sanctions.  The AU sanctions could include suspension of AU membership for the country and a travel ban on military officials.  

       I believe that it was only a matter of time before something like this happened.  Luckily for the previous government, it had taken 27 years for it to happen.  Mr Compaore seized power in a coup in 1987 and went on to win four questionable elections since.  Ultimately the protests were triggered when citizens heard that Mr Compaore was planning on amending the constitution in place in order to run for office once again.  This time, the people had enough willpower to not allow this to fall through as it has in previous years.  Compaore is currently staying in Cote D'Ivoire with leader Alassane Ouattara.  With regards to sanctions, I think that the AU is doing the right thing because the country should not stay in a state of military command for an entire year.  However, it is imperative that the military find someone fit for leading the country for the next year.  

 William Deo

Adapted from: 
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-29928059

Yazidi Women, Enslaved by ISIS

Kidnappings take place on near daily basis

       Jana, a typical 19 year old girl in her final year of high school, had dreams of becoming a doctor.  That all changed on August morning.  The Jihadis stormed houses of members of her Yazidi religious minorities and demanded them to convert to Islam.  They were stripped of jewelry, money and cellphones.  Women then separated from men.  All the men older than 10 years of age were taken away and shot.  The women were separated, young and old, then bussed to the city of Mosul.  A man of ISIS periodically came up to the group and chose a few girls to take home.  ISIS kidnapped more than 2,500 Yazidi women.  Currently there are over 4,600 missing Yazidi women today.  Kurdish forces were once receiving 70 messages from hostages a day, today they receive none.  The authorities have rescued around 100 Yazidi women including Jana, who were systematically raped.  Needless to say she is deeply traumatized as her mother and two younger brothers are still being held by ISIS.  

       Thousands of women still remain hostage today and this is one of the things ISIS attracts youth with.  ISIS recruits young people with the offers and promises of cash and wives.  ISIS does also fully justify their processes as is done according to Islamic law.  However I do not think that this is the real Islamic Law.  Islam is a religion of equality and progression.  Both genders equal, and respect to all people of other faiths and beliefs.  Progression in that human society cannot regress and go back to what it was hundreds of years ago.  I think that they are not following the rules of Islam.  However, this is how they attract the troubled young men and women who come to fight for their cause, and I don't think that they have any intention on changing this practice.  ISIS is separating, traumatizing and killing families that are causing no harm or resistance to their fight.  If families are ever recovered it is nearly always at the expense of one or two members.  This is incredibly sad, it is horrible to see how seemingly ISIS has gone back hundreds of years in time in their mindsets and horrendous actions.  

 William Deo

Adapted from: 
http://us.cnn.com/2014/10/30/world/meast/isis-female-slaves/index.html?hpt=wo_c2

Ottawa Shooter Identified

A sight in the parliament, attempting to re secure the premises

       After two shooting incidents, one at the Canadian War Memorial and the other inside the parliament in Ottawa, the gunman has been identified as Michael Zehad-Bibeau.  Bibeau was born in 1982, converted to Islam and had a history of drug use before converting.  Bibeau also had a record of drug arrests going back 10 years, the man has left a soldier dead and a city on lock down.  Police have not eliminated the possibility of a second shooter however it is known that a man shot a Canadian guard soldier in the back.  Three people have been hospitalized, including one with a gunshot-wound.  The hero of the day is Sergeant at Arms Kevin Vickers who shot the gunman right outside the MP's caucus rooms.  The possibility of a connection to terrorism hasn't been ruld out yet.  On Monday, a man who was "radicalised" killed a Canadian soldier with his car, the man was then shot and killed.  The man behind the vehicle attack, Marin Rouleau Couture reportedly converted to Islam a year ago, and was stopped from leaving for Turkey because of suspected terrorist actions.  However, there is yet no information saying that the two attacks were linked.

       This was definitely a very horrible situation that had to be dealt with immediately, and I think that it was dealt with effectively.  The gunman was shot and killed before he could cause more damage than he had already.  Bibeau however, who had converted to Islam, I do not is a member of IS or any Jihadi supremacist group.  I do believe though that he is what is being referred to as a lone-wolf sympathizer.  Men who are carrying out distant attacks sympathizing with the cause around the world.  I myself do think that the two episodes of combined violence killed two men, were planned together.  These radicalised men were facing problems in their young adult lives, therefore they turned to something extreme.  Islamic supremacy groups.  I don't think that these men are carrying out the true religion of Islam, either in Canada or across in Syria and Iraq.  Islam is a religion that preaches progression, man cannot go back to fighting wars like these, for these have already been fought.  This is reverting to the past, what has already been done.  
 William Deo

Adapted from :
http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/22/world/americas/canada-ottawa-shooting/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

Search for Surviving Trekkers Concludes

       There are no remaining trekkers left stranded after the Nepalese government has completed their search for survivors after the devastating Himalayan storm.  The main focus is to now recover bodies, however it is unclear how many are dead in the country's worst-ever trekking disaster.  At least 39 are known to be dead after nearly 400 people were rescued.  The fifth day of the search by army and private helicopters has concluded over the 241 km circuit which roughly takes three weeks to complete.  However conditions are worsening which only adds to the difficulties of the mission.  Nepalese, Japanese, Israeli, Canadian, Indian, Slovak, Vietnamese and Polish trekkers were among those said to be dead.  The storm, the worst in a decade, poured up to 1.8m of snowfall in 12 hours.

The Annapurna Circuit passes Mount Annapurna, the worlds
10th highest mountain

        I believe that the search was a relative success for the Nepalese military and government.  Well over the anticipated quota in such a disaster have survived.  Though, many survivors have been left with severe frostbite which will ultimately lead to amputation of limbs, the search was successful as they managed to recover all of the remaining survivors.  The Annapoura circuit is amongst the most dangerous and most beautiful in the world.  However, I think that there should be more supervision and contact on the trek.  Many have died without notice on the track since it opened in 1977 to tourists.  However, they are not discovered dead until nearby store owners or future trekkers discover the horrible sight.  This was an unfortunate even determinately, however it is excellent that the government was able to have such immediate response.  Still though, even with excellent response, there must be pro activity so that in a future such situation the large amount of casualties are minimized.  

 William Deo

Adapted from:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-29679773 

Britain Commences Ebola Screenings

       "A few passengers" had their temperatures checked and filled out a health questionnaire at Heathrow Airport Terminal 1 today.  Screenings will be extended to other terminals, Gatwick and Eurostar airport by next week.  The preventative measures are set to cost ₤ 9 million over the next six months.  Both the UK and US have introduced screening measures in response to the virus which has killed over 4,000.  Through this procedure, high risk passengers will be flagged up at border control and Public Health England will carry out the actual screening.  Although there are no direct flights from the UK to Liberia, Sierra Leone or Guinea, 85% of arrivals to the UK through connections will enter through Heathrow.  Somarious Samura had been in Liberia filming a documentary about the outbreak was not impressed by the system.  "Most of the people just left the airport, didn't go into the screening room" he confessed.  However, he felt a sense of responsibility to go through the screening, having seen the effects of Ebola in West Africa.  

      I believe that David Cameron has the right mentality in going through with his preventative measures.  The US and the UK have both been keen in trying to implement their systems to combat and prevent the virus from entering their countries.  However, I think that there should still be more strict rules and regulations on these measures being implemented.  Samura said that fellow members of his flight origin had just left the airport without being screened, this cannot happen.  The virus spreads exponentially, therefore if one person is affected, hundreds will be immediately affected.  This is why I think the issue is as serious as I present it.  However, Britain is on the right track to preventing the disease from entering its country and many should follow.  Countries that have currently infected people include Spain, USA, Germany, Norway, France and the UK.  Those who haven't made efforts to try to prevent Ebola from infiltrating their country should before the effects become irreversible.  

 William Deo

Adapted from: 
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-29616724

How Can Obama prevent Ebola from Contaminating the US?

     The American government has commenced planning measures to screen incoming air passengers for Ebola according to Mr. Obama.  Though the likelihood of an Ebola outbreak in the US is extremely low, there is little margin for error, Obama reiterates.  Thomas Eric Duncan, the first case of Ebola on US soil, is in critical condition travelling to the US from Liberia.  Over 3,400 people have died in West Africa in the deadliest outbreak of the disease ever.  Meanwhile, an American journalist has arrived back in Nebraska after being diagnosed with Ebola in Liberia.  The family says that he is looking strong and was enormously relieved to be back home.   Obama says the plan is to work out additional protocols to do passenger screening both in Africa and in the United States.  

The Liberian community in New York held a fundraising concert

       The American president also criticizes foreign governments for their lack of aggressive action against the deadly virus.  I completely agree that this cannot be the way that we will conquer the virus.  Countries cannot just sit on the sidelines and wait for the United States to take action, this will result in a less effective response and a slower one, which ultimately leads to more deaths.  I do not think that banning all flights to infected countries will be a smart idea, because isolation will only lead to worsening the outbreak.  Not only will there be a lack of personnel, but this will mentally shift country authorities, thinking that they are just in this fight by themselves.  I believe that it is still possible to stop the virus in its tracks, but it must be done immediately and with cooperation from all countries that are called upon.  This cannot be just a fight which the United States leads, there must be global participation in defeating the outbreak.  

 William Deo


Adapted From:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-29510173

Hong Kong Protests Persist

The protest is being led by students and youth groups

       As they did a week ago, thousands crammed into the streets of Hong Kong's business district as pro-democracy protests stretched to one week.  An order has finally arrived: Clear out before Monday, or else.  Many swarmed in the Admiralty district to hear the evening speeches.  Many also barrelled into a secondary protesting area in the Mong Kok.   Chief Executive of the city C.Y. Leung is under pressure from protesters demanding his resignation.  "The government will take all necessary actions to restore social order" echoed Leung in a TV appearance.  The protesters blocked a 3000 group of government employees from entering government buildings on Friday.  At least 19 people have been arrested, 150 injured and 12 still hospitalized due to the protests.  

       The US Consulate in Hong Kong has warned all US citizens to avoid the protest areas due to the risk of escalating violence.  Many are not opposed to the cause that the protesters are fighting for, it is the violence that they are opposed to.  Peter Bentley, a retiree said "It's anarchy.  These are ours streets.  What I oppose is anarchy.".  What the demonstrators are upset about is the recently enacted policy giving Beijing power on who can run as a candidate for the chief executive (CE) roll in the 2017 election.  While this may sound like an improvement from the previous 1200-member committee comprised of Beijing loyalists choosing the CE many argue that it is not.  They argue that the right to vote is useless if the candidates are hand-picked by the capital.

       I believe that the Chinese government is encroaching too much on the affairs of Hong Kong.  Ever since the "one country, two systems" policy was enacted in 1997 when Hong Kong was handed over to China from Great Britain, I think that this problem was eminent.  I don't think that one capital can successfully rule two essentially different situations without corruption.  This seems to be growingly apparent with every turn we seen in this case.  Basically Beijing has tried to change the people of Hong Kong's perspectives by allowing them to vote for their chief executive.  However, the fact is that all of the candidates must be approved by the capital.  I think that the situation needs to be one of two things.  Either, Beijing allows Hong Kong to select their own candidates for chief executive or, the Hong Kong people are absorbed into China, and there are no more two systems.  I do not think China can continue to operate smoothly with the existing one country, two systems mentality.  

 William Deo

Adapted from:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/04/world/asia/china-hong-kong-protests/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Ebola Reaches the United States

       It was not a question of "if", it was just a question of when.  A man in Dallas is the first person to be diagnosed with the Ebola virus on American soil.  The man flew the final two legs of his journey from Monrovia, Liberia to Dallas on Continental Airlines.  The man first arrived at the hospital last Thursday night, at the time he had a low-grade fever and abdominal pain.  No symptoms that indicate a potential isolation situation.  The Liberian National, Thomas Eric Duncan, is 42 years old and was on his first trip to the United States where he is visiting family and friends.  He was formerly sent home with antibiotics, however two days later he returned to the facility where he tested positive for the virus.  A key fault was that no travel history was communicated on the man's first visit to the emergency.  

Texas Health Presbyterian - Dallas, the hospital where
 the victim is contained currently

       Symptoms of the virus include high fever, headache, vomiting amongst others.  However, unlike the flu the virus cannot be spread before symptoms show up, additionally the virus does not spread through the air.  Typically symptoms appear 2 to 21 days after contracting the virus, and the virus is spread by the transmission of bodily fluid, most commonly sweat.  Two American healthcare workers were hospitalized after contracting Ebola in West Africa and were treated with the experimental drug ZMapp.  Since, they have both recovered.  

       Every person who travels by air is screened before departure and arrival in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.  However, since the man began feeling ill days after he arrived in the US, it is unlikely that these tests would have turned up anything.  Additionally, the paramedics who transported the patient to the hospital have been isolated and yet have not shown any symptoms of the disease.  The ambulance which the patient was transported in has also been quarantined however not until after another two days of operation.  A disease control team is on the ground in Dallas, identifying whoever was in direct contact with Duncan and monitoring them twice per day for 21 days.  

       It was bound to happen, we all knew that.  However, the fact that a victim of the virus had been denied entry the first time while trying to be admitted to the hospital is frightening.  It is only when he returned showing more symptoms of Ebola that he was admitted.  Though he was only showing minor symptoms they were still symptoms.  The biggest fault, I believe, is that nobody along his encounters with medical personnel asked him of any recent travels.  This put the community at risk for another two days until he returned.  In the United States, where the healthcare is privatized, I think that there are certain things that should be uniform amongst all hospitals and that includes foreign travel histories.  Luckily, Ebola is transmitted not by air, but by fluids which most would think makes it much more difficult to contract the disease.  But sweat is exchanged all the time, even in a simple gesture of a hug or handshake, sweat is transferred.  In such a climate like that of Coastal West Africa with hot and humid weather, I believe that disease is just as bad being transmitted this way.  How they isolate victims is important, and that is why the virus is not being contained, the containment facilities need to be improved.  Until this happens, Ebola will not be contained, and time is running out.  

 William Deo

Adapted From: 
http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/01/health/ebola-us/index.html?hpt=us_c2

The Story of a Bedroom Radical

It has been nearly a year since Aqsa's family has seen her.

       In November 2013, Aqsa Mahmood a 19 year old Scottish girl, gave her father a long parting hug.  Muzaffar, her father, remembers that she looked especially beautiful that day, he remarked to his wife that something was different today.  The previous night, her and her sisters slept together in one bed and she gave a long farewell to her ailing grandmother.  Her mother knew something was peculiar that evening.  Khalida, her mother, noted that there was something different about the way she said "Khuda Hafiz" while departing.  Four days later, the family petrified, Aqsa called Scotland from the Syrian Border in Turkey.  She said that she would see her family on the Judgement Day, she aimed to be a martyr.  Aqsa had been influenced by watching online  sermons and coming in contact with people helping her to make the voyage to Syria.  

       Aqsa's father moved to Glasgow in 1970 and was a player for the national cricket team.  They were living the immigrant dream, they bought a house in an affluent neighbourhood, sent their children to an esteemed private school.  There were no signs that the teen had harboured any extremist thoughts.  However, when the civil war in Syria emerged, Aqsa became increasingly concerned about violence.  She began reading and praying the Quran more regularly.  She gave up music, fiction and didn't go out uch.  But the parents did not suspect anything.  Aqsa didn't even know which bus to take to downtown, that why parents were stunned to here when she was headed for Aleppo in northern Syria.

       "I don't know when she became this brave" says Khalida.  She was scared to speak out, scared to fly.  She brought her mother tea in bed and loved to assist her handicapped grandmother.  After arriving, Aqsa soon relayed to her family that she would marry.  She had to find a mahram, "That's the process here, they don't let a girl stay alone" said Aqsa.  Despite Aqsa's prominent role on social media, her father says he reads little, it pains him to read it.  "God only knows why she is doing this" says Muzaffar.  She is praying everyday that she will become a "shahid" or martyr.  

       The family hopes and prays that Aqsa will return home.  It is obvious that no family would like to see their child disappear to the hands of an extremest group.  I believe that school systems should be doing something to prevent any more children from vanishing to these extremest groups.  They should be trying to convey the more accurate image of what they are doing and emphasize all of the cons of the groups.  Unfortunately, when one victim becomes captive to a group like this, the impact snowballs onto more people than initially imagined.  For example, one of Aqsa's sisters is suffering from depression since she left.  Khalida says that Aqsa often sleeps on the floor in the cold and has suffered from pneumonia.  Both parents, of course, are worried that time is running out for Aqsa to return safely, however they are hoping that she, one day will return.  
 William Deo

Adapted from:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/05/world/europe/isis-bride-glasgow-scotland/index.html?hpt=wo_bn8

France Joins the US in the Effort to Destroy ISIS

       In an effort to destroy the terrorist group ISIS, France has conducted their first air strike according to president Francois Hollande.  The French president states that planes have attacked an IS logistics depot in north-east Iraq.  According to Hollande, there will be many more in the near future.  However, France is far from alone in this effort, the US has carried out more than 170 air strikes against the group in search of caliphate since mid-August.  In what seems to be strange change of personality for the French president who is somewhat of a socialist, he has committed his military to interventions in Mali, Central African Republic and most recently Iraq.  The French government, much like that of the US, has restricted the ISIS targets to air strikes and that there will be no French troops involved in ground combat.  

Hollande has approved the request by the French Military
to conduct air strikes in Iraq

       ISIS has claimed dozens of cities and towns in Iraq and Syria, and this is where the two plans differ.  Hollande has chosen to restrict his actions to Iraq, however Obama has stated an aim of degrading and disrupting ISIS activities in Syria as well.   For many weeks, France has been flying reconnaissance fights over Iraq and providing Kurdish fighters on the ground with weapons.  On Monday, France held a conference which saw 26 countries pledge their commitment to supporting the fight against ISIS.  Also, on Thursday, the US Senate approved Obama's plan to equip and train moderate Syrian rebels to fight against ISIS.  This comes as a result of neither France or the United States conducting air strikes in Syria.  

       Ain al-Arab has been besieged by ISIS.  He said that the ISIS terrorists should be "hit and destroyed wherever they are".  I completely agree with this statement, but it comes at such a time when many countries are not willing to invest in ground personnel in the conflict.  For example, the United States military is only conducting air strikes in Iraq to combat ISIS, however they are training and equipping many Syrian rebels.  Many claim that air strikes are the new age of war, however if the US Forces still would like ground presence in Syria, I do not believe that arming rebels is the way to deal with this problem.  Similarly, the French, British and Germans have all armed the Kurds in Northern Iraq.  This may be partially due to the general disapproval of the US's invasion of Iraq in 2003, however I believe that it is not proper to arm another group of rebels when you are trying to combat an opposing group of rebels.  I think these countries should only conduct air strikes or intervene on the ground with their own respective forces.

 William Deo

Adapted From: 
http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/14/world/meast/isis-coalition-nations/index.html?iref=allsearch

Has Obama Created the Plan that will Beat Ebola?

       Yesterday, US President Barack Obama announced his $500 million plan to beat out Ebola.  The President will send 3,000 military personnel to West Africa for what will be a very difficult initiative that will include training of health care workers.  Obama says that the United States is ready to take the leadership role in tackling the Ebola outbreak, he claims that it is "Spiralling out of control".  The US will also be erecting new treatment and isolation facilities, training healthcare workers and boosting logistic support in the region.  "Ebola is now an epidemic, it's getting worse, however it will continue to get worse before the situation improves" Obama went on to say in his meeting with top US public health officials.  In recent weeks Obama has faced criticism for not doing more to combat the outbreak.  Last week the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that the virus has killed over 2,400 people out of the 2,784 cases in Western African nations.  

Obama presents his plan to the Centre for Disease
Control and Prevention

       As for the US, a military control centre will be established in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia to coordinate the efforts of the US and other partnering nations.  The strategic plan for combating Ebola focuses on training, a new training site will be established where US medical personnel will be teaching approximately 500 healthcare workers per week over the next six months on how to provide care to Ebola patients.  The WHO says that the hardest countries are Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.  They estimate that the countries need three to four times the current number of medical and health workers that are currently present.  UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon commented that the virus has gone beyond health issues but has also had great effects on social and economic dimensions, and in the long term could even affect the stability of the region.  

        As the number of Ebola cases could start doubling every three weeks in  Western Africa, I believe that this is a huge priority for health organizations at the moment.  I think that the United States is doing they're part by providing workers and funding.  It is only an aggressive attack, as such the US has proposed, that will combat the epidemic.  If the disease is contained within the next few weeks, the disease will spread to other Western African nations and possibly abroad.  While it is true that the health care system in these nations are ill-equipped to deal with such issues, I do not believe that at this moment there are any countries that are prepared.  This is why I think that the best solution to the disease is to move abroad to Africa and localize it rather than just combating the virus once it makes it across the world as it inevitably will if not taken care of.  I believe that the best medicine is preventative medicine, therefore it is best to take extreme action to combat Ebola in Africa to prevent it from spreading across the globe. 

 William Deo

Adapted from:

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2014/09/obama-announce-plan-beat-ebola-201491664237417853.html

Vying for Global Jihadist Leadership Supremacy

       On Wednesday night, when President Barack Obama delivers his address to the nation with regards to ISIS, one man who will definitely be watching is Ayman al-Zawahiri, al-Qaeda leader.  In his secret residence somewhere in Pakistan or Afghanistan, al-Zawahiri will likely be hoping that Obama proposes a plan to exterminate ISIS.  The group has simply seemed to have eclipsed al Qaeda in recent months and has continued to make al-Zawahiri almost irrelevant.  Al Qaeda and ISIS are currently locked in a vicious war for the leadership of the global Jihadist movement.  ISIS was previously a branch of al Qaeda but was expelled in February after refusing to restrict their activities to the country of Iraq.  ISIS has captured the minds of the young generation of Jihadists, and from all over the world.  In a relentless pursuit of an Islamic State (Caliphate), and propaganda the group has the new generation flocking to them.  The group is chillingly brutal towards non-Muslims, and Muslims who aren't "extreme enough".  The vicious attacks seem to bring back the ire of late al Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden.  

     Though many jihadi preachers have confronted ISIS for being deviant, the younger generation seems to be more impressed by action than simply speeches.  To the younger generation, ISIS leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is building the Caliphate while al-Zawahiri just talks.  The movement is spreading, just last week a group of proponents of an Islamic state from Yemen released a video calling Baghdadi "The Caliph of the Muslims...the mugahid in the first row of attack against America".  Contrastingly, it has been a relatively long time since al Qaeda central has carried out any attacks of note.  Four years ago, a strategy document was released which set out ideas for attacking cruise ships, dams, bridges as well as aircraft.  

       Never the less, there are still many places where al Qaeda supporters are active and their operations are expanding.  For example, in Libya, Syria and Egypt they have found a collapse of state authority.  However, al-Zawahiri has seemed more like a supporter than the leader.  He is simply reacting to the events rather than directing them.  Last week, al Qaeda announced the creation of al Qaeda in India, lead by Asim Umar, this will include one faction of the Pakistani Taliban.  They are implicitly rejecting the Caliphate proposed by ISIS and are supporting the Taliban in establishing their own.  

       Al Qaeda however still does have hope for the future.  Al-Zawahiri is looking forward to the withdrawal of troops form Afghanistan as his best chance of a revival.  Also, last week al Qaeda reiterated it's allegiance to Taliban leader Mullah Muhammad Omar.  There is also the prospect that ISIS will "over-reach" much like al Qaeda did in Iraq.  They alienated Sunni tribes, took territory it could not defend and mobilized more opponents that the organization could resist.  If this will be the case for ISIS, it is likely that they will soon be in trouble.

       I believe that ISIS is indeed gaining the control over the younger groups of Jihadists.  They are persuading these people form Europe and North America to come join and fight for their cause.  They are converting them and promising that they will have four wives.  However, as we know this is not the case, and this puts our countries and many others in danger.  The difference between ISIS and al Qaeda is that al Qaeda never quite secured the number of people with international passports that ISIS has.  So, it is inevitable to expect that one day, possibly in the near future that a Jihadist returning for a vacation back to the US or to Europe will conduct some sort of attack.  China has already taken drastic measures by encouraging Muslims to marry non-Muslims in an effort to decrease the risk for their country.  I think as the United States with the largest expeditionary force in the world, should exterminate these radicals because it is just a matter of time before they strike over-seas.  

William Deo

Adapted from: http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/10/world/meast/isis-vs-al-qaeda/index.html?hpt=wo_r1

The Mystery of MH370 Remains Unsolved After 6 Months

       Six months ago, Malaysian Airlines flight 370 departing Kuala Lumpur never arrived at its destination, Beijing.  The disappearance still remains a mystery.  Was there a mechanical failure that no one was able to communicate?  A terrorist attack possibly?  Many other questions are still unanswered.  Where did the plane go down?  Were there any survivors at the time?  Are there still any currently alive?  It is seemingly a deep mystery, the Boeing 777 jet carrying 239 people on board just disappeared.  No part of the plane has yet been discovered, not a single piece of wreckage has been found.  Many authorities have convinced family members that the plane crashed on March 8, in the Southern Indian Ocean.  Satellite images provide a hint that the plane turned off of the intended course and likely went down when it ran out of fuel.  After six months, it is still a mystery why the plane strewed away from the flight path.  To this day, over 4.5 million square kilometres of sea floor have been scoured without one piece of wreckage found.  

       A lot of the focus of the news this week has been on remembering another air disaster, that being the tragedies of 9/11.  While it is true that the 3 000 people killed in the September 11th tragedies out numbers the 239 of this more recent catastrophe, there is a sickening element of mystery lingering in that of MH370.  While I am not saying by any means MH370 was worse than the diasaster that was 9/11, it is hard to stomach the fact that these people had families, and these families have no idea where their loved ones have gone.  The passengers ranged from 2 years old to 76.  It is tremendously difficult to carry out daily life routines for the families of the victims when they have not a clue of what has happened to their mothers, fathers, children, soulmates and friends.  Mao Tugui is a painter whom was aboard the flight, he was travelling to attend an exhibition that featured his work.  His wife, Hu Xianquan, has been telling their 4 year old daughter than her father is just spending a little extra time away painting.  Xianquan herself finds it incredibly difficult to deal with the news as she has no idea what has become of her husband.  She has no idea where he is, if he is going to return or if he is alive.  "I would prefer just to have the news that he is dead and his body has been recovered" said Xianquan.  I feel truly the same way.  Just imagining myself in that position losing my brother, mother or father this way is just antagonizing.  Not solely because he/she is dead, but also because I have no knowledge of the event, nobody does.  I truly do hope that the governments do find the plane to give the families of the deceased some well deserved closure.

William Deo

Adapted from: 

• http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/08/world/asia/malaysia-airlines-flight-370-milestone/index.html?iid=article_sidebar
• http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/15/world/asia/malaysia-airlines-passenger-vignettes/