In The Planned Invasion Of Normandy Essay

In The Planned Invasion Of Normandy Essay In The Planned Invasion Of Normandy Essay Sparing Private Ryan is a film about an American family who had lost three of their four children in the fight during World War II, and the quest for the final child. Chief John Miller was sent on the salvage group to spare Private James Ryan, the fourth and just residual sibling. Notwithstanding, this strategic difficult; discovering him was extremely hard, yet enduring tanks and adversary slugs was more earnestly. â€Å"Eventually, they found Ryan, however when they request that he leave, he won't. He said that he was unable to leave his unit, who was appointed to hold a key bridge† (worldwariifilms). Mill operator chose to assist him with protecting his position. On the off chance that they succeeded, they could spare both Private Ryan and his position, be that as it may, sadly, they discovered Miller’s body lying on among the war zone. This was what the film Saving Private Ryan let us know. This film is a genuine history of D-Day the day that the U.S. military attac ked Normandy. This film has a trace of validity in that it finds the territory of the war zone and the date of D-Day, however it is to some degree erroneous in that there was never an administrator Private Ryan or a Captain John Miller. Discussing the exactness of this film, when we watch the main scene, â€Å"this film precisely depicts the abhorrences of war.† (amankarios1). The projectiles from the German soldiers are shot to the U.S. military that is on the LCVPs pontoon as the substantial downpour. In the consequence of attempting to land the military, â€Å"the blood splashed sand, bodies killed along the shore, and the bleeding sea tide carry the film scene to life†(amankarios1) on June 6, 1944. Thinking about the garbs of each side, for the U.S. Armed force the garbs are genuinely exact the caps, battle soldiers’ jeans and shirts, likewise the weapons they use, â€Å"especially the 101st Airborne outfits and patch.†(amankarios1). The arrangement i s additionally precise, we gain from the film that the entirety of the troopers will attempt to move to higher ground and take over Pointe-du-Hoc. At that point they will storm Omaha Beach; as a sign that the war will start. Also, one of the most precise pieces of the film is the manner by which it depicts the injuries of each fighter. One lost his arm or the two arms. One lost his legs. One could see his guts liver, stomach, or digestive system. Many were shouting or crying and attempting to recover their organs in. Likewise this film precisely depicts the hardships and obstructions that officers need to confront. Both mental and physical issue assault their dauntlessness and inspiration. During their central goal, they lose individual troopers consistently. â€Å"David Kenyon Webster, a warrior in the Parachute Infantry depicted a circumstance with him and an individual officer with the other fighter being harmed and requesting that Webster leave him behind† (amankarios1). Then again, a few scenes of this film are misrepresented. The first is when Captain John Miller drives the salvage of Private Ryan. Truth be told, it would nearly be difficult to track down somebody among a huge amount of troops and groups. We can expect that this group was fortunate, else it was extremely able in following somebody behind foe line. The subsequent mistake is that the name Captain John Miller isn't genuine. There is no such name showing up throughout the entire existence of D-Day. That implies this salvage group isn't genuine. Likewise â€Å"many of the littler fights either went anonymous or had imaginary names. The last clash of the film was at ‘Rommelle’ which really didn't exist, in actuality. Rommel was really a German Field Commander during World War II.† (discoveryuk). Exceptional, a fundamental imaginary character Private Ryan himself is additionally made by an executive. This name, just as Miller, never existed ever, nor is he at any poin t saved by this made-up salvage group. Be that as it may, â€Å"there is a man named Frederick ‘Fritz’ Niland from the 101st Airborne Division, who Private Ryan is displayed after.†(discoveryuk). In like manner, Fritz is one of four siblings whose three more seasoned siblings were executed during World War II, two at Utah Beach and one at Burma. In any case, there is no report that he was saved by any

Read 4 chapter of book and answer 4 question Essay

Peruse 4 section of book and answer 4 inquiry - Essay Example There exist two ways of thinking on the viability of data innovation in correspondence, with one school contending that data innovation has upgraded hierarchical correspondence while the second gathering contending contrary to that stand. In this area, a contentious investigation of the different sides of contentions will be given to determine the advantages and negative marks of data innovation in correspondence. The development and headway in data innovation has given a superior medium to correspondence to most associations as it permits access to a tremendous data which can be viably given to end beneficiaries. Associations today utilize the web and messages as the viable methods for correspondence with different representatives as it permits the exchange of mass data at a tick. Messages have today supplanted the custom postal administrations, printed inward, notices, fax correspondence and the utilization of delivery people. Nonetheless, the rivals of expanded utilization of data innovation in correspondences in associations contend that the data that can be moved with this medium is profoundly boundless making it conceivable to send a ton inside a brief timeframe. This, as indicated by their contentions, results into circumstances where the representatives utilize a great deal of their working hours perusing the data sent in their sends. This has the capability of fundamentally diminishing the profitability of the association as office and working hours are spent understanding sends and virtual inner reminders (George and Jones, 2012). The defenders of the proceeded with utilization of data innovation to improve hierarchical correspondence focuses to expanded effectiveness with which correspondence process in associations have been upgraded. Prior to the development and headway in data innovation, associations would be compelled to make huge volume printouts of their instructional booklets, documentation, pamphlets, legitimate prerequisites and whatever ot her report that ought to be utilized by the representatives. This expanded the expense of activity for such associations, as correspondence was manual and tedious. The development of data innovation as a methods for correspondence has empowered associations to post significant records in their sites from where the representatives can access from their various workstations. The reviewed money related reports of the organization are likewise made accessible for the various partners to access from the solace of their workplaces and homes by just getting to the company’s site. This headway has in this way prompted cancelation of yearly presenting of profit gives an account of hierarchical investors as they can be messaged the records at an a lot less expensive cost (George and Jones, 2012). With progresses in correspondence, associations have been empowered to make login entrances for their representatives and providers. This has empowered the administration of these associations and their representatives to collaborate on an increasingly customized however virtual level that improves efficiency inside the association. Various representatives are along these lines doled out various jobs for all intents and purposes which are then presented on their gateways and correspondence affected through a comparable framework. This application is regular in banks and organizations that have introduced intranet benefits inside their frameworks. The intranets likewise permit associations to store

Assessing the Impact of Macroeconomic Policies on the Economy Essays

Evaluating the Impact of Macroeconomic Policies on the Economy Essays Evaluating the Impact of Macroeconomic Policies on the Economy Essay Evaluating the Impact of Macroeconomic Policies on the Economy Essay Branch of modern relations and open organization Lagos state college, Ojo, Nigeria.. Unique The system of banking division changes prompting recapitalization and union in Nigeria and the ensuing merger and additionally procurement of existing banks into twenty five (25) by 2005, and later eighteen (18) by 2012 brought along their path orderly work issues as far as instructive assorted variety, professional stability and efficiency, average business questions.The study survey post union execution of the financial area to evaluate the degree to which the segment meets combination target utilizing post advancement approach. It was discovered that while the collusion and marriage of apparently good accomplices are settling down, the general public is forced to bear the severance of work and the development of the pool of saved armed force of the jobless. The drop out along these lines is twofold edge for the economy and the general public. Catchphrases: Labor changes, recapitalization, c ombination and post improvement 1. 0Introduction Private and open organizations are ceaselessly being tested by execution. Execution achievement is insignificant estimated on the records of what Alos (2006) indexed as: what the client needs and qualities, reaction to ecological changes and effect on the nature of the individuals. The issue of execution viability or reengineering association has engrossed the brains of association experts, analysts and watchers since 1990s. In this manner, everywhere throughout the world, numerous economies had done different changes to guarantee adequacy of the 166 European Scientific JournalMay version vol. 8, No. 9 ISSN: 1857 †7881 (Print) e ISSN 1857-7431 genuine areas. The presentation insurgency began in the private segment. Its belongings spread to the open segment impacted by thoughts from open administration school. Nigeria as a country isn't forgotten about in this change insurgency to guarantee personal satisfaction for its populace. Legitimate and institutional structures were set up to re-engineer the economy and the presentation estimations of the genuine areas. The blue print of the present changes motivation is set out in the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) document.Some of the changes incorporate (1)power area change; (2) ports changes intended to guarantee auspicious freeing from merchandise inside forty eight hours (3) deregulation of oil and gas sub-segment to hinder enduring fuel shortage; (4) deregulation in the media transmission industry to decrease government interest, make business and trade (5) the financial sub-segment/recapitalization/combination to make it assume its legitimate job as the prevailing part of the economy in driving development and advancement in other division. The present financial segment changes inscribed as recapitalization arrangement was given out on Tuesday July 6, 2004.Capitalization is setting the capital base whereupon a player can set up and be authorized to work banking capacities. It is setting a capital base which was given as twenty five billion naira (N25b) as at 2005. The previous capital base was two billion Naira (N2b), which numerous banks couldn't bear. In Nigeria, observational investigations had been completed on the connection between banking changes and monetary development (Balogun, 2007, Fadare, 2010); solidification and large scale financial execution (see Somoye, 2008); combination and selection of e-banking (Ayo, Adewoye and Oni 2010; Chimeke, Evwiekpaefe, and Chete, 2006).The ramifications of banking changes on work has hardly been explored. The fundamental target of this examination is to survey the financial area changes 2004 †2011 and the degree to which the destinations set are met and furthermore, the ramifications of the changes on work as respects business: security, not too bad business, employees’ fulfillment and the results of these factors for the general public. 2. 0 Lite rature Review and Theoretical Framework Consolidation just intends to expand on or improve to the degree of steadiness Adeyemi (2007) considers it to speak to the possibility of speculation and the meeting up of firms or undertakings as a solitary entity.In the financial part of Nigeria the quintessence of banking combination 167 European Scientific Journal May version vol. 8, No. 9 ISSN: 1857 †7881 (Print) e ISSN 1857-7431 is to reposition the countries banking industry for worldwide seriousness and furthermore to guarantee a solid and dependable financial area that will ensure the wellbeing of the depositors’ cash. Union as a methods for lessening over limit is suspicious (Somoye 2008).The adequacy of banking division combination as a solution for money related strength and in rectifying the deformities in the monetary segment for practical improvement had not been confirmed by comparable exercise in Europe, America and Asia in the most recent decade (Somoye, 2008). Or maybe, emergencies and disappointments as delineated by credit emergencies and transoceanic home loan budgetary disturbance emitted which, in Nigeria, truly influenced put away cash esteems explicitly, stock values.Rather than rebuilding prompting decrease in over limit as showed by solidification theological rationalists, an improvement procedure that would suit the assets accessible and grow them is upheld by inside instigated combination defenders. The financial sub-segment in Nigeria saw sharp drop in credit rate to the genuine division which influenced return on shareholders’ subsidize (Adeyemi, 2007). Credit went more to outside trade instead of the genuine divisions. The limit of genuine division to create business weakened.The access of little and medium endeavors (SMES) and the casual areas to credit likewise dwindled (Somoye, 2008; NDIC, 2008; CBN, 2008). Organizing to the financial specialists is adjusting to the requests of progressively worldwide markets for mor e prominent efficiencies. Humanist consistently see the social effect, explicitly the social issues caused by externalities which brings about social interruption particularly the negative consequences for level of employer stability, duty, mental prosperity and turnover intentions.The impact of these on association effectiveness, as opposed to reformist hypothesis might be negative. Matanmi (2005) saw a yawning hole between the quick or momentary impacts of financial changes and the vital beliefs of employer stability. He presumed that the capacity of changes to make work over the most recent multi decade had been not very many and far between. Adeyemi (2007) likewise concurred that financial changes in Nigeria brought about occupation misfortune, fluctuation level of pay and compensation bundle for various consolidating gatherings and board room quarrels among clubs of the blending banks. . 1 Theoretical Framework Post improvement approach is a response to the dilema of advancemen t. Rather than bounty, talk and methodologies of improvement produce its inverse: underdevelopment and 168 European Scientific Journal May version vol. 8, No. 9 ISSN: 1857 †7881 (Print) e ISSN 1857-7431 impoverishment, untold misuse and suppression. (Sidaway 2008). The post improvement defender guarantee that change achieved by innovation or driven by the west would constantly meet with dissatisfaction with respect to the individuals of creating nations. 2. 2Banking Sector Reforms in Nigeria Banking activities started in 1892 possessed predominantly by ostracizes (Somoye, 2008). They remained anyway unregulated until 1952 (Fadare, 2010). There were developments with indigenous proprietorship by 1950s. In any case, a considerable lot of the banks bombed somewhere in the range of 1947 and 1952. The principal guideline of banks was set up by Banking Ordinance of 1952. This was insufficient as there was no Central Bank until 1958 to complete overseeing or control measures. Bank pro prietorship structure moved by 1970s with indigenization order. This permits increasingly Nigerian interest in the banking industry.The Nigerian endeavors advancement Decree (NEPD) limits outside responsibility for organizations to 60% in 1972 and 40% in 1976. The 1990’s change considered 100% individual possession which was a move from existing 10% for singular proprietorship and 30% for corporate possession. This prompted the expansion of banks. Banking sub segment recapitalization arrangement was given out on Tuesday, July 6, 2004. Capitalization is setting the capital base whereupon a player can set up and be authorized to work banking capacities. Recapitalization is setting another capital base.The substance is to merge the segment to improve intensity and ability to assume significant job of financing speculation (Somoye, 2008). Solidification which may bring about increment in bank size through merger and securing has the capability of expanding bank returns through in crement income and cost proficiency gains. It might likewise decrease industry chances through the disposals of frail banks and make better enhancement openings (Furlong, 1998). Recapitalization approaches set twenty five billion Naira (N25b) as the new least capital base for banks working in Nigeria.The previous capital base was two billion naira (N2b) and numerous banks couldn't meet this. The goal of recapitalization is caught in the legislative head of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Charles Soludos words accordingly the financial change is to: (1) reposition the countries banking industry for worldwide seriousness; (2) guarantee a solid and dependable financial segment that will ensure the security of the contributors cash; (3) assume dynamic improvement job in the nations’ economy; 169 European Scientific Journal May version vol. 8, No. 9 ISSN: 1857 †7881 (Print) ISSN 1857-7431 (4) (5) make the banks less subject to open area support, and be equipped for financing th e genuine part (New Age Apri17, 2005). A period

Disney Strategic Initiative Paper Essays

Disney Strategic Initiative Paper Essays Disney Strategic Initiative Paper Essay Disney Strategic Initiative Paper Essay Disney Strategic Initiative Paper Tammy Adams, Kecia Darnell, Chelsea Hensley, Elizabeth Munns, and Zameika Williams University of Phoenix FIN 370 Professor Stephen Beadnell October 18, 2010 Strategic Initiative Paper Introduction This paper will address the vital and money related arranging related with the tasks of Disney. What's more, the paper will show the connection among's vital and money related arranging. The effect of the organization’s activity costs, deals, and related dangers the association experiences during the budgetary and vital arranging will be tended to. In this manner, the budgetary arranging process gives a device to getting ready for the future working-capital necessities of the firm. † (Keown, 2005) The Walt Disney Company as of now has numerous vital plans in real life; in 2005 the Company’s CEO, Robert Iger, requested a rebuilding of their Corporate Strategic Planning Division. The key arranging division is currently being joined into ea ch of Disney’s four fragments which incorporate Studio Entertainment, Parks and Resorts, Consumer Products and Media Networks, just as Disney’s International Organization. They are likewise using littler gatherings concentrating on creating Disney’s multi year plan just as obtaining openings, new innovations, and developing organizations. â€Å"Strategic arranging will keep on assuming a significant job in distinguishing the chances and difficulties introduced to our organization as we develop our administration position as the most important amusement brand in the world,† said Mr. Iger in his 2005 declaration of the rebuilding venture (News Release, para. 3). Vital getting ready for The Walt Disney Company (2005) has been â€Å"an fundamental impetus to Disney’s development by distinguishing new chances and extending existing business† (News Release, para. 4). They are utilizing this new structure to make productivity, responsibility, and strengthening in the progressing endeavors of every specialty unit pioneer to make new diversion encounters which will eventually create all the more long haul an incentive for investors (The Walt Disney Company, 2005). Their vital arranging strategies have worked for a long time, and a rebuilding carried more regard for a territory of monetary arranging that is critical. Disney’s endeavors to remain at the leader of the market have absolutely demonstrated to be powerful just as useful. Because of rebuilding and making different divisions inside Disney, the organization’s monetary arranging is proficient. The association has recognized monetary objectives, organized those objectives, and built up a budgetary arrangement by utilizing the inheritance data to decide the organization’s money related gauge. The association centers around key connections that will give extra assets to the business, and make a positive benefit. The key arranging division was destroyed to make a progressively proficient activity. The association utilized essential data made by the key arranging division to have a gainful future. â€Å"The vital arranging unit was molded by Mr. Eisner and others at Disney to make a unique pressure between the units and the corporate suite. Be that as it may, as the specialty units became throughout the years, the administrators who ran them abraded under key plannings oversight. † (Holson, 2005) One specific territory that Disney might affect Disney expenses and deals is with online film watchers. With specific improvements, for example, Netflix, film watchers can stream motion pictures from the solace of their own home. While Disney recently settled an understanding that qualified the Disney Company for authorizing expenses, those charges didn't join individuals that had the option to get to motion pictures on the web. As indicated by an online article entitled, Disney May Raise Costs for Netflix, 2010, Disney is worried that they will pass up noteworthy authorizing income as the quantity of Netflix endorsers that watch motion pictures online through Netflix’s spilling administration increments. The circumstance among Disney and Netflix could prompt an immediate effect on expenses and deals for both Disney and Netflix. Be that as it may, concentrating essentially on the effect the Disney Company, the impacts could be increasingly radical. One situation is the gatherings don't agree as to the gushing expenses Disney needs to charge Netflix and the organizations suspend business. Netflix will no longer give Disney motion pictures to lease, this could prompt a reduction in potential deals and free promoting for Disney. One might say that Netflix clients will choose from a the rest of the choice of motion pictures accessible, in any case, as indicated by the article, the probability is that Netflix will haggle with The Disney Company so there are no restrictions put on the measure of gushing video Netflix can offer . This will really expand the present procurement costs for Netflix at an expected steady one percent obtaining cost. There will be a positive effect on deals for Disney because of the extra charges ready to be gained through appending expenses to the web based spilling content. Because of rebuilding and making various offices inside Disney, the organization’s money related arranging is productive. The association has distinguished monetary objectives, organized those objectives, and built up a money related arrangement by utilizing the inheritance data to decide the organization’s budgetary figure. The association centers around key connections that will give extra assets to the business, and make a positive benefit. The vital arranging division was destroyed to make a progressively productive activity. The association utilized essential data made by the vital arranging division to have a gainful future. The key arranging unit was formed by Mr. Eisner and others at Disney to make a unique pressure between the units and the corporate suite. However, as the specialty units became throughout the years, the officials who ran them scraped under key plannings oversight. † (Holson, 2005) The Walt Disney Company is the universes biggest media co mbination, with resources incorporating motion pictures, TV, distributing, and amusement parks, concentrating on key connections that will gracefully strengthening capital for the organization, and create a useful salary while consolidating it enchantment with Netflix’s and other up and coming organizations. The Walt Disney Company is the most successful associations in the act of vital arranging. These associations not just profit by building and executing an arrangement, however they advantage structure the point of view itself. An arrangement is a roadway to progress, and the arranging procedure means authoritative initiative and uplifts the correspondence of critical organization data. Today’s shaky market requests that representatives, work gatherings, and associations have a conceivable thought of their jobs, items and administrations the Walt Disney Company brings to the table, just as the procedures the organization use to discover the method of chance to make a result based association culture. Consolidating Strategic arranging, sway cost and deals, and the dangers that come mind them The Disney Company has figured out how to remain on top structure numerous inns and resorts for families and those youthful on a basic level with an amazing rush with additional to come. References Disney may raise pricesfor netflix. 2010. recovered October 16, 2010 from http://seekingalpha. com/article/186250-disney-may-raise-costs-for-netflix Holson, L. (2005, March 26). Disney Intends To Overhaul Planning Unit. New York Times, p. C2. Recovered on October 16, 2010, from Apollo online library: EBSCO have database Keown, A. , Martin, J. , Petty, J. , Scott, D. (2005). Money related Management: Principles and Applications, Tenth Edition. Pearson Prentice Hall The Walt Disney Company. (2005). Disney Corporate. Recovered on October 16, 2010, from http://corporate. disney. go. com database

The Iran Iraq War And the Superpowers - Free Essay Example

The Iran Iraq War and the Superpowers The Iran-Iraq war was a conflict that spanned about eight years which started with the Iraqi armys cross of the Iran-Iraq border and Irans response to this trespass. The leader responsible for the Iraqi intrusion was president Saddam Hussein, his Iranian counterpart was Ruhollah Khomeini. Khomeini propagated the overthrow of the Iraqi government, and instilled the idea of revolutionary war to the people of Iraq. Khomeinis vision for a united nation was that under him, the union would be brought together under the religion of Islam. This brought on acts of domestic terrorism carried out by Iranian Shiites called on by Khomeini. In Husseins eyes, Khomeinis arrival in Iraq meant a threat to his rule and so war was the only option. The root of the problem began with the Algiers Accords that would have settled some territorial disputes over that Iran-Iraq border, access to waterways and avoid the meddling of either country with each others domestic affairs. As for the U.S., while they looked down in disapproval at Khomeinis Iran, they didnt feel a close relation with Iraq, the fact that the U.S. believed Iraq began the war didnt make matters any better. When Hussein was asked to remove Khomeini from Iraq under the clause against meddling, Khomeini disregarded the clause as an secret understanding between Iraq and the U.S. and went into Iraq anyways, thus beginning a war he didnt realize how many lives and how much money it would cost the middle east. Irans wish for an islamic union caused the ayatollah to continue pushing for terrorism in an Iraq with extremist groups, this threatened American interests due to the frozen assets they held for the Islamic Republic of Iran and a previous connection with Iraq . With the USSR so close to Iran and Iraq, the U.S.s policy towards containment of communism drove Reagans administration to call for other countries of the middle east in support against the USSR. The Reagan Doctrine would support third world countries that held anti-communist views, this was the push-back aimed toward keeping the USSR to their own, therefor making them back either of the two countries that did not partake in the Reagan Doctrine. Iraq was pro-soviet and Iran wasnt warming up to America but per usual, the U.S. needed to take care of its individual economic interests and so when the war was at its beginnings, the declared neutrality. There were two instances where the U.S. had fallen under attack by islamic extremist groups, both resulting in casualties. The detail that dictated who the U.S. would prefer in this war was that both of these extremist groups who had attacked marine barracks and an embassy were funded by the Islamic Republic of Iran. From then on, the U.S. would assist Saddam Hussein in war against Iran by helping with combat and air attack planning, providing arms, and figuring out the location of Iranian troops with technology not readily available to the Iraqis like satellite imaging. Through the conflict, it is that the U.S.s relations with Iraq changed for the better short-term, they were removed from a terrorist-supporting list and they were beginning to be viewed as the tool, (not ally) against Iran. About halfway through the war, the embassies supplying the arms for this war were asked to halt their assistance in this manner due to the worldwide effort of bringing the Iran-Iraq war to an end. This war not only led to the devastation of many lives, but many other countless events connected to it. An example of this would be the fact that the United States was suspected by both Iraqis and Iranians of manipulating both parties. The United States reached out to both Iran and Iraq in secrecy during the war in hopes of building a strategic partnership. The Iran-contra affair between the US and Iran, otherwise known as the arms-for-hostages policy, was one of the main reasons Iraqis believed the United States was playing on both sides of the conflict. The arms-for-hostages policy was a major political scandal in which the United States sold weaponry to Iran in secrecy in hopes of the release of the US hostages. This major political scandal took place during the second term of the Reagan administration. Reagan was featured on national television in order to speak about the weapons sales, which had become public in November of 1986. He did not deny Iran receiving weapons from the United States, but stated that no hostages were obtained from the affair. The ongoing investigation on the affair was obstructed after large amounts of documents that addressed the scandal had been destroyed or withheld by officials in the Reagan administration. Reagan made another appearance on national television in March of 1987. During this televised announcement he took full responsibility of what had happened and made it clear that the original intention was to form a strategic plan in order to get the US hostages back, but it unfortunately turned into a major political scandal in the process. In 1987, the Reagan administration brought forth an executive order that would compromise trade with Iran; said executive order banned imports coming from Iran in order to hinder the sponsoring of terrorists from extremist groups. In another attempt to hurt Irans financial goods, Iraq destroyed some of Irans oil reserves therefore bringing down one of their main sources of income that helped fund both the war and the terrorist groups that were affiliated with them. During the time of the war France, a superpower during this time, ultimately sided with Iraq. They were one of the top two weapon providers for Iraq behind the USSR and in front of China. The French government feared that if they publically decided to side with Iraq over Iran they would break any friendly alliance they had with Iran and cause violence from Iranians. They were in the middle of deciding between keeping the arms trade and industrial relations with Iraq and breaking the trust and bond they had with Iran. Eventually, the Minister of Foreign Affairs spokesperson spoke about the issue and stated that the commercial relations they had with Iraq did not dictate the trust and bond they shared with Iran. Though the French government had hoped this announcement would reassure both Iran and Iraq that France was not making an enemy out of either side, Iranian representatives flew to Paris and warned them that any further commercial connections with iraq would lead to the end of any relations between Tehran and Paris. France then responded by giving their full dedication and support to Iraq. The Iran-Iraq war lasted a total of eight years. On July 12, 1988 Saddam Hussein ordered the launch of operation Tawakalna ala Allah towards Dehloran. The Iraqis attacked Iranian sectors and recaptured their oil field frontiers, which had been held by Iranians for longer than 5 years. At nightfall, they captured Dehloran, which allowed them the control of a large bridgehead. With the significant amount of territory gained, Saddam Hussein threatened the capital of Iran, Tehran. He stated that if the Iranian army did not extract from Iraqi Kurdistan they would take control of Irans oil wells. That night Iranian leaders decided it would be best to oblige to the orders of Hussein since they were not left with enough men or equipment to fight back, their weakness showing was the last thing they needed. Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani announced the extraction of his his troops from Iraqi Kurdistan on July 15. The next day the rest of Iranian troops receded back to home territory. On July 17, Hussein gave a list of conditions that the opposing party would have to agree on in order to end the war and begin peace. He asked for direct negotiations, immediate cleanup of the Shatt al-Arab, free navigation for Iraq in the Gulf, an end to the attacks on maritime traffic, and a prisoner exchange. At this time, Saddam Hussein ordered his Iraqi troops out of the conquered territory in Iran as an act of peace. Saddam Hussein agreed to order a ceasefire with the exception that Tehran recognized all the terms. When Hussein did this he brought validity to the Algiers Accord, which resulted in the end of the Iran-Iraq war. The Iranian government agreed to all the terms in exchange for a ceasefire. Iraqis began to withdraw slowly after the announcement that the Iranian government would agree to the terms. On August 20, 1988, seven years and 11 months after the start of the war, the ceasefire agreement became effective. Though this marked the ending of the war it did not mean the ending of all problems for the two parties. The Iran-Iraq war is considered one of the most expensive wars fought both in finances and human capital. The part the U.S. played was that of the duplicitous party, they not only openly supported the war on Iraqs side in order to look after their own interests, but The Reagan administration also assisted the opposing side by trading arms in exchange for hostages but not only failed at it, they also happened to be exposed leading to the discovery that they had helped continue the war and possibly even the sponsoring of the extremist groups they themselves were trying to dismantle.

The straw man in the standardized testing debate

Frank Bruni wrote  a column in yesterdays  The New York Times, in which he expounded on the virtues of college admission committees decisions to look past marginal test scores in a handful of underprivileged applicants in order to diversify their classes. Depending on your perspective, what Bruni describes  can either be construed as a noble undertaking or the  symptom of a corrupt system that unfairly disadvantages hardworking, middle-class  applicants, but Im actually not concerned with that particular debate here. Rather, my issue with Brunis column is that it  perpetuates a common straw man argument in the debate over college admissions namely, that test scores have traditionally been  the be-all end-all of the admissions game, and that only now are a handful of intrepid admissions officers are willing to look past less-than-stellar scores and consider other aspects of a students application.   Bruni is the author of  Where You Go is not Who Youll Be,  a book that very validly  emphasizes  the questionable  relationship between name-brand colleges and overall success in life, but in terms of actual admissions,  his  authority appears to stem primarily from the  fact that he turned down Yale to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and still managed to land a job as a columnist at the  Times. Although hes generally familiar with the field, he is not  actually an expert in admissions the way, say, Paul Krugman is an expert in economics. As a result, its hardly a surprise that he misrepresents some of  the issues at play. In short, what is news to Bruni is a long-established practice known as  holistic admissions a practice that  was, incidentally, introduced in the  1920s, when the Ivies first decided to consider character  in order to limit the number of Jews. Since then, the purpose of evaluating applicants according to factors beyond grades and test scores has  changed again and again, but colleges continue to select  students  according to their particular set of institutional needs be it diversity, donors, athletics, or physics  research   and test scores play a role in that process only insofar as they garner universities freshman classes  with the desired characteristics. For example,  a major reason  for inflating scores on the new SAT was presumably to allow colleges that arent quite ready to go test-optional to admit more  applicants from under-represented demographics without compromising their USNWR rankings. The College Board has danced around this fact with v arious euphemisms about opportunity, but it is difficult not to conclude that  this type of demographic manipulation was not a driving force.   For at least four  decades, though, admissions committees willingness to  give disadvantaged applicants a boost has had a very real effect  on thousands of students life-altering effects, in many cases. When people attack colleges for relying too heavily on test scores, theyre obviously  thinking of all the other thousands of applicants who didnt get that boost. Whats interesting (but not at all surprising), though, is that the other  side of the argument is almost never considered   that is, the students who are given every advantage but who never achieve scores anywhere remotely what they would need to be competitive applicants at top colleges  are rarely mentioned. Yes, the majority of students achieving high scores are well-off, but it does not follow that every well-off student achieves high scores. As Ive pointed out before, the  lowest-scoring students I worked with tended to be  from the wealthiest families.   As a result, I  left Mr. Bruni the following comment,  which can be viewed  here (and which, might I add, was selected as a  Times top pick!): Frank, With all due respect, what you describe in this column is holistic admissions, which has long been the policy at the vast majority of selective private colleges in the United States. Theres a reason that schools do not publish and, to the best of my knowledge, have not ever published official cut-off scores for applicants. Admissions committees are well aware that applicants come from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds, and that some applicants face far more obstacles than others. That said, what about the opposite end of the spectrum, e.g. a student who has spent 10+ years in a $40K/year Manhattan private school and whose parents have doled out an additional $10K or more for tutoring, but who can barely break 600 on any section of the (old) SAT? These numbers are not exaggerations, by the way: I tutored students in that demographic for a considerable period, and some of them could not in fact achieve scores that would make them even remotely competitive at most top-25 or s o schools. (In case anyone is wondering, money and connections only get you so far). Some of those students were reasonably bright and hardworking, but their scores were also very accurate reflection [sic] of their academic limitations. The fact that there is a correlation between scores and family income does not in itself mean that scores cannot provide an important piece of information when considered in their full context. The real problem is that test scores mean such different things for different applicants. Sometimes they reveal an awful lot, and sometimes very little.   In my experience, scores for the most privileged applicants do tend to be a roughly accurate reflection of what those students know.   A slew of 750+ scores  from a student at a top  private school is  by no means indicative of brilliance, but 500/600-range scores from a student at the same school are usually a sign that there are some real gaps. Thats a  significant  piece of information for an admissions committee to have when evaluating those students against their classmates,  as well  30,000 other applicants.   On the other hand, how is a  committee supposed to judge 500-range test scores in an applicant from an academically marginal  school  and a single-parent household with an income of less than $20,000/year?  It would be obtuse to believe that that applicants scores did not also reveal some gaps (even though  500-range scores are actually quite an achievement in that context); but the question is  what sort of potential other aspects of the application reveal, whether  and to what extent they outweigh the test scores, and whether the college has the resources in place to help that student catch up academically to his or her peers.   The fragmented nature of the American school system and the relationship  between real-estate prices and school quality ensures that these are not apples-to-apples comparisons. Theyre not even apples-to-bananas comparisons. Theyre more like apples-to-skyscrapers comparisons. Scores are not everything. Admissions officers  know this. They struggle with these kinds of calculations every for day, for months, and in the end they just cant take everyone. Exactly  what  role test scores should play in the process  is  up for debate. But to suggest that everyone has  just been  playing a straightforward numbers game all long†¦ well thats just not true.

How to Get Started on a Literature Review

If you are an undergraduate or graduate student, there is a good chance that you will be asked to conduct at least one literature review during your coursework. A literature review is a paper, or a part of a larger research paper, that reviews the critical points of current knowledge on a particular topic. It includes substantive findings as well as theoretical and methodological contributions that others bring to the subject. Its ultimate goal is to bring the reader up to date with current literature on a topic and usually forms the basis for another goal, such as future research that needs to be done in the area or serves as part of a thesis or dissertation. A literature review should be unbiased and does not report any new or original work. Starting the process of conducting and writing a literature review can be overwhelming. Here are a few tips on how to get started that will hopefully make the process a little less daunting. Determine Your Topic When choosing a topic to research, it helps to have a clear understanding of what it is you want to research before setting out on your literature search. If you have a very broad and general topic, your literature search is likely to be very lengthy and time-consuming. For example, if your topic was simply â€Å"self-esteem among adolescents,† you will find hundreds of journal articles and it would be nearly impossible to read, comprehend, and summarize every one of them. If you refine the topic, however, to â€Å"adolescent self-esteem in relation to substance abuse,† you will narrow your search result significantly. It is also important not to be so narrow and specific to where you find fewer than a dozen or so related papers. Conduct Your Search One good place to start your literature search is online. Google Scholar is one resource that I think is a great place to start. Choose several keywords that relate to your topic and do a search using each term separately and in combination with each other. For example, if I searched for articles related to my topic above (adolescent self-esteem in relation to substance abuse), I would conduct a search for each of these words/phrases: adolescent self-esteem drug use, adolescent self-esteem drugs, adolescent self-esteem smoking, adolescent self-esteem tobacco, adolescent self-esteem cigarettes, adolescent self-esteem cigars, adolescent self-esteem chewing tobacco, adolescent self-esteem alcohol use, adolescent self-esteem drinking, adolescent self-esteem cocaine, etc. As you start the process you will find that there are dozens of possible search terms for you to use, no matter what your topic is. Some of the articles that you find will be available through Google Scholar or whichever search engine you choose. If the full article is not available via this route, your school library is a good place to turn. Most college or university libraries have access to most or all academic journals, many of which are available online. You will likely have to go through your school’s library website to access them. If you need help, contact someone at your school’s library for assistance. In addition to Google Scholar, check your school’s library website for other online databases that you could use to search for journal articles. Also, using the reference list from articles that you gather is another great way to find articles. Organize Your Results Now that you have all of your journal articles, it is time to organize them in a way that works for you so that you don’t get overwhelmed when you sit down to write the literature review. If you have them all organized in some fashion, this will make writing a lot easier. What may work for you is to organize my articles by category (one pile for articles related to drug use, one pile for those related to alcohol use, one pile for those related to smoking, etc.). Then, after you are done reading each article, summarize that article in a table that can be used for quick reference during the writing process. Below is an example of such a table. Begin Writing You should now be ready to begin writing the literature review. The guidelines for writing will likely be determined by your professor, mentor, or the journal you are submitting to if you are writing a manuscript for publication. Example of a Literature Grid Author(s) Journal, Year Subject/Keywords Sample Methodology Statistical Method Main Findings Finding Relevant to My Research Question Abernathy, Massad, and Dwyer Adolescence, 1995 Self-esteem, smoking 6,530 students; 3 waves (6th grade at w1, 9th grade at w3) Longitudinal questionnaire, 3 waves Logistic regression Among males, no association between smoking and self-esteem. Among females, low self-esteem in grade 6 led to greater risk of smoking in grade 9. Shows that self-esteem is a predictor of smoking in adolescent girls. Andrews and Duncan Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 1997 Self-esteem, marijuana use 435 adolescents 13-17 years old Questionnaires, 12-year longitudinal study (Global Self-worth subscale) Generalized estimating equations (GEE) Self-esteem mediated the relationship between academic motivation and marijuana use. Shows that decreases in self-esteem associated with increases in marijuana use.