News Updates and Analyses

Armed Conflicts & Environmental Politics Davenport, Coral, and Parker, Ashley. "Environment Is Grabbing Big Role in Ads for Campaigns." The New York Times. The New York Times 21 October 2014. Web. 9 November 2014. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/22/us/politics/environmental-issues-become-a-force-in-political-advertising.html?_r=0 Political advertising focused on climate change, energy, and environmental issues overwhelmed the pre-midterm election campaigns. Surging past a record level of 125,000 ad spots on the Senate side in October 2014, these campaigns reflect the interests and priorities of wealthy donors for both parties.

Indeed, the environment and energy ranked as the third most popular topic mentioned in political ads, with healthcare and jobs running first and second. Wealthy donors showing their partisan hands include Thomas F. Steyer, the liberal California environmental activist billionaire, and Charles G. Koch and David H. Koch, billionaire conservative right-wingers. Political pundits see the popularity of environmental issues as a harbinger of the 2016 presidential race. The ad campaigns demonstrate the underlying tension between jobs and the environment and the capacity of the issues to polarize the American people.

A primary concern is that big money ads are apparently able to strengthen positions taken by climate change deniers. Like the proverbial canary in the cage, the stark inability of a large swath of the American people to grasp the short-sightedness of ignoring carbon pollution is a sign of deep problems with voter perspective. Winesmay, Michael. "Environmental Groups Focus on Change by Strengthening Their Political Operations." The New York Times. The New York Times 31 May 2014. WEB. 8 November 2014.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/01/us/politics/environmental-groups-focus-on-change-by-strengthening-their-political-operations.html Environmental groups say they are conducting more aggressive activism in this election cycle than they have in decades. Groups like the Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council have built stronger grassroots network, political liaisons, and political operations. These efforts are driven by the recognition that the climate-change movement stalled and that urgency to put the issue front and center in all forthcoming campaigns has necessarily increased.

The new unified effort is exemplified by the Climate Action Coalition, which will be backed by huge sums of money for cable television and online ads. The biggest challenge the new environmental activists face is convincing a job hungry American demos that green strategies can support employment, given some allowance for run up to full production of green industries. The American public suffers from a lack of imagination and confidence in future technologies.

The shuttering slow down of environmental activism mirrors the public's letting down the guard with respect to financial institutions. Any vulnerability or slowed pace shown by the left is quickly capitalized by the right, who see changes that are good for the earth as threats to their pocketbooks, lifestyles, and perceptions. The battle is fundamental: greed against good. What is good for the corporation is typically not good for the earth…or its inhabitants. Hybbard, Ben. "U.S. Airstrikes in Iraq Target ISIS Leaders." The New York Times.

The New York Times, 8 November 2014. Web. 8 November 2014. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/09/world/middleeast/us-airstrikes-in-iraq-target-isis-leaders.html?rref=world/middleeast&module=Ribbon&version=context&region=Header&action=click&contentCollection=Middle%20East&pgtype=article United States airstrikes against ISIS leaders in Iraq reportedly led to the deaths of several top militant leaders, including two regional governors.

According to an Iraqi security official and a military commander, the target was the site of a meeting near the town of Qaim in the Anbar Province just across the border from Bukamal in Syria. The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed the airstrike, but said the target was Mosul, which is 180 miles form Qaim. A 10-truck convoy was also destroyed in the attack.

President Obama has authorized approximately 1,500 additional troops for the conflict, which will double the number of American soldiers sent to train and advise Iraqi and Kurdish troops. Expert analysts argue that the ISIS will only be pushed out of the desert heartland territory by capable ground troops, which explains the train-and-advise strategy adopted by the U.S. An additional factor is the evident reluctance of the U.S. To re-engage in Iraq.

The Islamic State jihadist group will be threatened if the rumor is true that Abu Muhannad al-Sweidawi and Abu Zahra al-Mahamdi are both dead. There is speculation that Abu Kark al-Baghdadi is also either dead or wounded. Ironically, both Baghdadi and Sweidawi had been detained by American forces, but later released. Kershner, Isabel and Al-Waheidinov, Majd. Attacks on Fatah Sites Sharpen Tensions in Gaza." The New York Times. The New York Times, 7 November 2014. Web. 8 November 2014.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/08/world/middleeast/explosions-at-fatah-sites-in-gaza-raise-tensions-with-hamas.html?rref=world/middleeast&module=Ribbon&version=origin&region=Header&action=click&contentCollection=Middle%20East&pgtype=article It is not immediately clear who is responsible for the explosions that took place on November 7, 2014, in the Gaza strip. The explosions occurred just days before the 10th anniversary celebration of the death of Yasir.