On Jordan’s commentary on the NSA “Thecost of Anonymity”, I will have to say I agree with him one hundred percent. He mentions that although the NSA says that they aren’t evading our privacy and is only doing it to protect us, perhaps 10-20 years they will have much more control over us. Also, the information they are gathering now can affect us in the future. Even if it’s something that we didn’t meant or had intentions to be negative. Jordan seems to be against the NSA tactics of gathering data.

 I think that these are baby steps. The outcome will be that they will know everything about us and privacy would no longer exist to a U.S citizen. The NSA already has a lot of invasive control on us. We are discouraged of what we want to say because it can have consequences. Things can be used against us. Our amendments will then be compromised. Which, they already are.  I don’t think this is the best way to keep our country secure. It is to invasive and non-constitutional. Perhaps under programs should be tested to see if it has a different affect. In the future if this keeps going on, I ask myself “what else will they do?’’, how far will they take it? I don’t know and I don’t want to find out. Which is why I think it needs to be stopped now.

The NSA should not be given so much power over us. It should only be used against real threats like terrorists. Not people who they think are terrorists but that they are actually involved with terrorist groups.

     On the article Majority Leader Eric Cantor: President Obama Should Abandon This Terrible Deal with Iran written by Eric Cantor talks about how the United States has not demanded Iran to turnover their nuclear weapons completely. Although, the United Nations have urged them to give them the chemical weapons so that they are properly destroyed. The U.S have a deal with Iran that limits their research of nuclear warfare but doesn't stop them from advancing.
     I agree with Eric. It is in the best interest of the U.S to break the deal they have with Iran. Their is to much that can go wrong. If U.S does not apprehends the arms that Iran has or is creating things can go wrong. Iran can attack another nation and it can come back to the United States. Perhaps even alliances will be broken. Iran can even sell their research to a nation that is enemies with us. Then, they can use that on the American people. The UN can even be very upset with this deal it would break ties with the U.S. This deal has to many if and buts. It isn't worth it. The consequences are to high.
     This is why I believe the U.S should take back the deal and demand Iran to hand over their weapons and research. We should stick with what UN has offered Iran and not go against it.

Commentary on colleagues blog

            In Ardiana Shillvoa commentary on America, “The Land of the Free, unless you want Medical Marijuana" I would have to say I agree with her. Smoking marijuana should be a personal choice and it should be made legal for the use of medical treatment. Me personally I don't engage in smoking pot, but I have been around people who use it and they are perfectly fine, in my opinion.
  

 Medical marijuana that has been used by millions of Americans to help control their health problems has been very successful. Not only those it work, but it’s also a healthier alternative pain reliever. Marijuana can also be used as a psychoactive drug. It can help with over stress, depression or even for people who have trouble eating. One of Marijuana side effects is that it causes hunger so that is another way it can be used.

            As one of the reasons why I believe marijuana has not been legalized is because everybody thinks they it’s the gateway drug. Although, it has never been proven it also has a lot of flaws in its argument. They say that marijuana is the gateway drug because it is easier to get a hold of, but drugs such as bath salt, pills, alcohol, and meth can be found in a convenient store. There aren’t any reported overdoses or health problems that have been caused by marijuana.

            This is why I agree completely with Ardiana. Marijuana should be a personal choice and a choice that should not be made by politicians that are out of their mind and should probably consider using drugs.

Can Iraq be saved?

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki is asking for military assistance from the United States.  Violence has increased early this year because of Al-Qaeda and a Sunni group. The same group that was almost dismantled by the U.S military before being kicked out by Maliki. Since then they have risen to power once again. Now Prime Minister Maliki wants to bring in the U.S once again so that they can keep everything in order. Maliki is to blame for the rise of crime for shorting the stay of the U.S military in Iraq according to "Can Iraq Be Saved?” an article at CNN.com.

                The United States should not assist Iraq in my opinion. The reason why it’s because they already tried to help them and they were taken for granted. Asked to leave even after U.S offered to stay to prevent what is now happening.  Maliki will not change even if the U.S helps.  Which means Iraq won’t change either. Since Maliki will run for office again and there is a probability he will win and his arrogance will remain and stop Iraq from making correct decisions.  The Iraqi government will not make any significant plans to prevent the rise of terrorists groups other than asking the U.S for assistance.

Another reason why it would be bad to assist Iraq is because of the expenses, casualties, and because of all the other engagements U.S is already involved in. In the Iraqi war almost 4,500 U.S military soldiers died according to about.com.  In 2008 12 billion dollars were spent monthly. That’s about 150 billion dollars U.S spent in just one year. We are already in debt with 13 trillion dollars. The debt ceiling will just rise even higher if we assist Iraq. The after math would be that U.S. citizens will pay higher taxes and have lesser aid programs. On top of that U.S is already engaged in military matters with Syria, Pakistan, North Korea and many other countries.

Because of these reasons is why I conclude that it isn’t the correct decision to assist Iraq. U.S haves their hands full and do not need any more external issues to worry about.   

     "Ted Cruz is Doing the Right Thing" written by Erick Erickson talks about how Ted Cruz will not filibuster the proposition that the senate leaders have constructed. According to the author Cruz those not feel like the rest of the conservatives will back him up. He isn't willing to take the heat by himself in other words. Either way the GOP will still increase. The other conservatives are upset with what Cruz has said. They don’t like that he those not want to deny the proposition.
     The authors intended audience is the U.S people, more specifically the conservatives. He is credible because he himself is a conservative and although he is conservative he isn’t agreeing with the most popular side. He agrees with Ted Cruz. He feels that Cruz is doing the right thing. If Cruz was to go against the proposition he is risking a lot. There is a big probability that the rest of his colleagues won’t back him up and leave him standing alone. Then he would be blamed for the whole thing. Also Ted Cruz’s rivals will have yet another weapon in their arsenal against Ted.  
     I agree with the author because if the rest of my team will not back me up than why should I risk my job for them? I also agree with him because in my opinion the shutdown was unnecessary. The faster the senate agrees the faster the shutdown will be over with.

Government shutdown reactions

"Ho-hum reaction to shutdown says it all", written by David Rothkopf, talks about the public (U.S citizens) reaction or non-reaction about the government shutdown. The author main concern is that everybody seems to not care about the issue. Not even the lobbyist or the business owners. He is credible because he has past experience and he questioned all types of people, from the regular person to the CEO of large companies. Assuming that either the public has lost its hope on the U.S government or just doesn't believe what congress says anymore. He believes that the reason why this government shutdown happened was because they officials are throwing a tantrum because they didn't get what they wanted.  Both parties have fault but aren't willing to compromise says David. Probably because they don't want to upset their political parties and ruin their chances on being re-elected. The author believes that the only way this can be resolve is by doing a major transformation on the U.S government. The author intended audience is all U.S citizens. I agree with the author’s opinion. The public is so fed up with congress that it those not concern us as much as it should. His claim is spot on and he backs it up with not being bias and not just interviewing one type of class. The public hasn’t protested or petitioned because of the lack of reasoning congress is doing. We don’t see a reason why it should be shut down in the first place. We understand that congress is just being immature and the problem won’t be fixed until they decided to compromise. You can find the original editorial on CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/04/opinion/rothkopf-shutdown-depression/index.html?hpt=op_t1

North Korea testing rockets

   

  "Photos show North Korea likely testing more rocket engines", written by Jamie Crawford, talks about how satellite photos show that NK might be testing missiles. They are not sure if it’s the same missile NK tested out last December or if it’s a new rocket. In the picture you can see a crane, burned vegetation, propellant tanks, and a rocket stage. This evidence leads them to believe that they are testing rockets. The reason why I believe you should read this article and do further investigation is because North Korea might use those weapons to harm U.S military camps or other U.S property. This can bring much effect to us, because it can be the beginning of a war with North Korea. To view this article you can go to cnn.com and click on the North Korea link or just click this link http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2013/09/23/photos-show-north-korea-likely-testing-more-rocket-engines/?hpt=hp_inthenews.