Week of June 28 Economic

Consistently since January, job availabilty has increased in the U. S., somewhat aiding the delicate economy. However, despite the size of the potetial workforce, the lack of skill among laborers leaves many postitions still open in factories. Due to the recession, manufacturers sought their unskilled workers abroad for a cheaper alternative to domestic labor. However, now that the economy seems to be slowly improving, factory managers are seeking highly skilled computer operators and mathematic professionals to fill their job openings, turning away anyone else. As a result, many who lost their jobs previously are more likely to remain unemployed long-term as manufacturers are unlikely to return jobs already distributed abroad back to the U.S..
This unfortunate lack of jobs in the market appears to point to one problem: manufacturers seek cheap labor and domestic laborers are not as cheap as foreign ones. Now their are two options 1) the government needs to require that a certain percentage of a manufactuer's workers be domestic or 2) the skills required to fill positions in factories (such as mathematics or computer operation) should be provided by the companies that are hiring. However as the latter seems unlikely and far too time consuming, the former may be the easiest to obtain despite whatever rights factories may claim. If the economy completely collapses, frustrated workers could first attack domestic manufactuers using foreign labor.

Article Referenced:

Rich, Motoko. "Factory Jobs Return, but Employers Find Skills Shortage." NYTimes. New York Times. 1 July 2010. July 2010.

Week of June 28 International

Arrests of suspected Russian spies have damaged President Obama's efforts to improve international relationships between the U.S. and foreign nations. Russia had originaly denied the charges then announced that the suspects in question were indeed Russian citizens. The arrests took place only 3 days after a visit from President Dmitri Medvedev to the White House, unfortunately marring an otherwise peaceful encounter. Obama planned to ignore the event for the most part to focus his attention on "more important matters". However, these arrests should not truly come as a surprise according to Senator Christopher Bond from Missouri as "Russia is not a trustworthy ally". Relationships between Russia and the U. S. meanwhile, may be easier to repair as no "serious breach of national security" occured.
While I understand that espionage between countries, even close allies, does occur and is relatively unpreventable, I do not agree with the President's decision to ignore the event. Rings of Russian spies have caused widespread chaos in the past, such as the Palmer Raids, and should not be taken so lightly. The government should work to improve relations with fair-weather and boarder-line allies such as Russia to the point where espionage will no longer be necessary.

Article Referenced:

Baker, Peter. "Despite Arrests, Working to Rebuild Russia Ties."NYTimes. 30 June 2010. Web. July 2010.

Week of June 28 National

General McChrystal's tacktless remarks in Rolling Stone magazine has drawn attention to the situation of war in Afghanistan and to the relationship betwen State and Defense departments in the Pentagon. McChrystal's replacement, General David Petraeus, and two of the nation's top civilian officials have decided to send genorators to Kandahar to support the war effort for new tactics in Afghanistan. However, a "perennial tug-of-war" plagues cooperation between civil and military objectives. The some military critics, thoroughly frustrated with the lack of civilian aid in the country are blaming civil leaders for the results of Afghani elections, which were quite possibly rigged. This dispute dangerously raises tensions between the two departments especially after McChrystal's antics and rumors of Ambassador Eikenberry's firing. Hopefuly, General Petraeus truly "understands the importance of civilian-military effort.
I agree with the decision to send generators to Kandahar, however, verbal attacks on the lack of support from civilians seems completely unjustified. The people in these countries are most likely terrified that any involvment with American forces will lead to their deaths one way or another. If there is supposed to be any hope for an end to this war both State and Defense departments are going to have to reach some sort of middle ground and compromise on issues currently facing these nations.

Article Referenced:
Lander, Mark. "Beyond McChrystal Lies a Bigger Tug of War." NYTimes. 2 July 2010. Web. July 2010.