The conflicts in Arab countries for long have been seen as human rights activism protests against oppression by their governments. In most cases, the civil wars attract intervention by foreign entities such as the United Nation, the United States of America (USA) together with other western countries. However, the extent to which these western countries exert their presence has always been in question. The movie “Iraq for Sale” covers a wide section of the purported sinister motives the United States had when helping to quell civil instability within Iraq. The movie illustrates how major companies were contracted to provide particular services to the US troops in Afghanistan yet they failed. The movie depicts the contracts to have been awarded under mysterious circumstances(Isaac 23). The movie alleges that the company owners enjoyed high-level protection from the government, with deep roots in Washington, extending up to the president. This topic is appeals to us because it brings to perspective, the rot in top-level institutions in the USA. Related articles that support the movie are littered in the internet especially with the major publishers. However, these three articles impressed us because of their deep relation to the events depicted in the movie.
Selected Articles
1. David Cameron in hot water over lifting ban on Czech fighter jets sale
2. Iraq PM orders removal of British-made fake bomb detectors
3. How the US sent $12bn in cash to Iraq. And watched it vanish
The three articles all appeared on the guardian newspaper, a leading international newspaper. The first article investigated on the ban lifted by David Cameron on Czech fighter jets sale. Just like the case of Iraq for Sale, there seemed to be a huge scandal behind the deal between UK and Czech Republic. The second article, still on the guardian newspaper highlights the order by Iraq Prime Minister (PM) in relation to the removal of the fake British-made bomb detectors. The last article documents on how the United States purportedly sent $12b to Iraq, later in 2016 it was recorded by a congressional house committee that the money vanished, hence never realized its intended purpose. All the three articles are heavily related to the movie titled Iraq for Sale, because they both expose the rot in high government offices in United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US). Since the articles are from reliable sources, it was important to use them as cited examples of what transpired in the movie Iraq for Sale("World Political Systems after Polarity" 34).
Analysis and discussion of the Combinations
Similarities and Differences between Text Concepts, Case, and Current Events Articles
The major text concept highlighted by both the articles and the video cuts across ethical dilemma, political systems, states in transition, ethical issues in international business and international trade theory. All these text concepts are widely covered in the articles. An evidence of this association lies on the relationship between the issues brought about in the articles and their relationship to international problems. The video titled Iraq for Sale majorly highlights issues on how top government officials used their influence to ensure corrupt companies engaged in illegal undertakings while performing official government functions. Largely there exist various unethical activities evidenced in the activities of these companies. The similarities and differences in the articles are all brought out by specific textual concepts that were covered in class. In essence, it remains to be seen that the video majorly brings to surface various unethical activities in top-level government organs. Using the textual concepts covered in class this article seeks to find an association between the three articles selected in line with the theme of the movie("International Trade" 13).
Political Systems the political systems covered by the three articles and the movie involves four countries. The four countries are related based on the issues addressed by the articles. In the movie or clip, the political systems of United States of America and Iraq are brought to focus. It is seen in the movie that America was sending her soldiers to Iraq to maintain peace. It is in this setup that the corrupt American government picks three companies that completely takes advantage of its mission in Iraq. In this case, it can be said that one political system was assisting another political system through peace initiatives. In the third article, still on the American-Iraq relationship, it is widely reported of how America supplied billions of dollars to Iraq. It is reported that the dollars could not be traced. This highlights a similar narrative of deception among political systems. Largely, it can be said that both America and Iraq got into a huge conspiracy theory resulting in loss of billions of dollars.
In another article, similar political systems are put in play where United Kingdom is seen to be helping Czech Republic through supply of fighter jets. However, a similar scenario develops when the UK prime Minister bans the supply of the fighter jets to the Czech Republic. This also sounds like a conflict of interest displayed by the UK prime minister. Such conflicts of interests are what give the pattern to corruption as seen in the Iraq and America political systems. In another political system, it involves Iraq and Britain, the article reports on the news of Iraq prime minister ordering removal of British-made fake bomb detectors. A similar pattern of deception is clearly witnessed in these pupated political systems. It remains a big question on why Britain as a country decided to supply Iraq with fake bomb detectors. Even though it may culminate into a political deception, it still gives room for speculation(Boffey).
Ethical Issues in International BusinessIn the movie, an ethical dilemma is widely seen from how a highly rated country like the United States can indulge in unethical activities. It begs the question of how immoral countries can be in conducting their activities. Similarly the ethical dilemma is seen in UK when the then UK Prime Minister David Cameron uplifted the ban on supplying Czech Republic with fighter jets. The ban was based on particular principles that were held by the UK government. The UK government had put sanction on the supply because to them it was violating some of the laws in international trade. However, David Cameron lifted the ban in his bid to gain support from the European Union. It was abuse of power and unethical for David Cameron to campaign for support using unethical means. The ban on supply of fighter jets was a legitimate ban. However, it was made irrelevant by David Cameron thereby presenting another case of an ethical dilemma.
In the second article, another ethical dilemma presents itself when a big country like Britain tries to sell fake bomb detectors to Iraq. The Iraq prime minister did an honorable thing by requesting for the removal of the fake bombs. The similar narrative of indulgence in unethical practices is quit rampant in most political systems. It is quit unethical for established nations like Britain to supply fake gadgets to a country like Iraq. The third article still brings a wider perspective on unethical practices done by various countries. In the Iraq and US bilateral trades, it expected that a high level of professionalism be maintained throughout the process. However, this was not the case when USA supplied more than 2 billion dollars to Iraq. The mode of distribution of the money was highly irregular giving rise to lose of transparency within the institutional in the two countries. It was unethical for the two countries to engage in such a shoddy way of doing things without any form or professionalism hence giving room to unethical practices(Pallister).
Ethical Dilemma ethics touch on varies many issues in the society or countries. Given that we have covered most of the ethical dilemmas on ethical issues in international trade, we are only highlighting the differences in ethical dilemmas highlighted in the three articles. The main differences in the dilemmas in the three articles are based on how the unethical issue is performed. Although unearthing the ethical dilemmas in the three article brings a sharp criticism of the political systems the differences in the ethical dilemmas is quite evidenced by their relevance. The ethical dilemma faced by David Cameron on whether to lift the ban on supplying of jet fighters is not as heavy as the ethical dilemma faced by British if supplying fakes both detectors to Iraq. The ethical implications involved in David Cameron’s decision is not as weight as the ethical implications involved in the case of fake bomb detectors by Britain.
The movie highlights on the ethical dilemmas a country can face given that it must make a particular choice regarding important issues in a country. Ethical dilemmas mainly involve high-level decisions that a person of top management of an institution must make for a particular processes or system to be accomplished. However, the impact of such decisions to the image of a country or individual making the decision is not always a good one. This can be highlighted by the investigations that were launched on David Cameron for lifting a ban that was meant to prevent any supply of fighter jets to Czech Republic. It is worth noting that the difference in the ethical dilemmas presented in the three articles solely depends on their impact. An example is the devastating death of vary many civilians in Iraq due to use of faulty bomb detectors supplied by Britain.
International Trade Theory One of the textual concepts largely highlighted by all the articles is the international trade theory. The associations and link among these nations lies on their trade initiatives. The pattern of deception, unethical practices and trade activities are all based on international trade theory. In the video America is seen to be aiding Iraq in its peacekeeping missions. However, the oil fields in Iraq are also important for the American economy, hence even though America is fighting to aid peace keeping initiatives in Iraq, its main objectives is to maintain its trade lines with Iraq. The oil fields in Iraq are quite essential to the USA economy, hence for the sake of continued trade between Iraq and the USA, American soldiers must be sent into Iraq for peacekeeping missions. These patterns of trade are also seen in the first article where David Cameron lifts a ban on the sale of fighter jets to Czech. This a clear trade between the two countries, another classic example of what is evidenced in the movie(Chulov).
The second article also highlights on international trade between Britain and Iraq. Although Iraq does not live to its end of the bargain, it suggests an international trade between the two countries. At times countries get into political wars with different regimes. Such factors do no foster proper trade links into the countries resulting into collapse trade links. However, one outstanding factor about international trade is that countries continue to trade even at times of war. The last article supports the trade link evidenced in the movie, where America is compelled to supply Iraq with over 2 billion dollars. Particular commodities that a county may lack while the other is having them on plenty aid these international trades. These trades support the initially established patterns of similar events occurring both in the movies and in the articles. It is thus important to note that there are no major differences in the articles. All the articles point to particular textual concepts covered broadly(Daughen 69).
Political orientation behind the perspective of the materials
The authors of the articles take a particular line of thought while detailing the events that transpired. Although, the movie does not highlight factors brought about by the three authors. The characters tend to send the same kind of information on a wider perspective. The critical view taken by the authors of the article was meant to bring about the textual concepts that were mostly covered in class. In addition to providing a comprehensive coverage of major factors affecting government institutions, the authors tend to provide a way forward by calling for accountability and peace where due. The articles express a total masterpiece of professional journalism imbedded into investigative work. The information brought about by the authors also indicate well researched master piece of articles that acts as an eye opener to the public that might have been prevented from accessing the truth.
Developed Awareness and Knowledge of the selected concepts
Given the well-researched article, wed gained a lot from the information in the articles. Having read the three articles, some of the textual concepts that were a little bit hard to understand were clearly spelt out. The article brought to perspective the nature of bilateral trades between countries. It is worth citing that America as a country is a superpower, however, based on these articles and the movie, it is recorded that it is also one of the most corrupt countries in the international trade markets. Its main aim was to safe guard oil wells that supplied its economy. The knowledge and awareness acquired from the selected concepts helped a great deal in understanding particular concepts brought about by the authors. A significant amount of time spent on relating the articles with the textual concepts yodeled into awareness of key concepts in international trade and ethics.
Learning outcomes
Here are some of the take away we got from this assignment.
1) Governments are corrupt
2) International trade promotes peace
3) Ethics is not widely regarded in major government to government trades
Governments are Corrupt the concept of corruption is not a new thing to me given that we interact with corrupt individuals, almost in our daily lives. However, a government such as that of the USA with a robust economy supported by multi agencies is supposed to be seen as one of the best governments. However, the level of corruptions exposed by these articles, especially in the United States of America is alarming. It is of great importance to note that other countries such as Britain are also depicted as corrupt countries. We did observe that very many countries have the mechanisms to fight corruption yet they are only partially active in the fight around corruption. The movie did indicate that in the USA, both the presidency and the congress committee ensured that a corrupt company was awarded a contract that they ultimately mismanaged. The greatest lesson learnt is that, America only advocates against corruption at junior levels, a lot of impunity is attached to the top level.
International Trade Promote Peace International trade involves bilateral trades across various continents and countries. However, one outstanding factor that we did observe is that, fights are just about convenience. We saw that even though the USA policies completely differ with those of Iraq, the bilateral trade between America and the Arab countries make it easier for them to compromise. Although the interests of America in Iraq are mainly for oil, its imitative to join Iraq in its quest for political stability is astonishing. It is important to note that America is largely a country that does not negotiate with terrorists, yet its associations with countries that promote terrorism is strong.
International trade promotes peace among countries; through international trade, countries are able to minimize conflicts amongst one another to enhance positive environments for trade purposes. In the article, we also observed that apart for the USA, Iraq also trades with other counties such as UK for provision on armory. Davis Cameron used international trade as a way of trying to influence the decision by European Union to his favor. It is thus important to note that international trade help create positive environment for all countries with regard to their goods and services.
Ethics is not widely regarded as a major factor in intergovernmental trades majority trade initiatives that were highlighted in the articles suggested an inadequacy in adhering to ethical standards. The video highlighted that no morals were followed in the association between the United States of America and Iraq, in the third article, violation of ethical chords is witnessed to suggest that all transactions between USA and Iraq lack professionalism. It would be wrong for particular institutions within the governmental to continue violating ethical roles. However, asconfirmed by the article on fake bombs detectors supplied to Iraq by the British government, It also lacks the main components of ethics, given that its main objective is only trade. Hence, we did realize that most government activities involving other countries are not straightforward and lacks moral merits.