Global Agenda 2004

Readings

TA

Policies

Writing Assignment #1H (Honors)
“Axis of Evil”
Due: Wednesday, February 25, 2004

Preamble:
Imagine yourself the National Security Adviser for a new U.S. President. His election campaign was almost exclusively devoted to domestic issues. He has a reputation for knowing little about foreign affairs.
The President summons you and his chief speechwriter into the oval office to brainstorm an important theme of his first "State of the Union" speech.

In the Oval Office, the new President says he wants to make a splash with his speech, especially on foreign policy. And he's tired of feeling so impotent about all the dangers lurking around the United States, especially after 911.

He demands that you identify the top threats to the United States so he can declare his top priorities in international affairs. He comes up with the idea of declaring an "axis of evil," and he wants you to fill in the blanks.


Write:
Using resources available on the Global Agenda web site, in your course anthology (Foreign Affairs), and others you find, write a 5-page briefing memo addressed to the President.

In your memo, select the three top threats to the nation, which you know the President will characterize in his speech as the "axis of evil."

You answer these questions – and others you might add – in your memo:

  • What are the top three threats to the United States?
  • Why are they threats to the U.S?
  • What are the consequences to the U.S. of declaring these three threats as "evil?"


Alternative writing form: If you wish, you may write your paper as a “transcript” of a conversation you have with the President in the oval office, in which you outline your choices and he responds.

Things to remember:
This is a course about "enemies" and how they relate to the United States. You should not confine yourself to topics you know we'll cover in this semester. Nor should you feel constrained by real choices made by real presidents. Feel free to roam beyond.


And even though the President won’t care, you must cite your sources on a bibliography page.