Cables Depict U.S. Haggling to Clear Guantanamo

   The U.S. Has had trouble removing prisoners from Guantanamo Bay prison. The U.S. has been trying to find countries willing to take the prisoners and are also able to be trusted to keep close watch over them. They are worried that if they send them to unstable countries they will rejoin terrorist groups. Many of the prisoners have been sent to Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Belgium. Since the Obama administration
began the number has only been lowered from 240 to 174. Obama's deadline has been missed and it is not
as much of a priority.
To see the article click here. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/30/world/americas/30gitmo.html?pagewanted=1&ref=todayspaper

Bombings Hit Atomic Experts in Iran Streets-The New York Times

     Two separate bombing attacks were carried out by people on motorcycles targeting two of Iran’s top Nuclear scientists killing one of them and wounding the other. Iran said that the United States and Israel were trying to disrupt Iran’s nuclear program. Israel and the United States have said that they will not tolerate a nuclear Iran. Iran says that its nuclear program is being used for civilian purposes only but the U.S. believes they want to make a nuclear bomb. Iran’s President Mahmoud Amadinejad said that a computer software had attacked its centrifuges. Experts say that the program was probably made by technicians working for the government. Plans to stop Iran’s nuclear program have not worked. Iran did say that it would continue talks with the European Union over it’s nuclear program.  

   To see the Article click Here. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/30/world/middleeast/30tehran.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper

Despite Gains, Night Raids Split U.S. and Karzai- The New York Times

    The United States has recently tripled the amount of night raids it has been conducting with Special Forces to capture or kill members of the Taliban. The night raids have put pressure on Taliban leaders in
the safe havens of Pakistan. The raids have led to many civilian casualties, causing protest from the Afghan
people and are a political liability for Afghanistan's president Hamid Karzai. President Karzai said that
 the raids should be handled by the Afghan government. Hillary Clinton and other United States officials
claim that the raids were conducted in partnership with the Afghan government.

Europe Fears that Debt Crisis Is Ready to Spread- The New York Times

     European leaders are worried that the the debt crisis will spread, and that they will need to cover Ireland and Portugal in new rescue plans. In order to receive aid the countries would have to formally ask for it.
Portugal claims that it is in a better position than Ireland and that it does not need help, and Ireland says that it can keep going without help until spring. Weaker economic countries such Ireland and Portugal and stronger economic countries using the Euro are being pulled apart. The Portuguese finance minister said
that if Ireland's financial problems continue to get worse and it is unable to pay its debts to other European
countries those countries may get financial problems such as Spain.  
 

At Legal Fringe Empty Houses Go to The Needy-The New York Times

A Florida mortgage broker, Mark Guerette, has found foreclosed homes, that he does not own, for needy families. He relies on a law that says if the owners do not claim them in seven years they will belong to him. He is seen as a criminal by authorities, and is scheduled to go on trial in December for fraud charges and faces 15 years in prison. He claims to have taken possession of as many as 100 homes and has filed claims in court that he is the rightful owner of these properties.

Countering China Obama Backs India for U.N. Council- New York Times

       Obama went to India to help India get a permanent seat on the U.N. security council. Obama wants to create a partnership between the U.S. and India to counter balance the growing power of China. Obama's announcement was made to the Indian Parliament after his three day trip to India. Pakistan criticized the United States relationship with India, while on the other hand India criticized the U.S. for not cracking down on Pakistan to get rid of it's terrorist safe havens.

House Of The Scorpion

    Two themes of the book are freedom and being accepted for who you are. During the story the character Matt is constantly searching for freedom and acceptance. He is shunned for being a clone and is held captive by El Patron. At the end of the story he finally is able to be free. The protagonist is Matt, because he is the one who has to overcome all of the problems. All Matt wants during the story is to be free. The antagonist changes several times during the book, but the main one is El Patron. El Patron causes Matt the most problems. El Patron only cares about money and riches. He wants to use Matt so that he can live longer. The mentor is Tam Lin, he is one of Matt's closest friends and he wants to help Matt. In the beginning of the story Matt is innocent and does not understand the danger he is in. As the story progresses He learns how to face and overcome bad things. Matt changes when he finds out that El Patron wants to use him for his organs. It is when Matt comes of age and realizes what a bad place his world is. One of my favorite parts of the is when Matt is fleeing El Patron's Palace. I also thought that
 when he realizes what has happened to everyone in Opium at the end of the story was very interesting.
The section about the plankton factory was very interesting too. I enjoyed the book a lot and it should be used for next years reading bowl.