The Weekly Journal

Military – In concurrence with the American Revolution the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps were established with 1775. The precursor to the Department of Defense, the War Department, was established in 1789. The Coast guard and Air Force were established in 1790 and 1947 respectively. Eventually the senate confirmed that all three branches of military; Army, Navy, and Air Force were to be placed under the control of the Secretary of Defense. In 1949 the National Military establishment became known as the Department of Defense.
The United States is an advanced modern Democracy and a nuclear power with one of the largest nuclear arsenals in the world. The United States is one of the twenty eight NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) members. NATO is a military and political alliance focused on collective security for all member states. It was created April 4th, 1949 to counter act the Warsaw Pact. The paradox is why is it still in existence today with the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991?
According to Fareed Zakaria, a political scientist and host on CNN, after the fall of the USSR the USA became the Hegemon over international system. However, it seems that the world is moving back towards a multipolar system.

• Top Issues
• The War in Afghanistan
• The war began on October 7, 2001as the USA Armed Forces along with NATO invaded the country. The justification for the war was to remove the safe haven to Al-Qaeda and its use of the Afghan territory as a base of operations for anti-US terrorist activities. Following the September 11 attacks on the United States, Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for the attacks.
• The War in Iraq
• On March 20, 2003, the USA invaded Iraq leading a multinational force under the administration of President George W. Bush; and the United Kingdom under Prime Minister Tony Blair. The concern was that Iraq who failed to comply with UN inspectors had Weapons of Mass Destruction and would use them against the United States and her allies thus threatening national security.
• When the United States presented its case to invade Iraq to the UN Security Council, who can overrule the General Assembly, the Security Council voted no. Of Course the United States, arguably being the hegemon at the time, invaded anyway.
• Warrior Care
• An alarming amount of soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan are being prescribed anti –depressants.

• Soldiers once home are having a difficult time readjusting to civilian life.

Geography – North America is comprised of two states the United States of America and Canada. It stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and from the northern border of Mexico to the Arctic Sea.
Safety – The United States and Canada are relatively safe places to travel, there are no travel advisories against either state.
Technology – The United States has the most technologically advanced military in the world and is a nuclear power. Compared to the Russian Federation that is a nuclear power but is still using equipment from the seventies. However, the AK-47 is the most widely used firearm in the world.