ADD †Attention Deficit Disorder

ADD – Attention Deficit Disorder Free Online Research Papers When I surveyed the class and asked the question, do you know anyone with a learning disability or not; ten of you said yes, and six said no. What you probably don’t know is that a lot of your friends most likely have a learning disability, you just don’t see it. I’m going to share with the class a true story from my past that I have never shared with anyone. It all started when I was diagnosed in the fifth grade. My teacher asked my mother to come to school because she needed to talk to her about how I was doing in my studies. Her exact words were, â€Å"Mrs. Jersey, I think you should know that your daughter is slow.† But I’m making it a point, to let the class know that I am, by no means, slow. But there was something wrong; my parents just didn’t pick up on it yet. Needless to say that a certain teacher was reprimanded for her actions that day and that I was tested for a learning disability within that same week. SLIDE 4- Congratulations you have attention deficit. Can you imagine being nine years old and being told that you have a disability? I didn’t feel like any of the other kids, not to mention I was failing every subject that was I taking. Until I was put on medication, even though it was a very small dose, it did the trick. Adderall; it changed my life. Within a week of taking my new prescription, my teachers noticed a drastic change in my performance in class. SLIDE 5- But I was dealing with other issues because of this medication, the dark side of it, the possible side effects that I wasn’t told about, until after I had them. The side effects that I experience were horrible, I was losing weight because I lost my appetite, I was constantly having severe migraines, I was always dizzy, and I couldn’t fall asleep if you paid me to. Why put any child through such an ordeal? I could stop taking the meds at anytime if I wanted to, but I didn’t. I finally felt normal for the first time, and I actually started to fit in with the other kids. Those side effects were a small price to pay when you consider what I was gaining in the end. Those were just my side effects, but there are many other ones, and there are a few that can be harmful to your health. ADD medicine can cause severe heart and liver problems; to this day I have to get blood work done each year to make sure that my liver is still in good condition. But no matter th e cost, it’s all worth it. SLIDE 6- There are tons of people out there who don’t agree with medicating a children. In doing extra research for my speech I found many websites who are trying to abolish the use of typical ADD/ ADHD medications. They are suggesting as an alternative, to try herbal medications, and other â€Å"steps† to deal with your child’s disability, that doesn’t involve any medication at all. One website, created an herbal drug called â€Å"mind soothe† that actually contains some drugs such as St. John’s Wart. I found this amusing because there are some drugs that I am forbidden to take, because they will have a bad chemical reaction with my attention deficit medications, and the outcome of that combination can result in life altering illnesses or even death. Want to know what the #1 drug that I am not permitted it take is? St. John’s Wart. But enough about all the medical information about this disability, now I’m going to tell you what life is like in my shoes. Many people don’t believe that ADD is the real deal. Hopefully you will understand what people who have a disability just like mine, go through every day. SLIDE 7- So what is it like to have ADD? Some people say the so-called syndrome doesnt even exist, but believe me, it does. Many metaphors come to mind to describe it. Its like driving in the rain with bad windshield wipers. Everything is blurred and youre speeding along, and its really frustrating not being able to see very well. Or, its like listening to a radio station with a lot of static and you have to strain to hear whats going on. Or, its like trying to build a house of cards in a dust storm. You have to build a something to protect yourself from the wind before you can even start on the cards. In other words its like being super-charged all the time. You get one idea and you have to act on it, and then, out of nowhere, youve got another idea before youve finished up with the first one, and so you go for that one, and pretty soon people are calling you disorganized and impulsive and all sorts of things that miss the point completely. Because you truly are trying really hard. Its just that you have all these invisible things pulling you this way, and it makes it really hard to stay on task. But there is a positive side to all this. Usually the positive doesnt get mentioned when people speak about ADD because people tend to focus on what goes wrong, or at least on what has to be somehow controlled. But often once the ADD has been diagnosed, and the child or the adult, with the help of teachers and parents or doctors and friends have learned how to cope with it, an untapped part of the brain comes into view. Suddenly the radio station is tuned in, the windshield is clear, and the sand storm has died down. And the child or adult, who had been such a problem, such a general pain in the neck to himself and everybody else, that person starts doing things hed never been able to do before. SLIDE 8- In places where most of us are blind, they can, if not see the light, at least feel the light, and they can produce answers apparently out of the dark. It is important for others to be sensitive to this sixth sense many ADD people have, and to encourage it. If the environment insists on rational thinking and good behavior from these people all the time, then they may never develop their creative side that makes them so unique. It can be tiresome to listen to people talk. They can sound so vague or as if they’re rambling on. But if you take them seriously and bear along with them, often you will find they are on the verge of startling conclusions or surprising solutions. Let me leave you by telling you that we need your help and understanding. We may make mess-piles wherever we go, but with your help, those mess-piles can be turned into a world of reason and art. So, if you know someone like me whos acting up occasionally and daydreaming and forgetting this or that and just not getting with the program, consider ADD before he or she starts believing all the bad things people are saying about them. The main point of this speech is that there is a more complex side to ADD than just a list of symptoms. ADD is a way of life, and until recently it has been hidden, even from those who have it. It is a way of living. Before the syndrome is diagnosed that way of living may be filled with pain and misunderstanding. After the diagnosis is made, one often finds new possibilities and the chance for real change. Research Papers on ADD - Attention Deficit DisorderTrailblazing by Eric AndersonStandardized TestingLifes What IfsBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenCapital PunishmentHip-Hop is ArtThe Spring and AutumnThe Hockey Game

Definition of Petitioner in Immigration Law

Definition of Petitioner in Immigration Law In U.S. immigration law, a petitioner is someone who submits a request on behalf of a foreign national to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services  (USCIS), which, upon approval, allows the foreign national to submit an official visa application. The petitioner must be either an immediate relative (a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident) or a prospective employer. The foreign national on behalf of whom the initial request is submitted is known as the beneficiary. For example, a man, a U.S. citizen, has submitted a petition to USCIS to allow his German wife to come to the United States to live permanently. In the application, the husband is listed as the petitioner and his wife is listed as the beneficiary. Key Takeaways: Immigration Petitioner A petitioner is someone who submits a request on behalf of a foreign national who wishes to immigrate to the United States. The foreign national is known as the beneficiary. Petitions for foreign relatives are made using Form I-130, and petitions for foreign workers are made using Form I-140. Because of green card quotas, petition processing can take anywhere from several months to several years. Petition Forms In U.S. immigration law, there are two forms used by USCIS for petitioners to submit on behalf of foreign nationals. If the petitioner is a relative of the foreign national, Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative needs to be completed. This form asks for information used to establish the relationship between the petitioner and the beneficiary, including information about the petitioners parents, spouse(s), place of birth, current address, employment history, and more. If the petitioner is submitting a petition on behalf of a spouse, Form I-130A, Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary must be filled out. If the petitioner is a prospective employer of the foreign national, they should complete Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers. This form asks for information about the beneficiarys skills, last arrival in the United States, place of birth, current address, and more. It also asks for information about the petitioners business and the beneficiarys proposed employment. Once one of these forms has been completed, the petitioner should mail it to the appropriate address (there are separate filing instructions for Form I-130 and Form I-140). To complete this process, the petitioner must also submit a filing fee (as of 2018, the fee is $535 for Form I-130 and $700 for Form I-140). Approval Process Once a petitioner has submitted a request, the document is a reviewed by a USCIS official known as an adjudicator. Forms are reviewed on a first-come, first served basis and can take anywhere from several months to several years to process. Because of U.S. quotas on the number of green cards that can be granted each year, Form I-130 processing times vary based on the relationship between the petitioner and the beneficiary. Some immediate relatives, for example- including spouses, parents, and children under 21- are given preference over siblings and adult children. Processing times for the latter can last as long as 10 years. Once a petition is approved, the qualifying foreign national may apply for permanent residency status by submitting Form I-485. This document asks for information about the place of birth, current address, recent immigration history, criminal history, and more. Immigrants who are already in the United States may apply for adjustment of status, while those outside the United States may apply for a green card through the U.S. embassy. If a foreign national is applying for an employment-based visa, they must complete the labor certification process, which is done through the Department of Labor. Once this is complete, the foreign national may apply for a visa. Additional Information About 50,000 visas are available each year through the Green Card Lottery. The lottery has certain entry requirements; for example, applicants must live in a qualifying country, and they must have at least a high school education or two years of work experience. Once a foreign national has been approved and becomes a lawful permanent resident, they have certain rights. These include the right to live and work anywhere in the United States and the guarantee of equal protection under United States law. Lawful permanent residents also have certain responsibilities, including the requirement to report their income to the IRS. Male lawful permanent residents between the ages of 18 and 25 must also register for the Selective Service.

Managing Markets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6000 words

Managing Markets - Essay Example One of the top ten leading financial investing companies in the world is the Barclays Banks and their investors. It is financial institutional investor company and a large liaison which can be traced back to a self-effacing business founded more than three hundred years ago in the heart of London’s financial region. It is a UK-based financial services group connected principally in banking, investment banking and investment organization. In terms of market capitalization Barclays is one of the top ten leading banks in the globe. A primary UK retail and industry bank, it also offers corresponding global services to international corporations and financial institutions globally. It has been engaged in banking for over years and functions in over sixty countries with more than 76,200 employees. On June 30, 2004, the group attained a pre-tax profit of 2,411 million pounds. Investors’ funds were 17.1 billion pounds and the Tier 1 assets relative amount was 7.7 % (Barclays Global Investors, 2004). It is also engrossed in societal educational associations, situation, arts, disability and social insertion. Nowadays, Barclays has full-grown from a group of English companies to a global bank symbolized in Europe, Middle East , United States of America, Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, Asia, and Australasia. Barclays Bank is one of the world’s biggest asset managers and a top global provider of investment organization products and services (Barclays Global Investors, 2004). It provides structured investment methods such as indexing which is regard as to be submissive and yet is being covenant with vigorous investors, strategic asset distribution and risk-controlled active products. It also offers connected investment services such as cash management, securities lending and portfolio conversion services. Moreover, Barclays Banks is the product and service leader in Exchange Traded Funds (ishares), with over 100 funds for financial

Effective support for information users Coursework

Effective support for information users - Coursework Example Over the years, effective strategies have been devised by researchers to provide the end-users with efficient resolutions to their problems. Some of the strategies have been discussed below: Physical Aspects Technology Used for Help Desk The foremost consideration that needs to be made to improve the help desk service is to analyze the type of technology that has been adopted in the respective department. Hoffman (1996) stated that the technology should not be too advanced or complicated for the personnel; the technology should facilitate their operations to become efficient, rather than complex. Complicated operations might prove to increase the service time for every customer. Ergonomics The ergonomics, i.e. layout of a help desk center also plays an important role in its effectiveness and management. Bayan (2003) explained that the layout and design should be able to facilitate team work; the employees should be able to communicate with each other in case of any query since every employee possesses his own areas of expertise. An employee might need help in resolving an issue in an unfamiliar area of expertise. Although, the distance between the help desk representatives’ workstations should not be so less that they are not able to hear their clients clearly. Working Environment The representatives need to be provided with a comfortable and healthy environment. If the help desk resources are not satisfied with their working conditions then they will not be able to communicate with the clients in a positive manner. Appropriate chairs and headsets should be provided to the representatives to help them offer a commendable service to the clients. Management Aspects Defined Goals The management should identify their goals and then communicate them at all levels of the help desk employees. Bayan (2004) pointed out that the presence of defined goals enables the management to direct the employees towards certain goals and conduct employee trainings in an accor ding manner. Performance management can also be performed with respect to the defined goals and expectations. Understand the Customer with a Positive Attitude Bayan (2004) quoted statements of a CEO of a company, who stated that the help desk representatives should be able to understand their clients and their respective environments. The issue might be very trivial or very complex; in both cases, the representative should listen to the customer carefully and understand that he is experiencing distress due to the matter. The attitude of the representative should be comforting and helpful so that the customer also cooperates in answering the questions. The representatives should be trained to convince the clients that they are on the clients’ side and everything shall be done in their power to resolve the matter. Suitable Performance Measures Bayan (2004) provided an interesting categorization of different types of help desk representatives; the comprehension of the categoriza tion is relevant so that appropriate attributes can be chosen to analyze the performance of each type of employee. Knowledge workers are representatives who have extensive knowledge about the products and prove to be very effective at resolving complex problems. Process workers are repre

Enzyme catalysis lab Essay Example for Free

Enzyme catalysis lab Essay Enzyme catalysis was observed in order to analyze how changes in temperature, pH, enzyme concentration, and substrate concentration affected an enzyme-catalyzed reaction. This experiment analyzed the rate of enzyme-catalyzed reactions and observed the correlation between catalase activity and products formed. It was found out that the rate of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction starts off rapidly, decreases, and levels off or completely stops, and can be further affected by environmental factors, which play a crucial role in regulating enzymes and metabolic processes. Based on this experiment and the data collected one is able to conclude that the optimal environment in which this specific catalase is able to function is around 40 °C and in a pH around 7. This type of environment allows the enzyme to function at its fullest potential and produce the maximum amount of product allotted by the implemented amount of substrate present without the hindrance of environmental factors. Introduction Background: Enzymes, most of which are proteins, have two interrelated roles. One is to act as catalysts and accelerate spontaneous biochemical reactions so they occur with sufficient rates at moderate temperatures. The other is to determine which spontaneous biochemical reactions will be accelerated out of many more possibilities present in the cell. Balance between all the reactions in metabolism is achieved in several ways, by fluctuations in substrate concentrations, by local differences in pH, by changes in enzyme concentration, and by changes in enzyme activation Purpose: Enzyme activity is influenced by many factors; both temperature and pH at which enzymes functions are extremely important. Most organisms have a preferred temperature and pH range in which they survive, and their enzymes usually function best within very narrow temperature and pH ranges. If the environment of the enzyme is too acidic, basic, or hot, the activity of the enzyme may be altered due to a change in the three-dimensional shape of the enzyme. Denaturation, the unraveling or structural changes of an enzyme, may be temporary or permanent depending on the degree of the environmental change. In either case, a denatured enzyme no longer has the shape necessary to interact with the substrate effectively to lower the activation energy. Hypotheses: 1. The hypothesis is as the temperature increases, above 40 ° C, the activity of the enzyme catalyst will increase. 2. The hypothesis for the enzyme activity with the effect of the pH is if the pH is not at the optimum pH value there will be a complete loss of enzyme activity. 3. The hypothesis is as the change in enzyme concentration increases the activity rate of the enzyme will increase if there is a proportional amount of enzyme concentration and substrate. 4. The hypothesis is as the substrate concentration has an increase so will the reaction of velocity if the amount of enzyme is kept constant. Materials: Materials can be found on page 65 in the Bio 110 lab manual. Procedures are found on pages 65 to 68 in the Bio 110 lab manual. Discussion A. In table 5.1, the data that was collected was calibrating the colorimeter. The results should have been 0.000 or 0.001 no matter how long the machine was ran for. B. In table and graph 5.2, the data collected was in a time frame of 0-5minuites and was recorded every 30 seconds. In the cuvette was distilled water and substrate mix. The data collected showed that the longer the experiment ran for the higher the absorbency rate. C. In table and graph 5.4, the data that was collected was for three different amounts of enzymes:  ½x enzyme, 1x enzyme, and 2x enzyme. The hypothesis for this experiment was the more enzyme the faster the absorbance. With the results from the test the hypothesis is true. The 1/2x enzyme was absorbed less and a lot slower then the 2x enzyme. D. In table and graph 5.6, the data collected was the effect of the amount of substrate effects on the absorbency. The data was collected every 6 seconds for 60 seconds. With  ½x substrate the absorbance was the slowest. At 1x substrate the absorbance was the fast, and at 2x substrate the absorbance was in the middle. E. In table and graph 5.8, the data collected was to see how the effects of temperature played an effect on the absorbency. Ice water (4 °c) the absorbance rate was very slow. Room temperature (22 °c) was the normal rate of absorbance. Body temperature (37 °c) had the highest absorbance rate, and boiling water (100 °c) the protein was denatured giving no results. F. In table and graph 5.10, the data collected was to see how the effect of pH affects the absorbance. With the pH2 no reaction happened because pH2 is not a good match, pH7 had the highest absorbance. Ph10 was denatured, pH5 was absorbed but slowly and, pH8 was also absorbed but was absorbed the slowest. G. In table and graph 5.12 we added an inhibitor to see what the effects would be. With the inhibitor added the absorbance rate slow but did increase. Literature Cited Vital Health, Inc. Introduces a Digestive Enzyme for Children, MyZymes. SFGate. N.p., 23 Oct. 2012. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. http://www.sfgate.com/business/prweb/article/Vital-Health-Inc-Introduces-a-Digestive-Enzyme-3973438.php. Kilbourne, Jennifer, and Laurie Montgomery. Laboratory Investigations for Bio 1110. Second ed. Dubuque: Kendall Hunt, 2011. Print. Relevance Digestive Enzyme for Children Vital Health Inc. has introduced a new vitamin called MyZymes, a chewable digestive enzyme for children. This helps the body gain nutrients from food and plays an essential role in facilitating absorption. They are a highly effective digestive enzyme product because it contains a higher activity level of protease, amylase, lipase, cellulose and also includes six other enzymes. The higher activity levels assists in digesting more proteins, fats, carbohydrates and fiber. Enzymes are one of the most essential elements in our body. Enzymes are energized protein molecules found in all living cells. They catalyze and regulate all biochemical reactions that occur within our body. Enzymes also play a part in digestion. They break down proteins, fats, carbohydrates and fiber making it possible to utilize the nutrients found in those foods while removing the toxins. Digestive enzyme supplements help you digest your meals more efficiently and deliver the nutrients from your food to your body. The supplemental digestive enzymes will break down food, thus saving the body from having to release as many of its own enzymes. This allows the body to devote its attention to supplying more metabolic enzymes so the organs and tissues can carry on their daily work. Enzyme supplements are clinically proven to reduce the effects of bloating, gas, occasional heartburn and occasional acid reflux.

Movie: The Last Supper Essay -- Last Supper Film Movie Movies Essays

Movie: The Last Supper   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Last Supper, by Dan Rosen, supposedly dares to take on deep subjects in a vein of sarcastic humor. But, what it says is that liberals, because of their belief, have the right to pass death sentences on opponents. The story was amusing at times and there was some comedy in the film, but it didn't really go anywhere. The most famous actor in the film was Mark Harmon, and they showed him for about one minute, before he got killed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The movie takes place in Ames, Iowa. The film is about five liberal graduate students living together, (three males and two females) that enjoy inviting different guest over every Sunday for dinner. The students indulge their sense of superiority by inviting those that they regard as being less enlightened. They enjoy having different types of discussions dealing with all different types of topics. Their first guest that we see, ends up being a trucker who gives one of the five students a lift home because his car broke down. They invite the trucker in to eat, because they had an extra seat at the table and their originally invited guest could not make it for dinner. The trucker ends up being an anti-Semite and he is also an ex-marine. Immediately after the trucker sits down at the table to eat he starts pointing out to the five students that he hates Jews and that they always try to bargain down anything that they buy. All five of the students are stunned by the remarks that the trucker is making, especially one of the students that is Jewish. They all get into a heated argument and the trucker goes out of control; in addition, he grabs the Jewish student and puts a knife to his throat. They are all shocked by this and they immediately attempt to calm the trucker down. He releases the Jewish student and then breaks an arm of another student who was trying to free the Jewish student. The Jewish student picks up a butcher's knife and stabs the trucker in the back, which eventually kills the trucker. At this point the movie picks up a little. They all begin to contemplate about what to do with the body. They decide on burying the body in the back yard. They said it would cause a lot of problems if they contacted the police. They all agreed at this time that killing the trucker was only good for society. After they had buried the trucker they all sat down and the... ...dents drink and they all die. Nicola Machiavelli had a very interesting theory about his belief in having power, "By any means necessary." That is exactly what these liberal students did in order for them to have happiness. I think that in society most of us try to follow the Machiavellian theory on trying to do anything and everything possible in order for ourselves to survive. Machiavelli hoped that, "by helping the Prince rule more effectively, he might help Italy achieve the greatness he hoped for." Machiavelli believed that he didn't need to be appointed leader to run things in Italy back then. These student are the same, they believed that through killing off these few people that they thought were a danger to society, that it was going to make a difference in our government. Maybe it's a good thing that Machiavelli wasn't the actual leader of Italy, because if these five liberal students were leaders of this country we would have nothing but chaos. I think that this film probably would have made more money as a b ook and not a film. Sources Cited Nicola Machiavelli information was located on the Internet at http://rhf.bradley.edu/~liberty/mach.html.

A Reexamination of the War in Kosovo Essay

The Clinton Administration, along with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), was not completely effective in both identifying the concrete objectives relating to the Kosovo conflict and applying the military resources that were available to resolve that conflict. There are many reasons for this behind this inefficiency. First, there was the general reluctance to get involved in the conflict, for more or less political reasons. Second, there was the constant infighting and territorial battles being waged within the military structure. Third, there was the heavy need to manage media perception, which was perhaps absent in past wars. Lastly, there was the weakness of the military capability itself, most especially in terms of fighting a war under different weather conditions. The Four Factors The first factor that hampered the efficient execution of the war in Kosovo was the general reluctance of American leaders, both civilian and military, to get involved in the first place. There was a widespread feeling that it was not the time for America to be intervening actively in the affairs of a relatively small and unimportant state in Eastern Europe. After all, what was there to be gained by implementing interventionist policies there? Back then, as now, the focus of many political and military planners was Israel and the Middle East, the hotbed of the world; perpetually in crisis. But there was at least a solid rationale for that preoccupation – the Middle East was by far the largest supplier of oil in the world, and stability there was important to the energy supply and thus the overall growth of the U. S. economy. But what was to be gained in Kosovo, especially since much risk was to be undertaken in terms of the country’s resources, as well as its prestige? American had failed to intervene in Rwanda and had been forced to a humiliating retreat in Somalia, and those bitter memories were still fresh in the minds of most Americans. In the Rwandan genocide, America drew heavy criticism from its allies and the world at large for its inaction; in Somalia, America drew derision for its decision to pull out prematurely. Both the political and military establishments suffered from these events, and they understandably wanted to avoid a similar occurrence from happening again. Getting involved in war in which there seemed so little to gain was anathema to many leaders at the time. The constant infighting within the American military and within NATO was the second factor that hampered the Kosovo operations. General Clark detailed many examples of his daily battles with his civilian superiors, as well as his peers from within the military establishment. These incidents, quite obviously, detracted from the efficiency of the operations themselves. For instance, the example of how the some senior staff generals with political access prevented the effective use of Apache helicopters provides a sickening image of how generals on the ground can be obstructed by those who wield political power. The constant fear that other conflicts might erupt in the Persian Gulf and the Korean Peninsula was also an albatross that hung heavily over the collective necks of those involved in the Kosovo war. Allowing these fears to detract from the efficient prosecution of the war could have led to disaster under certain circumstances. The lack of cooperation was not limited to within the American military itself, but in NATO as well. Commanders of other nations were known to disobey Clark’s commands if these orders were interpreted as not being conducive to their respective strategic national interests. Yet, in a way, this was the least of Clark’s problems, for the other allied nations played a lesser role in the conflict in comparison with the U. S. , with the possible exception of Great Britain. It was the problems caused by infighting within the army, as well as disagreements with Washington, that made General Clark’s tenure as SACEUR truly difficult. This perhaps can be attributed to the reality that political objectives and military objectives are rarely one and the same, and the fact that military leaders at the highest levels are rarely apolitical. The greater role played by the media in American wars was also in full-display during the Kosovo conflict. Ever since the Vietnam War, the U. S. had shown a marked distaste for any number of war casualties (This had driven its research into unmanned and â€Å"smart† technologies. ) So much so, in fact, that the enemies of America had long viewed this is as the primary weakness of the nation’s military power. Indeed, this weakness has provided the most basic strategy of terrorist organizations today. They know for a fact that in terms of raw military strength, they are inferior to the United States. Thus, if they ever come under direct attack by the U. S. , their chances of victory are slim. But if they can inflict just enough casualties (usually through guerilla tactics) and have it broadcast over the broadcast media in dramatic fashion, then public opinion might force U. S. forces to withdraw, as was the case in Vietnam. It was under this same hope that Saddam Hussein stood defiant against the United States in the last Iraq War. Lastly, there was the weakness within the military itself, especially in terms of being an all-terrain, all-weather capable fighting force. Many instances within the book and numerous statements made by General Clark point to the fact that the U. S. military is by no means an effective, â€Å"all-weather conditions† army. In fact, it seems as if the attainment of this goal is still a long way off, as has perhaps been underscored more recently by some of the maintenance problems encountered in Iraq. Also, high levels of weapon technology have brought with them their own special set of problems, which could not have been foreseen but nevertheless need to be addressed as soon as possible. These include, among others, the gathering and timely application of intelligence in order to use these weapons to their maximum effect. A lack of cross-understanding between the various military units also contributes to military weakness. In his concluding remarks in Waging Modern War, General Clark says this: In Kosovo my commanders and I found that we lacked the detailed prompt information to campaign effectively against the Serb ground forces. Most of the technologies we had been promoting since the Gulf War were still immature, unable to deal with the vagaries of weather, vegetation, and urban areas, or the limitations of bandwidth and airspace. The discrete service programs didn’t always fit together technically†¦The officers who operated the programs were not qualified to work across service lines and did not understand the full range of national capabilities. I worried about the nature of Joint skills even among senior officers. Of course, notwithstanding these four factors, the war was brought to a successful conclusion – â€Å"successful† meaning that the combat operations against the forces of Slobodan Milosevic proved effective enough to topple the regime of that ruler, and thereby remove the impetus to the racial killings in that region. However, whether or not America achieved its true aims in the Balkans is more open to question, if indeed the Clinton Administration had a clear vision of what those aims were in the first place. The costs of that conflict, both tangible and intangible, must also be analyzed in order to avoid similar mistakes in the future. An Analysis of the Feasibility, Acceptability, and Suitability of the Military Action in Kosovo The concept of feasibility closely ties in to the question â€Å"Can it be done? † With the benefit of hindsight, we might say with complete assurance that yes, the military action undertaken in Kosovo was feasible. However, even without this particular benefit, the question of feasibility still would have been answered in the affirmative. There was perhaps no other military force in the world that could have undertaken the mission in Kosovo, and done so with success. Even before the campaign began, it was almost a forgone conclusion that American forces would prevail. It was only a matter of time, and though unforeseen setbacks would occur along the way, no one truly doubted the ultimate result. Addressing the question of acceptability is a little more complex, but may also be answered in the affirmative. At the time of the conflict, world opinion was crying out for America to do something about the killings under Milosevic. In many ways, the various nations comprising NATO and the U. N. pushed the U. S. into action. Internationally then, military action in Kosovo was acceptable – some might even say it was warranted, due to the role of the U. S. as the global policeman. The war was costly – what war isn’t? – but it gained for the U. S. a level of prestige and credibility that it very much needed after some decidedly embarrassing political problems. The effectiveness of the air campaign and General Clark’s own philosophy of waging war (which de-emphasizes the use of ground troops) resulted in fewer casualties than might otherwise have been expected. This in itself was a potent testimony to American power and a reaffirmation of the high reputation already earned by the American military in the 1991 Gulf War. If the goal in Kosovo was to stop the genocidal killings and bring Slobodan Milosevic to justice, then we can honestly say that military action was suitable. Some pundits may argue that diplomacy would have been a better choice, but they must be reminded that diplomatic methods were tried before any full-scale operations were conducted – and diplomacy failed. With a hard-boiled tyrant such as Milosevic, who deliberately released wave upon wave of racial hate upon his own country, diplomacy could not possibly have a great effect. Even if diplomatic channels could have been used to stop the killings – and this is doubtful – they would have taken far too long to mobilize and would have probably ended up with little to show for it. Conclusion Despite many problems that were unforeseen (and perhaps unavoidable), the military action in Kosovo ended up attaining its major objectives. Still, the operation could have gone better, and more smoothly. In the future, if similar circumstances should come up, both political and military planners would do well to review the lessons learned in this conflict. First, a good amount of political will should be present, and directed at a clear set of pre-defined goals. Second, bickering and infighting within the military should be checked, reduced, and if possible eliminated. Third, all leaders involved in a conflict should be aware of how to manage media perceptions, especially in terms of obtaining continuing public support. Lastly, the capability of the military to wage war under all conditions should be improved and made the top priority of defense spending. When these four factors are improved to their various degrees, then the prosecution of future wars will decidedly become more efficient and effective.