Public Forum Podium: Evidence for January 2010 topic

Evidence for the Pro:

The surge will work:

Counter-narcotics - the Taliban’s financial power base is the drug trade http://www.brookings.edu/papers/2009/09_afghanistan_felbabbrown.aspx?p=1 – This is a comprehensive paper that outlines the pluses and minuses to Obama’s Counter- narcotics plan.

More troops to combat Taliban – help win war and defeat al-Qaeda http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2009/1201_afghanistan_ohanlon.aspx?p=1 – This is a four point out line to why the US need more troops in Afghanistan.

Train Afghan forces – they help fight Taliban and will eventually have to take over http://www.csmonitor.com/layout/set/print/content/view/print/268389 - Article outlines how security is needed to get Afghan forces.

Why the surge is in Americans best interest: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/11/30/afghanistan_is_still_worth_the_fight?print=yes&hidecomments=yes&page=full – Article on Afghanistan and what the US should do.

Regional Security – Afghanistan’s neighbor has nukes and if the Taliban take over they could destabilize already troubled Pakistan.  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124121967978578985.html#printMode – The worst case scenario involving a nuclear Taliban.

Evidence for Con:

The Surge will fail:

Afghan security forces – inept, corrupt, and few the ANFS are not trainable and untrustworthy. http://www.csmonitor.com/layout/set/print/content/view/print/268389 - same article as before, highlights problems with Afghan Forces.

Local populous – Tribal factions spread apart by mountains, will always drive the US out and will be angered by more troops. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/07/world/asia/07doubts.html?_r=2&partner=rss&emc=rss – The Afghan public’s view on the surge.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/03/world/asia/03helmand.html - article on resentment faced by US in Afghanistan.

Corruption – Surge can’t succeed because the government is robed of legitimacy by corruption http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article2933472.ece - this explains how bad the corruption epidemic is.

Withdrawal date – Nothing can be completed in time frame given and fast pull out will result in loss of any progress http://www.newsweek.com/id/225782/output/print - simple attacks the withdrawal date.

Why the Surge is bad for US Interests:

Military, political, and financial strain – The US military is overstretched, spending is already out of control, and the administrations political capital is already in high demand at home. http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4649066.stm - How the US military is overstretched

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/12/17/opinion/main5991156.shtml - the real cost of the surge.

Regional instability – fast pull out could result in reversal of progress and the Taliban taking over. They could then threaten Pakistan, a nuclear nation, and cause instability in central Asia.  http://english.nupi.no/Publications/Books-and-reports/2008/Afghanistan-and-regional-instability-A-risk-assessment - a fairly large report on instability in central Asia and Afghanistan.

Terrorism – will only embitter and embolden Americans enemies who will seek a new base of operations to plot their counter-attack. http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2009/12/13/al_qaeda_looking_to_yemen_as_next_base?mode=PF – how it doesn’t matter if we take Al-Qaeda out of Afghanistan, they’ll just find a new place.

New: The Debate Hub Forum

The Debate Hub now has a forum where debaters and coaches can put in their input on the site and some of the issues  . It pretty bare right now, but its waiting for you to fill it in.

FORUM

Public Forum Resources Gets a face lift: introducing the Public Forum Podium

This is the new place to get all of your public forum resources at The Debate Hub. It can be found on the side of the page. All new postings under the Podium will have the PF podium logo.

Extemp Boot Camp: Extemp Speech Outline

This is a standard Extemp speech outline that can be used by novice Extempers or coaches. While there are many different ways to plan an Extemp speech, this format is widely used. Novices can directly flow their speeches on this outline until they have developed the ability to make their own.


Get The Outline Here

New Center For Extemp Resources: Extemp Boot Camp

At The Debate Hub we've decided to create a place for novice and experienced Extempers to learn skills they need to win. Basic materials, news, and analysis will be found at Boot Camp soon. Coaches and competitors can get what they need from this new series of posts. 

Public Forum Resources: January 2010 Topic

Overview of Possible contentions:

Arguments for the Pro:

The surge will work:

Counter-narcotics - the Taliban’s financial power base is the drug trade

Battling Corruption – robs government of legitimacy and effectiveness

More troops to combat Taliban – help win war and defeat al-Qaeda

Train Afghan forces – they help fight Taliban and will eventually have to take over

Why the surge is in Americans best interest:

Regional Security – Afghanistan’s neighbor has nukes and if the Taliban take over they could destabilize already troubled Pakistan.

Terrorism – it will deny Al-Qaeda of a base of operations and training
center.

Global political standing - could be detrimental to our political power to not finish the job, makes the US look weak.

Arguments for Con:

The Surge will fail:

Afghan security forces – inept, corrupt, and few the ANFS are not trainable and untrustworthy.

Local populous – Tribal factions spread apart by mountains, will always drive the US out and will be angered by more troops.

Withdrawal date – Nothing can be completed in time frame given and fast pull out will result in loss of any progress

Why the Surge is bad for US Interests:

Military, political, and financial strain – The US military is overstretched, spending is already out of control, and the administrations political capital is already in high demand at home.

Regional instability – fast pull out could result in reversal of progress and the Taliban taking over. They could then threaten Pakistan, a nuclear nation, and cause instability in central Asia.

Terrorism – will only embitter and embolden Americans enemies who will seek a new base of operations to plot their counter-attack.

Both teams need to make sure they define Obama’s plan in a way that favors them AND state what are in America’s best interests.


The extensive follow up to this will be the first entry of The Debate Hub’s Mini-Brief series

Extemp Resources: Questions for the week

FX:

Is the atmosphere in Copenhagen biased towards more powerful nations?

Is Pakistan winning the war against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda?

Do Yemenis separatists in the south have a legitimate claim for succession?

Is Al-Qaeda’s influence in north Africa on the rise?

Is Iran on the edge of radical social change?

What needs to be done to stop piracy of the coast of Somalia?

Is Jacob Zuma moving down the right path to an AIDS free Africa?

DX:

Should detainees from Guantanamo be placed into US prisons?

Should America follow Britain in labeling Tzipi Livni a war criminal?

What real effect will Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner have on the airline industry?

How should the US address climate change issues with China?

Is Joe Lieberman the only thing keeping an effective healthcare bill from passing?

Does Obama’s new Afghanistan plan hurt or help the US’s relationship with
Pakistan?

Is Obama’s warning to Financial lenders all talk?

Pop culture Question of the Week: Was Amanda Knox wrongly convicted by the Italian justice system?