International Relations Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

International Relations - Lab Report Example He wards off the accusation that America had been propagating self-interest and declares that they are in fact led by greater causes, through the Cold War years till the present times. Quoting former president Harry Truman, he asserts that "God has created us and brought us to our present position of power and strength for some great purpose." The major objectives that he sets are to defeat terrorist adversaries and to build enduring peace. While the first objective will have to deal with the defeat of radical Islamist extremists, the second will have to be linked to the building of a comprehensive coalition with other nations with similar objectives. Referring to the view by the Democratic candidates that there will be withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq to the end the war, McCain reiterates that the war in Iraq cannot be wishes away and one has to take into account the realities in the theatre instead of taking decisions based on the political winds at home. He also makes the point that Afghanistan will continue to nurture terrorist groups like the Al Qaeda in the present political situation, and this has to be curbed with sufficient initiative from the U.S. He proposes that there needs to be a continual work with the Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to dismantle the camps of Taliban and Al Qaeda there, to help Pakistan resist Talibanization and extremism. He identifies Iran as the world’s chief state sponsor of terrorism. He suggests a multilateral move to resist this and to keep the option of military action open, though not preferred mostly. He claims that America will continue to support Israel against the threat s from Iran, Hezbollah, Hamaz and others. He makes the paradoxical statement that he will try everything to aid ‘moderate’ Muslims who resist the fundamentalist outfits. Approving the steps taken by the Truman

Mintzbergs Planning and Positioning Schools Essay

Mintzbergs Planning and Positioning Schools - Essay Example Aspects addressed include Steiner model of strategic planning, planning hierarchies, and Mintzberg’s 7 deadly sins of strategic planning. Steiner is recognized for coming up with a model that outlines the structure and process of strategic planning in a systematic way (Steiner, 1979). He pointed out that the process of strategic planning should be a collective responsibility of all managers in all managerial levels within an organization. Steiner’s model outlines the assessment of expectations of key outside interest, assessment of expectations of key inside interest, examining past performance, and current performance and future forecast. The model also outlines the evaluation of environmental opportunities and threats, organizational strengths and weaknesses, assembling of master strategy as composed of mission, purposes, objectives, policies, and program strategies. Steiner’s model provides organizations with strategies on competitive advantage over their rivals, which is not elaborate in other models. The other strength is its emphasis on a plan, which calls for commitment from top management (Steiner, 1979). Planning can be effected through corporate, business and departmental hierarchical levels. Planning at the corporate level entails selection of businesses in which the organization should compete. It also deals with the development and coordination of a corporate level portfolio. Planning at the corporate level focuses on defining corporate responsibilities, determining the center for competition, management of business units, and identifying the overall goal of an organization (Simerson, 2011). Planning at the business unit level concentrates on the functioning of operating units, as well as developing a competitive advantage for goods and services rendered by an organization. This entails placing the organization against its rivals, speculating on future changes, and influencing the