DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.

2018 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA POSITION PAPER

A.J. Dimond High School 

Lem Wheeles, wheeles_lem@asdk12.org

 

The United States of America is honored to take part in this conference discussing the prospect of cooperating globally. We are open to discussing different viewpoints, and are hoping to improve lives within our country and throughout the world. However, our ultimate goal is to put the United States of America’s priorities first. With our nation's involvement in the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) we hope to secure peaceful and prosperous lives for all, but most importantly for Americans.

 

The United States is aware of the concerns of many nation-states regarding climate change and the environment. While our Environmental Protection Agency currently prioritizes clean air and water for the health of our citizens, we intend to continue to reduce wasteful environmental spending and environmental regulations that are detrimental to our economy. We strongly affirm that the best way to ensure prosperity and security is by strengthening our economy, and urge all other nation-states to do the same. We believe that nothing should take higher priority than the well being and security provided by a strong economy. As stated by our President, Donald J. Trump, now is the time to “end the theft of prosperity.” 

With the United States’ large investment in nuclear energy for the past 60 years we are the world’s largest producer of nuclear power. Accounting for more than 30% of worldwide nuclear generation of electricity, we strive to advance atomic power as a resource capable of making major contributions in meeting our nation’s energy supply, environmental, and energy security needs. Although, the disposal and storage of high-level nuclear waste remains a major unresolved issue that we want to solve. The United States of America is also hoping to influence and enhance nuclear safety, from the regulatory perspective, among its members and worldwide as first established by the IAEA in 1957. However, in response to the growing nuclear efforts of other nations, as part of our defense, we are aiming to modernize and rebuild our nuclear arsenal due to the recent developments that have produced increased uncertainty and risk. As we continue to try to reach a world without the influence of nuclear weapons, the United States would only consider the use of nuclear weapons in extreme circumstances to defend the vital interest of the United States, its allies, and partners.

 

We are firmly committed to counteracting terrorism in all fronts. First and foremost, the U.S. reaffirms its commitment to support member-states in combating terror. Member-states must work together to defeat terrorist operations, specifically, eminent threats in the destable and radicalized Middle East such as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria known as ISIS. The Islamic State (IS) is the most significant threat to international stability and prosperity and should be met with overwhelming international resistance. Therefore, the U.S. calls for a Coalition of Sunni Arab Nations to work with the U.S. to eradicate extremism and terrorism in the Middle East. In a show of support to the Palestinians, the U.S. has graciously delayed moving its Israeli embassy from Tel Aviv to the rightful capital, Jerusalem, for a period of six months. President Trump calls on all all member-nations to demolish terrorists everywhere: "Drive them out. Drive them out of your places of worship. Drive them out of your communities. Drive them out of your holy land. And drive them out of this earth."

 

We believe that countries are entitled to their own citizens and the well-being of their citizens. Hence, our government will be focusing on the well-being of our own citizens rather than refugees. We acknowledge that certain countries are having internal troubles and are causing their citizens to flee as refugees. The United States recognizes that most refugees want a safe return to their homeland. However, it has been continuously shown that refugee creating countries do not have safe conditions for their return. This has caused a strain on the United States and as we are entitled to the well-being of our citizens, we will be shifting aid to our own citizens. The United States will continue to aid refugees; however, not to the extent of previous administrations.

 

Due to the growing epidemic of opioid overdoses within the United States, we have paired with the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) to assist in this time of crisis. There has been a sharp increase in opioid overdoses from an estimated 12,500 deaths in 2002, to a stagger 33,000 in 2015 (drugabuse.gov). The numbers are continuing to grow as there has been little done to alleviate those numbers. Furthermore, of those that have been arrested, 17.5% say they commited a crime to obtain drugs or money for drugs. The United States believes this epidemic is occurring in part due to the smuggling of drugs from Mexico (bjs.gov). The U.S Customs and Border Control have seized 2,015 lbs of heroin, 6,135 lbs of methamphetamine, 135,943 lbs of cocaine, and 4,330,475 lbs of marijuana in 2009 alone (cbp.gov). Given these unique and growing circumstances, we seek to strengthen our national borders and imports, reduce the amount of opioid painkillers prescribed, and further develop the war on drugs to limit and reduced the amount of American lives lost. 

 

The United States of America is deeply offended by the accusations being made against us by the Islamic State of Afghanistan. We have never, and will never commit war crimes and crimes against humanity. We find it hypocritical that Afghanistan, of all nations, is making these accusations, and we look forward to proving our innocence.

Despite these horrendous accusations, we are willing to cooperate with other nations to make the world a more secure place. However, we will be making the citizens of the United States of America our priority. 

 

Works Cited

 

Abuse, National Institute on Drug. “Overdose Death Rates.” NIDA, 15 Sept. 2017, www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates.

 

“Donald Trump and Islam: Then and Now.” PolitiFactwww.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2017/may/21/donald-trump-and-islam-then-and-now/.

 

“Drug Use and Crime.” Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS)www.bjs.gov/content/dcf/duc.cfm.

 

“Federal Policy on the Islamic State and Terrorism, 2017-2020.” Ballotpedia, ballotpedia.org/Federal_policy_on_the_Islamic_State_and_terrorism,_2017-2020.

 

Liebermann, Oren. “Why Declaring Jerusalem the Capital of Israel Is so Controversial.” CNN, Cable News Network, 7 Dec. 2017, www.cnn.com/2017/12/05/middleeast/trump-jerusalem-explainer-intl/index.html.

 

Nato. “Countering Terrorism.” NATOwww.nato.int/cps/ua/natohq/topics_77646.htm.

 

“Scripting Must Be Enabled to Use This Site.” Statistics - Drug Seizures, help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/201/~/statistics---drug-seizures.

 

“Terrorism and American Foreign Policy.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 27 June 2008, www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/vol46no1/article07.html.

 

U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of State, 4 Oct. 2017, www.state.gov/j/prm/releases/docsforcongress/274613.htm.

 

“The War on Terrorism: Implications for U.S. Foreign Policy.” Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding | Georgetown University, acmcu.georgetown.edu/the-war-on-terrorism.

DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.