Learning Objective 1.1: Discuss some of the basic indicators of world power.

Video

• Obama Reflects: Death of bin Laden, Wars
  
  • Summary: “In his first interview since the killing of terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, President Barack Obama talks to Steve Kroft of 60 Minutes about the intelligence and preparations leading up to the operation in Pakistan.” - CBS News

Web Resources

• U.S. arms sales
  
  • Summary: A graphic describing U.S. arms sales compared to several other countries.

Learning Objective 1.2: Summarize four categories of challenges facing U.S. world power.

Video

• Obama: Nation building a home
  
  • Summary: Speaking to West Point military cadets, President Obama justifies his recommitment of 30,000 additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan and outlines key objectives of the mission.

• Verdict on globalization
  
  • Summary: In a 2008 campaign speech, then-Senator Barack Obama expresses his support for the rise of globalization and his belief that hardworking Americans will not only adapt but benefit economically from globalized industries. 

• American exceptionalism
  
  • Summary: “Thomas Friedman, New York Times Columnist, discusses the changing discourse of American Exceptionalism in an interconnected world and his book on the same subject titled ‘That Used to be Us’.” - The Heat

Web Resources

• Timeline of the Arab Spring
  
  • Summary: A timeline of the Arab Spring protests.

• Double standard?
  
  • Summary: An article alleging that U.S. foreign policy is turning a blind eye to some Islamic extremists.

Learning Objective 1.3: Explain how culture, institutions, and civil society contribute to the central paradox of U.S. world power.

Video

• WikiLeaks
  
  • Summary: “FRONTLINE tells the full story of Julian Assange, Bradley Manning and the biggest intelligence breach in U.S. history.” - PBS

• Imperial Presidency
  
  • Summary: “UC Berkeley panel of experts looks at the constitutional powers granted to presidents during times of crises and the role the Framers expected the legislative and judicial branches to play to keep presidential power in check.” - UC Berkeley Events

• Inside Obama’s Presidency
  
  • Summary: The Frontline documentary about the Presidency under Barack Obama.

Web Resources

• How much do you know?   
  
  • Summary: A series of quizzes on politics and foreign policy created by CNN.

• Doonesbury on Afghanistan
  
  • Summary: A cartoon from the strip Doonesbury describing public disengagement in the war in Afghanistan.