Wednesday, November 27, 2019
The best way to answer the question Why should I hire youÃÂ
The best way to answer the question Why should I hire youà Itââ¬â¢s the moment of truth- youââ¬â¢re on the job hunt and have landed an interview and itââ¬â¢s going well. Youââ¬â¢re making a great impression on the person youââ¬â¢re meeting with and it really feels as if you have this locked upâ⬠¦ and then all of a sudden youââ¬â¢re hit with the big question: ââ¬Å"Why should I hire you?â⬠On its face it may seem like an easy question, but the truth is that it may only seem deceptively so. On top of there being a lot riding on your answer (namely a possible new job), the way in which you choose to answer the question may reveal a great deal to the person whoââ¬â¢s in a position to make a hiring decision about you. Obviously, you want to make a good impression, and thereââ¬â¢s a million overused and unremarkable ways to handle the question that you should wisely avoid. With all of that said, perhaps it doesnââ¬â¢t seem so simple anymore?Donââ¬â¢t worry- although there are plenty of ways to miss the mark when youââ¬â¢re facing this question, there are some effective strategies for how to handle it that can help turn a good interview into a great one, ensure that you leave a positive lasting impression on the interviewer, and increase your chances of getting hired. The Balance recently published an article highlighting proven strategies for handling the ââ¬Å"Why should I hire you?â⬠question. Consider taking advantage of the following tips when you next face it.Build your pitch.Always remember that youââ¬â¢re selling yourself whenever youââ¬â¢re on an interview, and your answer to the question ââ¬Å"Why should I hire you?â⬠should reflect a deep awareness of the requirements of the position that youââ¬â¢re interviewing for, the needs of the company that youââ¬â¢d like to become a part of, and the personality traits, skills, and experience that you possess that make you an ideal candidate. This means that you should always do your homework before getting to the interview, and you should be ready to confidently connect the dots between you, the employer, and their needs. If you have this down cold, then youââ¬â¢re in a good position to let the interviewer know precisely why they should hire you; if youââ¬â¢re unsure of the answer, keep working to connect those dots before the day of the big interview arrives. It never hurts to take a look at the keywords in the job posting and incorporate some of them into your answer.That said, you should always be ready to tweak your answer as needed to reflect any new information you get during the interview. For example, if you go into the interview thinking that good project management skills is your most valuable asset for the position but learn during the interview that theyââ¬â¢re really looking to hire someone whoââ¬â¢s a whiz with numbers, you may want to consider a revision if the question arises.Keep it brief.A good answer to the question need not- and really should not- be an e ndless soliloquy that takes the unfortunate audience on a meandering journey through your entire life story. Keep it short, simple, and to the point- think a minute or two, tops. Your one goal is to succinctly encapsulate why you effectively bridge the gap between the position youââ¬â¢re vying for and the needs of the company. Anything longer than that may exhaust the listener and may truly be ââ¬Å"TMI.â⬠Realize itââ¬â¢s not just what you say.Sure, youââ¬â¢re going to be judged based on what you say in response to this question, but just as important for this and all other interview questions is how you respond. This includes your confidence, body language, and ability to sell yourself as a true potential asset who stands out from the job hunting crowd. So, not only prepare what you intend to say in response to this weighty question, also be sure that your delivery is razor-sharp. Itââ¬â¢s okay to act like youââ¬â¢ve prepared an answer in advance- hiring manage rs loveà preparation and attention to detail!What makes you stand out?Itââ¬â¢s always smart to keep in mind that for every good answer you might have for every interview question that arises, thereââ¬â¢ll be a pack of other qualified candidates who will also come to their interviews strapped with good answers as well. Therefore, you should come ready to answer the question ââ¬Å"Why should I hire you?â⬠with something that makes you stand out from the crowd. Anything that makes you unique and could be viewed as a potential checkmark in the ââ¬Å"proâ⬠column when hiring personnel are deciding about you is fair game. Perhaps the interviewer mentioned that the company is seeking to expand its business internationally and you speak the language of a country that they may be looking to do business in- that could be a potential game changer. Try to have your own game changer in mind when facing this question. Any detail will do- not only will you seem well-suited for the job, but it will also show that youââ¬â¢ve done your homework in advance and know what the company is all about.ââ¬Å"Why should I hire you?â⬠is a question that has the potential to leave you rambling on and on while not saying much of anything. Donââ¬â¢t waste your opportunity to create a powerful, pointed answer to this common interview question. Your interviewer will be impressed with your ability to summarize all you have to offer in a focused soundbite- youââ¬â¢ll look prepared, confident, and responsible, all traits key to getting the job.
Saturday, November 23, 2019
FIN370 Team Strategic Initiative Paper Essays - Microsoft
FIN370 Team Strategic Initiative Paper Essays - Microsoft A strategic planning initiative for the organization identified in the Week 2 assignment - Identify an initiative discussed in the organization's annual report. Microsoft is a computer company whose main focus is to continuously deliver new ways for people to expand and see their own potential through technology. Microsofts main strategic planning goes into investments in research and development resources to continue expanding and updating their product. Microsofts ability to seamlessly launch major refreshes in brands including Windows Server, Systems Center and Windows OS shows the companys commitment to long-term initiatives and delivering consistent results at a time when so many vendors are redefining their brands and strategies., says Research Analyst, Matthew Casey. Staying true to their commitment Microsoft announced, in 2012, their development of the Windows 8 operating system. The 2012-13 annual report reflected, Microsofts main initiative to invest in new devices and services with the Windows 8 system.( Financial Review). This strategy will require investment in datacenters and other infrastructure to support our services, and wi ll bring continued competition with Apple, Google, and other well-established and emerging competitors. References Casey, M. (2013, January 25). Microsofts commitment to strategic initiatives will continue delivering consistent financial results in 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2015, from http://tbrnewscommentary.wordpress.com/2013/01/25/microsofts-commitment-to-strategic-initiatives-will-continue-delivering-consistent-financial-results-in-2013/ Financial Review. (n.d.). Retrieved May 14, 2015, from https://www.microsoft.com/investor/reports/ar13/financial-review/discussion-analysis/index.html
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Army Family Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Army Family - Essay Example I realized what color I was, but that really didnââ¬â¢t seem to affect anything in the communities where I was growing up. Base housing was very diverse and I realized that there were surely more white kids than black kids. But I also noticed that there were more black kids than Hispanic kids and Asian kids as well. I had friends, close friends, of all colors, as did my parents. We went over to the Hispanic family next door for supper and they cam to us. Only they werenââ¬â¢t ever viewed as Hispanic. They were just the Ramirezââ¬â¢s. I do remember going to some parties when I was a kid and all of us were the same race. I do remember thinking, ââ¬Å"This is weird. Where are the Ramirezââ¬â¢s?â⬠I have no idea if these parties were planned so that everybody was the same race as my parents or not, but I sort of doubt it. So I guess what I am trying to say is, as a kid growing up in military housing, I never though about race at all, mine or anyone elseââ¬â¢s. When I arrived in North Carolina, I first became aware of race. For one thing, I noticed that people of the same color tended to stay together. There seemed to be a rule that said people of different colors didnââ¬â¢t mix. I noticed it right away and asked my mother about it. She simply said that things are different everywhere and that in North Carolina, thatââ¬â¢s just the way it was. ... and Asian kids apparently just had to figure out something else to do than have friends because there werenââ¬â¢t many of them on base at that time in North Carolina. I can honestly say I didnââ¬â¢t try to challenge the rule in any way. When you are new to a base, the kids that approach you first are the kids that become your friends. When only kids of your same race approach you, well then that is the friends you have. I remember thinking it was weird at first, and then after a year it was perfectly normal. The second lesson about race I learned was that some races are better than others at certain things. Black kids can run fast and dance best. They listen to rap music and play basketball. White kids are smartest and are better at sports like baseball. Hispanic kids play soccer and have lots of sisters and brothers. For the first time, I was introduced to racial stereotypes and this I struggled with. I didnââ¬â¢t fit into the definition of any of these races. I was smart, awesome at basketball and had five brothers and sisters. I could have been white, black or Hispanic. But for the first time, I felt like I had to downplay an aspect of who I was because I had to conform to somebody elseââ¬â¢s notion of what I ought to be based on my race. The final thing I learned about race in North Carolina is that people of different races had nasty names for each other. It was in North Carolina that I heard racial epithets, from all races, for the first time. Perhaps I was incredibly sheltered growing up. I can say that I wouldnââ¬â¢t trade it for anything. I feel as though I still have a lot of that pre-North Carolina person in me. I still see color, not race. I have a more nuanced understanding of what race means in a societal context, but the reality is I still am largely unaware of
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
BRIC Economies and Its Implications in Organizations Essay
BRIC Economies and Its Implications in Organizations - Essay Example In 2010 South Africa was also included in this group and the acronym is now known as BRICS. It has captured major attention of political leaders, scientists and also the economists (California State Assembly, 2010). The BRICS nations are growing rapidly with a systematic growth embracing the global capitalism (Global, n.d). They are predicted to be the forefront of the worldââ¬â¢s most progresses economies. China is now considered to be the second largest economy in the world in terms of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). Although the per capita income of people living in developed countries is more than that of the BRIC countries but still there is considerable rise in the income of the middle income group people in such countries. Since the government of such nations is actively incorporating growth stabilizing policies, it is believed that India and China will soon emerge as the leading supplier of manufactured services and goods while Russia and Brazil may be the major suppliers o f raw inputs (Academia, 2013). In the above graph the dark green bars denote the income of the BRIC countries and the light green bars indicates the income of the G 6 countries in terms of GDP. The income level of all the countries in the world will increase with a growth of the world economy. Till 2020 it is observed that the income of BRIC nations is less than half compared to that of the G6. The estimation from 2020 afterwards shows that the BRIC economies surpass half the income of that of the G 6 countries. Finally by 2040 the income of BRIC countries will be more than that of the G 6 nations (CIA, 2013).... The Five BRICS Brazil being independent in 1822 is now considered to be the most populous country in South America. It is perusing both industrial as well as agricultural growth and is now well known for its growing development within its boundaries. Brazil has become a strong economy in recent years exploiting its large natural resources and substantial labor force to work. There are still some problems like high inequality of income and hence a very excessive amount of corruption still now persists in this country. Brazil is expanding its world markets in sectors like agriculture, mining, service as well as manufacturing etc. The nation has also achieved a macroeconomic stability and has been successful to raise its foreign exchange reserves. Although Brazil has grown rapidly in 2007 to 2008 and has become a global creditor but still the recent economic recession has hit Brazil. Recession has touched Brazilian economy in two quarters. But it soon recovered its economic growth and h as now gained the confidence of investors. In 2010 the GDP of Brazil experienced 7.5% growth, which is considered to be the highest in the last 25 years. The high level of income inequality in Brazil has declined in the last 14 years. The high interest rate of the country has involved in large amount of capital inflows and hence appreciated the economy. This has however disturbed the domestic manufacturing and compelled the government to intervene in the matters related to foreign exchange markets and has also lead to rise in taxes of the capital inflows from foreign countries. India is also considered as a member of BRIC, it terms of nominal GDP it is the ninth largest country in the world and
Sunday, November 17, 2019
Existentialism in Demian and Crime and Punishment Essay Example for Free
Existentialism in Demian and Crime and Punishment Essay Existentialism is fairly common in literature, despite being a relatively new school of thought, and both Demian and Crime and Punishment show existentialist traits. This gives each book not just a philosophy, but also a certain feeling and mindset. Existentialism starts that with the idea that existence precedes essence, or purpose. We come into this world without a purpose, and we simply exist. Our task is to find a purpose. The world around us is an alien chaos, a circus that we stumble through, trying to find a meaning for our life. In Demian, it is clear that Sinclair does not know his purpose. His struggle is to find out what it is. Jean-Paul Sartre says, Life has no meaning a priori? its up to you to give it a meaning. Hesse declares that [e]ach man had only one genuine vocation? to find the way to himself?. His task was to discover his own destiny (Hesse, 132). It is clear, then, that we come into the world with nothing, no purpose at all. The only genuine task we have is to figure out what we are going to do here. According to Existentialism, no one can find it for you, and, similarly, no doctrine or philosophy can find it for you. Sinclair learns these same lessons. Demian pulls Sinclair away from mainstream religion early in the story, saying that the division of good and evil has no real meaning. Later, Pistorius tries to teach Sinclair about myriad past religions, but Sinclair rejects him, feeling that he should try to come up with something original instead. Throughout the story, Sinclair engages in different mentor-pupil relationships (like his relationships with Demian and Pistorius) but eventually he shrugs those off, taking his friends wisdom with him and facing the world alone. That is what everyone must do, eventually? face the world alone. And alone is exactly how we feel, as we stumble through this circus of a world. Sinclair spends most of his time not just feeling but also being by himself, adrift. When he leaves his family and his sisters, it does not affect him much, if at all, he is so isolated. He connects only with a precious few people, and never for very long. He somehow distances himself from his peers. Even when he was partying and drinking a lot, he found a way to separate himself from them. In that case, it was the role of sex in his life. Demian is a story about one mans journey. The reader never really learns the story of any other character, not even Demian himself, who remains something of an enigma to the very end. This puts the story in an existentialist mindset. Sinclair is drifting through a swirling, gray mass of humanity. Alone is also how we must act. Jean-Paul Sartre says, It is only in our decisions that we are important, and, We must act out passions before we can feel it. This pretty closely mirrors the sentiment presented when Pistorius says, [Y]ou cant consider prohibited anything that the soul desires (Hesse, 116). It is only when we make our own decisions and act for ourselves that what we do has meaning. Hesse puts the existentialist framework to work for him by using it to highlight the need for independence and spiritual self-reliance. Dostoyevsky, on the other hand, uses the mindset to facilitate Raskolnikovs downward mental spiral, highlight his aloofness, and pull the story along. The world of St. Petersburg is, without a doubt, a strange and hostile place for Raskolnikov. He stumbles along and things constantly happen around him. He repeatedly wakes up with people in his room. He sees things in the street, such as the drunken rape victim early in the story, or a prone Marmeladov, that cause him to lose his cool. More and more, he finds himself doing crazy things without regard for logic or even common sense. People in this world confound him. He has no idea what they are up to, and he is constantly paranoid that people are plotting against him. His guilty, delirious inner world combines with the crazy, chaotic outer world to make Raskolnikov into a raging, feverish, maniac. He is not just any raging, feverish, maniac, though. He is an aloof raging, feverish, maniac. He considers himself better than those around him, and his superior mentality drives his antisocial behavior. His antisocial behavior, in turn, gives the character and story a feeling of being alone. Not only is the world crazy, but also Raskolnikov is separated from it and everyone in it, at least until the very end of the book. He is isolated, so much so that at times he can feel it clearly with every fiber of his being that he could never again address these people (Dostoyevsky, 122). Finally, Dostoyevsky uses this chaotic world to drive his story along. Things are constantly happening by coincidence, and Dostoyevsky moves the plot forwards at a dizzying pace, forcing Raskolnikov to act. It is fantastic that Raskolnikov should happen upon Marmeladov soon after he is injured, and that Raskolnikov should overhear people discussing the very same murder that is on his mind, and that someone should eavesdrop on him and hear his confession. The frenzied plot makes it much easier for both Raskolnikov and the reader to slip into a mania, which is surely Dostoyevskys aim. The philosophy of existentialism, too, plays a part in Crime and Punishment. Sartre says that the only true goal of our lives is that which we set for ourselves. Raskolnikov, through the main portion of the story, has no clear goal. He wavers between wanting to turn himself in and trying to avoid suspicion. Sartre says, Man can will nothing unless he has first understood that [he has] no other aim than the one he sets himself, and it is clear that Raskolnikovs will is pretty much useless. He can effect no real change in either himself or in his surroundings until he finally picks a goal and follows through with it. His personal development is completely halted during his entire spell of indecision. Only in the epilogue do we see him begin to change, begin to forsake his philosophy of the superman, find happiness, and fall in love. The philosophy of existentialism was around long before anyone gave a name to it, as is evidenced by Dostoyevskys St. Petersburg, the perfect example of an existentialist world. Both Dostoyevsky and Hesse use existentialist ideas help them express their points. Andrew Holbrook, 2006.
Friday, November 15, 2019
Global Food Prices on the Rise Essay -- Economics, Global Government
Who Benefits from Government Policies There are many companies, taxpayers and agencies that benefit from the promotion of production of ethanol. As noted in one resource, ââ¬Å"Big Oil pocketed tens of billions of dollars through a little known subsidy called the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC)â⬠(Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association, 2010, Take Action). Farmers in developed countries who receive subsidies from the government reap benefits from this policy because the more corn, or sugarcane, that is produced for ethanol, the larger the profit is for the farmers. Subsidies also help these farmers in producing more products for the ethanol that is demanded. As the text states, ââ¬Å"By lowering production costs, subsidies help domestic producers in two ways: (1) competing against foreign imports and (2) gaining export marketsâ⬠(Hill, 2011, p. 207). Taxpayers see large benefits from ethanol production, but the benefits of sugarcane ethanol are larger than those with corn ethanol. As noted in one resource, ââ¬Å"Gasoline with sugarcane ethanol is $2.88 per gallon, where gasoline with corn ethanol is $2.92 per gallonâ⬠(Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association, 2010, Economic Advantages). The government, for example, in the United States, also benefits from polices set in place. As noted in one resource, ââ¬Å"Corn ethanol production has hit record levels this year [2011], beating government goals and creating a surplus for exportâ⬠(Krauss, 2011, à ¶ 10). Who Benefits from Tariff Barriers on Imported Sugarcane As discussed in the text, there are two parties who benefit from import tariffs: the government and domestic producers. For the government, tariffs increase revenues. For domestic producers, tariffs provide the ability to afford ... ...ed January 29, 2012, from http://e360.yale.edu/feature/the_case_against_biofuels_probing_ethanols_hidden_costs/2251/ Hill, C. W. (2011). Global Business Today (7th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Krauss, C. (2011, July 7). Ethanol Subsidies Besieged. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/08/business/energy-environment/corn-ethanol-subsidies-may-be-in-jeopardy.html?pagewanted=all Peters, G., PhD (2011, February 16). A Look Behind Rising Food Prices: Population Growth; Rising Oil Prices; Weather Events. Message posted to http://ourfiniteworld.com/2011/02/16/a-look-behind-rising-food-prices-population-growth-rising-oil-prices-weather-events/ Radcliffe, B. (2011). The Basics Of Tariffs And Trade Barriers. Retrieved January 29, 2012, from http://www.investopedia.com/articles/economics/08/tariff-trade-barrier-basics.asp#axzz1ktwQdZhy
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Dramatic Changes in the U.S. Intelligence Community Essay
Intelligence services of any country play a vital role in its security as well as in support of its national interests. The U. S. Intelligence Community (IC) today is a federation of about 16 separate governmental agencies (United States Intelligence Community, 2009) that monitor information worldwide and domestically in pursuance of Americaââ¬â¢s national interests. The IC has undergone fundamental changes since WWII, the 1970s and in the aftermath of September 11, 2001 attacks and the Iraq war 2003. Each of these fundamental changes in policy, organization and practice has had a profound impact in the workings of the IC. This essay examines the effects of the successive reforms carried out within the IC focusing on the above mentioned three periods of dramatic changes. The precursor to the Intelligence Community was the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) which was formed during the Second World War to coordinate the intelligence gathering and espionage activities of the single service intelligence services. After the Second World War, the U. S. government sought to change the predominant army orientation of the OSS. The National Security Act of 1947 established the Central Intelligence Agency that took over the functions of the OSS and charged it with collection of national security intelligence but no ââ¬Å"police, subpoena, law enforcement powers or internal security function (Theoharis & Immerman, 2006, p. 156). â⬠The aim here was to curtail the inflated powers that the OSS had gathered during the war time years. However, the reality of the Cold War forced the US government to promulgate ââ¬Å"the NSC 4A of December 14, 1947, and NSC 10/2 of June 18, 1948 (Theoharis & Immerman, 2006, p. 158)â⬠giving the CIA mandate to conduct covert operations. Thereon, the mandate of the CIA was increased to include sabotage, support of indigenous anti-communist elements and kill and depose leaders from Cuba to Chile (Kinzer, 2008, p. 210). The 1949 Central Intelligence Agency Act authorized the agency fiscal independence outside the domain of public scrutiny and administrative controls. The organization was also exempted from having to make public the roll call of its employees or where they were being employed. So the powers of the agency were vastly increased and congressional oversight reduced. Through the sixties into the early 70s, the CIA was at the forefront of covert war across the globe, undermining the Soviets and in the process becoming a law unto them self. Thus when Dr Muhammed Mossadeq of Iran nationalized British Petroleum, it was the CIA which helped the British to overthrow his government to establish Reza Pehalavi as their puppet (Paul, 2003, p. 14). In Iraq too, US intelligence services recruited in 1959, Saddam Hussein to take part in assassination of Iraqi Prime minister Qasim who was poised to hurt American oil interests in Iraq. Within the United States, the CIA was involved in hunting out communist supporters under McCarthyism that led to the arrests and incarceration of hundreds of Americans under trumped up charges. These internal actions of the IC made the community most unpopular with politicians across the spectrum. Nixon initially distrusted the agencies but soon saw their utility leading to a series of successful covert operations that helped in winding down the Vietnam War, Coup de etat in Chile, engagement with China and containment actions across the globe against Soviet expansion. Nixon later misused the CIA in getting the agency to obstruct FBI investigations into the Watergate scandal (1972). In Africa, the CIA carried out covert operations to oust Soviet influence. In the period right up to the early 70s, the IC was involved predominantly in conduct of a secret foreign policy and the administration then started having misgivings about the efficiency of the organization with its excessive focus on clandestine operations (Louis, 1987, p. 103). Therefore, in 1973, the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI), James Schlesinger decided to reform the agency to make it more accountable and efficient. ââ¬Å"He fired two thousand officers (Louis, p. 103)â⬠and compiled a report on the (mis)doings of the agency in conducting political assassinations worldwide, and indulging in illegal surveillance of thousands of US citizens who had opposed Americaââ¬â¢s involvement in the Vietnam War. Though this report was supposed to be secret, it was leaked to the media that led to a series of investigations into the workings of the CIA by the senate (Church Committee), the House of Representatives (Pike Committee) and the administration of Gerald Ford (Rockefeller Commission) in 1975, which in turn led to the distancing of the CIA from its linkages with domestic politics. This also led to a formation of the Presidential Oversight Board at the White House and the United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in 1977 to maintain oversight on the workings of the IC. President Ford ââ¬Å"banned assassination plots against foreign leaders and tightened CIA and NSC approval procedures for the use of covert actions (Jeffreys-Jones & Andrew, 1997, p. 182)â⬠. President Carter further tightened the accountability of the IC. The technicalization of the IC under the stewardship of Admiral Turner vastly increased the agencies ability to remotely eavesdrop on the global community but downplayed HUMINT leading to glaring weaknesses in intelligence collection in the field that led to the bombings of American embassies in Kenya, Uganda and the 9/11 attacks. The Intelligence Oversight Act of 1980 brought in more accountability in the workings of the IC, which included advance intimation to the Congress in case the IC was to be tasked for covert operations. In the Reagan years, the IC was actively involved in ousting the Soviets from Afghanistan. The IC played a pivotal role in supplying the Mujahidin arms and ammunition to defeat the Soviets. The Reagan administration, on many occasions willfully bypassed the Oversight Act as Vice Admiral Poindexter; Reaganââ¬â¢s NSA stated that ââ¬Å"he had bypassed the intelligence committees in the Iran-Contra Affair to avoid outside interference (Jeffreys-Jones & Andrew, p. 189)â⬠. This led to the 1991 Intelligence Oversight Act which required the President to give a written order for any covert operation. The various measures to instill accountability, and reduce the scope of its power hobbled the agencies which became too ââ¬Ëgun-shyââ¬â¢ (Coll, 2004, p. 424) and failed spectacularly in detecting the 9/11 attack plan launched by the Al Qaeda. The 9/11 report clearly indicted the intelligence services for their failure to detect the formation of a coherent group like the Al Qaeda and its intent to attack symbols of American power within America (Kean & Hamilton, 2004, p. 341). The report pointed out to the deficiencies in strategic analysis against Al Qaeda, lack of imaginative thinking and the lack of coordination between the various intelligence agencies. The 9/11 report recommended sweeping changes to restructure the IC starting right at the top by replacing the position of Director of Central Intelligence with National Intelligence Director (Kean & Hamilton, 2004, p. 411) to oversee national intelligence centers and have the power to approve and submit nominations of individuals who would head CIA, DIA, FBI intelligence office and so on (Kean & Hamilton, 2004, p. 412). Since 9/11, the role of the IC in covert operations had increased vastly especially under the Republican watch, where greater leeway was given to the IC to carry out targeted killings using predator drones across Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The embarrassment of the false Iraqi WMD dossier, regret for which was proffered by then Secretary of State, Colin Powell (Shulman, 2008, p. 107) dented the ICââ¬â¢s image and there have been renewed calls for strengthening congressional oversight over the workings of the IC. The Obama administration has shown greater sensitivity towards adhering to the democratic tenets of oversight and following the rules set by the National Security Act in that the new CIA Director Leon Panetta, on first information, shut down a secret CIA mission to kill Al Qaeda leaders which was being executed without congressional approval (Hess, 2009). In conclusion it can be reiterated that the US IC has been undergoing dramatic changes since the Second World War mostly as a reaction to the changing circumstances. The reforms after Second World War were initiated to bring about better coordination, accountability and oversight by the government into the workings of the IC. The reforms in the seventies were a direct reaction to the excesses committed by the IC and to check their indiscretion and bring greater control over their objectionable operations. 9/11 gave a severe jolt to the American administration and the reforms that were then initiated came as response to the event as also a genuine feeling for the need to better harness the skills of the IC. Post Iraq War 2003, the clamor for oversight has increased as it was being felt that the agencies had deliberately misled the government by giving faulty intelligence that led to the Iraq war. On the whole, the drive to initiate reforms in the IC has been more reactive in nature rather than being proactive for dealing with future threats. Works Cited Coll, S. (2004). Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden. NY: Penguin. Hess, P. (2009, July 15). House Lays Groundwork for CIA Probe. Retrieved July 21, 2009, from Washington Post: http://www. washingtonpost. com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/14/AR2009071401648. html Jeffreys-Jones, R. , & Andrew, C. M. (1997). Eternal Vigilance? : 50 Years of the CIA. NY: Routledge. Kean, T. H. , & Hamilton, L. (2004). The 9/11 Commission Report. Washington D. C. : Supt. of Docs. GPO. Kinzer, S. (2008). All the Shahââ¬â¢s Men. NY: Wiley. Louis, G. (1987). The New American State: Bureaucracies and Policies Since Worl War II. Baltimore: JHU Press. Paul, J. A. (2003, November). Oil Companies in Iraq. Retrieved July 6, 2009, from Global Policy Forum: http;//www. globalpolicy. org/component/content/article/185/40586. html Shulman, S. (2008). Undermining Science: Suppression and Distortion in the Bush Administration. Berkeley: University of California Press. Theoharis, A. G. , & Immerman, R. H. (2006). The Central Intelligence Agency Under Scrutiny. Westport: Greenwood Publishing. United States Intelligence Community. (2009). Members of the Intelligence Community. Retrieved July 21, 2009, from http://www. intelligence. gov/1-members. shtml
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