Extemp: old extemp questions 2005 Thanksgiving

IX
Middle East
• A year after the death of Arafat, are Palestinians better off?
• Is Iran’s development of a nuclear weapon inevitable?
• Can Saddam Hussein get a fair trial?
• Can Chalabi gain the support he needs to administer Iraq?
• Is there anything that can stop the rash of bombings across Iraq?
• Can Ariel Sharon maintain his pullout of Gaza?
• Will Al Qaeda attacks against moderate nations like Jordan increase in the coming months?
• Will insurgent actions from Iraq spread to nearby Arab nations?
• Do Sunni’s have a political strategy for their role in the Iraqi government?
• Should Arab nations normalize relations with Israel?
• What does Saudi Arabia’s entry to the WTO mean for the nation’s economy?
• Can the Saudi government contain the growing support for militants?
• Should the US repay Iraq for work done by Halliburton?
• Will the December vote in Iraq find overwhelming support among the people?
• What role should Hamas play in Palestinian elections?
• How can the US shorten the growing reach of the Zarqawi network?
• What can bring together Iraq’s different political factions?
• Would a Palestinian State boost the security of Israel?
• What more should Saudi Arabia to do fight terrorism?
• Is Jordan’s King Abdullah out of touch with his own people?
• Is Iraqi reconstruction proceeding on schedule?
• Will looted Iraqi relics ever be recovered?
• How can the Sunni’s be encouraged to participate in the December Iraqi elections?
• Are female suicide bombings going to be an increasingly popular tactic by Al Qaeda?
• Can the US negotiate a lasting peace deal between Israel and Palestine?
• Should richer, Persian Gulf oil states share the oil revenues with poorer Arab states?
• Is Iraq exporting terrorists?
• Will the movement of Moqtada al-Sadr towards mainstream politics encourage greater Shiite participation in the Iraqi government?
• Would the loss of Zarqawi end organized insurgency efforts in Iraq?
Europe
• How can France quell the Paris riots?
• Is Europe ready for the Bird Flu?
• Will the rest of Europe see civil unrest like that in France?
• What are the economic factors behind the riots in France?
• Is Viktor Yushchenko succeeding in his plans to repair Ukraine?
• What reforms are necessary in European immigration policy?
• Is Turkey’s accession to the European Union a good idea?
• Can the German coalition government meet its goals?
• Will the UK pass significant anti-terror legislation?
• Does the Labour Party in the UK face serious internal conflict?
• Is the British health care system failing?
• How should the UK address terror threats?
• Have Russia’s actions in Chechnya tarnished its relationship with the EU?
• Can Vladimir Putin keep Russia on course?
Asia
• How serious is the Bird Flu threat?
• How long can China keep up its huge trade surpluses?
• How can the US effective engage North Korea to stop nuclear development?
• Can multilateral talks work with regards to North Korea?
• Will China allow its currency to rise in value against the dollar?
• How can Japan improve its ties to the rest of Asia?
• Should China allow greater foreign access to its markets?
• Will Chinese money be the core of global capital funds in the coming decade?
• Can Afghani corruption be stopped?
• What is necessary to control the narcotics trade in Afghanistan?
• What agenda does Prime Minister Koizumi have for Japan?
• Is Japan’s economy on track for a continued rise?
• Will closer US-Japan military ties act as a deterrent against North Korea?
• Can sanctions work against North Korea?
• Is Japan ready to let go of its Imperial family?
• Would opening its markets be in the best interests of China?
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Latin America
• Will free trade agreements provide enough economic stimulus for Latin America?
• Should the US end its Cuba embargo?
• Are Land Reforms a good idea for Venezuela?
• Can President Hugo Chavez effectively leverage Venezuela’s oil wealth to get what he wants?
• Can Colombia disarm right-wing paramilitaries?
• Will former President Alberto Fujimori be tried in Peru?
• Will a Free Trade Zone across the Americas benefit the United States?
• Will General Pinochet actually stand trial?
• How can Latin American better curb the narcotics trafficking?
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Africa
• What more should the international community do to combat AIDS in Africa?
• Is debt relief a realistic solution to ending African poverty?
• Can Ethiopia prevent political unrest from turning into a civil war?
• Will elections in Liberia result in any significant reforms?
• Should the US intervene in Zimbabwe?
• Should the UN take action to stop deportations in Zimbabwe?
• Will Zimbabwe admit to failure on its land reforms?
• Does lack of infrastructure doom Sub-Saharan Africa to poverty?
• Is there a political solution to the problems in Darfur?
• Why isn’t more being done to combat famine and hunger in Africa?
• How can Ethiopia resolve the problems that are at the heart of its current crisis?
• How long can Robert Mugabe maintain control of Zimbabwe?
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UN/Intl Orgs/Economy
• Is the world economy healthy?
• How has free trade changed the world economy?
• Can unanimous decisions continue to effectively run the UN?
• How can the international community better prepare for the next major natural disaster?
• Can global free trade work to aid developing nations?
• Has the developed world failed to offer acceptable amounts relief to victims of the Southeast Asian earthquake?
• Should the UN revoke its mandate for US troops in Iraq?
• Do IMF loan stipulations do more harm than good for developing nations?
• How can the WHO control a global outbreak of Bird Flu?
• Are global mergers still good business practice?
• What motivates suicide bombers across the world?
• Should the UN have greater control over the Internet?
• Do NGO’s do more harm than good in developing nations?
• What more should be done to reduce global deforestation?
• What should the world do to stave off an avian flu outbreak?
• What effects does global warming have on developing nations?
• Is global free trade losing steam?


NX
Politics
• Will Democrats win big in next year’s midterm election?
• Will Sam Alito be confirmed to the US Supreme Court?
• Will ethics questions be the legacy of the Bush Administration?
• Can the Bush Administration move quickly beyond the CIA leak case?
• Will Christian “values voters” continue to dominate the Republican Party?
• Is the US ready for a female President?
• Will the indictment of Scooter Libby pose a serious problem for the Bush Will Karl Rove be indicted?
• Administration?
• Is Sam Alito the most qualified person for Supreme Court nomination?
• Can the Republican Party appease right wing voters and not lose the moderates?
• Will the Democrats continue to pick up political victories?
• Is the ‘nuclear option’ practical in a Supreme Court fight?
• Will Democrats fight the nomination of Sam Alito to the Supreme Court?
• Can Tom DeLay get a fair trial in Texas?
• Should there be a litmus test for Supreme Court nominees?
• Should the White House replace some of the top Presidential staffers?
• Can President Bush reunite the Republican Party over budget issues?
• How is the Democratic National Committee doing under the direction of Howard Dean?
• How can the President turn around his approval ratings fall?
• Is the Iraq war a political problem for the President?
• Can the Bush Administration recover from the CIA leak investigation in time to assist the Republican Party in the midterm elections?
• Can the Democrats maintain secular support and still campaign on moral values?
• Can the Democrats develop and present real plans to American?
• Will Sam Alito be confirmed to the Supreme Court?
• What steps need to be taken to bring down the Zarqawi terror network?
• Will opinions on abortion hang up the nomination of Sam Alito?
• Would a Democratic filibuster of the Alito nomination backfire?
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Economy
• Should the US end farm subsidies?
• How can the Congress get a handle on budget deficits?
• Should simplification of the tax code be a priority for the Bush Administration?
• Is Ben Benanke the right choice to follow Alan Greenspan in running the Federal Reserve?
• Is the federal government too reliant on foreign debt?
• Is the housing boom doomed to collapse?
• Should the federal government enact price controls on petroleum?
• Is the federal government giving enough in relief to Gulf Coast hurricane victims?
• Should the US take stronger trade actions against China?
• Is the economy facing a slowdown?
• Are US innovators losing their competitive edge against foreign companies?
• Is it time to reconsider a flat tax?
• Will businesses use bankruptcy as a way to avoid paying out obligations to retired employees?
• Will increased immigration increase American wages?
• When will the Fed end its increase in rate hikes?
• What can be done to reduce the rising costs of higher education?
• Can Ben Bernanke keep inflation at bay?
• Will the market see strong growth in 2006?
• How can the US reduce its foreign debt?
• What more should be done to close the trade gap with China?
Social Issues
• How serious is the threat from the Avian Flu?
• Is the US prepared for a large scale epidemic?
• Who should bear the costs of rebuilding the Gulf Coast?
• Can Congress develop an effective energy policy?
• Should the US be doing more to develop renewable energy resources?
• What role should the federal government play in establishing curriculum for schools?
• Should oil drilling be allowed in ANWR?
• What is necessary to secure the border with Mexico?
• Has American made all the progress it needs to in the areas of Civil Rights?
• Who should be held responsible for flu vaccine shortages this year?
• Should the federal government open funding to more stem cell lines to scientists?
• Should the retirement age be raised?
• Will the new Medicare drug benefits really improve American health care?
• Has FBI abuse of the USA PATRIOT Act been overblown?
• Should the teaching of Intelligent Design in schools become an issue for the federal government to take up?
• Has No Child Left Behind been successful so far?
• Have the monies from tobacco settlements been misspent by states?
• Should the US enact a moratorium on capital punishment?
• What should the US do to prepare for the avian flu?
• Will there be significant social backlash if the Roe v. Wade decision is overturned?
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Foreign Policy
• Is US foreign policy too unilateral?
• Should the US push China to enact religious tolerance reforms?
• How can the US entice Sunni’s to participate in the December Iraqi elections?
• Who should be held responsible in the Iraq oil-for-food scandal?
• Will a Free Trade Zone across the Americas benefit the United States?
• What role should the US play in nuclear negotiations with Iran?
• Will closer US-Japan military ties act as a deterrent against North Korea?
• How is John Bolton doing as Ambassador to the UN?
• How can the US establish closer ties with Saudi Arabia?
• What more can the US do to improve its image internationally?
• How should the US answer torture allegations from detainees?
• Can the US negotiate a lasting peace deal between Israel and Palestine?
• How can the US encourage reconciliation between the different political factions in Iraq?
• Should the US push for closer international ties in space exploration?
• Should the US be doing more to help stabilize Afghanistan?
• How has American managed to keep its oil prices so low for so long?
• Should US negotiations with North Korea involve talks on human rights offenses?
• What can the US do to push for greater Mexican involvement in policing the border?
• Should the US consider a timetable for a troop withdrawal from Iraq?
Military/Defense/Iraq
• Is the American public support for the war in Iraq coming to an end?
• How is the US doing in the war on terror?
• What is necessary to gain local support for US efforts in Iraq?
• Did the White House misuse intelligence in pushing the case for war against Iraq?
• Will US support of Ahmad Chalabi be enough to stabilize his administration of Iraq?
• How have stories of US mistreatment of prisoners harmed the effectiveness of US military forces abroad?
• Will the public call to withdraw troops from Iraq continue to gain public support?
• What further steps are necessary to secure America’s seaports?
• Is increased airport security making flights more secure?
• Should the US be held accountable to the reports of Iraqi spending audits?
• How can US forces secure the December vote in Iraq?
• Do partisan critics hurt the war effort?
• How can the military improve its recruiting numbers?
• Is the US strategy against Iraqi rebels working?
• Can the US train up sufficient Iraqi military forces in time to successfully combat the insurgency?
• Has the US effectively dealt with the threat of terrorists obtaining nuclear weapons?
• Can America secure its rail transportation systems?
• How can the US shorten the growing reach of the Zarqawi network?
• Should Guantanamo detainees have their access to the courts limited?
• How will the war in Iraq impact future votes for war powers?
• Has America’s focus drifted away from finding Osama bin Laden?
• Why has public support for the war in Iraq fallen so quickly?
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