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Paper #3 - Action Memo
Development in Iraq

Due by 8 p.m. on April 14, emailed to me as a Microsoft Word document (.doc, .docx) to dhopper@marymount.edu. Students turning in papers containing plagiarism will fail the course.  Late papers will be reduced in grade depending on how late it is.

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Topic: Reflect on our discussion about Iraq, particularly the points noted by our speaker.  Iraq is "branded" by war and oil, and very much wants to change that association.  The country is still beset by violence, some directed toward Americans, but as of December 2021 the United States no longer has combat troops in Iraq.  What the country needs most is economic and cultural assistance.  Based on our talk, and your own research, propose as an Action Memo (template linked below) a recommendation for the U.S. Secretary of State that the U.S. start a new initiative in Iraq that would benefit Iraq either economically or culturally.  This proposal must be specific to Iraq and have a specific purpose.  This could be a new initiative, or a program already in place elsewhere in the world.  Make your argument by showing quantifiably (with numbers) how your proposal would benefit Iraq and U.S. interests in Iraq.  Make sure to note the potential costs (monetary and otherwise), additional staffing or resources needed, as well as any risks or downsides to the program.  

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Here are some suggested research starting points.  You should find your own as well:

  • ForeignAssistance.Gov dashboard (link)

  • U.S.-Iraq Business Council (link)

  • U.S. Embassy Iraq home page (link)

  • American University of Iraq - Baghdad (link)

  • Example of an existing entrepreneurship program in Iraq, funded by the United States: The Station (link)

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Important tips:

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  • This is an action memo.  You are asking that the Secretary authorize this program, and persuading him why it's the right thing to do, even though there are costs and risks.  

  • Consider in this situation: What does the Secretary already know?  What doesn't he know?  Don't tell him things he already knows.

  • This is a maximum of three pages.  He's too busy for more!

  • This is a foreign policy paper, not an academic paper.  You don't need to show references or citations.  However, you should use reference materials to develop your argument.  Do not use Wikipedia.  

  • You are welcome to use attachments to show charts or pictures that illustrate your argument.  Charts or pictures should not be part of your three page paper.

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Format:  Use the template, linked here. Use 16-point Times New Roman font.  Do not modify the margins.  Each paragraph should start with (U), which stands for unclassified.

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You should have a classmate help edit your paper, but we will not do this in class.  If you edit someone else's paper, you should be listed as a "clearer" on their paper.  You can have multiple people provide edits, but you can get only one point of extra credit for edits per assignment.  You must draft the paper yourself. Students caught turning in plagiarized work will fail the course and will be reported to the Academic Integrity process.

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Grades will be based on:

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  • Writing. The paper must have a clear proposal, stated early, and grab the reader's attention. The rest of the paper should contain facts and logic that support the proposal.

  • Analysis of the effects of this decision, how it would help, and how we would achieve it.
     

There isn't a single right answer here; you will be graded on the thoughtfulness of your analysis.

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