Russia's top drug official Viktor Ivanov is pressuring the the United States into destroying to opium fields in Afghanistan. It is estimated that 30,000 Russians die every year from drug use, 90 of the heroin used is Afghan heroin. Heroin flows easily through the Russian borders. This request comes just at a time of policy change in the United States. The Obama Administration is moving away the methods of Bush and his administration. Many favor this tactic, but other oppose it because it would have devastating social and economic effects. Some fear it would turn the people toward the Taliban this argument has made the Obama Administration to seek other methods of trying to put a stop to the Taliban.

Works Cited

Barry, Ellen. The New York Times. Russia, plagued by heroin use, to press U.S. to destroy Afghan poppy crops. September 22, 2009

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/23/world/europe/23russia.html

The Taliban raises 70-400 million dollars a year through illicit drug trade. This helps finances their terrorism. The United States has tired to stop their financing but has made little impact. The Talibans ability to raise money complicates the Obama Administration's decision to deploy 10,000 more troops to Helmand Province. This is the hear of opium production. Even if the United States did stop the flow of money there would be more fighters trained for the Taliban because it can be done very inexpensively.

Works Cited

Schmitt, Eric. The New York Times. "Many Sources Feed Taliban War Chest". October 18, 2009.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/19/world/asia/19taliban.html

Works Cited

Zabriskie, Phil "THE WORLD'S TOUGHEST JOB?." Fortune 160.7 (2009): 120-126. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 13 Oct. 2009.

This article is about Afghanistan's anti-drug czar beginning a campaign against heroin traffickers. Especially those who fund the Taliban through drug money. He wants to abolish poppy fields in a country that produces 93% of the worlds heroin. He however is almost powerless amid th e government corruption and the drug traffickers,

Habib, Nasir"Pakistani military jets strike Taliban targets".

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/10/13/pakistan.taliban.airstrike/index.html

Pakistani military jets bombed Taliban militant hideouts in the countries lawless tribal region on Tuesday. They struck in north along the Afghan border. the in the south Waziristan were bombed in early August by U.S Military killing the Taliban leader Batiullah Mehsud. They are now led by Hakimullah Mehsud.

Deane, Daniela. "Egyptian women protest ban on austere veil"

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/10/13/niqab/index.html

The leading Egyptian cleric made a recent declaration that that women would not be able to wear niqabs' in university areas frequented by only women. A niqab is an all covering face veil. this is a common practice in Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Pakistan. Devoted Muslim women still continue to wear their niqab's. There is opposition to this ban by the Muslim-brotherhood.

Here is the farmers almanac predictions for winter 2009 to fall 2010.

Annual Weather Summary: November 2009 to October 2010

Winter will be about a degree colder than normal, on average, despite a number of mild periods. The coldest periods will occur in the second week of December, early to mid-January, mid- to late January, and mid-February. Precipitation and snowfall will be below normal in the east and above normal in the west. Watch for a snowstorm around Thanksgiving, with other snowy periods in early and late December, late January, mid-February, and mid-March.

April and May will be warmer and drier than normal, with an early-season hot spell in mid-May.

Summer will be cooler than normal, with slightly below normal rainfall. The hottest periods will be in mid- to late June and mid- and late July.

September and October will be warmer than normal, with below-normal rainfall in the east and above-normal rainfall in the west.

This almanacs may not be 100% accurate all of the time but they are usually right. One source says they are accurate as high as 80% of the time. I personally believe them because the old timers and the farmers know the land and weather pattern better than most of the meteorologists.

I think the most important question to asked on the peer review is, is the writing balanced. A balanced writing is not dry in some places and exciting in others. It needs to have good consistent flow. Another important question is, are the elements of music examined. The music needs to be examined from every angle and understood in text and context to write and effective analysis.