Writing Assignment #4
“Working With the Enemy”
Due: Wednesday, April 28, 2004

Preamble:

There are many instances in which the United States, whether we like it or not, finds itself working with an “enemy.” Your job in this assignment is to explain to the American people why, in the instance you choose, the United States should work with an enemy.

Research:

Choose one instance in which the United States found itself cooperating, collaborating or otherwise working together with an “enemy.” Research the case, exploring why the U.S. found itself in that situation, how the collaboration unfolded, and whether it produced the desired result. Here are some examples, but you are not limited to these. If you are interested in another instance, please ask me about it before you write.

  • U.S. and Russian forces in Bosnia

  • The U.S. and the Palestine Liberation Organization (circa 1988-89)

  • The U.S. and China (on North Korea)

  • The U.S. and Syria (on Lebanon/Israel/Golan Heights)

  • The U.S. and Cuba (on refugees)

  • The U.S. allowing Soviet military to visit American previously-secret nuclear missile sites

  • The U.S. and Iran (on Afghanistan)

  • The U.S. and Iraq (against Iran in the 1980’s)

  • The U.S. and Islamic fundamentalists (against the USSR, 1980’s)

  • NATO accepting the Soviet Union as a “partner for peace”

Write:

Prepare a radio speech for the President of the United States, in which the President addresses the American people to explain why the U.S. was engaged in the way it was with the “enemy” you have selected for your assignment. You can assume that your speech is being delivered either after conclusion of the cooperative episode, or at least during the episode.

Your speech should take no longer than 6-minutes to read aloud.

Include a bibliography of sources you used to develop your speech.