Research Links & Critical Thinking Questions for February 2019 Topics

RESEARCH LINKS

Issue 1: Troops in Syria
NYT: “Trump Withdraws U.S. Forces from Syria”
Reuters: “Trump Starts Withdrawal of U.S. Forces from Syria”
Forbes OpEd: “U.S. Troops Don’t Belong in Syria”
The Nation: “Why We Can’t Afford to Send More Troops to the Middle East”
Resignation Letter of General Mattis, Former Secretary of Defense
The Guardian OpEd: “Donald Trump Has a Point”

CRITICAL-THINKING QUESTIONS

Issue 1: Troops in Syria

What information would you need to make a decision about whether to keep troops on the ground in Syria?
What are the differences between the opposing viewpoints in the pro/con congressional quotes on p. 3?
Do you think that withdrawing troops from Syria would ultimately be better or worse for the U.S.? Explain your reasoning.
How would you compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of keeping U.S. troops in Syria?
Read Former Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis’s resignation letter to President Trump (link above). What are the major points or “big ideas” in the letter?

Issue 2: Food Stamps & Work Requirements

Do you agree that the U.S. should set stricter work requirements for recipients of SNAP food stamps? Why or why not?
Read the USDA OpEd by Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue (link above). What ideas would you add to his reasoning and how would these ideas change his conclusions?
How do you think a food stamps recipient would react to the proposed USDA rule for stricter work requirements for SNAP?
What solutions could you suggest to the problem of food scarcity in the U.S.? How would they differ from the current SNAP food stamps program?
What information would you need to make a decision about whether to establish stricter work requirements for SNAP food stamps recipients?

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