My thesis is reflecting the economic progress in USA after a year 2000. The first part of my thesis is describing the most important topics in the economic program of G.W. Bush. The next part of my work is analyzing the decision of G.W. Bush as a president and how they are reflected the economic program. This part is divided in three chapters: taxes, military expenditures and monetary policy. At the end of my thesis I compare and evaluate the economic program and the real decision of the George W. Bush. I also describe influence these decision on the economic of USA.

Thesis (MSc. Agriculture (Remote Sensing)) -- University of Limpopo, 2015 / Savannas are the most important ecosystems for raising livestock in Africa. In the past 50 years, evidence has shown that savannas throughout the world are being altered by bush encroachment. This is an ecological succession process where perennial plants such as shrubs and trees replace annual vegetation. This reduces the amount of palatable fodder and directly threatens livestock productivity in many localities. This study evaluated long-term bush encroachment using multi-date Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) images 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2004 and 2008 to reconstruct changes in spatial distribution of trees and shrubs at the Towoomba Reseach Station over a period of 19 years, from 1989 to 2008. Grasses and woody species were classified using unsupervised classification and Normalised Difference Vegetation Index was used to assess forage productivity and change in vegetation with years. The study was carried out at Towoomba Research Station in Bela Bela, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The study revealed that bush encroachment is a natural process and is independent of the grazing patterns. The results show that if not monitored encroaching species will make it difficult for grazers to get underneath the trees and also disturb the photosynthetic process of grass thereby replacing the grass. The study further showed that satellite remote sensing has the potential for monitoring rangeland quality. Keywords: Bush encroachment, remote sensing, classification and Normalised Difference Vegetation Index

The diploma thesis Development of Relations Between United States and Israel During Obama's Presidency deals with the U.S.-Israeli relations during the two Obama's presidential terms. The thesis analyzes how was the development of the relations affected by Obama and his administration. Main goal was to examine, if Obama succeeded in his election promises from 2008 to keep the above-standard U.S.-Israeli relations and to further strengthen the mutual ties. The author divided the thesis into three main parts. The first part dealt with Obama's term as a Senator and presidential candidate in 2008. Second part examined his first presidential term and the last part covered the time between his reelection in 2013, until April 2015, when the Iran deal was signed. The author pays attention to the milestones of Obama's presidency, such as "The New Beginning" speech in Cairo 2009, where Obama unprecedentedly addressed the Arab states with message of reconciliation between the U.S. and the Arab world. The author also analyzes Obama's visit to Israel in 2013 and assesses the impact on Israeli public opinion on Obama and the United States. In the conclusion, the author answers the research question, claiming that Obama succeeded in keeping the special relationship between the United States and Israel, despite the common...

Les avions légers sont conçus pour être utilisés dans les zones reculées d'un pays, où les infrastructures de transport sont inadéquates ou inexistantes. Ils peuvent atterrir sur différents types de piste (glace, gravier, sable, gros cailloux...). Le problème principal de ces avions est le défaut d’absorption d’énergie cinétique à l’atterrissage, bien qu'une partie des énergies de choc soit absorbée par les pneumatiques sous-gonflés. Des chocs et des rebonds peuvent se produire mettant en péril la sécurité de l’avion et des passagers. Le but de ce travail est de développer un outil numérique qui permet de modéliser les trains d'atterrissage, de prévoir leur réponse dynamique dans des conditions extrêmes, et de comparer leur capacité à dissiper l’énergie à la rencontre des obstacles. Étant donné son rôle primordial dans l'absorption des chocs, une étude expérimentale est dédiée à la caractérisation du pneumatique de brousse. Cette étude permet de construire un modèle éléments finis détaillé du pneumatique en prenant en compte la géométrie et la structure matérielle complexe. Une deuxième partie est consacrée à la modélisation numérique de quatre systèmes de trains d'atterrissage (existants ou proposés). De nombreuses simulations de roulement sont réalisées afin d'étudier, d'une part l'influence des conditions de roulement et l'influence de la taille et de la forme de l'obstacle d'autre part. L'analyse des amplitudes des efforts et des rebonds transmis à l'avion au cours du roulement permet d'évaluer les réponses dynamiques des différents trains et de comparer leur efficacité de dissipation / Light aircraft, such as bush planes, are designed for use in undeveloped areas of a country where transport infrastructure is inadequate or non-existent. They can land on different types of runways (ice, gravel, sand, big stones ...). The main problem with these aircraft is the lack of kinetic energy absorption at landing, although some of the shock energy is absorbed by the underinflated tires. Hard landing conditions such as shocks and rebounds may occur and endanger the safety of the aircraft and passengers. The aim of this work is to develop an efficient numerical tool for studying landing gear systems, predict their dynamic response in extreme conditions, and compare their energy dissipation. Given its primary role in shock absorption, an experimental study is dedicated to the characterization of the bush tire. Then, a detailed finite element model of the tire is developed, taking into account real geometry and material specificities. A second part is devoted to the numerical modeling of the different systems of landing gears (existing and proposed). Combined finite elements with structural elements are used. Thus, stress, deformation and energy within landing gears components could be obtained. Multiple dynamic rolling simulations are carried out in order to study, not only the influence of the rolling conditions (such as rolling velocity, tires inflation pressure, etc.), but also the influence of the size and the shape of obstacles. Systems' transient responses while rolling over ramp are evaluated, as well as the efforts and rebound displacements transmitted to the aircraft. A dissipation efficiency comparative study between the landing gears is conducted

As this essay goes we have come to believe that an explanation for the Iraq war cannot be found in either the rhetoric or the claim that it was a legally internationally sanctioned war under international law. This is a theory-testing study where we use a theoretical perspective in political science from the international relations studies; Realism is examined, we want to see if it can better explain why the United States invaded Iraq. The main problem in the essay is to identify the reasons why the Iraqi invasion became a fact. In the C-thesis, we go through the perspectives content in a detailed way and briefly describe its views. We have collected material both about the Iraqi invasion and about the theory we want to test. Based on our pre-understanding of the theories, we interpret the developments in Iraq and try to explain them. We have come to the conclusion that realism is very much relevant to our subject and argues for it well. In realism it is the state that is the main actor and concepts like anarchy, self-help, survival and balance of power can best explain USA:s actions. This essay focuses on the means it took (the bush-doctrine) to legitimize such an act, but the mainspring of this essay is how we can understand the reasoning USA must have had behind the decision to invade Iraq. We believe that a realistic approach is the best way to explain what led the US to invade Iraq and through this perspective we can across chosen concepts from Realism, categorize different events that might have had played a vital role in this matter that are relevant with our theoretic perspective.

Critical discourse analysis (CDA) is an interdisciplinary approach that studies the relationship between power, language, ideology, and social structures in the various forms of discourse.  Fairclough’s three-dimensional model was employed as the foundation and van Dijk’s ideological square as an assist to deepen the analytical focus on the speeches held by George H. W Bush addressing Somalia and Kuwait. The size of conflict and period differ, this study sees the relevance of comparing the two speeches since they were given by the same person during his period as presidents of the United States and Commander in Chief. The results have shown how Bush uses language to lay arguments for U.S. military action in the out-group nations. By employing concepts such as national self-glorification, empathy, lexicalization, victimization, and polarization: He lay the grounds for the U.S. interventions through language. The results show that representing the United States in a positive light and the out-groups in a negative light e.g. as threat leads to the justification for U.S. intervention but also exposes the underlying power structures and inequality of power.

Proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in securitizing discourse of the USA and Russia: Role in the process of security policy formation of nuclear-armed states Abstract This master thesis deals with a political usage of securitization of weapons of mass destruction by presidents of the two most important nuclear powers - USA and Russian Federation. For this purpose, discursive analysis of speeches of both presidents during their first terms is performed, with a goal to identify and interpret the securitizational discourse. Result is the analysis of most common type of usage of WMD securitization for legitimization of foreign-political steps and goals of these states, and their comparison. Results of the analysis shows that in the case of the US, WMD securitization was being used mainly for legitimization of politics of active formation of international situation so it would fit the US interests. In the case of Russia on the other hand, analysed discourse was being used mainly for preservation of international status quo in as stable form as possible, due to priority of domestic situation. In both cases however, predominantly economical motivations for the use of analysed discourse can be argued.

Pakistan is a poor and aid-dependent state but it is also the only Muslim state armed with nuclear weapons. In the late 1990s, Pakistan had to deal with economic and technological sanctions from the U.S., which punished Islamabad for its nuclear aspirations and military coup d'état in fall of 1999. The India-Pakistan rivalry is crucial aspect that impacts the U.S.-Pakistan cooperation. After 9/11, Pakistani president Musharraf was concerned that the U.S. could turn their attention to India, thus strengthening the cooperation with Pakistan's rival. The terrorist attacks of 9/11 changed the national security environment and Washington had to adapt, so it could more effectively respond to newly emerging threats. Rise of strategic importance of Pakistan was a result of the U.S. hunt for Al-Qaeda and subsequent war in Afghanistan, as Americans needed to assure access to Afghanistan, logistical support for American forces, intelligence information about situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan's border regions. However, U.S.-Pakistan cooperation was influenced by divergent national security priorities. Keywords Pakistan, USA, Musharraf, Bush, U.S. support, strategy, Taliban, Al-Qaeda, assistance, 9/11 Rozsah práce: 122 928 znaků

The intelligence failure regarding the estimates of the Iraqi regime is often cited as the main reason for President George W. Bush to change the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein. Between 2002 and 2003, the highest figures o George W. Bush's administration often used arguments of the intelligence community to justify their decision to overthrow Saddam's regime by force. Their arguments were based primarily on the information on Hussein's contacts with al-Qaeda and his continuing ability to produce weapons of mass destruction. After the war, these estimates were proven wrong and the intelligence community was marked as the force that triggered the invasion. In my master's thesis called Crisis of U.S. Intelligence? George W. Bush and the decision to invade Iraq, I put forward arguments contradicting this widespread idea. The goal of the thesis is to cast light on the fundaments of the intelligence failure regarding Hussein's alleged contacts with al- Qaeda and his capability to stockpile and produce weapons of mass destruction. I reveal the ideological and strategic reasons behind the Bush's decision to invade Iraq and the fact that the intelligence findings played only secondary role. The true reason of the intelligence failure wasn't only flawed manipulation with human intelligence (HUMINT) and...

The encroachment of rangelands by woody plants causes an imbalance in the grass:bush ratio leading to decline in ecosystem services including grazing capacity, biodiversity, and water yield. This study assessed the historical changes in woody cover, and the effects of bush clearing on water loss, atmospheric carbon uptake, herbaceous vegetation, and soil seed bank (SSB) dynamics. The study was conducted at Makapanstad (Radi and Maseding) and Kgomokgomo rangelands, North-West Province, South Africa. Landsat imagery was used to assess woody cover over 34 years (1984 - 2018) in a total area of 16 397 ha. Evapotranspiration (ET) and gross primary productivity (GPP) were assessed in cleared sites and their adjacent uncleared sites from 2013 to 2018. Woody plant densities, herbaceous composition, ground cover and biomass production were assessed in 24, 5×5-m plots distributed equally in three 2500-m2 bush-encroached blocks in each rangeland in February 2016. Three samples for soil nutrient analysis were collected 20-cm deep in each plot. Thereafter, half (1250-m2) of each block was mechanically cleared to make three replicates of cleared and uncleared microsites. Post-treatment survey of vegetation was conducted in February 2017. SSB was assessed for samples collected in April 2016 before bush clearing and in August, October and December 2016, and April and August 2017 in paired microsites. In 1984, herbaceous cover (humid + arid grasslands) dominated, accounting for 36% of the total area followed by woody cover (shrublands + bushlands) and unvegetated cover (bare soils + abandoned croplands), with respective proportions of 33 and 31%. There were substantial land cover changes over time, with shrub cover increasing linearly (r2 = 0.94, p < 0.05) at a rate of 0.26% year-1, increasing the total woody cover (TWC) to 38% in 2018. Cropland abandonment was the main driver of increase in shrub cover in the study area. Herbaceous cover declined with increase in TWC (r2 = 0.69), whereas bare soil cover increased (r2 = 0.70) with TWC over time. The main encroachers were Vachellia tenuispina at Radi, Vachellia tortilis at Maseding and Dichrostachys cinerea and V. tortilis at Kgomokgomo. Most of the woody species correlated with total N and clay content (r = 0.96; p < 0.05) in black vertic clay soils of Radi and Maseding, whereas non-leguminous species correlated with total N and C:N in the red-yellow apedal soils of Kgomokgomo. ET and GPP varied interannually in all rangelands and both declined significantly (p < 0.05) after bush clearing at Radi and Kgomokgomo but not at Maseding. ET increased with GPP in cleared (r2 = 0.50-0.59) and uncleared sites (r2 = 0.82-0.93) at Radi and they showed a strong relationship (r2 >0.70) in both sites at Maseding and Kgomokgomo. ET ranged from 0.26-0.46 and 0.48-0.97 Kg H2O m-2 day-1 in cleared and uncleared sites, respectively, at Radi and from 0.44-0.98 and 0.63-1.24 Kg H2O m-2 day-1 at Kgomokgomo. Total SSB densities (constituted mostly by early successional species) increased significantly (p < 0.05) to 2470, 1872 and 693 seeds m-2 at Radi, Maseding and Kgomokgomo, respectively, in cleared microsites in August 2017. Similarly, biomass production (BP) and basal cover (BC) were highest in cleared relative to uncleared microsites. Overall, increase in woody cover reduced herbaceous cover and this calls for bush control in the studied rangelands. The decline in ET after bush clearing suggested that bush clearing could be used to increase rangeland water yield. Increased SSB densities, BP and BC indicated that bush clearing facilitates passive restoration. / Thesis (PhD (Pasture Science))--University of Pretoria, 2020. / Agricultural Research Council / National Research Foundation / Plant Production and Soil Science / PhD (Pasture Science) / Unrestricted