text:
And introduce an element of cynicism and darkness into it and just realize that we're all vulnerable. We are humans. There is a finite end to this life and we're all going to face it and a little silliness can help.
~Alan Thicke

There, in the large city of New York, on the date July 21st, 2001, sat a man named John Swift. John was at the age of 21, and just beginning to grow the urge to, as a man, enjoy his first drinks inside of a bar. At least, to do it legally. You see, John was never one to think things through. He always did things spontaneously, rather than take the time to understand what had happened. He was average- in all senses of the word. He wore average clothes, average shoes, average shaggy hair, average glasses, and had average intelligence. But what made John completely unique, was in fact, his averageness.

Upon entering the bar, he found two of his highschool friends sitting at the desk, though none took notice of John. John wasn’t extraordinary in any way, and so they weren’t able to tell him from the bartender. It was often a joke, in fact, that John could literally go anywhere and become invisible.

John sat at the bar, and slowly began to enjoy the beer. It had been a long day at work. John was a factory worker, at which he continuously worked the same machine for hours upon hours.

“So, what’s your name?” said a stranger that had strode up to the bar.

John was spooked by the mans voice. It was seductively deep, to the point where it made John want to answer. John had absolutely no resistance to the man’s voice, and quickly gave in.

“John. John Swift,” he said.

The man was strange in all senses. He was tall, wore gigantic glasses that covered a majority of his face, and wore a hat that shadowed the rest of his face that couldn’t be seen. His jacket was soaking wet, but there was no rain outside. His shoes were work boots, covered in slabs of mud, regardless of the fact they were in New York and there wasn’t a puddle of mud to be seen anywhere. He gave off the scent of nature, which only made John wonder all the more where this man came from.

“Ah, nice to meet you John. Thought I recognized you from somewhere, where might you work? If I could inquire.” The man’s voice was only becoming stranger and stranger, sort of pulling John into it.

“The factory down the street. We produce boxes. I work the hot glue gun.”

“Ah, I work nowhere near that,” he claimed as he gave a bellowing laugh. He quickly ordered whisky on rocks, and sat next to John, continuing the conversation.

“So what religion are you, John?”

John had never been asked that question in his life. Sure, he naturally was a Christian as was most of the other population, but never was asked. This man was now giving off a welcoming aura, and it only made John more interested.
“Christian.”

“Ah, and do you know why you’re Christian?”

John had never even thought about it.

“No, not really.”

Adam winked, “Isn’t that the mystery, John.”

“What’s your name?” John asked, getting just slightly enough courage to ask.

“Adam. No last name.”

John nodded, and the name Adam brought back memories. None of them were as welcoming as that man. It reminded him of a bully in elementary school, who often shoved John into lockers, pull his hair, and beat him senseless. John shuddered at the thought of that Adam.

That Adam never had a last name either. But what that Adam did do was make John stand out, for once in his life. The feeling was elevating, regardless of the pain. It gave him pride, the scars. His parents took notice of him out of his three brothers and sisters. It gave him joy.

“I see. I knew an Adam once. Not the greatest fellow, but he did a lot for me. Even if he never knew it.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t say he never knew it,” Adam said.

John looked curiously up at this Adam, but didn’t say anything.

“You’re easy to read John. Maybe too easy.”

John realized that, and then nodded. Adam quit bullying him a week later, and his parents quit noticing him. Maybe Adam knew that hurt him more than any pain.

Of course, then again, Adam might’ve been doing it because he knew it would help John. John’s mind was flashing with new thoughts that he’d never had before.

“So are you in college John?” Adam asked as he took another shot.

“No. My parents never had enough money to send me there. I never paticularly wanted to do college anyway,” John said gloomfully.

Adam laughed, “John, you’re a fool. Anyone could tell you wanted to go college. You don’t want to be this average bastard you are. You want to be better than that.”

John started to say something, then stopped. This Adam man knew an awful lot.

“C’mon, John, follow me. I gotta show you something.”

John rose from his seat, and followed Adam. A tall stranger, full of mysteries. Yet, he trusted this man more than anyone else in his life. They walked out of the door, and continued down the street. It had gotten dark since he was in the bar. What time was it?

Then it got foggy. He couldn’t see anything. Where was he? He heard horns, he saw lights, and then nothing. He layed in the cold darkness, and was lost with his thoughts.

He began to think about the world. He began to see the world. He saw himself sitting on a throne- a king. He saw himself on the streets- a peasant. He saw himself everywhere, and nowhere. He was writing a book. The book. He was hung on a piece of wood.

He was the world. And the world was him.

He finally woke up, in a hospital. A stranger sat next to him, vaguely familiar.

“Adam?” John asked, his throat sore and could barely produce a noise.

“John? How are you feeling?”

“I’m... Perplexed.” John admitted.

“I’m sorry, John, I lied to you.”

“What do you mean?” John asked.

“I mean I lied to you. My name's not Adam. I didn’t recognize you- well I did, but not in the way you are thinking.”

“What are you talking about Adam?” John said, still unbelieving of what this man was saying. It seemed like he was telling the truth.

“I’m an Angel, John.”

“An Angel?” John asked. What was he talking about?

“Not the kind of Angel you’re thinking about...” Adam said, in a low voice.

“What...?” John asked, but it suddenly hit him. One of the things he saw when he was asleep.

“You’re... Satan?”

Adam nodded, slowly and sadly.

“What are you doing here? Why are you here looking for me?!” John asked, terrified.

“Do you know who God is, John?” Satan asked.

“Wha- What kind of crazy question is that? Of course I don’t- he’s not on Earth. He’s not a human. I’ve never even met a man aside from you who could possibly be God.”

“That’s not true, John. God is on Earth. He is a human. And he’s in this very room.”

John opened his mouth, and began gaping.

“I’m... God...?” John asked

Satan nodded, obviously sad, “I’m so sorry, John. So sorry. You’re God. This is your world. You created this, and then locked yourself into this world. I was put here to free you. To release you from your own mind.”

“What... I was never special at all!” John yelled, trying to disprove Satan.

“Thats what was so special about you. You would never have known. If I never crossed that bar by accident, if I never beat you as a child, you would have lived your life and died as a human, and you would have kept doing this over and over. Your world is created specifically for these few moments.”

“You’re crazy! Get out of my hospital room!” John yelled, but slowly his eyes were opening up. Truly openning up.

Satan stood up, and his coat flew off. Wings of bone shot out, his red flesh was there, horns upon his head. “This is all a figment of yourself, John,” he said, and walked out of the room.

John saw the world melt around him, and saw sand everywhere. He heard the ocean lapping the ground, he felt the breeze touch his face, he saw the sky above him. He was slowly forgetting the world he created. The average life. The memories. Everything was now just relying on this world. This world was him now. Empty. Alone.

*Just a note, I totally stole the idea from Mark Twain- The Mysterious Stranger. I'd like it if people just totally ripped this apart and told me everything I did wrong.*

title: John Swift

question: When did John start drinking?

answer: It is implied that he started drinking when he was a minor.

question: Why don't people notice John?

answer: John is not extraordinary in any way so people often do not notice him.

question: What is John's relation to God?

answer: John learns that he is God.

question: What is John's relationship with Adam?

answer: Adam used to bully John in elementary school. Now they meet and Adam tells John that John is God, and Adam is Satan who was supposed to free John.

question: What does the story say about John's friends?


split: test

text:
"What the hell is that?" I asked myself while staring in total disbelief at my phone. On it, a strange app called LifeScore displayed its home screen. Its logo was written in white font on a dark blue background. I ran my hand through my hair and felt the scar on the side of my head. I can't believe how lucky I am to have survived a brain tumor with a guarantee that it won't grow back. I tapped on Start and was greeted with a video in which a dark haired male, who I estimated to be in his late twenties to early thirties with impeccable features and dressed in a dark gray suit and trousers, white shirt and red tie, apparently described what I allegedly had installed on my phone.

"Welcome to the game of life. Now before you continue, watch this short video first. Have you ever wondered how well you measure up to your own standards and to those around you? Have you ever asked yourself how people really think and feel about you and get anxious at the mere thought that they actually don't like you at all? How many times have you asked your friends about a new acquaintance and if he or she can be trusted? If that sounds like you, don't worry. You are human after all, and definitely not the only person thinking about such things on a daily basis and, therefore, it is my mission as the messenger of truth to answer these questions.

Treat life as a game. If you have ever played video games before, you have encountered statistics of your scores at every level of the game. Life is very similar to that. You are currently at the first level, the physical one, where our powers are limited to what our bodies can achieve. There are still three levels ahead of you, supernatural presence, purgatory and judgment. Each come with their own challenges to overcome with the last being the deciding level whether you win or lose.

Level 1 revolves mainly around building relationships with other humans and walking the path to self actualization. You have reached the end of level 1 and this app will show you how well you have fared. Please note that your scores in this level will have an effect on the succeeding levels. If you scored low, you will have more difficulties from thereon.  You ask why you haven't received this game as a child to get better scores. The truth is that life is all about being yourself and preparation would lead to the results being less genuine.

I give you two days to review your scores and seek explanations to them as well as to prepare yourself for the next level. Whether you wish to wait or advance to level 2 immediately is at your discretion. You will no longer remember this app by that time. See you there. Good luck."

The video closed and my full name was displayed on the screen above a button reading "Score". I tap the button and the app instantly loads statistics that read "Relationships" under which were several categories like "Most Liked By" "Loved By" "Most Hated By" "Most Prolific Liar" "Talks Behind Your Back The Most" and "Secret Enemies Who Sabotaged Your Life" Below that is a self-assessment score that shows how much of these results have been my fault. Another page showed "Career" under which there were more categories, namely "Missed Opportunities" "Successes" and "Failures". Under that was another self-assessment score showing how much of the above could be attributed to me or to other people. The app listed names and occurrences that I have never shared on any social medium. It couldn't know such things. It must all be made up. Brian is my best friend, yet he hates me and talks behind my back to his buddies and dates Melissa who was supposed to be my date. And she hates me as well and only loves the free stuff that I buy for her. Lana, my unfriendly and irritable boss actually loves me? She insults me whenever she can. That's just ridiculous.

I swear by my mother's grave that I haven't downloaded such a pretentious and comically imperious...thing. This has to be a very elaborately created virus. Ha, but the guy is stupid enough to show his face. Being the tech savvy guy I am, I regularly check downloaded files and know if something uninvited is in there. After finding nothing on my phone and on Play Store as well, I turned to the internet. No such app could be found but there were lots of reports of people having received it. One of them, named Kevin McLeod, claimed that the statistics were true after talking to the people who secretly loved or hated him. He had a Facebook account and I sent him a message. Half an hour later came a reply.

"Hi James. Yes its all true. The accuracy is mind boggling. When did you get it?"

"About an hour ago. And you?"

"Yesterday at 7:45 in the morning. "

"What does it mean that I get to supernatural presence in two days?"

"Basically you die to roam the earth as a ghost."

"Hahaha"

"I know its funny. No one can predict when we die save for God or Satan himself."

"How did they get all the data then?"

"Technology is so far advanced that it's hard to understand how it works. Those people mentioned in your app may have shared something about you and their AI came to its conclusions. "

"Alright, I'll have to see how this thing works out. Thanks for chatting"

"No problem. See you"

I'm not really a believer in God or Satan. There has to be another explanation. I took a shower, ate breakfast, got into my car and drove to the office as if nothing happened. En route, I stopped by the local shopping mall to buy myself some snacks and drinks in preparation for the long working hours. When I went to the restroom I heard a familiar voice.

"James is such an idiot. He dates Melissa and thinks she loves him. Everyone but him knows that she only loves his money and that she comes to me every night to get horny. She wants a real man not some wimp who talks about shit no one gives a fuck about. He deserves it if you ask me." I decided to enter the restroom and Brian saw me. "Hey, James what's up?" Without answering his question I took a swing at him with my fist hitting his cheek with a satisfying clap. Brian stumbled backwards and other restroom users separated us to prevent a full blown fistfight. "You'll regret that, asshole!" Brian snarled and spat out a tooth and some blood.

At the office, I couldn't concentrate on work. The incident at the shopping mall still made its rounds in my head. Maybe those scores weren't made up after all. In comparison to Melissa, my boss, Lana, is an angel. The only unattractive thing about her is her demeanor. I got up from my desk and went to the door of Lana's office. I knocked softly. "Yes. Come in." I entered the office and was greeted with the usual cold stare.

"Make it quick."

"Boss, I have something to tell you. I don't mind if you'll fire me, I won't be able to change that. Ever since I have worked here, I have felt something for you and I can't hold it back now. I feel that I have to tell you because it has a negative impact on my productivity. "

The ice melted. For the first time since I have worked here, she smiled. Not a fake one but a genuinely sweet smile. She looked at me like a loyal puppy, nodded and said "Yes, I've felt it too. I'm sorry for treating you the way I did but I had to do it to keep the employees in line." "I understand. Would you like to have a coffee with me after work?" Her smile widened and she nodded. She is a thousand times prettier when she smiled. Her dark, flowing hair, gray eyes and ageless face accentuate her smile. I realized for the first time how pretty she actually was. Prettier than Melissa ever could have been.

Later that afternoon, when I was with Lana at a local cafe, I showed her LifeScore and asked her if there was a possibility that an AI could know things one keeps to himself. She has studied computer science so she must know. "It's impossible. The only way they can create a profile of you is if you voluntarily share something over a communication device, even if its in a private call, SMS or chat. This is very strange considering that I haven't told anyone that I had feelings for you". "I wouldn't have guessed either" I replied and she laughed, playfully slapping my arm.

I woke up in the middle of the night and quietly got out of bed careful not to wake Lana up. I sat at my desk, turned my laptop on and opened Facebook. Kevin McLeod was online so I sent him a message.

"Hi. It's true what you've said this morning. I'm really thankful to receive the truth."

"That's great"

"Do you believe in God or Satan?"

"Yes. Why do you ask?"

"I'm starting to believe as well. I'm not a believer but I just can't explain what has happened today. "

"Faith fills the gap between the truth and the limit of our knowledge, my friend"

"I guess so. What is your theory on this LifeScore app?"

"If we're to die in two days as promised, it is a ploy by Lucifer to get more souls. We are given those scores in order to judge the people mentioned in them, to harm them if they hate us. We are not supposed to judge others. Only God can do that. When we judge, we commit the deadly sin of pride, thus, giving Lucifer a valid reason to send us to hell. I've asked some people mentioned in the app about their feelings. They haven't shared them. This has nothing to do with technology anymore. This app is supernatural. No human can create an untraceable app, let alone discover deeply held secrets that we're supposed to take to our graves. Have you watched the news recently?"

"No."

"All people complaining about LifeScore died. They just collapsed because of an aneurysm or something if they didn't kill themselves first. I know it's my turn tomorrow."

"Don't be afraid"

"I'm not, believe me. I won't be dying. I haven't judged the people on my stats."

"Alright then. Good luck and I hope to chat again."

"Sure. No problem. Good night"

The next morning, I woke up on an empty bed. Lana left early but left a note beside me. "See you at the office. Pretend like nothing happened. I love you XOXO" Later at the office, I opened Facebook and sent a message to Kevin. "Hey what's up?" He wasn't answering despite being online. I went to the cafeteria and ordered a coffee and a bagel. The attendant turned on the television and switched to the local news. "...terrible vehicular accident at 7:45 this morning. 32 year old Kevin McLeod from Chicago, Illinois apparently fell asleep behind the wheel of his black Toyota Corolla. The vehicle unexpectedly changed lanes and frontally collided with a semi-trailer truck at high speed, killing McLeod instantly. In other news, brain tumor surgeries have reached an all time high since five years ago..." Shocked and in total disbelief I went back to my cubicle. ...*claimed the statistics were true after talking to the people who secretly loved or hated him.* He did judge them. So did I. I'm as condemned as he was to burn in hell.

I left work early today, drawing a concerned look from Lana who sensed that something was wrong. I told her that I needed some time to think and she secretly gave me a day off. I went to my apartment building, greeted the receptionist as always and, in absentmindedness slipped on the newly wiped stairs in the lobby. My vision spun as I tumbled down the steps before a sharp pain on the side of my head plunged everything into darkness.

My eyes fluttered open and noticed a shape in front of me. Dark, flowing hair. Lana. She was sitting on the bed. As my eyes adjusted to the surroundings and my vision became clearer, I saw the smile that I had missed for so long. Tears were in her eyes. "Welcome back" she whispered. I mustered a smile as well. "How long have I been here?" "It's been three days". Wow, I didn't die. Divine intervention I guess. She ran her hand through her hair and over the scar on the side of her head. "What happened?" "Oh that? I had a brain tumor a couple of years ago. I got lucky." I suddenly had a flashback of Brian while we played basketball. He fell and hit his head and was bleeding badly. I treated his wound. The scar on the side of his head. I have one too. They all look identical and are on the exact same spot. No, I never had a tumor. "Lana, have a CT scan performed on you. Please trust me."

*"They removed the chip. He was supposed to be terminated tomorrow. Call the boss."*

*"Goddammit, I knew we'll be busted sooner or later. The boss should have waited until the MindVision project was perfected. All those deaths are unnecessary, we could selectively wipe memories instead of detonating micro charges."*

"*The network isn't stable enough to keep the app running on our servers for more than two days before the chip fails. We can't risk exposure. Call the boss."*

*"Sir, we have a situation. Subject no. 225, James Saunders, had an accident today. He fell down a flight of stairs and suffered a concussion. The doctors found the chip during the CT scan and removed it. "*

"*Is he still alive?"*

*"Yes."*

*"Send someone to take care of him and the doctor who found the chip. Retrieve the chip and bring it back. Prepare to shut the program down."*

*"Consider it done, sir."*

"I can't believe it. How could anyone do such a thing?" Lana said in disbelief while staring at the shiny metallic pellet, not much larger than a grain of rice. "Mars Industries" was engraved in tiny letters on the side. A male nurse came in and changed the IV bag. Shortly thereafter, hospital security barged in and tackled him to the ground. "Sorry for the disturbance but he isn't who he's supposed to be." "What happened?" "He killed two people. The nurse whom this ID and uniform belonged to and Dr. Strauss, who performed surgery on both of you. I guess you were supposed to be next." I thanked him for saving our lives. He nodded and dragged a handcuffed hitman out of the room.

"I guess this is the beginning then" Lana joked. "Let's say a rebirth instead".

Mars Industries. Your days are numbered.

title: [MS] Life Statistics

question: What is the twist of the story?

answer: The twist is that the LifeScore app is directly connected to a chip that was implanted in James' brain, and the narrator never had a tumor like he thought he did. In fact, the procedure that he underwent that was "to remove the tumor" was to insert the chip that was found when he suffered a concussion. Mars Industries is the company behind the chips and the app, and due to some shortcomings in the technology, the company wasn't able to see their MindVision project to fruition, which is why many people, including Kevin McLeod, died.

question: Summarize Kevin McLeod's theory about LifeScore.

answer: Kevin believes that the LifeScore application is supernatural, and is a ploy by Lucifer to gain more souls. The users of the app were given the scores of all their personal relationships as a test to see if they would judge those that were scored. If they did judge, then they would be guilty of the sin of pride, giving Lucifer a reason to send them to hell.

question: Summarize the positive events that happen in the story.

answer: James asks Lana, his boss how she actually feels about him, and reveals that she has strong feelings for him. They end up getting together. James then survives the attempted deactivation of his Mars Industries brain chip when it is surgically removed after James gets a concussion and CT scan. The hospital security then saves James' life once again when it is discovered that the male nurse that is treating him is an imposter.

question: Summarize the condition of the global economy in the story.


text:
LOGAN COUNTY is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 763.[1] Its county seat is Stapleton.[2]

Logan County is part of the North Platte, NE Micropolitan Statistical Area.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Logan County is represented by the prefix 87 (it had the eighty-seventh-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

History

Logan County was formed in 1885. It was named for Civil War General John A. Logan.[3]

The first railroad was built through Logan County in 1911.[4]

Geography

The terrain of Logan County consists of low corrugated flatland, sparsely used for agricultural purposes at present. The ground slopes to the east-northeast,[5] with precipitation runoff making its way to the Dismal River north of Logan County.[6] The county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.08%) is water.[7]

Major highways

-   [] U.S. Highway 83
-   [] Nebraska Highway 92

Adjacent counties

-   Thomas County - north
-   Blaine County - northeast
-   Custer County - east
-   Lincoln County - south
-   McPherson County - west

Demographics

As of the 2000 United States Census,[8] there 774 people, 316 households, and 229 families residing in the county. The population density was 1 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 386 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.58% White, 0.13% Black or African American, 1.03% Native American, and 0.26% from two or more races. 0.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 316 households, out of which 29.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.50% were married couples living together, 3.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.95.

The county population contained 27.30% under the age of 18, 4.40% from 18 to 24, 24.00% from 25 to 44, 26.70% from 45 to 64, and 17.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,125, and the median income for a family was $38,958. Males had a median income of $26,250 versus $18,906 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,937. About 6.50% of families and 10.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.10% of those under age 18 and 9.60% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

-   Gandy
-   Hoagland
-   Logan
-   Stapleton (county seat)

Politics

Logan County voters have been reliably Republican for many decades. In only one national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2016).

  Year                               Republican                                Democratic                                Third Parties
  ---------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------
  style=“text-align:center;” |2016   style=“text-align:center;” |88.3% _400_   style=“text-align:center;” |7.1% _32_     4.6% _21_
  style=“text-align:center;” |2012   style=“text-align:center;” |82.6% _356_   style=“text-align:center;” |15.8% _68_    1.6% _7_
  style=“text-align:center;” |2008   style=“text-align:center;” |78.6% _327_   style=“text-align:center;” |19.5% _81_    1.9% _8_
  style=“text-align:center;” |2004   style=“text-align:center;” |83.2% _357_   style=“text-align:center;” |15.6% _67_    1.2% _5_
  style=“text-align:center;” |2000   style=“text-align:center;” |81.6% _336_   style=“text-align:center;” |14.6% _60_    3.9% _16_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1996   style=“text-align:center;” |65.6% _294_   style=“text-align:center;” |17.6% _79_    16.7% _75_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1992   style=“text-align:center;” |60.1% _271_   style=“text-align:center;” |17.7% _80_    22.2% _100_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1988   style=“text-align:center;” |79.7% _373_   style=“text-align:center;” |19.9% _93_    0.4% _2_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1984   style=“text-align:center;” |86.8% _446_   style=“text-align:center;” |13.0% _67_    0.2% _1_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1980   style=“text-align:center;” |82.5% _442_   style=“text-align:center;” |13.3% _71_    4.3% _23_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1976   style=“text-align:center;” |57.3% _283_   style=“text-align:center;” |39.7% _196_   3.0% _15_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1972   style=“text-align:center;” |81.4% _320_   style=“text-align:center;” |18.6% _73_    style="text-align:center;|
  style=“text-align:center;” |1968   style=“text-align:center;” |66.4% _363_   style=“text-align:center;” |23.8% _130_   9.9% _54_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1964   style=“text-align:center;” |47.4% _267_   style=“text-align:center;” |52.6% _296_   style="text-align:center;|
  style=“text-align:center;” |1960   style=“text-align:center;” |70.6% _391_   style=“text-align:center;” |29.4% _163_   style="text-align:center;|
  style=“text-align:center;” |1956   style=“text-align:center;” |71.3% _367_   style=“text-align:center;” |28.7% _148_   style="text-align:center;|
  style=“text-align:center;” |1952   style=“text-align:center;” |74.1% _447_   style=“text-align:center;” |25.9% _156_   style="text-align:center;|
  style=“text-align:center;” |1948   style=“text-align:center;” |52.2% _254_   style=“text-align:center;” |47.8% _233_   style="text-align:center;|
  style=“text-align:center;” |1944   style=“text-align:center;” |64.8% _450_   style=“text-align:center;” |35.2% _244_   style="text-align:center;|
  style=“text-align:center;” |1940   style=“text-align:center;” |60.5% _498_   style=“text-align:center;” |39.5% _325_   style="text-align:center;|
  style=“text-align:center;” |1936   style=“text-align:center;” |46.9% _410_   style=“text-align:center;” |52.2% _456_   0.9% _8_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1932   style=“text-align:center;” |37.3% _346_   style=“text-align:center;” |60.8% _564_   1.8% _17_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1928   style=“text-align:center;” |74.4% _595_   style=“text-align:center;” |24.4% _195_   1.3% _10_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1924   style=“text-align:center;” |40.6% _277_   style=“text-align:center;” |24.2% _165_   35.3% _241_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1920   style=“text-align:center;” |57.8% _312_   style=“text-align:center;” |33.3% _180_   8.9% _48_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1916   style=“text-align:center;” |35.1% _172_   style=“text-align:center;” |57.8% _283_   7.1% _35_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1912   style=“text-align:center;” |25.3% _97_    style=“text-align:center;” |40.0% _153_   34.7% _133_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1908   style=“text-align:center;” |44.7% _140_   style=“text-align:center;” |49.5% _155_   5.8% _18_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1904   style=“text-align:center;” |55.6% _100_   style=“text-align:center;” |12.2% _22_    32.2% _58_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1900   style=“text-align:center;” |49.8% _107_   style=“text-align:center;” |47.4% _102_   2.8% _6_

  : PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS RESULTS[9]

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[2]

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[5] Google Maps w AGL (accessed 23 January 2019)

[6] [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Logan+County,+NE/@41.4635378,-100.8875622,9z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x879d795cb822e4e3:0x750b43b8baf75ec4!8m2!3d41.5155698!4d-100.5296115 _Logan County NE_ Google Maps (accessed 23 January 2019)]

[7]

[8]

[9] Election Results

title: Logan County, Nebraska

question: What is the reason behind the county being less populated?

answer: This information can't be found.

question: Explain the reason behind the county's name.

answer: The county is named after Civil War General John A. Logan.

question: What is a major source of revenue for the population?

answer: This information can't be found.

question: What made the county select a Democratic Party candidate?

answer: This information can't be found.


text:
MOORE COUNTY is a county located in the south central part of the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2010 census, the population was 6,362,[1] making it the third-least populous county in Tennessee. It forms a consolidated city-county government with its county seat of Lynchburg.[2]

With , it is the second-smallest county in Tennessee, behind only Trousdale. The county was created in 1871, during the Reconstruction era.[3][4] Moore County is part of the Tullahoma-Manchester, TN Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Moore County was established in 1871 from parts of Lincoln, Bedford and Franklin counties, and named in honor of General William Moore, an early settler and long-time member of the state legislature.[5] The new county originally contained about 300 square miles, but Lincoln County sued and successfully reclaimed a portion of its land, reducing the new county's size.[6]

Beginning in the 1820s, whiskey distilleries were developed in what is now Moore County. By 1875, fifteen distilleries were operating in the county. At the end of the 20th century, the Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg was a major employer and the county's primary source of revenue.[7]

Because of the small size of this county, in the late 20th century city and county officials began to discuss creating a consolidated government in order to lower costs and improve services. In 1988, the Metropolitan Government of Lynchburg, Moore County, Tennessee was voted into law as the governing body of Moore County, including Lynchburg.[8][9]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which are land and (0.9%) are water.[10] It is the second-smallest county in Tennessee by area. The county is located partially on the rugged Highland Rim and partially in the flatter Nashville Basin.[11]

Adjacent counties

-   Coffee County (northeast)
-   Franklin County (southeast)
-   Lincoln County (southwest)
-   Bedford County (northwest)

Protected area

-   Tims Ford Lake

Demographics

As of the census[12] of 2010, there were 6,362 people, 2,492 households, and 1,841 families residing in the county. There were 2,492 occupied housing units. The racial makeup of the county was 95.4% White, 2.3% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. 1.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,492 households, out of which 27% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.8% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older, male or female. The average household size was 2.51, and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.2% under the age of 20, 14.8% from 20 to 34, 20.5% from 35 to 49, 22.1% from 50 to 64, and 18.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.3 years.

Per 2000 Census data, the median income for a household in the county was $36,591, and the median income for a family was $41,484. Males had a median income of $31,559 versus $20,987 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,040. 9.6% of the population, and 7.8% of families were below the poverty line. 11.7% were under the age of 18, and 12.1% were 65 or older.

Economy

Moore County is the location of the Jack Daniel Distillery, whose famous brand of Tennessee whiskey is marketed worldwide. Despite the distillery, Moore is a dry county.[13] This status dates to the passage of state prohibition laws in the early 20th century.

While federal prohibition ended in 1933 with the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment, state prohibition laws remain in effect. All Tennessee counties are dry by default, though any county can become “wet” by passing a county-wide “local option” referendum. Moore County has yet to pass such a referendum.[14]

Education

Schools in Moore County are a part of Moore County Schools, overseen by The Moore County Department of Education:[15]

-   Lynchburg Elementary School - grades PreK–6
-   Moore County High School - grades 7–12

Motlow State Community College is located in northern part of Moore County.

Politics

  Year                               Republican                                  Democratic                                  Third Parties
  ---------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- ----------------------------
  style=“text-align:center;” |2016   style=“text-align:center;” |79.5% _2,325_   style=“text-align:center;” |17.0% _496_     3.6% _105_
  style=“text-align:center;” |2012   style=“text-align:center;” |73.4% _2,053_   style=“text-align:center;” |25.2% _705_     1.5% _41_
  style=“text-align:center;” |2008   style=“text-align:center;” |68.1% _2,010_   style=“text-align:center;” |29.8% _881_     2.1% _61_
  style=“text-align:center;” |2004   style=“text-align:center;” |60.1% _1,668_   style=“text-align:center;” |39.1% _1,084_   0.8% _22_
  style=“text-align:center;” |2000   style=“text-align:center;” |49.8% _1,145_   style=“text-align:center;” |48.1% _1,107_   2.1% _49_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1996   style=“text-align:center;” |42.7% _846_     style=“text-align:center;” |47.2% _935_     10.1% _199_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1992   style=“text-align:center;” |30.8% _661_     style=“text-align:center;” |53.7% _1,151_   15.5% _333_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1988   style=“text-align:center;” |51.4% _786_     style=“text-align:center;” |47.8% _731_     0.9% _13_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1984   style=“text-align:center;” |51.4% _863_     style=“text-align:center;” |48.1% _808_     0.5% _9_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1980   style=“text-align:center;” |34.6% _551_     style=“text-align:center;” |62.3% _993_     3.2% _51_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1976   style=“text-align:center;” |22.9% _331_     style=“text-align:center;” |76.0% _1,101_   1.1% _16_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1972   style=“text-align:center;” |61.0% _608_     style=“text-align:center;” |35.7% _356_     3.2% _32_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1968   style=“text-align:center;” |15.7% _224_     style=“text-align:center;” |24.3% _346_     60.0% _856_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1964   style=“text-align:center;” |20.3% _264_     style=“text-align:center;” |79.7% _1,034_   style="text-align:center;|
  style=“text-align:center;” |1960   style=“text-align:center;” |26.4% _313_     style=“text-align:center;” |72.7% _863_     0.9% _11_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1956   style=“text-align:center;” |23.1% _270_     style=“text-align:center;” |76.5% _893_     0.3% _4_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1952   style=“text-align:center;” |30.0% _354_     style=“text-align:center;” |70.0% _826_     style="text-align:center;|
  style=“text-align:center;” |1948   style=“text-align:center;” |12.3% _102_     style=“text-align:center;” |62.9% _523_     24.8% _206_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1944   style=“text-align:center;” |16.2% _143_     style=“text-align:center;” |83.8% _742_     style="text-align:center;|
  style=“text-align:center;” |1940   style=“text-align:center;” |10.8% _106_     style=“text-align:center;” |88.5% _869_     0.7% _7_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1936   style=“text-align:center;” |12.2% _101_     style=“text-align:center;” |87.2% _719_     0.6% _5_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1932   style=“text-align:center;” |6.5% _65_       style=“text-align:center;” |92.7% _923_     0.8% _8_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1928   style=“text-align:center;” |23.3% _133_     style=“text-align:center;” |75.5% _431_     1.2% _7_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1924   style=“text-align:center;” |7.6% _41_       style=“text-align:center;” |91.6% _492_     0.7% _4_
  style=“text-align:center;” |1920   style=“text-align:center;” |15.3% _90_      style=“text-align:center;” |84.7% _497_     style="text-align:center;|
  style=“text-align:center;” |1916   style=“text-align:center;” |9.0% _71_       style=“text-align:center;” |91.1% _722_     style="text-align:center;|
  style=“text-align:center;” |1912   style=“text-align:center;” |14.1% _116_     style=“text-align:center;” |84.4% _694_     1.5% _12_

  : PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS RESULTS[16]

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[14] “Jack Daniel Distillery,” _Moore County News_. Retrieved: 28 October 2013.

[15]

[16]

title: Moore County, Tennessee

question: Summarize the history of Moore County.

answer: Moore County was established in 1871 from parts of Lincoln, Bedford, and Franklin counties. Whiskey distilleries started developing in the county and soon became a major employer and the county's primary source of revenue.

question: What is the state of the land under the county?

answer: The county has is partially on the rugged Highland Rim and partially on the flatter Nashville Basin.

question: Summarize the economy of the county.

answer: The county is the location of the Jack Daniel Distillery. While the county itself is dry, it can become a wet county by passing a county-wide local option referendum.


text:
The US military's 2020 Baghdad International Airport airstrike, which killed the high-level Iranian General and IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani in Iraq, brought strong reactions from around the world. Some governments (e.g. Brazil's) welcomed the killing, while some (e.g. China's) condemned it. Most (including Australia) called for restraint and diplomacy.

United Nations

A BBC article on 9 July 2020, has a link to the Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions (5 June – 3 July 2020) which states:

  “Accordingly, in light of the evidence that the US has provided to date, the targeting of General Soleimani, and the deaths of those accompanying him, constitute an arbitrary killing for which, under IHRL, the US is responsible. The strike was in violation of Art. 2(4) of the UN Charter with insufficient evidence provided of an ongoing or imminent attack. No evidence has been provided that General Soleimani specifically was planning an imminent attack against US interests, particularly in Iraq, for which immediate action was necessary and would have been justified. No evidence has been provided that a drone strike in a third country was necessary or that the harm caused to that country was proportionate to the harm allegedly averted. While there is information suggesting that the US requested, at least in December 2019, that Iraq take action against Kata'ib Hezbollah, no evidence has been provided that Iraq was consulted on how to alleviate any threats posed to the US arising from the visit of General Soleimani, such that Iraq should bear the burden of addressing those threats. No evidence has been produced that there was no time for the US to seek aid from the international community, including the UNSC, in addressing the alleged imminent threats. Major General Soleimani was in charge of Iran military strategy, and actions, in Syria and Iraq. But absent an actual imminent threat to life, the course of action taken by the US was unlawful.”[1][2]

Iran

[An Iranian social media post calling for severe revenge.]

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei declared three days of mourning,[3] and vowed to take “harsh revenge” against the U.S.[4][5][6]

President Hassan Rouhani also said that Iran “will take revenge”.[7]

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif posted on Twitter that the attack was “an extremely dangerous and foolish escalation” and released a statement saying that “the brutality and stupidity of American terrorist forces in assassinating Commander Soleimani... will undoubtedly make the tree of resistance in the region and the world more prosperous.”[8]

Majid Takht-Ravanchi, the Permanent Representative of Iran to the United Nations, wrote in an official letter to the United Nations Security Council and Secretary-General António Guterres: “by any measure, is an obvious example of State terrorism and, as a criminal act, constitutes a gross violation of the fundamental principles of international law, including, in particular, those stipulated in the Charter of the United Nations”.[9]

Minister of Information and Communications Technology Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi compared Trump to ISIL, Hitler, and Genghis Khan, also calling him a “terrorist in a suit.”[10]

Former IRGC commander Mohsen Rezaee posted that “[Soleimani] joined his martyred brothers, but we will take vigorous revenge on America.”[11] Soleimani's daughter Zeinab Soleimani said during her father's funeral that “the families of the American soldiers in western Asia will spend their days waiting for the death of their children.”[12] thumb|right|upright=0.9|start=00:05|thumbtime=00:42|Red flag hoisted on Jamkaran Mosque. Video from FARS News Agency.

On 4 January, a red flag unfurled above the dome of Jamkaran Mosque in response to the airstrike, that according to _Washington Examiner_, symbolizes vengeance.[13] While being broadcast on Iran's Channel One, the eulogist at Soleimani's funeral procession addressed a crowd during processions at Mashhad and called for a bounty of US$80 million (roughly US$1 for every Iranian citizen) to be placed on Donald Trump.[14][15]

On 7 January, Iran's parliament approved a €200 million increase in the Quds Force's budget, to be used in two months.[16] Iran's parliament also voted to declare the United States Armed Forces to be a terrorist organization.[17]

On 8 January, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani praised Qasem Soleimani's merits on fighting ISIS, al-Nusra and al-Qaeda and announced, Iran's “final answer to his assassination will be to kick all US forces out of the region”.[18]

Iraq

Outgoing Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi condemned the attack, calling it an assassination and stating that the strike was an act of aggression and a breach of Iraqi sovereignty which would lead to war in Iraq. He said the strike violated the agreement on the presence of U.S. forces in Iraq and that safeguards for Iraq's security and sovereignty should be met with legislation.[19] The media office of the Iraqi military's joint operations forces posted a photo of a destroyed vehicle on fire after the attack.[20] The speaker of Iraq's parliament Mohammed al Halbousi vowed to “put an end to U.S. presence” in Iraq.[21] On January 5 in reaction to the airstrikes the Iraqi parliament passed a bill calling for the expulsion of US troops from the country.[22]

Muqtada al-Sadr, leader of the Sadrist Movement and the Saraya al-Salam militia, ordered his followers to “prepare to defend Iraq”.[23] He later called for ceasefire.[24]

Despite the leaders opposing the airstrike, many Iraqis who are against the PMF celebrated the airstrikes.[25]

After the Iranian missile attack on U.S. forces in Iraq, Iran-backed Iraqi militia commander Qais Khazali said that Iran had made its initial response for the United States killing its top general, and it was now time for Iraq to give its initial response to the assassination of Popular Mobilization Forces's deputy commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.[26]

On 24 January, several hundred thousand Iraqis protested against U.S. military presence in Iraq and called for them to leave the country after Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr called for a “Million Man March.” Iraqi President Barham Salih tweeted, “Iraqis insist on a state with complete sovereignty that will not be breached.”[27]

United States

[U.S. President Donald Trump delivers prepared remarks on the airstrikes, Mar-a-Lago, 3 January 2020.]

President Trump tweeted pictures of the American flag shortly before the United States confirmed its responsibility for the attacks, at 3:00a.m. GMT on 3 January 2020 (6:00 am in Baghdad).[28] In a subsequent public statement he said he had authorized the strike because Soleimani was plotting “imminent and sinister attacks” on Americans. He added, “We took action last night to stop a war. We did not take action to start a war.”[29] He also said that he did not seek a regime change in Iran.[30] On 4 January, Trump tweeted that 52 Iranian targets (representing the 52 American hostages in the 1979–1981 Iran hostage crisis) had been selected if Iran “strikes any Americans, or American assets”.[31][32] In the same tweet, Trump also mentioned targeting Iranian “cultural sites”, an act that would constitute a violation of international law under the Hague Convention, but not if used by Iran as cover for weapons that could target U.S. interests.[33] Trump insisted he would not hesitate to destroy such targets even after some said it could be considered a war crime.[34]

On the day of the strike, U.S. secretary of state Mike Pompeo asserted the attack was ordered by Trump to disrupt an “imminent attack” by Soleimani operatives, although subsequent reports on that rationale were mixed.[35][36][37][38] After the strike, Pompeo tweeted a video he said showed Iraqis celebrating Soleimani's death on the streets of Baghdad, although the video showed no more than 40 individuals among a crowd of thousands and the minor demonstration ended within two minutes.[39] In a tweet, former National Security Advisor John Bolton called the airstrike “a long in the making, decisive blow against Iran's malign Quds Force activities worldwide... Hope this is the first step to regime change in Tehran.”[40] Vice President Mike Pence claimed without evidence that Soleimani was involved in the 9/11 attacks.[41][42][43]

When asked about the possible responses that Iran could take to this action, former Deputy Secretary of Defense Michael Mulroy said that the IRGC Quds Force has a worldwide reach and that targets would include American civilians, and that Iraq might decide to expel U.S. forces in their country.[44] Former Defense Secretary and CIA Director Leon Panetta warned that the U.S. is closer to war with Iran than at any time in the last 40 years.[45]

The question of characterizing the attack as “murder”, “assassination”, “act of war”, or something else is controversial.[46][47] It was described as a wag the dog incident,[48] parallel to the bombing of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Sudan by president Bill Clinton during his own impeachment process,[49] which had itself been seen as reminiscent of the contemporaneous film'' Wag the Dog''.[50] In 2011 and 2012, Trump asserted that President Obama would start a war with Iran to improve his reelection chances.[51][52]

According to a Facebook spokesperson, Instagram and its parent company Facebook are picking up posts “that voice support for slain Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani to comply with US sanctions”.[53]

In an article in the Middle East Institute, former Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary for the Middle East Michael Patrick Mulroy and retired Navy SEAL Eric Oehlerich state that the targeted killing of Qassem Soleimani was justified and long overdue because he was an enemy combatant who orchestrated a lethal campaign against U.S. military, diplomats and intelligence officers in Iraq. However, they also made the point that the U.S. should have targeted Soleimani's subordinates to disrupt their operations and that covert authorities should've been considered for deniability and to potentially avoid an all-out regional war.[54]

Domestic U.S. political reactions

[Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell addresses the U.S. Senate, 3 January 2020] [Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer addresses the U.S. Senate, 3 January 2020]

American politicians reacted along party lines. Republicans generally supported the mission, while Democrats blamed Soleimani “for the deaths of hundreds of American servicemen during the Iraq war” but questioned the wisdom, timing, and motivation for the attack.[55]

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell celebrated the attack, referring to Soleimani as “Iran's master terrorist”.[56] House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi referred to the attacks as “provocative and disproportionate”, and introduced a “war powers resolution” requiring Trump's administration to end hostilities with Iran not approved by Congress within 30 days.[57]

All the Democratic candidates for the 2020 U.S. presidential election, political challengers to Trump, largely condemned the airstrike. Former Vice President Joe Biden warned of further escalation and said that Trump “just tossed a stick of dynamite into a tinderbox”.[58] Senator Bernie Sanders said that “Trump's dangerous escalation brings us closer to another disastrous war in the Middle East that could cost countless lives and trillions more dollars.”[59] Senator Elizabeth Warren described the attack as wag the dog, an attempt by Trump to distract from the impeachment process through an act of war.[60] South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg said the Trump administration must plan for possible consequences before taking action, must ensure its action is supported by its allies, and must take only actions that will benefit U.S. national interests and stability in the region.[61] Representative Tulsi Gabbard called the airstrike an act of war by President Trump and a violation of the U.S. Constitution, arguing that the president does not have Congressional authorization for this act.[62] At the seventh Democratic Party presidential debate hosted by CNN and the _Des Moines Register_ at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, the candidates Bernie Sanders, Tom Steyer, and Pete Buttigieg favored a complete U.S. disengagement from the region, while Joe Biden and Amy Klobuchar defended retaining special forces in Iraq.[63] Meanwhile, President Trump has used the killing of Soleimani to promote his reelection campaign, praising the action at rallies in Toledo and Milwaukee.[64][65]

Sanders, along with Representative Ro Khanna, announced that they would be introducing legislation to prevent the use of Pentagon funding for military action in Iran without Congressional approval.[66] Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees, said, “Congress must act to stop President Trump from entangling America in yet another unnecessary war in the Middle East.”[67] In June 2019, Kaine had introduced a resolution to require Congressional authorization before going to war with Iran,[68] and on 3 January 2020 he introduced a similar resolution.[69] Kaine's counterpart, Mark Warner (D-VA) said it is not clear that the Trump administration has a clear plan to prevent another endless war in the Middle East.[70]

Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) criticized the airstrikes, saying that it will increase tensions between the two countries.[71] Fox News's Tucker Carlson criticized the killing and “chest-beaters” who promote foreign interventions, particularly Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE). He asked, “By the way, if we're still in Afghanistan, 19 years, sad years, later, what makes us think there's a quick way out of Iran?”[72]

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio expressed strong concerns about potential retaliatory strikes,[73] putting the police department on high alert, including the potential of bag checks at subway stations and vehicle checks at tunnels and bridges.[74] Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington, D.C. said she did not see any immediate threats, but she reminded citizens to report any suspicious activities.[75]

President of the Council on Foreign Relations, Richard Haass, called the airstrike potentially “the most significant development” in the region since the Iraq War, and called for the U.S. to prepare for an Iranian retaliation.[76] Oona A. Hathaway, a professor of international law at Yale Law School, evaluated the various legal justifications the Trump Administration gave for the airstrike, compared the attack with similar events of the past and concluded that, “the Soleimani strike defied the U.S. Constitution. If Congress fails to respond effectively, the constitutional order will be broken beyond repair, and the president will be left with the unmitigated power to take the country to war on his own—anywhere, anytime, for any reason.”[77]

Medea Benjamin (the founder of anti-war advocacy group Code Pink) and Hillary Mann Leverett (a political risk consultant and former director of Iran affairs at the White House's National Security Council) called the assassination of Soleimani “flatly illegal”.[78][79]

Congressional resolution to limit Trump's war powers

Some members of the United States Congress, which generally was not consulted or briefed before the Soleimani strike, sought to restrict the president's ability to conduct future military operations against Iran without congressional consent. On 6January 2020, House Speaker Pelosi announced plans to hold a vote within the week on limiting President Trump's war powers concerning Iran.[80] On 8January 2020, Pelosi announced that a vote will be held by the entire U.S. House of Representatives on 9January to limit President Trump's war powers concerning any future escalation of conflict with Iran.[81][82][83] The House Rules Committee cleared the way for a full House vote by approving parameters which set up a two-hour debate on 9January.[84] The House vote is considered significant, as the U.S. Constitution provides that while the president may use the military to defend the country, any declaration of war must be approved by Congress.[85] Trump criticized the effort, arguing that congressional approval should not be needed to militarily engage Iran “because you have to be able to make split-second decisions sometimes.”[86]

On 9 January 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives considered the measure and eventually voted 224–194 to approve it. White House Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley criticized the resolution's passage, calling it “just another political move” and an attempt to “hinder the President's authority to protect America and our interests in the region...” It was unclear if the resolution was binding or non-binding and whether the Senate would ultimately approve it; House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy called it a “meaningless vote” while Democrats insisted it sent a strong message that Trump must work with Congress on national security.[87][88][89]

The constitutionality of the resolution is unclear since the U.S. Supreme Court limited legislative veto with the _Immigration and Naturalization Service v. Chadha_ decision in 1983 in a majority opinion written by Chief Justice Warren E. Burger. Defense Secretary Esper argued that the President has full authority to attack Iran in response to attacks by Iraqi proxy militias under the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq and Article II of the Constitution, and has discouraged Congress from adopting the resolution.[90][91]

On 13 February, the U.S. Senate voted 55–45 to constrain Trump's ability to wage war on Iran without congressional approval. The bipartisan vote for the Iran War Powers Resolution included eight Republican senators. Trump threatened to veto the resolution.[92]

On 14 February, in an unclassified memorandum[93] to Congress, the Trump administration said it was authorised under both the Constitution and the 2002 Authorisation of Use of Military Force Against Iraq. The Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Engel said “The 2002 authorisation was passed to deal with Saddam Hussein. This law had nothing to do with Iran or Iranian government officials in Iraq. To suggest that 18 years later this authorization could justify killing an Iranian official stretches the law far beyond anything Congress ever intended,” adding that he “looked forward” to Pompeo testifying in a February 28 hearing.[94]

U.S. general public

[An anti-war protest in Washington, D.C., 4 January 2020]

Characterization of the attack as “murder”, “assassination”, or an “act of war”, led to some controversy and debate.[95][96] Jan Goldman of The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, a leading expert on the role of ethics in intelligence operations, argues that the attack meets the criteria for “assassination”, adding that “killing anyone on foreign soil that is not a battlefield could be considered unethical”.[97] Peter Singer, Australian moral philosopher and professor of bioethics at Princeton University, concluded that if the attack counts as an act of war, then Trump did not have the authority to order it, otherwise, “as an extrajudicial assassination that was not necessary to prevent an imminent attack, it was both illegal and unethical”.[98]

Anti-war rallies in more than 30 U.S. cities were set by Code Pink and the ANSWER Coalition for Saturday night, 4 January, asking the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.[99] Thousands marched in 70 cities across the country.[100]

The hashtags #WorldWarIII and #WWIII trended on social media, along with concerns that the military draft might be reinstated.[101] Many Internet memes on the topic became popular on sites such as Twitter and TikTok.[102] The U.S. Selective Service System website crashed with many looking for information on draft requirements and exemptions. The agency attributed the crash to “the spread of misinformation”.[103][104]

Members of Catholic communities in the United States particularly raised concerns about its morality.[105][106] Sojourners Community leader Jim Wallis called the attack “not justifiable” and “immoral”.[107]

Actors Rose McGowan and John Cusack had criticized Trump's airstrike, with McGowan describing Americans as “being held hostage by a terrorist regime… Please do not kill us,” while Cusack's remarks said Trump was in “full fascist 101 mode.”[108] Documentary film director Michael Moore opposed the strike.[109]

Global reactions

[Stop the war protest in London on 4 January]

Supranational

-   temporarily suspended its training mission in Iraq on 4 January. A spokesperson said in an emailed statement, “The safety of our personnel in Iraq is paramount. We continue to take all precautions necessary.”[110] After a NATO meeting on 6 January, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that “all members of the Atlantic alliance stood behind the United States in the Middle East” and that “Iran must refrain from further violence and provocations.”[111]

-   Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern over the escalation and called for leaders to “exercise maximum restraint”.[112]

G20 states

-   The government said they “were worried about the escalating situation in the Middle East”. It also said the Argentine people acknowledges terrorism ever since suffering two terrorist attacks in the past (the Israeli embassy attack and AMIA bombing), and urged all parties to diplomacy and restraint.[113] On 4 January 2020, Argentine President Alberto Fernández ordered the armed forces to secure the borders and reinforced security at the main airports, the American airliners and the U.S. embassy in response to the operation.[114]

-   Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he was concerned over the events and calls for calm and de-escalation in the region.[115]

-   's president Jair Bolsonaro said he supports any “initiative against terrorism”, also reaffirmed his support for U.S. President Donald Trump in the action.[116][117] Subsequently, the Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a communiqué, assumed his “support for the fight against the scourge of terrorism...”[118][119]

-   urged restraint and de-escalation of the tensions, but it also said it has long been concerned by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force, led by Soleimani, whose “aggressive actions have had a destabilizing effect in the region and beyond”.[120] However, the Conservative Party of Canada under Andrew Scheer, the opposition party in the House of Commons, welcomed Soleimani's death and stated “Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has long been a tool of repression and violence in Iran and across the world” while further calling Soleimani who “was at the centre of IRGC operations and bear responsibility for violence, destruction and a destabilizing influence across the Middle East.” The CPC asked the Justin Trudeau-led Liberal government to label IRGC as a terrorist organization.[121]

-   appealed for restraint from all sides, “especially the United States”, stating that China has always opposed the use of force in international relations.[122] During the meeting in Baghdad on 6 January, Zhang Tao, the Chinese Ambassador, said to Iraq's caretaker Prime Minister al-Mahdi that “China is keen to increase security and military cooperation in Iraq”.[123]

-   deputy minister for foreign affairs, Amelie de Montchalin, told RTL radio, “We are waking up in a more dangerous world. Military escalation is always dangerous.”[124] According to Agnès Callamard, the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial killing, “the killings of Qassem Suleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis violates international human rights law”. She said the U.S. is required to confirm “the individual targeted constituted an imminent threat to others.” Callamard also described the killing of other individuals alongside Soleimani as “unlawful”[125]

-   advised that the Middle East has reached “a dangerous escalation point” and the conflict can only be resolved diplomatically.[126] German foreign minister Heiko Maas said that the airstrikes had not “made it easier to reduce tensions”, but noted they “followed a series of dangerous Iranian provocations”.[127] Part of the German military contingent in Iraq was moved to other countries due to “safety concerns”.[128]

-   's Minister of External Affairs & Foreign Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar had expressed serious concerns over ongoing tensions in Iran.[129] He said, “India remains deeply concerned, and will stay in touch.”[130][131] He also had telephonic conversation with both countries' foreign ministers, Mohammad Javad Zarif and U.S. Secretary Mike Pompeo, on the present situation in Middle East, and highlighted India's stakes and concerns.[132][133] India further urged both countries to be restraint and maintain peace.[134][135]

-   's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement requesting parties to refrain from further violent actions, and called on Indonesian citizens in Iraq to “remain vigilant”.[136]

-   's prime minister Giuseppe Conte stated that his government target is to “avoid further escalation”. He also added that a “European action is necessary” to prevent that rising tensions could fuel further “terrorism and violent extremism”.[137] However, opposition leader Matteo Salvini applauded the killing of Soleimani, whom he called, “one of the most dangerous and pitiless men in the world, an Islamic terrorist, an enemy of the West, of Israel, of rights and of freedoms”.[138]

-   announced his Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe will visit Saudi Arabia, Oman and the United Arab Emirates between 12 and 15 January. About the killing, Japan expressed concern and that Abe expects to “contribute to peace and stability in the region through diplomatic efforts to ease tensions.”[139] The trip was canceled due to the Iranian strikes on a U.S. base in Iraq on 8 January.[140]

-   South Korean government is monitoring the security situation of around 1,600 South Koreans living in Iraq.[141][142]

-   ’s government was concerned about the recent events in Iraq and Iran and asked all parties involved to act with restraint and avoid escalating regional tensions.[143]

-   's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that, “U.S. had embarked illegal power move” and condemned the air strike saying that it believed the incident will raise Middle East tensions. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that, “Washington was looking to remake the Middle East, a call Moscow would have made in the heady days of the regime change wars that first started in Iraq in 2003 under George W. Bush's 'pre-emptive strike' policy.”[144][145][146] According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, “Russia has offered Iraq their S-400 air defense system to protect their airspace”.[147] Since the start of the country's civil war nearly nine years ago, that was the second time, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin arrived in Damascus meeting with Bashar al-Assad on 7 January.[148]

-   called for restraint and said the events in Iraq were the result of previous “terrorist acts”.[149] During a press conference on 6 January, Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud stated that Saudi Arabia was “very keen that the situation in the region doesn't escalate any further.”[150]

-   South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor, stated: “It is crucial for all sides to remain calm and desist from taking any further action that will exacerbate the already fragile situation. South Africa emphasises its principled view that conflicts should be resolved through political dialogue rather than resorting to the use of force”.[151]

-   said that it believed that the air strike increases insecurity and instability in the region and that it was deeply concerned by the rising tensions between the United States and Iran.[152] Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed his distaste for external interference, which he said destabilizes the region.[153] Erdogan denied Russian media reports that he had described Soleimani as a “martyr” in a phone call with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.[154]

-   encouraged all involved parties to react with caution, saying “further conflict is in none of our interests.”[155] However, British foreign minister Dominic Raab noted that his government had “always recognized the aggressive threat posed by the Iranian Quds force”.[156]

Other UN member states

-   's government released a statement calling for both parties to prevent further escalations and resolve the crisis through negotiations, and noted that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had requested to Pompeo that U.S. bases in Afghanistan not be used against other countries, in accordance to the bilateral security agreement between the two countries.[157]

-   's Prime Minister Edi Rama stated that “as a country which recognized a while ago Iran's nefarious activity against the free world, and took clear distance from it, Albania cannot but strongly approve the stance of the US president towards a malicious activist of Teheran's regime. We stand firm with the US and hope everyone does so.”[158] Later in the week Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced that Albania was a “small, diabolical country”,[159] referring in part to the presence of MEK political refugees in Albania.

-   's Foreign Ministry stated: “We are deeply concerned about the recent events in Baghdad, which also led to human casualties. They can further increase the threat to peace in the region and destabilize the situation in the Middle East and beyond. Armenia is in favor of defusing the situation exclusively by peaceful means.” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his Facebook page advised “homegrown politicians who want to spread panic…to sit quietly in their places.”[160]

-   's Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and discussed over the telephone with Zarif issues of growing tension in light of recent events in the region. “The Azerbaijani side calls on all parties involved to refrain from violence and to be committed to commitments to strengthen regional security. Minister Mammadyarov expressed deep condolences to the leadership and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran over the death of General Soleimani,” the Foreign Ministry said.[161]

-   called for de-escalation.[162]

-   's Foreign Affairs Minister Vladimir Makei has called on all the parties to show restraint and strive for de-escalation of tensions, and also stressed the need to comply with the principles of international law in order to ensure sustainable international security in global and regional terms.[163]

-   called for de-escalation.[164]

-   's government has condemned the airstrike strongly, the use of missiles for targeted assassination as being “in clear violation of International Law and Iraq's sovereignty.”[165]

-   's prime minister Mette Frederiksen called it “a really serious situation”. She avoided question on whether the killing was right, instead called for de-escalation.[166] Denmark have about 130 troops in Iraq as part of the U.S.-led coalition there, and following the Iraqi parliament's vote to ask them to leave, Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeppe Kofod said: “We are in Iraq to fight ISIL. And that task is not done.”[167] Following the subsequent Iranian missile strikes, Denmark temporarily withdrew soldiers to Kuwait, leaving about 30–40 troops on the hit Al-Asad Airbase.[168]

-   's Foreign Ministry has appealed both Iran and the U.S. to avoid any further escalation and was following developments in Iraq with great concern.[169]

-   's president Sauli Niinistö commented that the attack could lead to a cycle which will be difficult to stop and that its effects could be felt even outside region.[170]

-   n Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not release a statement but David Zalkaliani wrote on his Twitter: “We condemned the recent violent provocative attack on the US Embassy in Baghdad. The United States has a legal right to protect its citizens. It is also time for diplomacy to … ease tensions.”[171]

-   's Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement saying that “Greece is monitoring the developments in Iraq with great concern. The stability of the country and the wider region remains a priority as well as the avoidance of any further escalation. Only this will enable the Iraqi people to return to normal everyday life, free from violence and terrorism. The situation calls for composure and sobriety”.[172]

-   's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the air strike, saying that Trump had acted “swiftly, forcefully and decisively”. He affirmed Israel's alliance with the U.S., saying “Israel stands with the United States in its just struggle for peace, security and self-defense.”[173][174][175] Israel will convene its security cabinet on 5 January to discuss increased threats due to the killings. They have warned Hamas and other groups in Gaza Strip against responding. Hamas had earlier expressed “sincere condolences” to Iran's leadership and praised Soleimini's support for the Palestinian struggle.[176] The IDF spokesperson expressed that “Israeli army had no role, this was an American-executed operation.”[177]

-   's Foreign Affairs Minister Mukhtar Tleuberdi expressed concern about the aggravation of situation in the region. He urged all parties to exercise restraint to prevent an escalation of the tension and to seek political and diplomatic ways of resolving the conflict.[178]

-   condemned the attack as a violation of Iraqi sovereignty and an escalation against Iran, while calling for Lebanon and its vicinity to be spared from the repercussions of the incident.[179]

-   said they were deeply concerned over the situation following the airstrikes and called on all parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint and de-escalate tensions.[180] Mahathir Mohamad, Prime Minister of Malaysia, compared assassination of Soleimani with assassination of Jamal Khashoggi and said it was “illegal” and “immoral”.[181]

-   urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint, engage constructively to de-escalate the situation, and resolve issues through diplomatic means, in accordance with UN Charter and international law.[182] Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that Pakistan will not allow its territory to be used in a regional conflict.[183] Shia groups in Islamabad and Karachi protested against the strike.[184]

-   President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the country's military to prepare to evacuate Filipino citizens from Iraq and Iran “at any moment's notice”.[185] According to Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo, Duterte decreed that the Philippines would side with the United States, its close military ally, if Filipinos are “harmed” in the Middle East.[186]

-   's foreign minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on a two-day visit to Tehran (3–4 January), said the situation is 'delicate and worrying' and called for easing tensions and calm.[187]

-   called for de-escalation. Slovak army in Iraq was also relocated to Kuwait.[188]

-   's Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the “treacherous, criminal American aggression” that led to the killing of Soleimani, according to a statement released by news agency SANA.[189][190]

-   Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash called for wisdom and political solutions over confrontation and escalation.[191]

-   condemned the air strike saying that it believed the incident will raise Middle East tensions.[192] Venezuelan National Assembly and disputed interim president Juan Guaidó said that Soleimani “led a criminal and terrorist structure in Iran that for years caused pain to his people and destabilized the Middle East, just as Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis did with Hezbollah”. Guaidó also accused Nicolás Maduro of allowing him and his Quds Forces to incorporate their sanctioned banks and companies in Venezuela.[193]

-   's Government praised the killing as an “important step to end conflict in the region”,[194] while the Iran-backed Houthis condemned the attacks and called for “swift reprisals”.[195][196]

Partially-recognized states

-   Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj announced that “Kosovo stands firm in support of the U.S. in its right to self-defense”.[197]

Non-state actors

-   African National Congress secretary-general, Ace Magashule, issued a statement describing the killing of Soleimani as an act of “international terrorism” by the United States and appealed “for maximum restraint” so as encourage a peaceful outcome. Magashule called on the United Nations to take action against the American “act of international terrorism.”[198][199]

-   Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve issued a press release suggesting military activities beyond protecting their own personnel would be paused. “We are now fully committed to protecting the Iraqi bases that host Coalition troops. This has limited our capacity to conduct training with partners and to support their operations against Daesh and we have therefore paused these activities, subject to continuous review.”[200]

-   Hamas, the _de facto_ government of the Gaza Strip, sent condolences upon Soleimani's death and condemned the airstrikes.[201] On 4 January, hundreds in Gaza Strip, joined by leaders of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad faction, mourned Soleimini's death. Israeli and American flags were placed on the ground for people to step on, and then the flags were burned.[202]

-   Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah said that “the shoe of Qassem Soleimani is worth the head of Trump and all American leaders”, adding that the response must be the expulsion of U.S. forces from the region.[203]

-   People's Mojahedin of Iran, an exiled Iranian militant group, welcomed the killing of Soleimani. Its leader Maryam Rajavi stated that the killing is an “irreparable blow for the regime of the mullahs” while she accused Soleimani of being “one of the biggest criminals in Iran's history” and “personally implicated in the massacre of thousands of people in the region”.[204]

-   has praised the killing of Soleimani and described the general's demise as an act of divine intervention that benefitted jihadists.[205]

-   Taliban in Afghanistan condemned the killing of Soleimani, describing it as “American adventurism” and hailing Soleimani as a “great warrior”.[206]

-   National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces welcomed Soleimani's death, a man they blame for thousands of deaths in the nearly nine-year-old civil war.[207]

-   Reza Pahlavi, heir to the defunct Imperial State of Iran strongly backed the airstrike and killing of Soleimani saying that it is “a breakthrough that is positive for the region.”[208]

Financial markets

Global oil prices rose moderately in reaction to Soleimani's death to heights not seen for three months,[209] before falling back.[210][211] Arms company stocks (Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon) also rose in the wake of the event.[212]

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[31] Trump warns Iran if it hits any Americans or American assets 'we have targeted 52 Iranian sites' By Greg Clary and Caroline Kelly, CNN, 5 January 2020.

[32] Trump warns Iran: US has targeted '52 Iranian sites' and will 'hit very fast and very hard' if needed Fox News Channel, 4 January 2020.

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[45] Leon Panetta Delivers Ominous Assessment On Current Odds Of War With Iran By Lee Moran, HuffPost, 4 January 2020

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[49] U.S. President Bill Clinton launched an airstrike on Iraq amid impeachment proceedings against him in 1998. Snopes.

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[52] Wag the Dog? Twitter Resurrects Trump's Tweets Predicting Obama Would Attack Iran to Win Re-Election NBC Boston

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[54] The killing of Qassem Soleimani: Was there a better way? mei.edu

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title: Reactions to the assassination of Qasem Soleimani

question: Who is Qasem Soleimani?

answer: He is a high-level Iranian General and IRGC commander who allegedly orchestrated a lethal campaign against U.S. military, diplomats, and intelligence officers in Iraq.

question: Why was he targeted for assassination by the United States?

answer: It was believed at the time that Soleimani was planning a deadly attack on the US and Trump made a statement, saying they had to kill him to stop a war with Iran.

question: What is the relationship between the killing of Soleimani and Trump's impeachment?

answer: There were some parties who believed the Trump administration was looking for an incident that would deflect the focus on the president's impeachment proceedings, and Soleimani was the perfect target.

question: How did Iran and the world react to Soleimani's assassination at the hands of the United States?

answer: As expected, Iran was outraged and vowed to take "harsh revenge" against the U.S. Iran's parliament approved a €200 million increase in the Quds Force's budget, to be used in two months, and even voted to declare the United States Armed Forces to be a terrorist organization. Iraq was also livid because it happened on their turf, and vowed to kick U.S. forces out of the country. World reaction was mixed: Brazil approved the killing, while China condemned it. Most countries, including Australia, called for diplomacy and restraint. The U.N. said there was no direct evidence that Soleimani was planning anything and the action taken by the U.S. was unlawful.

question: Write a ~8 sentence summary.

answer: The US military's 2020 Baghdad International Airport airstrike, which killed the high-level Iranian General and IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani in Iraq, brought strong reactions from around the world. Some governments (e.g. Brazil's) welcomed the killing, while some (e.g. China's) condemned it. Most (including Australia) called for restraint and diplomacy. The U.N. said there was no direct evidence that Soleimani was planning anything and the action taken by the U.S. was unlawful. Iran was outraged and vowed to take "harsh revenge" against the U.S. Iran's parliament approved a €200 million increase in the Quds Force's budget, to be used in two months, and even voted to declare the United States Armed Forces to be a terrorist organization. Iraq was also livid because it happened on their turf, and vowed to kick U.S. forces out of the country.