justforeignpolicy

JFP 5/23: Congress says no auth for Iran war; Iran demands sanctions relief; anti-austerity bid at ILO

Thu, 24 May 2012 00:49:44 +0000

Just Foreign Policy News, May 23, 2012
Congress says no auth for Iran war; Iran demands sanctions relief; anti-austerity bid at ILO

Support the Work of Just Foreign Policy
Your support helps us to educate Americans about U.S. foreign policy and create opportunities for Americans to advocate for a foreign policy that is more just. Help us press for an end to the war in Afghanistan and spread opposition to a new war with Iran,
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I) Actions and Featured Articles

Avaaz Community Petition: Support targetted boycott of Israeli Settlement Goods
Someone in Ireland has put up a petition at Avaaz' community petition site, supporting the Irish government's threat to push for an EU boycott of settlement goods if Israel does not change its settlement policy. If you're already a member of Avaaz, signing the petition takes five seconds. Why not do so? http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Support_targetted_boycott_of_Israeli_Settlement_Goods

Would It Make a Difference to Progressives if Norman Solomon Goes to Congress?
If Norman Solomon goes to Congress, he would have a powerful national platform to oppose wars of choice, and his staff would be helping anti-war initiatives move through Congress.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/would-it-make-a-differenc_b_1536625.html

JFP 5/22: IAEA chief sees deal on Parchin; South Africa to label settlement products

Wed, 23 May 2012 01:18:31 +0000

Just Foreign Policy News, May 22, 2012
IAEA chief sees deal on Parchin; South Africa to label settlement products

Support the Work of Just Foreign Policy
Your support helps us to educate Americans about U.S. foreign policy and create opportunities for Americans to advocate for a foreign policy that is more just. Help us press for an end to the war in Afghanistan and spread opposition to a new war with Iran,
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/donate

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I) Actions and Featured Articles

Would It Make a Difference to Progressives if Norman Solomon Goes to Congress?
If Norman Solomon goes to Congress, he would have a powerful national platform to oppose wars of choice, and his staff would be helping anti-war initiatives move through Congress.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/would-it-make-a-differenc_b_1536625.html

Center for Constitutional Rights: Tell Congress: End Military and Police Aid to Honduras
The US is supporting repression through direct financing of Honduras' police and military. A group of Congress members have initiated a letter to Secretary of State Clinton, urging the State Department to denounce the human rights violations in Honduras and to end aid to Honduras' police and military. Contact your representative before May 25, and ask that they sign on to this Congressional letter.
http://ccrjustice.org/get-involved/action/tell-congress%3A-end-military-and-police-aid-honduras

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JFP 5/21: Vets return medals in NATO protest; Honduran survivors dispute U.S. account

Mon, 21 May 2012 22:47:31 +0000

Just Foreign Policy News, May 21, 2012
Vets return medals in NATO protest; Honduran survivors dispute U.S. account

Support the Work of Just Foreign Policy
Your support helps us to educate Americans about U.S. foreign policy and create opportunities for Americans to advocate for a foreign policy that is more just. Help us press for an end to the war in Afghanistan and spread opposition to a new war with Iran,
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I) Actions and Featured Articles

In Chicago, Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans Put NATO's Endless War on Trial
At the intersection of Cermak and Michigan streets in Chicago yesterday, veterans who served in Afghanistan and Iraq told their stories when they threw back their service medals in protest at NATO leaders, echoing a famous protest against the Vietnam War. More than two million Americans have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. CNN and Fox can focus on what they want, but you can't hide the life experiences of two million people indefinitely.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/nato-summit-protests_b_1532837.html

Democracy Now: "No NATO, No War": U.S. Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan Return War Medals at NATO Summit
http://www.democracynow.org/2012/5/21/no_nato_no_war_us_veterans

ABC News Video: Veterans return medals during NATO protest
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=8669859

JFP 5/18: GOP cops nixing Afghan vote in fear; anon officials diss civilian death claim

Sat, 19 May 2012 00:18:34 +0000

Just Foreign Policy News, May 18, 2012
GOP cops nixing Afghan vote in fear; anon officials diss civilian death claim

Support the Work of Just Foreign Policy
Your support helps us to educate Americans about U.S. foreign policy and create opportunities for Americans to advocate for a foreign policy that is more just. Help us press for an end to the war in Afghanistan and spread opposition to a new war with Iran,
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I) Actions and Featured Articles

House GOP Leaders Block Amendment Solidifying Afghanistan Withdrawal Timeline
By refusing to allow a vote on the McGovern-Jones amendment, the GOP leadership exposed the Achilles heel of the war policy. Until now the Administration has gotten away with a having a two-faced policy: presented to the American people as a timetable for withdrawal, but understood by the Pentagon and the Republican leadership as allowing tens of thousands of U.S. troops to remain in Afghanistan forever. Now we know how to kill the Pentagon's fantasy of keeping tens of thousands of U.S. troops in Afghanistan forever: nail the Administration's pseudo-timetable for withdrawal to the wall.
http://truth-out.org/news/item/9241-how-house-gop-leaders-silenced-support-for-amendment-solidifying-afghanistan-withdrawal-timeline

John Isaacs: House GOP Wins on Defense Bill Using Sleazy Tactics
The House Republican leadership carefully picked amendments permitted to be offered on the House floor and barred others they weren't sure they could defeat.

On Afghanistan, the Pentagon Has Lost the American People

Fri, 18 May 2012 19:17:05 +0000

"I can't let this be a war without end, and I can't lose the whole Democratic Party." That was President Obama, describing his Afghan war policy, according to Bob Woodward's 2010 book. But until this moment the Administration is still letting it be a war without end, and the Afghan war policy has lost not only the whole Democratic Party, but a substantial part of the Republican Party as well: the majority of Republican voters, for example.

One thing the Afghan war policy hasn't lost: the GOP leadership. That was demonstrated Wednesday night when the GOP leadership blocked consideration in the House of a bipartisan amendment offered by Democrat Jim McGovern and Republican Walter Jones that would have nailed to the wall the current slippery "timetable" for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.

CNN reports:

House Republicans pulled the plug on a vote Thursday on a bipartisan amendment to a defense bill that would force the Obama administration to stick firmly to its timetable for getting U.S. troops out of Afghanistan.

Republicans were concerned the amendment could pass, according to two GOP congressional sources.

JFP 5/17: House GOP Leadership Blocks McGovern Amendment; Honduras Killings Probed

Fri, 18 May 2012 00:40:24 +0000

Just Foreign Policy News, May 17, 2012
House GOP Leadership Blocks McGovern Amendment

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Your support helps us to educate Americans about U.S. foreign policy and create opportunities for Americans to advocate for a foreign policy that is more just. Help us press for an end to the war in Afghanistan and spread opposition to a new war with Iran,
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I) Actions and Featured Articles

GOP Admits It Lacks Votes for Afghan War
The House GOP leadership blocked consideration of the McGovern amendment - an implicit admission that they couldn't stop enough Republicans from supporting it to prevent it from passing.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/gop-admits-lacks-votes-fo_b_1524957.html

more NDAA updates:
Lee amendment to end the Afghan war failed 113-303. Roll call here: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2012/roll264.xml
Kucinich-Conyers amendment to limit drone strikes failed on voice vote.

*Action: Support Turkey's Opposition to Israeli Government's Participation in NATO Summit

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Kucinich/Conyers drone strike amendment made in order; talking points

Thu, 17 May 2012 13:14:15 +0000

The Kucinich-Conyers amendment to prohibit the military from conducting drone strikes against unidentified targets ("signature strikes") has been made in order.

http://www.rules.house.gov/Legislation/legislationDetails.aspx?NewsID=828

http://www.rules.house.gov/amendments/KUCINI_055_xml514121743264326.pdf

I have heard that it will be considered early.

Some things worth noting:

- Whatever one thinks about drone strikes against specific suspected terrorist leaders, nothing in the amendment would prevent them. If the amendment were law and policy, it would not have prevented the recent killing of Fahd al Quso, the senior commander of al Qaeda's wing in Yemen, who was killed in a drone strike two weeks ago; he was specifically targeted based on intelligence indicating where he was. The amendment only prohibits the military from conducting a drone strike when it does not know who it is targeting.

- The amendment only applies to the military, that is, to the Joint Special Operations Command, not to the CIA. According to press reports, JSOC is not carrying out drone strikes in Pakistan. According to the Washington Post, JSOC did not ask for authority to conduct "signature" drone strikes in Yemen, but they were granted it anyway.

- According to the Washington Post, senior U.S. officials expressed concern about authorizing "signature" drone strikes in Yemen, both because it would increase the risk of civilian casualties, and because by killing "militants" who have a dispute with the Yemeni government but not with the U.S., such strikes would increase the perception that the U.S. is taking sides in Yemen's civil war.

- Just in the last week, Yemeni officials say that a U.S. drone strike killed eight civilians in Yemen, CNN reported 5/15.

House Moots Afghan Exit, Iran War, Military Budget, and "Signature" Drone Strikes

Thu, 17 May 2012 01:34:31 +0000

On Wednesday and Thursday, the House is expected to take up consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act. Amendments will be offered to expedite military withdrawal from Afghanistan, to oppose war with Iran, to cut the military budget, and to stop "signature" drone strikes that target people without knowing who will be killed.

According to the way the House operates, the authorization bill is the most open opportunity to challenge current policy. When the House considers the appropriations bill, amendments can be offered to cut money for specific programs. But it is difficult to otherwise alter policy when the appropriation is considered, according to the rules of the House. On the authorization bill, there is much more scope to try to direct policy.

Every American who cares about war and peace ought to be calling Congress. The Friends Committee on National Legislation has established a toll-free number that connects you to the Capitol Switchboard: 1-877-429-0678. Then you can ask to be transferred to your Representative's office. [If you can't call, you can write here.]

What should you tell your Representative's office? Whatever else you do, you should tell them that you are a constituent and give them your address to document that fact.

Then you have some choices to make about what to emphasize. Many amendments have been offered. At this writing, we don't know which amendments will be allowed on the floor by the Rules Committee. Once the Rules Committee has decided which amendments it will allow, there might not be much time before voting begins. So it's better to call when you can and emphasize broad themes.

JFP 5/16: House considers NDAA; DEA admits participation in Honduras raid

Thu, 17 May 2012 00:59:23 +0000

Just Foreign Policy News, May 16, 2012
House considers NDAA; DEA admits participation in Honduras raid

Support the Work of Just Foreign Policy
Your support helps us to educate Americans about U.S. foreign policy and create opportunities for Americans to advocate for a foreign policy that is more just. Help us press for an end to the war in Afghanistan and spread opposition to a new war with Iran,
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/donate

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I) Actions and Featured Articles

*Action: Tell the House: Exit Afghanistan, No War with Iran, End "Signature" Drone Strikes
The National Defense Authorization Act is being considered by the House. Amendments have been submitted to expedite U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, oppose war with Iran, and end "signature" drone strikes. Urge your Rep. to support these amendments. Call the Capitol Switchboard at 1-877-429-0678 and ask to be transferred to your Rep. If you can't call, you can write here:
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/ndaa2013

More: House Moots Afghan Exit, Iran War, Military Budget, and 'Signature' Drone Strikes
The Afghanistan amendment could well pass the House; a similar amendment last year got more than 200 votes. If the amendment to block "signature" drone strikes wins significant support, that will send a signal to the Administration to curtail the strikes, and that could save the lives of innocent civilians in Yemen.

JFP 5/15: U.S. DEA tied to killings in Honduras; eight civilians dead in Yemen drone strike

Wed, 16 May 2012 00:23:56 +0000

Just Foreign Policy News, May 15, 2012
U.S. DEA tied to killings in Honduras; eight civilians dead in Yemen drone strike

Support the Work of Just Foreign Policy
Your support helps us to educate Americans about U.S. foreign policy and create opportunities for Americans to advocate for a foreign policy that is more just. Help us press for an end to the war in Afghanistan and spread opposition to a new war with Iran,
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/donate

Go Straight to the News Summary

I) Actions and Featured Articles

*Action: Tell the House: Exit Afghanistan, No War with Iran, End "Signature" Drone Strikes
The National Defense Authorization Act is scheduled to be on the floor Wednesday. Amendments have been submitted to expedite U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, oppose war with Iran, and end "signature" drone strikes. Urge your Rep. to support these amendments. Call the Capitol Switchboard at 1-877-429-0678 and ask to be transferred to your Rep. If you can't call, you can write here:
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/ndaa2013

Kucinich/Conyers amendment to NDAA: Prohibit conduct of drone strikes on unidentified targets
The offices of Rep. Kucinich and Rep. Conyers have submitted an amendment on the National Defense Authorization Act which would bar the military from conducting drone strikes on unidentified targets ("signature strikes.") Peace Action West is backing the amendment.
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/node/1223