Action Spotlight
Cut Social Security & Veterans' Benefits? Cut the Pentagon Instead!
President Obama has endorsed cutting Social Security and veterans' benefits by using the "chained CPI" to lower the cost-of-living adjustment. The Congressional Budget Office says cutting Social Security and veterans' benefits in this way would save the government $163 billion over ten years. But there are much better ways for the government to save $163 billiion. Email President Obama and Congress >
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May 2011
JFP 5/18: President Abbas Makes His Case for Palestine Statehood
Just Foreign Policy News
May 18, 2011
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I) Actions and Featured Articles
*Action: Help Just Foreign Policy Get to Gaza:
Donate to support our participation:
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/donate/audacityofhope
*Action: Tell Hillary to Ensure Safe Passage for US Boat to Gaza
Using Twitter and/or Facebook, urge Hillary to protect the Audacity of Hope.
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/audacityofhope/urgehillary
Why We Must Sail To Gaza
A year ago, solidarity activists tried to break the blockade of Gaza with an international flotilla of ships. They failed, in the sense that the Israeli government attacked the flotilla, took control of the ships, and brought the ships to Israel. They succeeded, in the sense that the flotilla and the Israeli attack brought attention to the Israeli-U.S.-Egyptian siege of Gaza, dramatically increasing political pressure on the three governments, leading to a partial easing of the siege. Now an even larger flotilla, with the participation of more ships and more activists from more countries -- including, crucially, the U.S. ship Audacity of Hope -- is preparing to set sail in June.
http://www.truthout.org/why-we-must-sail-gaza/1305382992
Rep. Schakowsky, Am I a "Provocation"?
Rep. Schakowsky, Am I a "Provocation"?
In the grand scheme of things, Illinois Rep. Jan Schakowsky is one of my favorite Members of Congress: progressive, smart, articulate, willing to stand up for what's right even when the pressure is on from the party leadership to go along with injustice, as when she worked to block the President's deficit commission from recommending cuts to Social Security.
But when it comes to U.S. policy towards Israel and the Palestinians, Rep. Schakowsky not only fails to be progressive; she seems to go out of her way to sign onto the most outrageously right-wing "pro-Israel" initiatives imaginable, when she could just say: "let's let this one pass us by," as the vast majority of Democratic Members of Congress do, when confronted with the most outrageously right-wing initiatives of the "pro-Israel lobby."
This past week, Rep. Schakowsky signed a letter signed a letter to the Turkish government "Urging Turkey to Stop Another Flotilla from Departing for the Gaza Strip." The letter slammed the upcoming Gaza freedom flotilla as a provocation.
Anyone who knows anything about the region knows that a letter from these Members of Congress urging Turkey to stop the flotilla is likely to have about as much influence in Turkey as a group of Turkish parliamentarians would have in Washington if they urged President Obama not to veto a UN resolution condemning Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank.
The feedback that Turkey got from the region following last year's flotilla was: you rock. Arabs were coming to demonstrations carrying pictures of the Turkish Prime Minister.
Open Peace Road; Don’t Block Kids from Getting to School in Al Aqaba!
I just got back from meeting with my friends at the Rebuilding Alliance who are walking the halls of Congress this week on behalf of a kindergarten in the West Bank village of Al Aqaba. They are asking members of Congress to press Israel to open and repave the now demolished Peace Road so that 200 children can reach their school in Al Aqaba without delay.
You can help open congressional doors by signing this petition, urging your elected officials to contact the Israeli embassy and ask them to open the road and fix what the Israeli army destroyed.
On April 7th, kindergartners looked out from their school bus to see Israeli soldiers destroying Peace Road, the main road in and out of the West Bank village of Al Aqaba. Al Aqaba’s kindergarten and school hosts children from throughout the area, and the demolition of this road threatens their access to education and the village’s connection to the Jordan Valley.
Last year, I stayed in Al Aqaba and fondly remember strolling down Peace Road with Al Aqaba’s mayor Haj Sami Sadiq and his family. As we would make our way down the road that afternoon, dozens of villagers would run towards us to greet Haj Sami. Haj Sami has been confined to a wheelchair since he was shot during an Israeli military live training exercise at age sixteen. But because the road was well-paved, he could still travel to meet with these villagers living far from his house.
JFP 5/16: Palestinians Turn Towards Nonviolent Uprising
Just Foreign Policy News
May 16, 2011
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I) Actions and Featured Articles
Why We Must Sail To Gaza
A year ago, solidarity activists tried to break the blockade of Gaza with an international flotilla of ships. They failed, in the sense that the Israeli government attacked the flotilla, took control of the ships, and brought the ships to Israel. They succeeded, in the sense that the flotilla and the Israeli attack brought attention to the Israeli-U.S.-Egyptian siege of Gaza, dramatically increasing political pressure on the three governments, leading to a partial easing of the siege. Now an even larger flotilla, with the participation of more ships and more activists from more countries -- including, crucially, the U.S. ship Audacity of Hope -- is preparing to set sail in June.
http://www.truthout.org/why-we-must-sail-gaza/1305382992
*Action: Urge your Rep. to co-sponsor the McGovern-Jones bill
Reps. McGovern and Jones have introduced a bill - HR 1735, the "Afghanistan Exit and Accountability Act" - requiring the President to: present Congress with a plan for the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Afghanistan; report quarterly on the implementation of the plan for military withdrawal and the costs of continuing the war; report on the savings to taxpayers of ending the war in 6 months vs. continuing it for 5 years.
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/hr1735
Help Support Our Advocacy for Peace and Diplomacy
JFP 5/13: Why We Must Sail To Gaza
Just Foreign Policy News
May 13, 2011
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Why We Must Sail To Gaza
A year ago, solidarity activists tried to break the blockade of Gaza with an international flotilla of ships. They failed, in the sense that the Israeli government attacked the flotilla, took control of the ships, and brought the ships to Israel. They succeeded, in the sense that the flotilla and the Israeli attack brought attention to the Israeli-U.S.-Egyptian siege of Gaza, dramatically increasing political pressure on the three governments, leading to a partial easing of the siege. Now an even larger flotilla, with the participation of more ships and more activists from more countries -- including, crucially, the U.S. ship Audacity of Hope -- is preparing to set sail in June.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/why-we-must-sail-to-gaza_b_861751.html
*Action: Urge your Rep. to co-sponsor the McGovern-Jones bill
Reps. McGovern and Jones have introduced a bill - HR 1735, the "Afghanistan Exit and Accountability Act" - requiring the President to: present Congress with a plan for the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Afghanistan; report quarterly on the implementation of the plan for military withdrawal and the costs of continuing the war; report on the savings to taxpayers of ending the war in 6 months vs. continuing it for 5 years.
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/hr1735
Why We Must Sail To Gaza
A year ago, peace and solidarity activists tried to break the blockade of Gaza with an international flotilla of ships. They failed, in the sense that the Israeli government attacked the flotilla, took control of the ships, and brought the ships to Israel. They succeeded, in the sense that the flotilla and the Israeli attack brought attention to the Israeli-US-Egyptian siege of Gaza, dramatically increasing political pressure on the three governments, leading to a partial easing of the siege.
Now an even larger flotilla, with the participation of more ships and more activists from more countries - including, crucially, the U.S. ship Audacity of Hope - is preparing to set sail in June.
And - God willing - when the Audacity of Hope sets sail, I will be on it.
It is our hope and expectation that the Israeli government, after all the negative publicity it received for its attack on last year's flotilla, will allow our ships to pass to Gaza unimpeded. It is our hope and expectation that the Obama Administration will pressure the government of Israel not to attack us, especially with a U.S. boat with well-known American peace activists on board participating in the flotilla.
JFP 5/12: Turkey Warns Israel Not To Hit Flotilla
Just Foreign Policy News
May 12, 2011
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'Budrus' Shows 'White Intifada' Can Beat the Israeli Occupation
The documentary "Budrus," which shows how a Palestinian village in the West Bank defeated the Israeli occupation through nonviolent resistance, is now available on DVD. The widespread availability of this movie in the United States could not come at a more propitious time, because conditions are ripe for a "White Intifada" in the West Bank that would end the occupation through mass nonviolent resistance. Support for such a campaign in the U.S. would be crucial. It's time to prepare the audience.
http://www.truth-out.org/budrus-shows-white-intifada-can-beat-israeli-occupation/1305217766
*Action: Urge your Rep. to co-sponsor the McGovern-Jones bill
Reps. McGovern and Jones have introduced a bill - HR 1735, the "Afghanistan Exit and Accountability Act" - requiring the President to: present Congress with a plan for the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Afghanistan; report quarterly on the implementation of the plan for military withdrawal and the costs of continuing the war; report on the savings to taxpayers of ending the war in 6 months vs. continuing it for 5 years.
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/hr1735
U.S. Boat to Gaza: To Gaza With Love Letters Campaign
JFP 5/11: 'Budrus' Shows 'White Intifada' Can Beat the Israeli Occupation
Just Foreign Policy News
May 11, 2011
Support the Work of Just Foreign Policy
Go Straight to the News Summary
I) Actions and Featured Articles
'Budrus' Shows 'White Intifada' Can Beat the Israeli Occupation
The documentary "Budrus," which shows how a Palestinian village in the West Bank defeated the Israeli occupation through nonviolent resistance, is now available on DVD. The widespread availability of this movie in the United States could not come at a more propitious time, because conditions are ripe for a "White Intifada" in the West Bank that would end the occupation through mass nonviolent resistance. Support for such a campaign in the U.S. would be crucial. It's time to prepare the audience.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/budrus-documentary-white-intifada_b_860501.html
*Action: Urge your Rep. to co-sponsor the McGovern-Jones bill
Reps. McGovern and Jones have introduced a bill - HR 1735, the "Afghanistan Exit and Accountability Act" - requiring the President to: present Congress with a plan for the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Afghanistan; report quarterly on the implementation of the plan for military withdrawal and the costs of continuing the war; report on the savings to taxpayers of ending the war in 6 months vs. continuing it for 5 years.
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/hr1735
Washington Post: Time for New Home for 5th Fleet
JFP 5/9: Gaza freedom flotilla to sail in June
Just Foreign Policy News
May 9, 2011
Support the Work of Just Foreign Policy
Go Straight to the News Summary
I) Actions and Featured Articles
*Action: Urge your Rep. to co-sponsor the McGovern-Jones bill
Reps. McGovern and Jones have introduced a bill - HR 1735, the "Afghanistan Exit and Accountability Act" - requiring the President to: present Congress with a plan for the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Afghanistan; report quarterly on the implementation of the plan for military withdrawal and the costs of continuing the war; report on the savings to taxpayers of ending the war in 6 months vs. continuing it for 5 years.
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/hr1735
Background: After OBL: McGovern/Jones Push for Real Withdrawal Plan
The bipartisan legislation is unique in that it carries with it the prospect of a roll call, in which every member of the House will have to choose a side: open-ended war in Afghanistan, or a clear plan for military withdrawal?
http://www.truthout.org/after-obl-mcgovernjones-push-real-withdrawal-plan/1304740859
This American Life: a conversation of Islamism & secularism in the new Egypt
The public radio program "This American Life" has a powerful piece this week by Nancy Updike about the meetings and conversations going on in Egypt about democracy.
JFP 5/6: McGovern/Jones bill introduced for Afghanistan withdrawal
Just Foreign Policy News
May 6, 2011
Support the Work of Just Foreign Policy
Go Straight to the News Summary
I) Actions and Featured Articles
*Action: Urge your Rep. to co-sponsor the McGovern-Jones bill
Reps. McGovern and Jones have introduced a bill - HR 1735, the "Afghanistan Exit and Accountability Act" - requiring the President to: present Congress with a plan for the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Afghanistan; report quarterly on the implementation of the plan for military withdrawal and the costs of continuing the war; report on the savings to taxpayers of ending the war in 6 months vs. continuing it for 5 years.
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/hr1735
Republicans Cheer Calls for Afghanistan Withdrawal at Fox Debate
Audience goes wild when Ron Paul and Gary Johnson call for ending the war.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/05/ron-paul-afghanistan-withdrawal-gop-presidential-debate_n_858381.html
Glenn Greenwald: The Osama bin Laden exception
It matters if Osama bin Laden was "killed while resisting" or "killed after capture," because if there is an "Osama bin Laden exception" to the rule of law, it's not likely that the exception can be confined to Osama bin Laden.
http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2011/05/06/bin_laden/index.html