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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 2012
House Moots Afghan Exit, Iran War, Military Budget, and "Signature" Drone Strikes
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
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
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
JFP 5/14: House moots wars, drone strikes; Pal prisoners reach deal to end hunger strike
Just Foreign Policy News, May 14, 2012
House moots wars, drone strikes; Pal prisoners reach deal to end hunger 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
[Updated:]NDAA and Iran "redline" this week
The National Defense Authorization Act is expected to be considered in the House this week. Amendments are expected to expedite military withdrawal from Afghanistan (Adam Smith, McGovern/Jones, Lee), to curtail "signature" drone strikes (drone strikes that target unknown people; Conyers-Kucinich), prohibit war with Iran (Conyers) to explicitly ban indefinite detention in the U.S. (Smith-Amash) and to cut the military budget (many amendments), among other issues.
Meanwhile, the House version of the Lieberman "lower the bar for war with Iran" resolution is on the House suspension calendar Tuesday.
Call your Representative. You can reach the Capitol Switchboard at 1-877-429-0678. Ask your Representative to support amendments to expedite military withdrawal from Afghanistan; prohibit "signature" drone strikes; oppose war with Iran; cut military spending.
Kucinich/Conyers amendment to NDAA: Prohibit conduct of drone strikes on unidentified targets
Kucinich/Conyers amendment to NDAA: Prohibit conduct of drone strikes on unidentified targets
[Updated, 5/15] The offices of Rep. Kucinich and Rep. Conyers have submitted this to Rules as an amendment on the National Defense Authorization Act. Since it is likely that there will not be a great number of amendments related to drone strikes submitted to Rules, and since press reports have indicated significant Congressional concern about the expansion of drone strikes on unidentified targets, it is hoped this will stand a good chance of getting approved for consideration on the floor.
AMENDMENT TO THE RULES COMMITTEE PRINT OF H.R. 4310
OFFERED BY MR. KUCINICH OF OHIO
At the end of title X, add the following new section:
SEC. 1084. PROHIBITION ON CONDUCT OF DRONE STRIKES ON UNIDENTIFIED TARGETS. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Commander of the Joint Special Operations Command may not carry out a combat operation in which an unmanned aerial vehicle is used to attack a target whose identity is unknown or is based solely on patterns of behavior of such target.
The PDF is here.
Highlights of the Budget Debate on Military Spending (May 10, 2012)
Highlights on Military Spending from the House debate on the Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act (May 10, 2012)
[compiled by Women's Action for New Directions from the Congressional Record.]
JFP 5/11: Public overwhelmingly backs big military cuts, prefers to tax hikes
Just Foreign Policy News, May 11, 2012
Public overwhelmingly supports large military spending cuts, prefers to tax hikes
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
NDAA expected next week
The National Defense Authorization Act is expected to be considered in the House next week. Amendments are expected to expedite military withdrawal from Afghanistan (Adam Smith, McGovern, Lee), to curtail signature drone strikes (Conyers-Kucinich), to explicitly ban indefinite detention in the U.S. (Smith-Amash) and to cut the military budget (many amendments), among other issues.
The amendment Smith is likely to offer (replacing House GOP text that pushes for U.S. troops to stay in Afghanistan) is here:
http://democrats.armedservices.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=8e4c8cc6-9b03-4096-aba5-d337399159f1
Action: More than 1600 Palestinian prisoners are on hunger strike. Where is the State Department?
JFP 5/10: Kucinich, Conyers Press Admin on "Signature" Drone Strikes
Just Foreign Policy News, May 10, 2012
Kucinich, Conyers Press Admin on "Signature" Drone Strikes
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
NDAA expected next week
The National Defense Authorization Act is expected to be considered in the House next week. Amendments are expected to expedite military withdrawal from Afghanistan, to curtail drone strikes, and to cut the military budget, among other issues.
Action: More than 1600 Palestinian prisoners are on hunger strike. Where is the State Department?
Ten have been hospitalized; at least two have been characterized as "near death." The prisoners are protesting "administrative detention" - detention without charge - solitary confinement, and denial of family visits. Urge the State Department to speak up to save the lives of the hunger strikers and to protest the detention of Palestinians without charge or trial.
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/pal-hunger-strike
1500 Prisoners on Hunger Strike for Basic Rights: Could Hillary Say Boo?
26 Reps: Ensure Transparency and Accountability In The U.S. Combat Drone Program
Twenty-six Members of Congress sent the following letter to President Obama asking that Congress be provided with information on the CIA and JSOCs use of "signature" drone strikes. Signers were: Dennis Kucinich, John Conyers, Rush Holt, Jesse Jackson, Jr., Maurice Hinchey, Charlie Rangel, Pete Stark, Mike Honda, Raul Grijalva, Bob Filner, Barbara Lee, Jim McGovern, Lynn Woolsey, Hank Johnson, Luis Gutierrez, Ron Paul, John Lewis, George Miller, Jim McDermott, Yvette Clarke, Peter DeFazio, Peter Welch, Donna Edwards, Jerrold Nadler, Keith Ellison, Walter Jones.
The text of the Dear Colleague sent by Rep. Kucinich on May 10 follows below, then the text of the final letter as it was sent to President Obama on June 12.
The PDF of the letter as it was sent to President Obama on June 12 is here.
ENSURE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE U.S. COMBAT DRONE PROGRAM
From: The Honorable Dennis J. Kucinich
Date: 5/10/2012
Dear Colleague:
A recent article published in The Washington Post revealed that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) have been given new authority that allows them “to fire on targets based solely on their intelligence ‘signatures’ – patterns of behavior that are detected through signals intercepts, human sources and aerial surveillance, and that indicated a presence of an important operative or plot against U.S. interests.” Allowing the CIA and JSOC to conduct drone strikes without having to know the identity of the person they’re targeting is in stark contrast to what the Administration has previously claimed regarding its drone campaign: that they are targeted strikes against suspected terrorists on lists maintained by the CIA and JSOC.
Conyers to Rice on UN: Help Alleviate the Haitian Cholera Crisis
The following letter is being circulated by the office of Rep. John Conyers. Ask your Rep. to sign by calling the Congressional switchboard at 202-225-3121. Current signers include: Blumenauer, Brown, Capuano, Clay, Clarke (MI), Clarke (NY), Conyers, Cohen, Deutch, Edwards, Ellison, Farr, Grijalva, Gutierrez, Hastings, Holmes-Norton, Honda, Jackson, Johnson (GA), Kucinich, Lee, Lewis (GA), Maloney, McCollum, McDermott, McGovern, Moran, Olver, Rangel, Rush, Schakowsky, Stark, Towns, Waters, and Wilson (FL). The Conyers letter was cited in a New York Times editorial. Urge your Rep. to support this letter.
From: The Honorable John Conyers, Jr.
Date: 5/7/2012
Dear Colleague:
Please join me in supporting efforts to address the cholera epidemic in Haiti by signing a letter to U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice urging UN authorities to play a central role in addressing the crisis.
The cholera outbreak began in October 2010, ten months after Haiti’s tragic earthquake, and “has become one of the largest cholera epidemics in modern history” according to the Pan-American Health Organization. To date, at least 7,200 Haitians have died from the disease and more than 530,000 people have been infected.
As cholera was brought to Haiti due to the actions of the UN, it is imperative for the UN to now act decisively to control the cholera epidemic. UN authorities should work with Haiti’s government and the international community to confront and, ultimately, eliminate this deadly disease from Haiti and the rest of the island of Hispaniola. A failure to act will not only lead to countless more deaths: it will undermine the crucial effort to reconstruct Haiti and will pose a permanent public health threat to the populations of neighboring nations.
Sincerely,
John Conyers, Jr.
Member of Congress
May XX, 2012
Dear Ambassador Rice,