Just Foreign Policy News
December 16, 2009

Two Candles in Congress Against the Siege of Gaza
This week Members of the House are considering two actions that could have a real impact in improving living conditions for Palestinians on the ground. Reps. McDermott and Ellison are circulating a letter that calls on President Obama to press for an easing in the Israeli blockade of Gaza by making it easier for Palestinians, aid workers, and journalists to enter and leave Gaza, and by improving the access of Palestinian civilians to necessities such as clean water, food, fuel and medicine. Reps. Moran and Inglis are circulating a letter that focuses on the right of university students from Gaza to complete their studies.
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/node/431
Action link:
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/gaza

Ten Ways You Can Tell Which Side the US Government is On With Regard to the Coup in Honduras
Mark Weisbrot reviews the timeline of a coup praised with faint damnation by the US government.
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/12/16

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Summary:
U.S./Top News

Just Foreign Policy News
December 11, 2009

Can Arlen Specter End the War in Afghanistan?
Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter has emerged as one of the most vocal opponents in the Senate of the President's military escalation in Afghanistan. His Democratic primary opponent, Joe Sestak, supports the war and supports the escalation. If peace advocates turn the Pennsylvania primary into a referendum on the war, it could have national impact, like the 2006 showdown between Lamont and Lieberman over Iraq.
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/node/428

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Summary:
U.S./Top News
1) U.S. groups that raise money for extremist Israeli settlers in the West Bank continue to enjoy tax-exempt status in the United States, even though their actions violate international law and contradict U.S. government policy, write Andrew Kadi and Aaron Levitt in the Guardian.

2) A recent article in the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz reports that appointees to the U.S. government have to pass a "pro-Israel litmus test" - even if their government posts don't concern U.S. policy in the Middle East, notes Stephen Walt at his blog at Foreign Policy.

3) Turkey's Prime Minister Erdogan warned Israel not to use its airspace to attack Iran, Al Bawaba reports. "If Israel were to violate Turkish airspace in order to conduct reconnaissance operations on Iran, Ankara's reaction would resemble an 'earthquake'," Erdogan told an Egyptian newspaper.

Just Foreign Policy News
December 10, 2009

Obama Invokes "Just War," But Is the War in Afghanistan "Just"?
"Accepting Peace Prize, Obama Evokes 'Just War,'" notes the headline in the New York Times, referring to President Obama's speech accepting the Nobel Peace Prize. President Obama invoked the concept of a "just war," but tellingly, he did not try to argue that the U.S. war in Afghanistan is a "just war." Such an argument would not be convincing. There there are criteria for a "just war." The war in Afghanistan does not meet these criteria.
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/node/426

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Summary:
U.S./Top News

Just Foreign Policy News
December 9, 2009

Kucinich, Invoking War Powers Act, to Introduce Bill Calling for Afghanistan Withdrawal
Five minute video; Kucinich describes his bill at about minute 4.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnEFhVaLrdk
Press Release:
http://kucinich.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=159823
Kucinich Dear Colleague:
http://kucinich.house.gov/UploadedFiles/privileged_resolution_DC.pdf
Resolution: Remove US forces from Afghanistan:
http://kucinich.house.gov/UploadedFiles/Privileged_Resolution_Afghanistan.pdf
Resolution: Remove US forces from Pakistan:
http://kucinich.house.gov/UploadedFiles/Privileged_Resolution_Pakistan.pdf

Counterspin: US Media Bury Afghan Civil War
Janine Jackson interviews Just Foreign Policy on the US media's failure to report on the Afghan civil war (eight minutes.)
http://justforeignpolicy.org/sites/default/files/Naiman_Counterspin_USMedia_Bury_Afghan_Civil_War.mp3
The full program, including an interview with Norman Solomon on the media's treatment of the escalation, can be downloaded here:
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3952

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Just Foreign Policy News
December 8, 2009

Counterspin: US Media Bury Afghan Civil War
Janine Jackson interviews Just Foreign Policy on the US media's failure to report on the Afghan civil war (eight minutes.)
http://justforeignpolicy.org/sites/default/files/Naiman_Counterspin_USMedia_Bury_Afghan_Civil_War.mp3
The full program, including an interview with Norman Solomon on the media's treatment of the escalation, can be downloaded here:
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3952

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Summary:
U.S./Top News
1) The Pentagon on Monday announced the deployment of 16,200 troops to Afghanistan, McClatchy News reports. Approximately 1,500 Marines will deploy before the end of December 2009.

Just Foreign Policy News
December 7, 2009

The Real News: Honduras 62% Turnout Stat Has No Basis
The widely reported figure of 62% turnout has no basis in reality, the Real News reports. Only the Honduran organization Hagamos Democracia collected significant election data. HD was supported by the National Democratic Institute, which is funded by the US government and affiliated with the Democratic Party. HD found a 47.6 percent participation rate over its sample of 1,000 voting tables. But instead of blowing the whistle, the NDI neglected to mention this 15 percent discrepancy in their preliminary report on the election. They declared the elections to be orderly and peaceful, also making no mention of the brutal attack on peaceful protesters by security forces in downtown San Pedro Sula, an event that two NDI delegation members were witnesses to.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/07/honduran-coup-regimes-cla_n_382827.html

Feingold/McGovern/Jones: Don't Deploy More Troops Until Congress Has Voted
http://feingold.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=320378

We Need a Clean Vote Now on Afghanistan Escalation
Novel concept: Congress should debate and vote on sending more troops to Afghanistan _before_ they are deployed. And it should be a clean, up-or-down vote, not linked to flood relief for farmers or the extension of unemployment benefits.
http://www.truthout.org/1205093

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Just Foreign Policy News
November 30, 2009

[The Just Foreign Policy News may be intermittent in the next week, as the editor is traveling. The regular schedule will resume on December 7.]

CEPR: Honduran Elections Marred by Police Violence, Censorship, International Non-Recognition, CEPR Co-Director Says
Elections Won't Resolve Political Crisis; Democracy Must Be Restored Before Free Elections Can Be Held
http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2009/11/30-8

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Summary:
U.S./Top News
1) President Obama plans to lay out a "time frame" for winding down US involvement in the war in Afghanistan when he announces his decision to send more forces, the New York Times reports. But officials said it would not be "as firm as the current schedule for withdrawing troops in Iraq."

2) Election observers said about 500 people marching peacefully in the Honduran city of San Pedro Sula were repressed by tear gas and water cannons as a presidential election was held, Nica Times reports. Juan Barahona, who leads a resistance group critical of the de facto government and the elections, had told followers not to protest on the day of elections for fear of military repression but left it up to local chapters to decide.

Just Foreign Policy News
November 20, 2009

[The Just Foreign Policy News may be intermittent in the next few weeks, as the editor will be traveling. The normal schedule will resume on December 7.]

Monday: Call the White House Against Escalation in Afghanistan
There will be a national call-in day to the White House Monday against military esclalation in Afghanistan. The White House Comment Line is 202-456-1111.
http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2009/11/20-8

Mark Weisbrot: Letter to the Wall Street Journal
Mark Weisbrot gives Jose de Cordoba of the Wall Street Journal a hand by sending him a "translation" of a recent article about Honduras.
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/node/416

Will the National Democratic Institute Back the Coup in Honduras?
The US-funded National Democratic Institute and International Republican Institute want to send observers to the Nov. 29 elections in Honduras - a step towards recognizing the elections of the coup regime, which would put the U.S. at odds with most of Latin America. Ask your Represenative to oppose funding for observers of the Nov. 29 election unless President Zelaya is reinstated.
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/observers

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Summary:
U.S./Top News

Just Foreign Policy News
November 19, 2009

Will the National Democratic Institute Back the Coup in Honduras?
Senator Lugar's office suggests that the US-funded National Democratic Institute and International Republican Institute will be sending observers to the Nov. 29 elections in Honduras - a step towards recognizing the elections of the coup regime, which would put the U.S. at odds with most of Latin America. Ask your Represenative to oppose funding for observers of the Nov. 29 election unless President Zelaya is reinstated.
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/observers

For background, see: Mark Weisbrot's commentary on the JFP blog:
Mark Weisbrot on Senator Lugar's Call to Recognize Honduran Election
http://bit.ly/honduras-weisbrot

Monday: Call the White House Against Escalation in Afghanistan
There will be a national call-in day to the White House Monday against military esclalation in Afghanistan.

Prepare for Local Reaction to the President's Escalation Speech
If President Obama announces he is sending more U.S. troops to Afghanistan, groups around the country will hold events to coincide with the President's speech.
Post a local event:
http://bit.ly/noescalation-event-post
Sample Press Release:
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/node/409

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Just Foreign Policy News
November 18, 2009

Monday: Call the White House Against Escalation in Afghanistan
Just Foreign Policy, Peace Action, UFPJ and other groups are collaborating on a call-in day to the White House Monday against military esclalation in Afghanistan. There will be a toll-free number.

Prepare for Local Reaction to the President's Escalation Speech
If President Obama announces that he is sending tens of thousands of more U.S. troops to Afghanistan in 2010, groups around the country will be holding vigils and protests to coincide with the President's speech, trying to get into the same news cycle as the President's announcement, saying that military escalation is not the answer. Will your town be ready? Just Foreign Policy has drafted a press release you can use.
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/node/409

Cong. Progressive Caucus Requests Meeting with Obama on Afghanistan
Yesterday, the Congressional Progressive Caucus sent a letter to President Obama, noting support in the CPC for a timeline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops, opposition to sending more troops, support for redirecting resources from the military to aid, and support for reconciliation in Afghanistan; and requesting a meeting with the President to discuss these concerns. The letter is posted here:
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/node/407

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Your financial contributions to Just Foreign Policy help us create opportunities for Americans to advocate for a just foreign policy.
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/donate.html

Summary: