Although the Iranian regime has been one of the worst human rights offenders in the world and has been unwilling to allow inspections of nuclear power plants, they are on the crest of a new presidential inauguration. To pass more sanctions now sends a bad message and gives the hardliners more ammunition against the US. The timing of the House vote has raised sharp questions about the kind of message it would send to Iran’s president-elect, Hassan Rouhani, before he takes office. MJ Rosenberg: "Since his election he has made clear that his goal is to resolve the US-Iran stalemate over Iranian nuclear development through negotiations... There is not one reason for passing this punitive bill before the new president takes office, unless, of course, AIPAC’s goal is to insult Rouhani and the Iranian nation in order to push him toward becoming another Ahmedinejad." Let's not sabotage any possibility of resolving this or our own reputation around the world by attacking the Iranian people with new sanctions... especially not NOW! Read more: http://mjayrosenberg.com/2013/07/31/house-to-pass-new-aipac-iran-sanctions-bill-to-keep-war-option-hot/ by MJ Rosenberg Update: 16 House members led by Rep. Jim McDermott, WA, say House action on #Iran is wrong. Signed Letter: http://www.mcdermott.house.gov/images/pdf/iranletter.pdf

• Initiators: New School for Democracy, Taiwan Association for Human Rights, Taiwan Democracy Watch, Covenants Watch, Cross-Strait Agreement Watch, Taiwan Association for China Human Rights, Taiwan Society for Democracy

The July 2013 military coup in Egypt and the kidnapping of a democratically-elected president and his wife represents a critical setback for democratic progress in the region and the world.If the United States is committed to democracy and respect for the rule of law, it will insist that Fatah El-Sisi and his tyrannical cohorts act in accordance with the democratic process, release all the political prisoners, stop the violence and the use of force currently being exerted without regard for human rights and modern diplomacy. In addition, we ask that all military aid be halted.

When old guard Cuban Americans in Congress were forced to accept that Beyonce and Jay-Z had visited Cuba legally, their response was to get the House Appropriations Committee to change the law and stop everyone from going on the same kind of licensed people to people trip. Members of the House and Senate and the President must hear from us. We need to tell them to reject the exile politics of a shrinking minority who are afraid of Americans seeing Cuba for themselves. The President should now treat all of us the same way he did Cuban Americans, universities and religious organizations four years ago by authorizing a general (no application needed) license for all purposeful non-tourist travel. Only sun and sand holidays separated from average Cubans should be precluded. That way we can all enjoy the same opportunity as Beyonce and Jay-Z, but at a lower cost, staying in privately owned bed and breakfasts and self-selected hotels, using public transportation and rental cars, organizing our own programs or joining meaningful group trips. Also important is that all US travel agents and tour operators must be free to book flights, hotels and programs for legally authorized travelers instead of the near monopoly currently held by 250 licensed Travel Service Providers. [Note: Cuban American travel and remittances will be crippled by this legislation. Text and analysis here: http://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2013/07/legislation-aims-to-destroy-people-to.html]

The US military holds 166 foreign captives at the detention camp in Guantanamo Bay. According to the latest official figures 106 are currently participating in a hunger strike in protest over their continued detention, with 45 being force-fed as of July 8, 2013.

Foreign nationals who risk their lives to assist the United States when we are conducting military actions in their country deserve our protection, both during and after their service. We have an obligation to do everything possible to ensure their safety and that of their families. With respect to Iraq and Afghanistan, we have not yet done enough to protect those who assisted us and some of them have already been murdered by anti-American groups. We cannot allow this to continue. Thousands of Iraqi and Afghani individuals who assisted American forces and civilian contractors are still in harm's way in their respective countries despite requesting asylum in the United States. In many instances, they've had visa requests in process for years without concrete progress or conclusion. In a recent episode of the radio show This American Life (episode #499 entitled "Taking Names"), the plight of these individuals and their families was described. Despite trying to the best of their ability to comply with U.S. visa requirements, many of them have been stuck in limbo for extended periods which has left them vulnerable to reprisals from anti-American elements in their respective countries. The episode relates the particularly heartbreaking case of an Iraqi referred to as "Omar" (not his real name) whose repeated attempts to obtain visas for himself and his family dragged on until June 2012 when he was found beheaded by unknown assailants. According to U.S. military sources and the civilian contractor who employed Omar from 2004 to 2006 in construction work, he was an excellent employee. Yet, he was abandoned and ultimately died a horrible death because he chose to assist Americans during the Iraq War. It is unconscionable for the United States to request locals to assist us and then leave them and their loved ones exposed to reprisals from anti-American groups. It should be part of the deal that we guarantee protection for them and their families both while they are working for us and afterward. Failing to provide such protection is not only morally indefensible but also poor foreign policy. If America becomes known as a country which doesn't protect those we ask to help us, how can we expect locals to assist us in future conflicts?

For nearly five years, a group of some 600 multinational corporations and trade associations have been quietly negotiating a trade pact IN SECRET that could void American laws that protect workers, jobs, health, and the environment. During negotiations in 2012 news leaked of some of the provisions U.S. trade officials were prepared to approve, and a public outcry derailed the talks. Trade Representative Ron Kirk resigned. When Michael Froman was confirmed as the new U.S. Trade Representative in 2013, the push to renew "fast track" authority began again in earnest. Despite more leaks of disturbing provisions in the TPP text in 2013, on January 9, 2014, both the House and Senate introduced "Fast Track" bills. The White House and many of the corporate "trade advisers" are turning up the heat on Congress to vote for the "Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities Act of 2014." If this bill becomes law, President Obama would be able to sign an agreement first, and then force a quick vote in Congress without any public scrutiny, with no revisions, and with limited floor debate. Rep. Keith Ellison has called TPP "the largest corporate power grab you've never heard of." Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, (who happens to share my name!) is one of just four U.S. Senators who voted against Froman's confirmation this summer. She said of TPP, “I have heard the argument that transparency would undermine the Trade Representative’s policy to complete the trade agreement because public opposition would be significant.” Warren explained, “In other words, if people knew what was going on, they would stop it. This argument is exactly backwards. If transparency would lead to widespread public opposition to a trade agreement, then that trade agreement should not be the policy of the United States.” The only TPP language made public has been through Wikileaks - with analysis by Public Citizen, and recently, by environmental groups. Trade officials have kept a tight lid on the negotiations and have only recently allowed members of Congress to view (not copy) the text, which remains "classified." Rep. Alan Grayson of Florida, who has viewed the text, has repeatedly spoken out in opposition to this limitation placed on members of Congress. Among the most disturbing revelations in the leaked TPP language, that seems to be mirrored in the Atlantic version as well: Foreign companies would have "preferred status" – granting them greater rights within our borders than our own companies enjoy. U.S. companies would have more incentives to offshore jobs, and foreign companies would not be bound by the minimum wage and could sue the U.S. if our health, safety, or environmental regulations interfered with their profits. Jurisdiction over such suits would rest not in the hands of elected officials or judges, but with an international business tribunal. Their decisions, which would be binding upon all member nations, would supersede our own laws. TPP is a direct threat to American sovereignty. Members of Congress who vote to grant Fast Track authority for the TPP are voting against democracy. That is something we as constituents must tell them we will remember when we go to the polls this fall.

Reps. Peter Welch (D-VT), Chris Gibson (R-NY), Rick Nolan (D-MN), and Walter Jones (R-NC) have introduced bipartisan legislation (H.R.2494) to block U.S. military intervention in Syria without an affirmative vote of Congress. Identical legislation (S.1201) has been introduced in the Senate by Sens. Tom Udall (D-NM), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Rand Paul (R-KY) and Mike Lee (R-UT). Sending military assistance to Syrian rebels, or intervening directly, will lead to Americanization of Syria's sectarian civil war. Congress and the American people should be part of a vigorous debate before any such military escalation takes place. U.S. military intervention without Congressional authorization would violate the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution. Urge the Senate and the House and to support the Udall/Paul and Gibson/Welch bills to block U.S. military intervention in Syria without Congressional approval.

While we are under sequester F-16 jets went to a terrorist country (Egypt) now arms & more aid to syria

I helped to train the Iraqi Army during my second tour, and their concern is that many of the anti-Assad forces are the same terrorists they've fought before and who continue to target them. Plus, as Senator Tom Udall noted, once we introduce weapons, we have zero control over them. The United States "could turn over the weapons we're talking about and next day they end up in the hands of al-Qaida." Moreover, there is no winning scenario when we get involved in other nations' civil wars and proxy wars. On this point, Senator Chris Murphy said it best: "We have failed over and over again in our attempts to pull the strings of Middle Eastern politics." Sign our petition and stand with Senators Murphy and Udall today.

The President is using Al Shabab, reverting to tribalism, breaking the laws of the Constitution, and also causing large- scale disorder by killing people in Jubaland. This causes wide spread panic and fear across Somalia and among the diasporic Somalis, who have been through this before. Also, we would like to ask the American Government, ngo's, and other influential organisations and groups to withhold their support and resources until the President of Somalia stops the re-ignited genocide. That is not my fear. That is what is happening right now.

I want to keep the US out of the Syrian war between two fighting sects of Islam. This is their war, not ours.