The U.S. military ignored its own guidelines for the use of depleted uranium ammunition in the 2003 Iraq War, firing the controversial weapons at unarmored targets, buildings in populated areas and troops. [1] The use of depleted uranium in munitions is controversial because of concerns about potential long-term health effects. A 2005 review concluded that human epidemiological evidence is consistent with increased risk of birth defects in the children of people exposed to depleted uranium. [2] In 2015, the U.S. stated that it had not and would not use depleted uranium in Iraq or Syria. However, the Pentagon has now admitted that it has used depleted uranium weapons in Syria. [3] Urge President Obama and Congress to demand transparency and accountability in U.S. policy on using depleted uranium weapons in Syria by signing our petition. References: 1. https://www.paxforpeace.nl/stay-informed/news/us-broke-its-own-rules-firing-depleted-uranium-in-iraq 2. http://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1476-069X-4-17 3. http://www.irinnews.org/analysis/2016/10/06/exclusive-iraq-war-records-reignite-debate-over-us-use-depleted-uranium

On October 20, 27 Florida-based organizations and 24 other prominent Floridians wrote to Hillary Clinton asking her to articulate her positions on issues of concern to the Haitian American community, noting that "Hurricane Matthew devastated Haiti, affecting two million Haitians; stranding hundreds of thousands; killing at least 1,000; obliterating tens of thousands of homes; destroying and inundating towns, livestock, crops, and livelihoods; and causing a surge in cholera cases." [1] The letter urges U.S. leadership to eradicate Haiti’s cholera epidemic - brought to Haiti by the UN - and to compensate its victims; to re-designate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status and expand the Haitian Family Reunification Program to protect and support Haitian-Americans in the wake of Hurricane Matthew; and to support Haitian efforts to ensure a credible electoral process. Urge your Representative and Senators to support these reforms of U.S. policy towards Haiti by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.ijdh.org/2016/10/topics/politics-democracy/51-florida-groups-and-leaders-ask-hillary-clinton-meeting-and-views-on-urgent-haiti-issues/

New York Representative Eliot Engel, who voted for the Iraq war [1] and opposed the Iran nuclear deal [2], has introduced a bill that would undermine U.S. diplomacy to reduce violence in Syria, advocates further entangling the U.S. militarily in Syria's civil war, and would undermine the Iran nuclear deal. Engel's bill is opposed by the Obama Administration. The bill advocates for the U.S. to impose a "no fly zone" in Syria, an act of war. Hillary Clinton has noted that a "no fly zone" would mean that the U.S. would have to “take out all of the air defense, many of which are located in populated areas. So … you’re going to kill a lot of Syrians. So all of a sudden this intervention that people talk about so glibly becomes an American and NATO involvement where you take a lot of civilians.” [3] The Obama Administration opposes calls for the U.S. to impose a "no fly zone" in Syria. The Friends Committee on National Legislation, America's biggest peace and diplomacy lobby, notes that H.R. 5732 would "undermine its stated goal to encourage a negotiated political solution" and that "while the Obama administration has opposed H.R. 5732 on the grounds that it will undermine its Syria diplomacy, the bill could move to the House floor during the lame duck session in November." FCNL notes that the bill "would undermine the Iran nuclear accord (JCPOA) in various ways, but perhaps most importantly, this bill would re-impose some of the same sanctions that were lifted in the JCPOA in exchange for Iran’s nuclear concessions, further obstructing Iran from receiving the sanctions relief." [4] Urge your Representative to oppose H.R. 5732 by signing our petition. References: 1. http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2002/roll455.xml 2. https://engel.house.gov/latest-news1/engel-statement-on-iran-deal1/ 3. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/17/us/politics/hillary-clinton-was-open-to-covert-action-abroad-hacked-transcript-shows.html 4. https://www.fcnl.org/updates/analysis-syria-civilian-protection-act-h-r-5732-334

On June 16, 2014, Members of the House of Representatives voted to ban the U.S. transfer of cluster bombs to Saudi Arabia, [1] which has used them in civilian areas of Yemen, in violation of U.S. law. [2] The Obama Administration has said it has stopped the transfer of cluster bombs to Saudi Arabia. [3] The U.S. company that produced these bombs, Textron, has announced that it is getting out of the cluster bomb business, citing Administration and Congressional opposition to U.S. exports. [4] The current Russian-Syrian offensive in eastern Aleppo has used Russian cluster bombs. [5] Unfortunately, the U.S., like Russia and Syria, has still not signed the Cluster Munitions Convention, banning the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of these weapons. But the U.S. can still act to uphold and reinforce the international norm against these weapons even though the U.S. is not yet a party to the Convention, as the U.S. did when it stopped shipping them to Saudi Arabia. The "Textron" of Russia is the Russian bomb maker Bazalt. [6] Current U.S. policy allows U.S. arms manufacturers to operate side-by-side with Bazalt at international "trade fairs" for arms exporters, such as Jordan's SOFEX arms expo in May. [7] Any U.S. move to sanction Bazalt is likely to resonate internationally: the 119 countries which are parties to the Cluster Munitions Convention are bound not only not to use cluster bombs themselves but to pursue a policy of non-cooperation with their use by others. [8] Urge President Obama to name, shame, and sanction actors who specifically contribute to the use of Russian cluster bombs in Syria by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/obama-heeding-close-house_b_10516480.html 2. http://www.noclusterbombs.org/news/2016/05/28/transfers-ksa/ 3. http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/05/27/exclusive-white-house-blocks-transfer-of-cluster-bombs-to-saudi-arabia/ 4. http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/08/31/last-remaining-u-s-maker-of-cluster-bombs-stops-production/ 5. http://www.noclusterbombs.org/news/2016/10/06/syria/ 6. http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2006-12-06/russian-bomb-builder-shows-its-target-smarts; https://www.hrw.org/news/2012/10/23/syria-despite-denials-more-cluster-bomb-attacks 7. http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/inside-jordans-arms-fair-471360379 8. http://www.clusterconvention.org/files/2011/01/Convention-ENG.pdf

The Obama Administration is demanding that Saudi Arabia agree to an immediate, unconditional ceasefire in Yemen or risk losing future U.S. military aid. [1] The Washington Post reports that "Saudi airstrikes on Yemeni civilians may have put a target on the backs of U.S. troops." [2] Demand that Saudi Arabia agree to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Yemen and stop endangering U.S. troops by signing our petition. References: 1. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-support-to-saudi-arabia-to-hinge-on-yemen-cease-fire/2016/10/13/2082ac40-916a-11e6-9c85-ac42097b8cc0_story.html 2. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2016/10/12/saudi-airstrikes-on-yemeni-civilians-may-have-put-a-target-on-the-backs-of-u-s-troops/

A recent New York Times report claimed that U.S. cruise missile strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen "marked the first time the United States has become involved militarily in the civil war between the Houthis, an indigenous Shiite group with loose connections to Iran, and the Yemeni government, which is backed by Saudi Arabia and other Sunni nations." [1] The U.S. was already "involved militarily in the civil war" prior to the missile strikes. Human Rights Watch notes, "The US became a party to the conflict during the first months of fighting by providing specific targeting information and refueling planes during bombing raids." HRW identified the munition used in a Saudi Arabia-led coalition airstrike on a funeral ceremony in Sanaa on October 8 as a US-manufactured air-dropped GBU-12 Paveway II 500-pound laser-guided bomb. HRW described the attack, which killed at least 100 people and wounded more than 500, including children, as "an apparent war crime." [2] Understanding that the U.S. was and remains "militarily involved" is crucial for understanding U.S. responsibility, for establishing context for the reported missile strike on the U.S. ship, and for understanding Congressional responsibility. Congress has never voted to authorize a U.S. war against Houthi rebels in Yemen. [3] If the U.S. is engaged in "hostilities" against Houthi rebels that have not been authorized by Congress, then Congress has an obligation under the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution to either pass an authorization for the use of force, or to vote on the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the conflict. Urge the New York Times to correct the record concerning ongoing U.S. military involvement in Yemen's civil war by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/13/world/middleeast/yemen-rebels-missile-warship.html 2. https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/10/13/yemen-saudi-led-funeral-attack-apparent-war-crime 3. http://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2016/08/16/senator-chris-murphy-on-yemen-saudi-arabia-conflict-the-lead-jake-tapper-interview.cnn

As Democratic Senator Chris Murphy has noted, U.S. participation in the Saudi bombing of Yemen has never been authorized by Congress. [1] Saudi Arabia's conduct is now coming under unprecedented scrutiny. New evidence has recently emerged that the U.S. intelligence community believes that the government of Saudi Arabia has been supporting ISIS. [2] But Congress has never voted on whether the U.S. should be refueling Saudi planes that are bombing Yemen, even though U.S. officials have warned that the U.S. could be implicated in war crimes for supporting the Saudi bombing of Yemen. [3] Under section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, "at any time that United States Armed Forces are engaged in hostilities outside the territory of the United States, its possessions and territories without a declaration of war or specific statutory authorization, such forces shall be removed by the President if the Congress so directs by concurrent resolution." [4] Urge your Senators and Representative to use their war powers to force a vote on removing U.S. forces from the Saudi bombing of Yemen by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2016/08/16/senator-chris-murphy-on-yemen-saudi-arabia-conflict-the-lead-jake-tapper-interview.cnn 2. http://www.salon.com/2016/10/11/leaked-hillary-clinton-emails-show-u-s-allies-saudi-arabia-and-qatar-supported-isis/ 3. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-saudi-yemen-idUSKCN12A0BQ 4. http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/warpower.asp

Bombings include the targeting of hospitals, critical infrastructure, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, schools, and civilian neighborhoods. These strikes use illegal weapons, including clusters bombs, and deadly tactics such as "double tap" and "triple tap" strikes, which kill medical personnel arriving on the scene. NPR has ignored the Yemen bombings, such as the Oct. 8, 2016 Sana'a strike which killed over 140 civilians and wounded over 550 at a funeral gathering.

Though Japan regained its sovereignty in 1952, the U.S. military continued to occupy Okinawa for another twenty years. Okinawa is less than 1% of Japan’s total area, yet is occupied by three fourths of the U.S. military bases in the country. [1] The island is choked top to bottom with war machinery and troops — built on land seized from Okinawans — which have caused extreme noise pollution, deadly accidents, destruction of natural environments, and assaults against women by American soldiers. The construction of new helipads in Takae is only the most recent effort by the U.S. to project its military presence in the region over the voice of Okinawans. Residents who engaged in sit-ins and other peaceful protests at the construction site have been forcibly removed by violent riot police. [2] The central government of Japan, bending to the will of the U.S., has even filed a lawsuit against two residents called “strategic lawsuit against public participation,” or SLAPP. These retaliatory lawsuits are intended to silence, intimidate or punish people who have used public forums to speak, petition or otherwise move for government action on an issue, and have been made illegal in many jurisdictions around the world. [3] When national leaders refuse to budge from unjust policies, it’s at the local level that we can have the most impact. In September 2015, Berkeley passed a resolution on opposing the construction of a U.S military base in Henoko, Okinawa. [4] We are proud that it became the first such resolution passed by a city council in the United States, giving tremendous hope to people in Okinawa. It is time to continue our support of Okinawans in their ongoing fight against the devastation of their communities. Sources: 1. http://fpif.org/okinawa-small-island-trying-block-u-s-militarys-pivot-asia/ 2. http://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20160722/p2a/00m/0na/013000c 3. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/12/national/social-issues/film-depicts-okinawans-fight-against-ospreys/#.V_07tlUrKVM 4. http://www.cityofberkeley.info/recordsonline/export/16874673.pdf

I'm tired of the bloodshed in Aleppo, Syria. The Russians and Syrian government won't allow U.N. aid convoys into Aleppo. I want the U.S. Air force to start an airdrop of crucial supplies to the innocent civilians of Aleppo.

Following a bombing attack by Saudi-led forces on a funeral in Yemen, the White House announced an “immediate review” of U.S. support for the Saudi Arabia-led military campaign in Yemen. "U.S. security cooperation with Saudi Arabia is not a blank check," the White House statement said. [1] Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy said: "Saudi airstrikes, with support from the United States, have killed thousands of civilians in Yemen. ‎Yesterday's attack on large funeral party follows months of attacks on schools, homes, and hospitals…we are past the point of strongly worded statements. If the U.S. is serious when it says our support for Saudi Arabia isn't a blank check, then it's time to prove it -- because it's clear the Saudi-led coalition isn't listening. The administration should pull U.S. support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen because it's harming America's national security, enabling terrorist groups to thrive, and killing innocent civilians.” [2] Oxfam said: "This weekend’s attack on a funeral home in Sana’a was a gruesome act that served no purpose except to deepen Yemen’s misery. With more than 140 dead and more than 525 injured according to early reports, this was a massacre of civilians, apparently carried out by Saudi warplanes fueled and supported by the United States…. the US announced that it will immediately review its support to the Saudi-led coalition. This review ... should conclude immediately, with the withdrawal of all US support, including the sale of arms, to the parties. Any other choice signals ongoing indifference to the thousands of Yemenis killed by airstrikes and the millions on the verge of starvation thanks to a senseless, preventable conflict. The US must throw its full weight behind a political settlement, it cannot be a peace broker and an arms broker at the same time." [3] Urge President Obama and Congress to end U.S. support for the Saudi bombing campaign in Yemen by signing our petition. References: 1. https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/10/08/statement-nsc-spokesperson-ned-price-yemen 2. https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-us-must-end-support-for-disastrous-saudi-bombing-campaign-in-yemen- 3. https://www.oxfamamerica.org/press/saudi-led-coalition-airstrike-on-a-funeral-in-sanaa-killed-and-injured-hundreds-of-people/

It is time to end the war in Afghanistan. In this election year, you would expect that those hoping to be the next Commander in Chief of America’s military would be putting forward their plan to end America’s longest war. Yet none of the candidates have put forward a clear, actionable, public plan for peace. This is unacceptable. Please take a moment to demand that all candidates release a plan that will finally end America’s longest war, bring all our troops home, and put forward a plan for peace in Afghanistan.