House Democrats are playing and will play a key role in whether the Obama Administration can get a deal with Iran. Under the Corker-Cardin deal on the Corker Congressional review legislation, we need at a minimum at least a third of the Senate or a third of the House to be willing to sustain a Presidential veto of Congressional legislation against the deal. Given that Republicans are likely to oppose the President, that means we need at least 2/3 of House Democrats to support the President. [1] Illinois Democrat Jan Schakowsky is circulating a letter in support of the talks. [2] Some House Democrats, like Florida Representative Alan Grayson, are attacking the talks by trying to introduce issues that are outside the scope of the talks and by setting an impossible standard for a “good deal.” [3] Urge House Democrats to stand with Rep. Jan Schakowsky in support of the talks by signing the Schakowsky letter, by signing and sharing our petition. If your House Representative is a Democrat, please call them in support of the Schakowsky letter and report your call here: http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/schakowsky-letter References: 1. Robert Naiman, “What Did Democrats Win in the Cardin Compromise on the Corker Bill?” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/what-did-democrats-win-in-cardin-compromise_b_7073264.html; J Street, “J Street Welcomes Compromise on Iran Agreement Review Bill,” http://jstreet.org/blog/post/j-street-welcomes-compromise-on-iran-agreement-review-bill_1 2. http://www.niacouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/scorecard///Schakowsky-Doggett-Price.pdf 3. “Correspondence with Rep. Alan Grayson About the Iran Talks,” http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/node/1597

Republicans in Congress are going into overdrive trying to undermine President Obama's efforts to get a diplomatic agreement with Iran. To block these Republican efforts, we need Democrats to stand together. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi is standing with President Obama. [1] Unfortunately, Florida Democratic Representative Alan Grayson, who has a national profile as a progressive Democrat, is not yet standing with President Obama and Leader Pelosi. Grayson has attacked the framework deal with Iran that the Administration and European allies negotiated with Iran, while well-known Iran hawks like Rep. Brad Sherman concede that the Administration won significant concessions from Iran in the deal. [2] Urge Rep. Grayson to stand with President Obama and Leader Pelosi on Iran diplomacy by signing our petition. 1. http://thehill.com/homenews/house/238272-pelosi-comes-out-against-iran-bill 2. http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/237903-obama-officials-launch-full-court-press-against-iran-legislation

There were 73 decrees to wipe out Yezidis through murder and forced conversion over the past 700 years, which led to the loss of 22 million Yezidis. Please help us to stem the tide of this 74th attempt to wipe out the Yezidis. Yezidis International works to raise consciousness about the Yezidi crisis in Northern Iraq. The Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County, California is also sponsoring an effort to raise consciousness about the plight of the Yezidis.

US diplomats have secured a historic, breakthrough: a framework that will ensure Iran can only have a peaceful nuclear program through rigorous inspections and verification.[1] This is perhaps the most significant foreign policy accomplishment of the Obama presidency, and offers the promise of a peaceful path with Iran, rather than a rush into an unnecessary war. But Republican war hawks—and too many Democrats who are siding with them—are continuing their crusade against the president and trying to sabotage this deal. We need all members of Congress to recognize that the alternative to diplomacy is war, and that they must reject the Corker-Menendez bill (Senate Bill 615), the Kirk-Menendez bill (Senate Bill 269), and any other legislative attempts to blow up the diplomatic process. References: 1. "Iran and E.U. Announce Framework for Nuclear Accord," The New York Times, April 2, 2015 http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/03/world/middleeast/iran-nuclear-talks.html

The Syriza party won Greek parliamentary elections on January 25 on an anti-austerity program [1], after 6 years of depression [2] that were prolonged and exacerbated by Eurozone authorities (including the European Central Bank, European Commission, and the International Monetary Fund [IMF]). On February 4 -- just 10 days after the Syriza government was elected -- the ECB cut off the main source of financing for Greek banks [3]. There was no reason to do this other than bullying; it was more than three weeks before the deadline for the decision. This and other threats and statements by the ECB have driven tens of billions of dollars from the Greek banking system. The ECB has also refused to lift a cap on the amount that Greek banks can lend to the government, an action that it did not take against the previous government. The ECB’s actions have already contributed to serious damage to Greece’s nascent economic recovery: the Greek economy was projected to grow by 2.9 percent this year, but partly as a result of this instability stoked by the ECB, this forecast has been cut in half. On April 1 the Greek government put forward a detailed and credible reform plan [4] to increase revenues, so as to ensure that it can make its debt payments. The Greek government has negotiated in good faith; the ECB should not be pushing the Greek government to the brink of default, and undermining the economy, in order to gain advantage in these negotiations. The ECB should immediately lift the cap on Greek bank lending to the government, and the restore the government’s ability to borrow from the Central Bank that the prior government had before the elections. Urge President Obama to press European authorities to end their destabilization of the Greek economy to undermine democracy by signing our petition. References: 1. http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2015/3/destroying-the-greek-economy-in-order-to-save-it.html 2. http://www.cepr.net/index.php/publications/reports/the-greek-economy-which-way-forward 3. http://www.cepr.net/index.php/op-eds-&-columns/op-eds-&-columns/greece-ecb-kicks-syriza-in-the-face-syriza-turns-the-other-cheek 4. http://im.ft-static.com/content/images/55b27a7e-d87c-11e4-ba53-00144feab7de.pdf

Her opinion will matter. As a potential candidate for President, she owes it to the public to speak out in support of this now --- especially when the enemies of the agreement are dominating the air waves.

The Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen threatens to turn what has been a civil war into a wider regional struggle involving Iran. It could also destroy any hope of stability in Yemen. [1] On Tuesday, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights warned that Yemen is on the brink of collapse. [2] Rather than bombing – which has already killed more than 40 civilians in a single strike [3] - Saudi Arabia should be using its power and influence to pursue diplomatic negotiations, which offer the only hope of a durable solution. President Obama should use his influence with Saudi Arabia to encourage all sides to work toward a political solution to prevent a wider conflict and to give Yemen a chance at stability. Meanwhile, President Obama should evacuate US citizens in Yemen who are in danger – as other countries have. [4] Urge President Obama and Members of Congress to press for a political solution in Yemen and to evacuate Americans in danger by signing our petition. References 1. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/01/opinion/saudi-arabias-ominous-reach-into-yemen.html 2. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/01/world/middleeast/un-warns-of-total-collapse-in-yemen-as-houthis-continue-offensive.html 3. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/30/us-yemen-security-idUSKBN0ML0YC20150330 4. http://www.pri.org/stories/2015-03-30/bombs-are-falling-americans-yemen-theres-no-evacuation-sight

Deir Ezzor city, located in the east of Syria, for more than 3 months, has been suffering from a strict siege imposed on the civilians there by the ISIS and Al Assad troops at the same time. The fact that more than 300 thousands civilians live in the city currently makes it the largest human community under siege since the embark of the Syrian revolution, which is considered an imminent threat to the lives of the civilians staying there, not to mention that half of them are children. Deir Ezzor city has been destroyed by Al Assad air strikes over 4 years and 70% of its neighborhoods suffer because of complete lack of the basic needs for life. Inhabitants of the city find no means whatsoever to get food, medicine or communications, especially with the fever of high prices where prices jumped to more than 1500 times. Food supplies are controlled by the Regime's officers and intelligence in coordination with the mercenaries of ISIS who prevent food supplies from civilians but allow the landing and take-off of the airplanes providing supplies for Al Assad troops. In no time, Deir Ezzor will most probably be the worst human catastrophe in Syria, if not in the whole world. If the international community, the United Nations and the International Coalition do nothing to stop this catastrophe this will create an environment for more radicalism in the area. We strongly urge you to apply strong pressure on Al Assad Regime and ISIS to lift this strict siege and facilitate the process of providing food and humanitarian supplies to the city. We also appeal to the International Coalition to take necessary procedures to break this tight siege of the city.

Democratic Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid has announced that he will not run for re-election. [1] Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) has been mentioned as a potential candidate to lead Senate Democrats. But Schumer has signed on as a co-sponsor of two dangerous bills sponsored by Sens. Corker, Kirk, and Menendez, which would undermine diplomacy and risk putting the United States on a path to war with Iran. Ilya Sheyman, executive director of MoveOn.org Political Action, said: “Supporting reckless legislation that undermines President Obama’s diplomacy with Iran and risks a dangerous, unnecessary war in the Middle East should disqualify anyone from leading the Senate Democratic caucus. Sen. Schumer needs to withdraw his support from the Corker and Menendez legislation.” [2] Show you agree with MoveOn that Schumer must withdraw support from the Corker and Menendez bills by signing our petition. References: 1. “Harry Reid Says He Won’t Seek Re-Election,” Carl Hulse, New York Times, March 27, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/28/us/politics/senator-harry-reid-retire.html 2. “MoveOn reaction to pending opening in Democratic caucus leadership and Sen. Schumer’s position on Iran diplomacy,” Brian Stewart, MoveOn.org, March 27 2015, http://front.moveon.org/moveon-reaction-to-pending-opening-in-democratic-caucus-leadership-and-sen-schumers-position-on-iran-diplomacy/

Every now and then, an incident shines light on the perversity of the politics on Israel in this country. In his bid to win reelection, Prime Minister Netanyahu rejected a two-state solution and decried Arabs exercising their right to vote. Once reelected, he walked back these positions. While many in our community accepted these walkbacks in hopes that we could return to business as usual, the White House took a reasonable, principled stance and said that it's time to rethink our approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Then it came under attack for speaking the truth. Given the Prime Minister's rejection of two-states, we agree the time has come for a change. We thank President Obama for looking at this issue with open eyes, and vow to back US leaders doing what's necessary to bring us closer to peace.

Thou shall not kill or at least not profit from wars. Wars kill people and cost a lot of money. If Everyone has to pay, those in charge will insure that there will be fewer wars. If the cost of war is paid off quickly, there will be less long term economic disruption. Soldiers and citizens will be glad it's over. Everyone shares the pain, not just the family members of our lost Soldiers.

In response to Benjamin Netanyahu’s pledge that a Palestinian state will not be created in the West Bank and Gaza so long as Netanyahu is Prime Minister of Israel, the Obama Administration is publicly weighing whether to lift the US “diplomatic shield” at the United Nations that has protected Netanyahu’s policies from criticism by the UN Security Council. [1] The US “diplomatic shield” has meant that the US has automatically threatened to veto any resolution opposing Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank or pressuring the Israeli government to end its military occupation of Palestinians in the West Bank. If the US “diplomatic shield” protecting Netanyahu is lifted, the UN Security Council can take the lead in advancing a diplomatic resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict – which is exactly what the UN Security Council is supposed to do. [2] Urge President Obama to follow through on his threat to lift the US diplomatic shield protecting Netanyahu by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/israels-america-united-116203.html 2. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/un-security-council-israel-palestine-_b_6905006.html