Just Foreign Policy

Campaigns

• Nominate Paul Krugman for Treasury Secretary

  Press reports say President Obama will soon nominate a new Treasury Secretary . Press speculation has centered on candidates likely to support the Wall Street agenda of cuts to Social Security and Medicare benefits and other domestic spending rather than government policies to create jobs. We want President Obama to nominate Nobel prize-winning economist Paul Krugman, who opposes austerity and wants the government to focus on creating jobs.

  240,242 of 300,000 Signatures

  Created by Danny Glover
• Canadian National Railway: Stop Delaying Amtrak Passenger Trains!

  One easy thing we could do to reduce U.S. carbon emissions that contribute to climate chaos would be to get more Americans to take trains more often. When you take the train, your marginal contribution to carbon emissions is basically zero. More Americans would take the train more often if they had greater trust that the train would almost always be on time. Unfortunately, Amtrak passenger trains are often delayed by freight trains, like the Canadian National Railway, which owns the former Illinois Central line between Chicago and New Orleans, among others in the U.S. (You can share other examples or your story of passenger train delay in your comment with your signature.) Tell the Canadian National Railway to stop delaying Amtrak passenger trains so we can get more Americans to ride the train and reduce our carbon footprint by using infrastructure we already have.

  397 of 400 Signatures

  Created by Robert Naiman
• President Obama: Start the Afghan Peace Talks

  Afghan President Hamid Karzai is refusing to sign an agreement with the U.S. unless the U.S. agrees to transfer Afghan prisoners from Gitmo and start peace talks with the Afghan Taliban. These are just demands; they are stated U.S. policy. Transferring the Afghan prisoners is key to the return home of U.S. soldier Bowe Bergdahl and key to the beginning of peace talks to end the war. Peace talks are key to the safe withdrawal of U.S. troops. President Obama should implement the prisoner transfer without delay and start the peace talks without delay.

  2 of 100 Signatures

  Created by Robert Naiman
• Congress: Say Trump's Syria Strike is Illegal and Impeachable

  The U.S. military launched airstrikes against government forces in Syria on May 18. [1] Under the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution, Congress has the sole authority to decide when U.S. military force will be used if the U.S. has not been attacked. Congress never authorized Trump to attack Syria, which has not attacked the U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu [D-CA] stated: "If true, this is FRICKIN ILLEGAL. Trump does not have Congressional authorization to attack Syria, a country that has not attacked US." [2] In January, Obama deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said part of why Obama didn't attack Syria unilaterally - without Congress' approval - was fear of impeachment. "[W]e had no domestic legal basis. We actually had Congress warning us against taking action without congressional authorization, which we interpreted as the president could face impeachment," Rhodes said. "They laid down markers that this would not be constitutional. If we got drawn into a conflict in Syria without congressional authorization, without international authorization, without international support, you can see very clearly how that could have completely derailed this entire presidency." [3] When Trump attacked Syria in April without Congressional authorization, Sen. Tim Kaine [D-VA] said it was "unlawful" and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi [D-CA] and Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin [D-IL] said any escalation would require the approval of Congress. [4] Urge Members of Congress to say that Trump's Syria strike is illegal and impeachable by signing our petition. References: 1. https://www.buzzfeed.com/nancyyoussef/the-us-launched-new-airstrikes-against-pro-assad-forces-in 2. https://twitter.com/tedlieu/status/865252746571788290 3. http://www.npr.org/2017/05/17/528743744/the-president-the-comey-memo-and-the-elephant-in-the-room-impeachment 4. http://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/trump-syria-congress-reaction-republicans-democrats-236975

  7,016 of 8,000 Signatures

  Created by Robert Naiman
• Obama, Congress: European Central Bank Must Support Greece During Talks

  In a referendum on July 5, Greek voters overwhelmingly rejected demands from the “troika” of its official creditors for even more austerity measures. [1] But the question of whether there can be a fair agreement and an end to the financial chaos being imposed on Greece now hangs crucially on whether the European Central Bank will support Greece’s banking system while negotiators try to reach an agreement. [2] Members of Congress are speaking out about what is being done to Greece, including Senator Bernie Sanders [3] and Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chairs Keith Ellison and Raul Grijalva and House Democratic leaders Rosa DeLauro and Jan Schakowsky. [4] Urge President Obama and Members of Congress to demand that the ECB support the Greek banking system while negotiations continue to achieve a fair agreement by signing and sharing our petition. References: 1. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/06/opinion/paul-krugman-ending-greeces-bleeding.html 2. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/eyes-ecb-greek-no-vote-092209741.html; http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/business/now-destiny-of-struggling-greece-banks-lies-in-the-hands-of-european-central-bank/articleshow/47956280.cms; http://news.yahoo.com/greece-still-cash-starved-decisive-no-bailout-vote-050303610--finance.html 3. http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-greek-austerity-vote 4. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-weisbrot/congress-imf-greece_b_7716422.html

  5,771 of 6,000 Signatures

  Created by Robert Naiman
• Force House Vote on Saudi War in Yemen to Stop Cholera & Famine

  On June 15, the UN Security Council unanimously called for a cease-fire in the conflict between the Saudi-UAE coalition and the Houthi-Saleh forces in Yemen. "The U.N. Security Council urged the warring parties in Yemen on Thursday to immediately agree on a cease-fire and keep all ports open for humanitarian aid to confront the threat of famine and the rapid spread of cholera," AP reported. [1] On June 13, the U.S. Senate narrowly failed to block an arms deal with Saudi Arabia. Senators opposed to the deal stressed the need to end the humanitarian crisis in Yemen rather than escalate it. [2] "The Saudi-led war in Yemen has created a humanitarian disaster," Senator Bernie Sanders said. "Millions are at the risk of starvation...chaos in Yemen has also been strategically disastrous for the United States, providing fertile ground for the extremist groups like Al Qaeda and ISIS...it is long past time that we begin to take a very hard look at our relationship with Saudi Arabia...it is important that we begin to discuss...the decades long effort by Saudi Arabia to export an ultra-reactionary form of Islam throughout the world." [3] "The human rights and humanitarian concerns have been well documented and are important,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said. “Of equal concern to me is that the Saudi government continues to aid and abet terrorism via its relationship with Wahhabism and the funding of schools that spread extremist propaganda throughout the world." [4] But the Trump Administration plans to escalate U.S. participation in the Saudi bombing of Yemen, with U.S. military advisers in the Saudi air operations control center in Riyadh. [5] U.S. participation in the Saudi war in Yemen has never been authorized by Congress. [6] House Members can challenge U.S. participation in the war with amendments on the National Defense Authorization Act and the Department of Defense Appropriation. In addition, a single House Member can invoke Congressional war powers force to a debate and vote on withdrawing U.S. participation from the Saudi war in Yemen - which the UN Security Council has unanimously said should stop immediately to save Yemen from cholera and famine. The last time the House voted on any aspect of U.S. participation in the Saudi war was June 2016, when the House narrowly failed to prohibit the transfer of cluster bombs to Saudi Arabia. [7] Urge your Representative to force a House vote to withdraw U.S. backing from the Saudi war and blockade in Yemen by signing our petition. References: 1. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/un-urges-yemen-cease-fire-and-open-ports-to-confront-cholera/2017/06/15/ec92b4b8-5219-11e7-b74e-0d2785d3083d_story.html 2. https://petitions.moveon.org/sign/saudi-yemen-war-famine?r_by=1135580 3. Senator Bernie Sanders, "We Must Reevaluate Our Relationship With Saudi Arabia," https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqbebpDHCnE 4. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/chuck-schumer-trump-saudi-arabia_us_593ec911e4b02402687bae98 5. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/14/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-arms-training-yemen.html 6. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/05/02/alarm-grows-in-washington-as-saudi-coalition-attack-on-yemen-port-appears-imminent/; https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/global-opinions/wp/2017/05/19/trump-may-be-helping-to-create-a-famine-in-yemen-congress-could-stop-him/ 7. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/obama-heeding-close-house_b_10516480.html

  165,665 of 200,000 Signatures

  Created by Robert Naiman
• .@BilldeBlasio: Meet with J Street

  New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has inspired progressives nationwide. So it was very disappointing that de Blasio recently told the right-wing American Israel Public Affairs Committee that “City Hall will always be open to AIPAC…when you need me to stand by you in Washington or anywhere, I will answer the call and I will answer it happily, because that’s my job.” As The Nation noted in a recent editorial [1], AIPAC has prevented a just resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict; it has been working to provoke US war with Iran. Now, just when the Obama Administration has been making progress with diplomacy, AIPAC has been pressing Congress for new sanctions on Iran to kill that progress, which could set us on the path to another disastrous Middle East war. But the recent collapse of AIPAC’s effort to undermine diplomacy with Iran shows that the world has changed. It’s time for Mayor de Blasio to change his assumptions. J Street was established to back politicians who genuinely support a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. J Street supports the recent accord between the U.S. and Iran and opposed the new sanctions AIPAC was pushing. Jewish Voice for Peace has shown Americans that AIPAC doesn’t speak for American Jews. Americans for Peace Now has led efforts to oppose Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which are an existential threat to the two-state solution. Mayor de Blasio has a unique opportunity to help bury the idea that politicians must bow down to AIPAC by meeting with J Street. By publicly welcoming groups that promote genuine peace in the Middle East, his foreign policy would be far more consistent with the progressive policies he promotes at home. Urge Mayor de Blasio to represent progressives who want peace by meeting with J Street and other groups that are working to promote genuine peace in the Middle East. Reference: 1. “Bill de Blasio Is Wrong to Pander to AIPAC,” Editorial, The Nation, January 29, 2014, http://www.thenation.com/article/178132/bill-de-blasio-wrong-pander-aipac

  8,928 of 9,000 Signatures

  Created by Robert Naiman
• @SenWarren, @ChrisMurphyCT: Support diplomacy & stand up to the Russia hawks

  Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Chris Murphy will be in a strong position to shape debate over Russia policy in the next Administration. Elizabeth Warren will be on the Senate Armed Services Committee. [1] Chris Murphy, the first Senator to publicly challenge the Obama Administration's support for the devastating Saudi war in Yemen, is on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. [2] Unfortunately, some Democrats are planning to make common cause with John McCain and Lindsey Graham on Russia policy, pushing for a new Cold War that would likely jack up the already bloated Pentagon budget at the expense of domestic priorities like expanding Social Security, while undermining prospects for de-escalation of conflict in Ukraine, Syria, and Yemen. Urge Senator Elizabeth Warren and Senator Chris Murphy to stand up for diplomacy and against the Russia hawks by signing our petition. References: 1. http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/311741-warren-stirs-talk-of-2020-white-house-run 2. http://www.cfr.org/middle-east-and-north-africa/chris-murphy-roots-radical-extremism/p37471

  5,026 of 6,000 Signatures

  Created by Robert Naiman
• Syria: Ceasefire. Negotiations. Talk to Iran.

  The failure of efforts to secure a Congressional authorization for the use of military force in Syria creates an unprecedented opportunity to reform U.S. policy in the Middle East. War proponents hoped to establish a precedent for a U.S. military strike on Iran, but the opposite precedent has been established instead: a war with Iran can be stopped by public opinion and Congressional resistance. The Obama Administration should use this moment to engage the government of Iran in efforts to establish a ceasefire in Syria and negotiations to end Syria's civil war.

  14,425 of 15,000 Signatures

  Created by Robert Naiman
• Help the Progressive Caucus Limit the Iraq-Syria war

  A new U.S. war has begun in Iraq and Syria—without Congressional authorization. Congress is likely to vote on an authorization, sooner or later; whatever they eventually vote on will almost certainly pass. What is in the authorization they vote on is something that we can still influence. In the process, we can help put a quick end to this war, preventing it from becoming another endless quagmire. The Congressional Progressive Caucus Resolution, H.Con.Res.114, establishes a set of four key principles that we can organize around. The resolution says that Congress: - should debate and vote on whether the U.S. should be involved in sustained combat in Iraq or Syria; - does not support the deployment of ground combat troops in Iraq or Syria; - should ensure that any grant of authority for force is narrowly tailored and limited; and - should ensure that any grant of authority for force includes robust reporting requirements. Key progressive leaders in Congress supporting H.Con.Res.114 include: Reps. Raul Grijalva, Keith Ellison, Barbara Lee, Jim McGovern, Alan Grayson, Peter DeFazio, Peter Welch, Mark Pocan, Jim McDermott, John Conyers, Katherine Clark, Beto O'Rourke, Janice Hahn, Richard Nolan, Hank Johnson, Charlie Rangel, Michael Honda, Chellie Pingree, Niki Tsongas, Mark Takano, Sam Farr, John Lewis, Jose Serrano. https://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/114/cosponsors Show your support for H.Con.Res.114 and these principles by signing our petition.

  15,569 of 20,000 Signatures

  Created by Robert Naiman