Just Foreign Policy

Campaigns

• Senate: Declassify the CIA Torture Report

  Senate Select Intelligence Committee Chair Dianne Feinstein has publicly accused the CIA of spying on her committee, thereby violating the law and the Constitution and calling into question the Senate Intelligence Committee’s ability to perform its responsibility to conduct effective oversight of the CIA. (1) Behind the dispute over CIA spying is a dispute over the classification of two key documents: the Senate Intelligence Committee’s report on the CIA’s use of torture during the Bush Administration, and an internal CIA review that corroborated the Senate Intelligence Committee’s report’s criticism while the CIA was officially telling the Senate Intelligence Committee that its report’s criticisms were wrong. (2) Under Section 8 of Senate Resolution 400 – the resolution that established the Senate committee in 1976, after the Church Committee’s investigation of abuses by U.S. intelligence agencies - the Senate Intelligence Committee has the power to declassify documents if it determines that is in the public interest, without the approval of the executive branch. If the executive branch objects, under the provisions of Section 8, the declassification can be approved by the full Senate. (3) Urge the Senate Intelligence Committee and the full Senate to move to declassify the committee’s report on CIA torture and the CIA’s internal review, and urge the Obama Administration to fully cooperate, by signing and sharing our petition. References 1. “Feinstein: CIA may have violated Constitution with monitoring of Senate staffers,” Ali Watkins, Jonathan S. Landay, and Marisa Taylor, McClatchy News, March 11, 2014, http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/03/11/220849/feinstein-defends-senate-intel.html 2. “Letter to President Obama on CIA Spying on Congress,” Project on Government Oversight et al, March 12, 2014, http://www.pogo.org/our-work/letters/2014/letter-to-president-obama-on-cia-spying-on-congress.html 3. “Wyden: Intel committee used provision once to release classified info,” Steve Benham, KATU.com, Oct 23, 2013, http://www.katu.com/politics/With-power-to-disclose-classified-info-intel-committee-invokes-it-only-once-ron-wyden-228554661.html. 1976 S.Res. 400 is contained as Appendix A in this document: http://www.intelligence.senate.gov/pdfs/94_comm_prt.pdf

  14,049 of 15,000 Signatures

  Created by Robert Naiman
• 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.

  240,249 of 300,000 Signatures

  Created by Danny Glover
• Help Lee & McGovern End the War in Afghanistan

  The Obama Administration is trying to get an agreement with the government of Afghanistan that would keep thousands of U.S. troops there after 2014, constantly exposed to mortal danger. No U.S. commitment to keep thousands of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan beyond 2014 should be allowed without prior Congressional debate and authorization, consistent with the Congressional role in making decisions about war envisioned by the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution. Congress didn’t allow the Administration to bomb Syria without Congressional authorization; Congress shouldn’t allow the Administration to keep thousands of U.S. troops in Afghanistan without Congressional authorization. Urge President Obama to go to Congress for explicit approval before making any commitment to keep thousands of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, and urge Congress to insist on a Congressional debate and vote before any such commitment takes place.

  24,257 of 25,000 Signatures

  Created by Robert Naiman
• Pass the Drone Strike Transparency Bill

  The Senate Intelligence Committee has taken an important step by passing an intelligence authorization which would, for the first time, require the Administration to publicly report on civilian casualties from U.S. drone strikes. The Administration should support this provision, and Congress should pass this drone strike transparency provision into law. Sarah Knuckey, Director of the Project on Extrajudicial Executions at New York University School of Law and a Special Advisor to the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial executions, calls this provision "an important step toward improving transparency," and notes that "Various U.N. officials, foreign governments, a broad range of civil society, and many others, including former U.S. Department of State Legal Advisor Harold Koh ... have called for the publication of such basic information." This provision could be offered as an amendment in the Senate to the National Defense Authorization Act. It could be offered in the House as an amendment on the intelligence authorization, or as a freestanding bill. Help us move Congress and the President to support this provision by signing our petition. [Text of the provision can be found here: http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/node/1470.]

  17,611 of 20,000 Signatures

  Created by Robert Naiman
• It's 3AM: Where's Hillary on the Iran nuclear deal?

  Republicans like Lindsey Graham are attacking the diplomatic deal on Iran's nuclear program negotiated by President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry. It would make a big difference in getting political acceptance for the deal if former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were to publicly come out and endorse the deal. There is an all hands on deck effort to support the President on this. Silence by Hillary is going to be perceived as a lack of support, not simply staying out of it. There is no neutral on some things. Sign our petition to Hillary urging her to publicly support the diplomatic deal with Iran.

  13,772 of 15,000 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

  8,927 of 9,000 Signatures

  Created by Robert Naiman
• Mike Lee: Don't Blow Up U.S. Diplomacy with Iran

  The American Israel Public Affairs Committee says on its web site that Utah Senator Mike Lee has pledged to support the Iran sanctions bill introduced by Robert Menendez. But Senator Lee has not co-sponsored the bill yet. U.S. intelligence agencies say that new sanctions now will blow up U.S. diplomacy with Iran, putting us on a path to war. Urge Senator Lee to oppose the Menendez bill and to oppose efforts to blow up U.S. diplomacy with Iran.

  3,870 of 4,000 Signatures

  Created by Robert Naiman
• Steny Hoyer: Don't help GOP push for Iran war

  The Huffington Post and other media have reported that House Democratic whip Steny Hoyer, the #2 House Democrat, has been in talks with House Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor on introducing a bill that would sabotage President Obama's diplomatic engagement with Iran. As the White House, the Senate Democratic leadership, and the U.S. intelligence community have said, blowing up diplomacy with Iran would put the U.S. on a path to war. Steny Hoyer must answer the question: "Which side are you on?" Is he with the President and diplomacy, or is he with the Republicans and war?

  20,716 of 25,000 Signatures

  Created by Robert Naiman
• Press @JohnKerry & @WhiteHouse for #Gaza Ceasefire

  The Israeli military carried out a second night of airstrikes in Gaza July 8. As of Wednesday morning, July 9, at least 29 Palestinians had been killed since the airstrikes began July 7, including seven children under the age of 16. [1] At least two Israelis had been lightly wounded by rocket fire from Gaza, Haaretz reported. [2] The military conflict “showed no signs of abating,” according to a New York Times report on July 9. [3] From the past, we know how this ends. There will be a new ceasefire. The key question is how long it will take, how many people will be killed and injured, how much will be destroyed in the meantime. The United States can help save both Israeli and Palestinian lives by speaking out urgently in support of a ceasefire, and working vigorously with U.S. allies in the region that have good relations with both sides, such as Egypt and Jordan, to press for a ceasefire. The U.S. can help make the ceasefire last by pressing for an agreement that would permanently lift the blockade of Gaza. The State Department should also continue to press for an investigation of the beating in Israeli police custody of U.S. citizen Tarek Abu Khdeir. [4] Press the Obama Administration to engage vigorously and urgently by signing our petition. References: 1. “Seven children killed in Israeli airstrikes over Gaza,” Defence for Children International Palestine, 9 Jul 2014, http://www.dci-palestine.org/documents/eight-children-killed-israeli-airstrikes-over-gaza 2. “Live updates, July 7, 2014: Rockets bombard south, Hamas claims responsibility,” Haaretz, Jul. 8, 2014, http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.603472 3. “Dozens of Gaza Strikes by Israel as Hamas Extends Rockets’ Range,” Steven Erlanger and Isabel Kershner, New York Times, July 9, 2014, http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/10/world/middleeast/israel-and-hamas-exchange-fire.html 4. “State Dept. demands investigation into reports of teen's beating in Israel,” Kyle Balluck, The Hill, 7/06/14, http://thehill.com/policy/international/211380-us-demands-investigation-into-reports-of-teens-beating-in-israel

  27,623 of 30,000 Signatures

  Created by Robert Naiman
• Congress: Use War Powers to Pull U.S. Troops From Iraq

  On June 19, President Obama notified Congress that he was sending U.S. troops to Iraq to serve as advisers to the Iraqi military. Press reports have indicated that these troops could be used for offensive military action, including calling in airstrikes. These are different troops than the troops President Obama sent earlier to protect the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. Congress has not authorized the U.S. use of military force in Iraq now. Nearly 200 Members of the House are on record saying that the authorization for the use of force in Iraq passed by Congress in 2002 should not be used to justify the use of force in Iraq today. Under the War Powers Resolution passed by Congress in 1973, Members of Congress have 30 days from the President’s June 19 notification to introduce a “privileged” resolution – a resolution that can’t be buried in committee, but must go to the floor to be voted on – which would require the troops to be withdrawn. Using this provision of the 1973 War Powers Resolution, Reps. Jim McGovern (D-MA), Walter Jones (R-NC), and Barbara Lee (D-CA) have introduced H Con Res 105 to force a debate and vote on the buildup of U.S. troops in Iraq. H Con Res 105 would bring home the U.S. military advisers and prevent any direct U.S. military intervention in Iraq. The resolution would allow for the U.S. to continue protecting its embassy and diplomatic personnel. Urge your Representative to co-sponsor and vote for H Con Res 105 by signing our petition.

  10,783 of 15,000 Signatures

  Created by Robert Naiman