Just Foreign Policy

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• @SpeakerPelosi: Send @RepRoKhanna to the conference to end the Yemen war

  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has a historic opportunity to end the famine-causing Saudi war in Yemen. The House has passed the Adam Smith - Ro Khanna Yemen War Powers amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would end all U.S. participation in the war. The House and Senate have both passed the Sanders-Lee-Murphy Yemen War Powers Resolution. The House and Senate have both voted to cut off U.S. arms shipments to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for the war. All Speaker Pelosi has to do now to end the war is insist that the House-Senate conference on the National Defense Authorization Act include provisions to end the war that both the House and the Senate have voted for. Here is a specific, concrete way that Speaker Pelosi can show her commitment to the goal: she can make Rep. Ro Khanna, the original sponsor of Yemen War Powers, a conferee in the House-Senate negotiations on the NDAA. Urge House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to send Rep. Ro Khanna to the conference to end the Yemen war by signing our petition.

  10,193 of 15,000 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

  165,639 of 200,000 Signatures

  Created by Robert Naiman
• Don't Kill Big Bird to Fatten the Pentagon

  Half of our federal income tax dollars already go to the bloated Pentagon and its corporate contractors. The U.S. already spends more on its military than the next seven countries combined. [1] Now President Trump wants to increase the bloated Pentagon budget by another ten percent, by cutting most federal agencies that aren't "involved in security." [2] The Trump budget would completely defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which the CPB president warned could cause “the collapse of the public media system." [3] The Trump proposal would also cut Meals on Wheels, which uses volunteers to deliver warm meals to more than a million older Americans every week. [4] In their statements opposing the Trump budget, neither nor Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer [5] nor House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi [6] mentioned Trump’s proposal to add more bloat to the Pentagon. The reason for their silence surely wasn't public opinion: a recent poll found that 58 percent of Americans oppose the Trump plan to increase Pentagon spending by cutting other agencies. [7] Urge Congress to oppose any increase to the bloated Pentagon budget by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.pgpf.org/chart-archive/0053_defense-comparison 2. https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-02-27/proposed-trump-budget-said-to-boost-defense-spending-cut-epa 3. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/16/business/media/corporation-for-public-broadcasting-cuts.html 4. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-meals-on-wheels_us_58caeda5e4b0ec9d29da217c 5. http://thehill.com/policy/finance/321333-schumer-trump-budget-would-benefit-wealthy-over-middle-class 6. http://www.democraticleader.gov/newsroom/22717/ 7. https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2017-03-08/majority-of-americans-oppose-trumps-proposed-increases-to-the-defense-budget

  9,395 of 10,000 Signatures

  Created by Robert Naiman
• Support #IndependentInvestigation of MSF Hospital Bombing

  US military forces were responsible for the bombing of a Doctors Without Borders [MSF] hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan. Twelve humanitarians were killed while they worked; ten patients died in their hospital beds, including three children. US bombing of the hospital persisted, despite the fact that Doctors Without Borders notified the government of its location and the ongoing attack on the hospital. Cooperating with a thorough civilian-led investigation conducted by the UN or other independent body would communicate to the world that the US is committed to the transparency and accountability required to ensure such a catastrophic event does not happen again. The Pentagon’s changing stories in the wake of the disaster have undermined international confidence in the ability of the Pentagon to conduct a meaningful investigation. Urge Congress and the Administration to support the Ellison-McGovern-Lee-Grijalva call for a civilian-led independent investigation by signing our petition.

  6,053 of 7,000 Signatures

  Created by Robert Naiman
• Democrats: Don't Side With Republicans on Iran

  UPDATE 4/2: President Obama has just announced a framework agreement for a deal. Republicans are already attacking. Democrats need to speak up now! === President Obama may be on the verge of striking a historic deal to limit Iran’s nuclear program - unless some Democrats scuttle it. [1] Some Democrats are considering siding with right-wing Republicans to undermine Obama’s diplomacy, thereby pushing us towards another war in the Middle East. Two pieces of legislation in the Senate, one backed by Sens. Mark Kirk [R-IL] & Robert Menendez [D-NJ], the other by Sens. Bob Corker [R-TN] & Lindsey Graham [R-SC] are poison pills designed to kill any chance for diplomacy. One GOP senator said the “intended consequence” of any new Iran bill is to “end the negotiations.” The Kirk-Menendez bill would impose new sanctions on Iran in violation of the interim agreement. The Corker-Graham bill would throw impossible-to-meet procedural hurdles in the way of successfully completing an agreement. The passage by Congress of either bill would blow up the talks – which is exactly what the Republican diplomacy saboteurs want. Urge your Representative and Senators to oppose these bills by signing our petition. References: 1. “Democrats: Don't Side With Republicans on Iran,” Anna Galland (MoveOn) and Becky Bond (CREDO), Roll Call, March 2, 2015 http://www.rollcall.com/news/democrats_dont_side_with_republicans_on_iran_commentary-240443-1.html

  29,747 of 30,000 Signatures

  Created by Robert Naiman
• Illinois Legislature: Pass a Resolution Against TrumpCare

  The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office says that by 2026, the American Health Care Act [TrumpCare] would increase the number of Americans without health insurance by 24 million. TrumpCare would reverse the expansion of Medicaid that Illinois adopted under the Affordable Care Act. Under TrumpCare, Illinois would no longer get a fixed share of its Medicaid costs, but would get a fixed sum per person in the program, regardless of costs. TrumpCare would take away addiction and mental-health coverage from 1.3 million people. [1] More than 356,000 Illinois residents have coverage through plans purchased on the Affordable Care Act exchange. More than 3 million Illinois residents are covered by Medicaid, about one-fourth of Illinois residents. About 650,000 Illinois residents are now covered under the Medicaid expansion of the Affordable Care Act. The federal government now picks up about half the cost of Medicaid in Illinois. [2] The TrumpCare bill would also block Planned Parenthood from receiving federal funds. Planned Parenthood of Illinois operates 16 centers that provide cancer screenings, breast health care, contraceptive services and treatment for sexually transmitted infections. Planned Parenthood of Illinois provided reproductive health care services to about 60,000 people in 2015. [3] Even Republican Governor Bruce Rauner admitted that "Illinois won’t do very well under the changes that they’re recommending" under TrumpCare. [4] If the Illinois legislature debated and voted on a resolution against TrumpCare, it would put pressure on Illinois Republicans to oppose TrumpCare. Already, more than 50 Republicans in Congress have expressed opposition or skepticism towards the bill. [5] So far, Illinois Republicans have not done so. Urge your representatives in the Illinois Legislature to debate and pass a resolution against TrumpCare by signing our petition. References: 1. https://www.thenation.com/article/the-gops-health-care-plan-could-strip-addiction-and-mental-health-coverage-from-1-3-million/ 2. http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-obamacare-replacement-illinois-0308-biz-20170307-story.html 3. http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-obamacare-replacement-illinois-0308-biz-20170307-story.html 4. http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/03/07/the-new-provisions-of-trumpcare/ 5. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/03/07/whip-count-heres-where-skeptical-republicans-stand-on-the-gops-obamacare-replacement/

  655 of 800 Signatures

  Created by Robert Naiman
• Stand with @ChrisMurphyCT: End Aid to Saudi War in Yemen

  Sen. Chris Murphy [D-CT] has called for the U.S. to end its military involvement in the Saudi war in Yemen. "I just don't see any evidence right now that the Saudis are conducting that military exercise in a way that's responsible. It's just feeding the humanitarian crisis inside Yemen," Senator Murphy said. [1] The Saudi war in Yemen has already killed thousands of civilians; the UN has said Saudi targeting of civilians in Yemen with air strikes may constitute crimes against humanity. Human Rights Watch has called on the U.S. to halt all transfer of arms to Saudi Arabia that might be used in violations of international law. [2] Urge the Senate to stand with Senator Murphy in calling for the end of U.S. military involvement in the Saudi war in Yemen by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/chris-murphy-saudi-arabia-yemen_us_56b3d010e4b04f9b57d9073c 2. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-war-saudi-un-idUSKCN0V52Q0

  7,076 of 8,000 Signatures

  Created by Robert Naiman
• Congress: Don’t Kill Iran Talks With New Sanctions

  The U.S. and its European partners have agreed to extend the interim nuclear deal with Iran while continuing to work towards a comprehensive, permanent agreement. The extension of the interim deal means that Iran’s nuclear program will continue to be under tightened restrictions and closer international inspection. Unfortunately, with the Republican takeover of the Senate, opponents of diplomacy are going to have more opportunities to try to derail the talks. Anti-diplomacy forces are already demanding that Congress enact new sanctions, even though new U.S. sanctions would violate U.S. commitments under the interim deal. All that new sanctions legislation would do now is provoke Iranian hardliners and undermine the voices of those in Iran who want to reconcile with the West—which is exactly what anti-diplomacy forces in the U.S. want. Urge your Representative and Senators to oppose efforts to kill the Iran talks, by signing our petition.

  11,844 of 15,000 Signatures

  Created by Robert Naiman
• End Cholera & Aid Elections in Haiti; Protect Haitians in US

  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/

  4,515 of 5,000 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.

  2,084 of 3,000 Signatures

  Created by Robert Naiman