Will Obama Bring Change to U.S. Policy in Palestine, Iraq, and Afghanistan?

Two of the biggest issues waiting for President-elect Barack Obama are, first, the U.S. occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan and, second, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.  On both counts, we don't know exactly how the new president will handle these hot policy issues.  Obama's political stump speeches and pronouncements -- in typical, non-offensive political fashion -- are too vague to get a clear picture of his intended policy implementation.  The truth won't be revealed until he sets foot in the Oval Office.

While we wait for Obama to take office, America has a clear national leadership vacuum, as both foreign and domestic policy drifts rudderlessly toward January 20th. George W. Bush has been a presidential empty suit for eight years and now the whole suit has disappeared.  In the Gaza Strip in Palestine, the Israeli government is taking full and final advantage of the Bush Administration's 8-year hands-off policy in Palestine.  Obviously, the Israeli government doesn't trust campaign pronouncements either.

I am predicting that once Obama is sworn into office, he is going to meet highly visible American opposition to Israel's outrageous and obviously illegal military actions and activities in Palestine.  His supporters will be less tolerant of -- and more vocal about -- Israel's violations of international law and crimes against humanity as exhibited in Gaza over that last 18 months and more.  His supporters are going to want "change" in American foreign policy toward Israel and Palestine.  "Change" ultimately may be an albatross draped on Obama by his own supporters.  That's my prediction.

At the recent United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ) General Assembly in Chicago, Palestinian-American Ali Abunimah addressed the issue of American foreign policy in Palestine and whether Obama may or may not bring "change" to the Middle East arena.  Abunimah's speech is provided below.  Americans should take the time to listen to these words in light of the conflict in the Gaza Strip and as we wait for someone to occupy the Oval Office.    

-- Rico Thomas Rico

              

Ali Abunimuh Speaking in Chicago

at the UFPJ General Assembly

13 December 2008

You Are There: The Virtual UFPJ 4th General Assembly

One week ago, the 4th General Assembly of United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ), the largest coalition of peace and justice groups in America, was wrapped up in Chicago. Key action plans for the beginning months of 2009 were approved by the coalition. It also approved an impressive unity statement and strategic framework, as well as electing members of its national steering committee.

The UJPF has now published all of the finalized documents on its web site. Peace communities around the country should note the call for local actions on the Iraq 6th Anniversary on March 19, 2009, focusing attention on the cost of the U.S. military occupations and wars. The anniversary actions in March will kick off a countdown to a massive national mobilization in New York City on April 9, 2009, the anniversary of MLK's "Beyond Vietnam" speech and his assassination a year after the speech.

Get your buses ready -- and lots of 'em -- for a trip to the Big Apple to send a "Peace Now!" message to the new president and the Democratic Congress.

If you were not able to attend the UFPJ national assembly last weekend, I recorded most of the speakers and two panel discussions during the three-day assembly. (I did not record the breakout sessions or delegation debates and discussions.)

Below are links to the video recordings, which can provide a virtual feeling of being there in person (without the travel expense). Also, as an added bonus, I interviewed a few activists whom I caught on the final day of the assembly. Check them out; you won't be disappointed.

-- Rico Thomas Rico

You Are There: The Virtual UFPJ 4th National Assembly

Friday, December 12, 2008

Report from the National Director Leslie Cagan

Speech by George Paz Martin, Milwaukee Coalition for a Just Peace and UFPJ Co-Chair

Panel Discussion "Yes We Can: End the War!"

Tom Hayden, Activist and Author, ENDING THE WAR IN IRAQ

William McNary, President of USAction

Antonia Juhasz, Activist and Author, THE TYRANNY OF OIL

See Friday photos here.

__________________________________

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Panel Discussion "U.S. Foreign Policy: Next Steps in Building a New Internationalism:

Salam Talib of Iraq

Christine Jones of Canada (Canadian Peace Coalition)

Reiner Braun of Germany
Video is coming soon.

Ali Abunimah of Palestine

See Saturday photos here.

_________________________________

Sunday, December 14, 2008

"Voices of Peace" Interviews

Leslie Cagan, UFPJ National Director

Michael McPhearson, Veterans for Peace and UFPJ Co-Chair

Steve Burns, Wisconsin Network for Peace & Justice

Medea Benjamin, CodePink

Debra Sweet, World Can't Wait

See Sunday photos here.

Interview: Peace Activist Leslie Cagan

Leslie Cagan was a co-founder and the national director of United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ), America's largest peace coalition, since 2002. While she plans to stay active in the peace movement, Leslie (pictured at right) is stepping out of her national role with UFPJ. The organization has the tall order of filling her shoes and is searching for a new national director.

On the first night of the 4th General Assembly of the UFPJ in Chicago last Friday, I had camped out at a front row table hoping to get some good shots of the opening night speakers. A very nice woman, her partner, and her mother sat next to me. Then author/activist/policy analyst Phyllis Bennis and others joined the table. Later, author/activist/policy analyst Tom Hayden sat next to me. It turns out, the nice lady sitting next to me was Leslie, UFPJ national director, whom I had never met before. She, Bennis, and Hayden were some of the speakers for the evening.

Showing true love and appreciation, a number of people shared hugs with Leslie. Throughout she verbalized the notion that she was not "retiring," explaining she was moving on to new challenges. Later, the capacity crowd gave Leslie a warm standing ovation in recognition of her significant contributions to UFPJ.

On the last day of the assembly, I caught up with Leslie to get her views on the new challenges facing the peace movement in 2009, including the prospect of working with a new administration in the White House. The interview is posted below.

-- Rico Thomas Rico

Standing Ovation for Leslie Cagan

_________________________________

Interview with Leslie Cagan,

Out-Going National Director of UFPJ

Oh, Canada

After hearing of the shoe-throwing incident in Iraq on the Sunday radio news, the very next news story announced that 3 Canadian soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. Six Canadian soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan over the last 10 days. A total of 103 Canadians have died there over 7 years.

The very night before, Christine Jones, the co-chair of the Canadian Peace Alliance (CPA), had addressed the American peace community in Chicago at the United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ) General Assembly. Jones came with the news that the Prime Minister from Canada's current minority government is advocating that Canada spend $490 billion -- nearly a half of TRILLION dollars -- on defense spending over the next 20 years.

This proposal, Jones said, comes from the same government "mouthpieces" that say housing, education, and universal health care are unaffordable. Jones told the audience that "The reality is that (social spending) is utterly affordable. In fact, it is more than affordable. The problem is that our government -- all of our governments -- are being undemocratic with how they are choosing to spending our money."

I guess we do speak the same language -- and suffer similar injustices.

Our neighbor to the north talked passionately about the common peace issues shared by both Canadian and American communities. Furthermore, Jones explained that in 2010 Canada will host two major economic conferences, including the G-8, and the Olympics. She was very gracious in inviting UFPJ activists to come visit Canada in 2010.

Oh, Canada, look out.

-- Rico Thomas Rico

Christine Jones,

Co-Chair of the Canadian Peace Alliance,

Addresses the UFPJ General Assembly

The Shoes Heard 'Round the World

Driving back home on Sunday I was blissfully isolated with big city radio programming, which is much more interesting and diverse than what I'm used to. Going out of range of the compelling sounds, the real world came back into focus as I had no other good radio choices other than NPR news. That's when I got first word that an Iraqi journalist threw not one, but two shoes at President George W. Bush. Undoubtedly, this incredible moment will forever represent the full and final repudiation of Bush's foreign policy legacy. Unfortunately, it may fully represent the world's attitude toward America's world-wide military bullying.

Now the bookends of Bush's presidency will be, first, the egging of his limo in Washington, D.C., during the 2001 inauguration after having stolen his first election. (If you did not see this episode, that's because the corporate establishment press did not cover it.) The second bookend will be the recent incident in the highly secured Green Zone in Iraq.

I thought Dick Cheney promised we would be greeted as liberators? Is this anyway to treat liberators???

Well, what most Americans lack is the perspective of the citizens of Iraq. Because, again, the corporate establishment doesn't allow it. So we generally don't know that Iraqis -- and a vast swath of world citizens for that matter -- despise America's policy of gun-tote diplomacy. Democracy is not a pleasant principle when it is delivered at the point of a gun.

Of course, it does not score America popularity points as we carry through on our principle mission of stealing the Iraqi oil supply. If you still believe otherwise -- including the false premises of WMDs or Iraq complicity in 9/11 -- you probably watch way too much FOX news and probably deserve to get a couple of shoes thrown at you.

This shoe-throwing incident should not be a surprise. The surprise is that it didn't happen earlier. Shoes could rightfully have been tossed by Bush's Katrina victims, torture victims, renditioned victims, domestic spy victims, economic crash victims...you name the rest.

The shoe toss incident reminded me of the poignant speech given by Iraqi journalist, entrepreneur, and activist Salim Talib to the General Assembly of the United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ) on Saturday night, December 13, 2008. Talib's speech is provided below. I hope Americans now make an effort to seek out the views and voices of Iraqis like Talib. In this way, we can begin a reconciliation process, including new demands to bring our troops home. Now.

-- Rico Thomas Rico

Iraq Journalist Salam Talib
addressing UFPJ General Assembly
13 December 2008

UFPJ National Assembly: Sunday Morning Report

CHICAGO - Yesterday's long day of peace planning was concluded by a very serious panel discussion on building a stronger international peace movement. And, even later, a not-so-serious dance party was held for the delegates who still had energy for dancing to oldies tunes. Code Pink delegates seemed to have endless energy, judging by their moves on the dance floor. After more than 7 years of Bush-Cheney, dancing as fast-as-we-can is no problem.

The remarks from UFPJ's international guests brought a helpful global perspective to the weekend's discussion. Speakers from Iraq, Canada, Germany, and Palestine addressed the UFPJ delegation, with UFPJ activist Phyllis Bennis hosting the discussion. The panelists, generally, interpreted the election of Barak Obama as a positive American move for peace. However, Afghanistan was often mentioned a troubling situation. Palestinian activist Ali Abunimah, in voicing these concerns, talked about the prospect of America trading the killing of Iraqis with the killing of Afghanis -- which is not much progress regardless of who sits in the White House. Abunimah also pointed out that the American allowance for the Israel's collective punishment and starvation of Palestinians in Gaza is no sign of progress, especially if these actions are allowed to continue after January 20, 2009.

Bennis and Salam Talib from Iraq addressed the ongoing concerns of the U.S. occupation centered in Baghdad. Bennis gave the weekend-sheltered UFPJ delegates reports that an American general comment publicly over the weekend that U.S. troops can and will stay in Iraq despite that country's official plans to have them fully vacated. Obviously, this is an interesting statement from the American military considering President-elect Obama's pronouncements and public positions on the Iraq occupation.

The report from Canada offered some interesting challenges to UFPJ activists. Our neighbors to the north will be hosting two major international conferences in 2010, including a visit from the G-8. Also, Vancouver will be the host site for the 2010 Olympics. Our gracious Canadian neighbors are inviting the American peace community to come visit during these notable events. So you have a few months to pack your peace signs (in English/French) and your long johns.

In the meantime, I will invite you to come back to this blog next week as I will be posting videos of the various speeches and panel discussions during the UFPJ 4th General Assembly.

-- Rico Thomas Rico

International Panelists Address
UFPJ Saturday Night

UFPJ National Assembly: Late Day Report

CHICAGO - The peace work is humming along at the 4th National Assembly of United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ), the expansive coalition of U.S. peace and justice organizations.

Today has been the first full day of planning for the coming new year and the coming new presidential administration. Organizational reps from all over the country have converged on Obamatown to review and reaffirm its unity statement, to establish a strategic plan, and to focus on specific actions for 2009. This is a tall order for the more than 200 voting delegates.

The assembly officially kicked off the weekend Friday night with a dinner event followed by a panel discussion featuring activists Tom Hayden, William McNary, and Antonia Juhasz. The speakers -- including UFPJ organizers -- clearly reflected the prevalent attitude in the crowd: The peace organizers were feeling good about the results of U.S. elections and nation's repudiation of the Bush-Cheney policies. Even though the peace movement here recognized their big contribution to affecting the national mood, the attitude was far from gloating. There remains in the sound in people's voices the determination -- and yes, some wariness -- in recognizing the struggle for peace continues. Everyone here knows that the changeover in the White House is the beginning of a new stage in challenging U.S. militarism around the globe and economic inequities at home.

The feel-good mood, and determination, carried over to today. At this point, we are well into the tenth hour of working on the nuts-and-bolts organizing business that keeps the UFPJ coalition moving forward. Still, I don't see any diminishing of the delegate crowd at the conference hall. The delegates agreed earlier by consensus on a slightly revised unity statement for the national organization. By lunchtime, the group agreed by consensus on a detailed strategic framework which establishes priorities. Throughout the process, facilitators moved the discussion along, allowing input to the various documents and ensuring concerns were addressed.

This afternoon has focused on specific actions and the UFPJ structure. The elections for the national steering committee is in process now, as well. The decisions on action items and steering committee voting will continue into tomorrow.

I am saving you the details about the many of the assembly's decisions for the moment. The finalized documents -- unity statement and strategic framework -- will be posted on the web by UFPJ after the assembly. Additional work on Sunday will add to the details.

For the delegates here, this long day is still not over. But, hey, who said peace work -- especially peace organizing -- was easy?

-- Rico Thomas Rico

Al Fishman of Detroit Addresses
the Topic of UFPJ's Strategic Framework

Friday Photos from UFPJ 4th National Assembly

The national peace coalition, United for Peace and Justice, kicked off its 4th National Assembly in Chicago on Friday night in Chicago. Photos from the formal opening of the Assembly are shown below.

-- Rico Thomas Rico

UFPJ Opens 4th National Assembly