A war criminal is Donald Trump’s pick to head the Defense Department 11/25/2024

                       A war criminal is Donald Trump’s pick to head the Defense Department

Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s controversial nominee for Defense Secretary, embodies a profound shift from early condemnation of war crimes to staunch defense of soldiers accused of them. As a young Army officer in Iraq in 2006, Hegseth unequivocally labeled atrocities such as the execution of prisoners and civilian shootings as indefensible. Yet, in later years, he portrayed convicted service members as heroes and decried the military’s prosecution of war crimes as a betrayal of its troops.
Hegseth’s controversial history extends beyond his military career. Allegations of sexual assault, concerns about extremist affiliations, and his polarizing views on military roles, including opposition to women in combat, have sparked bipartisan skepticism of his qualifications to lead the Defense Department. His tenure as a Fox News commentator amplified culture wars and war crime defenses, further politicizing his candidacy.
Whether his nomination proceeds or falters, Hegseth’s trajectory underscores the enduring consequences of America’s post-9/11 wars on those tasked with waging them.

Britain’s Delicate Balancing Act 11/25/2024

                                                           Britain’s Delicate Balancing Act

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s recent visit to Paris, where he joined French President Emmanuel Macron for Armistice Day commemorations, marked an effort to rebuild Britain’s ties with Europe after Brexit. However, the geopolitical landscape has shifted dramatically with Donald Trump’s return to the U.S. presidency. Mr. Trump’s anti-EU stance and protectionist policies now pose a challenge to Mr. Starmer’s ambition to strengthen Britain’s trade and political relationships with Europe.
Britain faces a stark dilemma: deepening economic ties with Europe or maintaining its historically strong alliance with the United States. Trade negotiations with the EU offer opportunities to ease friction, such as aligning regulations and enhancing mobility for young people. Meanwhile, a free-trade agreement with the U.S. under Trump appears unlikely, given his preference for tariffs over new deals.
The stakes are high. The EU remains Britain’s largest trading partner, accounting for 42% of exports and 52% of imports. Re-engaging with Europe could recover economic growth lost post-Brexit and fortify shared security goals, especially as NATO faces uncertainty. However, yielding to Trump’s demands—such as relaxing standards for genetically modified imports—could alienate European partners and British consumers alike.
Britain’s balancing act is further complicated by Trump’s trade policies, which may pressure allies to adopt tariffs against China. As a result, Mr. Starmer must navigate a fraught landscape, balancing economic imperatives with geopolitical realities. Ultimately, Britain may face a hard choice between aligning more closely with Europe or the United States, each path carrying significant economic and political risks.

COP 29 11/25/2024

                                                          COP 29

The closing days of COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, have been marked by growing outrage over insufficient climate financing commitments from the wealthiest nations. Despite a proposed $1.3 trillion annual target for climate finance by 2035, the draft agreement only requires $250 billion annually from rich countries. Climate justice activists and civil society groups protested, decrying the proposal as an insult to the Global South, which bears the brunt of the climate crisis.
Arnold Jason Del Rosario, a prominent activist, stated, "We are not demanding charity. We are demanding justice." Protesters echoed calls for "trillions, not billions" to address the scale of the crisis. Haneen Shaheen highlighted the historical exploitation of the Global South and called for reparative climate finance, saying, "It’s our money. You’ve taken it for hundreds of years. Pay up now!"
Activists also emphasized the need for public, grant-based financing rather than debt-inducing loans or private-sector schemes, which perpetuate inequality. Collin Rees of OCI warned against relying on the very corporations that fueled the crisis, demanding accountability and meaningful action.
This summit, branded the "Finance COP," highlights a glaring inequity: the world’s richest nations, who have profited from decades of industrial pollution, are offering far too little to the country's most vulnerable to climate change. As Rimsha Rehan passionately noted, “They owe us. We don’t owe them.”
COP29 must rise to this challenge. Anything less than bold, equitable, and grant-based climate finance will fail to address the urgent needs of our planet and its people.

For more go to: https://callforsocialjustice.blogspot.com/

The International Criminal Court's (ICC) 2 11/24/2024

                                        The International Criminal Court's (ICC) 2

The International Criminal Court's (ICC) recent decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant marks a pivotal moment for justice and accountability. For Palestinians, who have endured decades of systematic oppression under Israel’s impunity, often bolstered by U.S. support, this decision offers rare hope.

The Palestinian ambassador to the U.K. called these warrants a vital step to restore the credibility of the rules-based international order. Yet, significant challenges remain. Neither Israel nor the U.S. are ICC signatories, limiting immediate enforcement. Despite this, several European nations have pledged to act if Netanyahu or Gallant enter their jurisdictions.
For families in Gaza, this decision is both a symbol of hope and a reminder of the dire need for urgent action. Gaza has witnessed one of the most documented but often denied genocides in modern history. The ICC’s move shines a light on the deliberate destruction and starvation of Palestinian society.
Justice for Palestinians requires more than symbolic arrests. It demands immediate steps to dismantle occupation, end apartheid policies, and address a worsening humanitarian crisis. While the ICC’s decision is welcome, the international community must prioritize ending the genocide and holding all responsible parties accountable.
This moment offers a chance for the world—and the U.S.—to show that it has not abandoned Gaza’s people. Their resilience in the face of overwhelming adversity deserves not only recognition but tangible support as they seek justice and survival.
I urge you to reconsider U.S. policy toward Israel, aligning it with principles of human rights and justice. Supporting accountability at the ICC and addressing the root causes of Palestinian suffering would demonstrate leadership and commitment to lasting peace.

International Criminal Court (ICC) 11/24/2024

                                     International Criminal Court (ICC)

The recent decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant marks a pivotal moment for Palestinians who have endured decades of systematic oppression. This step toward accountability is a rare source of hope and validation for Palestinians, who have long faced Israel's impunity, bolstered by unwavering U.S. support.

The Palestinian ambassador to the U.K. described the arrest warrants as a means to restore the credibility of the rules-based international order. However, significant obstacles remain. Neither Israel nor the United States are ICC signatories, limiting the immediate enforcement of these warrants. Nonetheless, some European nations have pledged to act if Netanyahu or Gallant enter their jurisdictions.
For families in Gaza, this decision is both a symbol of hope and a stark reminder of the urgent need for action. Gaza has borne witness to one of the most documented yet most denied genocides in modern history. This recognition by the ICC offers a glimmer of possibility for an end to the deliberate destruction and starvation of Palestinian society.
Palestinians understand that true justice requires more than arrest warrants. It demands tangible actions to dismantle occupation, end apartheid policies, and address the ongoing humanitarian crisis. While the ICC’s decision is a welcome step, the focus must remain on immediate efforts to end the genocide and ensure accountabilities for all responsible parties.
This decision offers a chance for the world to demonstrate that it has not forgotten Gaza and its people. Their resilience and hope deserve unwavering international support as they strive for justice and survival in the face of overwhelming adversity.
For more go to: https://callforsocialjustice.blogspot.com/

Urgent Action Needed to End U.S. Complicity in Gaza Genocide 11/23/2024

                         : Urgent Action Needed to End U.S. Complicity in Gaza Genocide

Dear President Biden and Vice President Harris,
Palestinian American poet and National Book Award winner Lena Khalaf Tuffaha recently used her platform to deliver a powerful call for action against the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Accepting her award for Something About Living, a collection that explores Palestinian identity and resilience, she urged all of us to confront the moral implications of U.S. support for atrocities.
In her speech, Tuffaha declared:
“I want us to feel and be uncomfortable and be disoriented and be angry and get up and demand that any administration, no matter what letter it has at the end of its name — D, R, whatever — that any administration, that we pay for, should stop funding and arming a genocide in Gaza.”
Her words underscore the profound power of speaking truth to injustice. As writers and readers respond to her call, we must demand the same accountability from those in power, especially the administration under your leadership.
It is indefensible to criticize international calls for justice against Prime Minister Netanyahu, who has aptly been called the “little Hitler” of the Middle East, while supporting similar measures against other leaders like Vladimir Putin. This glaring double standard undermines the credibility of U.S. foreign policy and signals complicity in mass atrocities.
Your administration's failure to halt the genocide and your ongoing support for military aid to Israel reflect appalling weakness in upholding basic human rights. It is long past time for action to end U.S. funding of these crimes.
The world is watching. Shame on you if you fail to act.

Writers Must Speak Out Against Genocide 11/23/2024

                                               Writers Must Speak Out Against Genocide

Palestinian American poet Lena Khalaf Tuffaha used her powerful platform as a National Book Award winner to call for urgent action against the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Accepting the award for her poetry collection Something About Living, which explores themes of Palestinian identity and resilience, Tuffaha urged writers to use their voices and influence to demand justice.
In her impassioned speech, she declared:
“I want us to feel and be uncomfortable and be disoriented and be angry and get up and demand that any administration, no matter what letter it has at the end of its name — D, R, whatever — that any administration, that we pay for, should stop funding and arming a genocide in Gaza.”
Tuffaha’s plea reminds us of the profound power of words to challenge injustice. Writers and readers alike must heed her call, confronting the moral implications of U.S. support for atrocities and demanding accountability from those in power.
Let us ensure that her words inspire not just discomfort, but action.
For more go to: https://callforsocialjustice.blogspot.com/

Israel’s Escalating Violence Against Civilians in Gaza and Lebanon 11/11/2024

                                   Escalating Violence Against Civilians in Gaza and Lebanon

Buoyed by a chronically weak Biden-Harris administration, soon to be followed by a more menacing Trump administration, Israel's far-right government continues its aggressive campaign of bombings and blockades, killing and starving Palestinian civilians with the world's silent complicity. In recent days, Israel has intensified its airstrikes on Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. In Gaza’s Jabaliya refugee camp, a brutal attack destroyed a family home, killing 36 Palestinians, including 13 children. Survivors, like Ahmed Al-Alooshe, describe the horrifying loss of civilians unconnected to any military group—people who had fled to the camp seeking safety.
Israel’s attacks have also claimed the lives of at least four Palestinian journalists, targeted at their workplaces or even in makeshift shelters. The U.N.-backed Famine Review Committee warns that northern Gaza is on the brink of famine due to these blockades. Meanwhile, Qatar has withdrawn from mediating talks between Israel and Hamas, signaling a further breakdown of peace efforts.
Lebanon faces similar devastation. Over the weekend, Israeli airstrikes killed dozens, including 10 paramedics. Entire villages have been razed, and civilians, like Ahmad Ali Hajj, find their homes destroyed without provocation. Such indiscriminate targeting of health workers and residential areas underscores Israel’s disregard for human life.
It is past time for the global community to condemn these attacks on innocent civilians. Without decisive action, this cycle of violence will only deepen.

Israel and U.S. Criminal policies in the Middle East 11/13/2024

                                           Israel and U.S. Criminal policies in the Middle East

The recent escalation of violence in Gaza and Lebanon underscores the urgent need for accountability and humanitarian intervention. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have killed at least 47 people in the past 24 hours, including a child in a makeshift camp in al-Mawasi—designated by Israel as a “safe humanitarian zone.” The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has repeatedly warned of impending famine in northern Gaza. UN humanitarian chief Joyce Msuya condemned Israel’s blockade of aid, describing Gaza as “a wasteland of rubble,” where civilian structures have been decimated, cutting off essential resources like electricity and food. She decried these actions as some of “the gravest international crimes.”
Despite a U.S.-mandated 30-day deadline for Israel to allow more aid into Gaza, the Biden administration has refused to enforce U.S. laws that prohibit arming nations engaged in human rights abuses. Aid groups report that humanitarian support reaching Gaza is at its lowest level since December. A coalition of former Biden administration officials recently urged the U.S. to uphold its own laws and halt arms to Israel, citing violations of the Leahy Law, the Foreign Assistance Act, and the Arms Export Control Act.
Meanwhile, Israeli strikes in Beirut and the Mount Lebanon Governorate continue to inflict devastating casualties, force evacuations, and target civilian infrastructure. Notably, Al Jazeera’s Gaza bureau chief, Wael al-Dahdouh, recently received the National Press Club’s Press Freedom Award for his courageous reporting amid the loss of family members and personal injuries from Israeli strikes.
In a controversial move, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, who has denied the existence of Palestinians and supported Israel’s annexation of occupied territories, was appointed as U.S. ambassador to Israel by Donald Trump. Such appointments and policy stances only deepen the crisis in the region and undermine any prospect for peace.
It is time for the U.S. government to prioritize human rights, enforce its own laws, and work toward de-escalating violence rather than exacerbating it through uncritical support of aggressive policies. This marks a shameful final chapter in Biden’s morally compromised Middle East policy, highlighting his unwillingness to stand up to Netanyahu's far-right criminal agenda.

War on immigrants, 11/12/2024

                                                          War on immigrants,

With the recent announcements about appointments in President-elect Donald Trump’s administration, the United States faces a stark shift in immigration policy. Trump has reportedly named Stephen Miller, an architect of the previous administration's anti-immigrant policies, as deputy chief of staff for policy. Alongside Miller, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is expected to lead Homeland Security, and Tom Homan, known for his hardline stance, is set to become the "border czar."
Miller’s influence over Trump’s immigration agenda has long been noted. He was instrumental in creating policies such as the Muslim ban, family separation, and cuts to legal immigration during Trump’s first term. Miller, an avowed nationalist, has a history of undermining multiculturalism, evidenced by years of statements and policies aimed at shifting the racial demographics of the U.S. His approach reflects a goal to limit immigration drastically, impacting not only undocumented immigrants but also legal immigrants and naturalized citizens.
Jean Guerrero, author of Hatemonger: Stephen Miller, Donald Trump, and the White Nationalist Agenda, argues that this campaign to radically reengineer U.S. demographics may ultimately harm the economy and tarnish the nation’s reputation as a refuge. Homan, too, has deep ties to the far-right and has previously suggested deporting U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants. This extreme rhetoric signals an intent to separate millions of mixed-status families, eroding the foundational values of compassion and inclusivity.
The U.S. has always been strengthened by diversity. Moving forward with policies driven by animus rather than pragmatism will create lasting damage and undermine the very principles America claims to uphold.

The Silencing of Gaza’s Journalists 11/12/2024

                                                               The Silencing of Gaza’s Journalists

Ms. Chekuru, a journalist and documentary producer, brings to light the recent, alarming threats faced by Palestinian journalists amid Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Journalist Hossam Shabat, reporting from northern Gaza, described his harrowing life on the frontlines, where just days prior, he and five other Al Jazeera journalists were baselessly accused by Israeli forces of being affiliated with militant groups. These claims, which Al Jazeera has denounced, place these journalists in grave danger, even as they provide essential coverage of alleged “crimes against humanity” in Gaza, as described by the UN.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), this year has seen a record 129 Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza, a toll that Gaza’s media office estimates even higher. Five of these were directly targeted, with Israel accused of ongoing attacks on press freedom. The U.S. has remained largely silent, neglecting tools like the Leahy Law, which could help investigate these deaths. This silence emboldens Israeli impunity and compromises the global community’s ability to understand the reality in Gaza.
The attack on journalists recalls the case of Shireen Abu Akleh, a U.S. citizen and journalist killed in 2022, where accountability remains elusive despite widespread calls for justice. Now, Gaza’s remaining journalists carry the weight of documenting the war, risking their lives each day. Al Jazeera cameraman Fadi al-Wahidi, recently shot by Israeli forces, lies paralyzed and in a coma, denied medical evacuation from Gaza’s crumbling healthcare system. His colleague Shabat pleads: “All we need is for you not to leave us alone, screaming…with no one to hear us.”