The GOP & Reagan 9-8-2015

8, September 2015                   The GOP & Reagan The GOP presidential wannabees have taken a hard right turn from the sublime to the ridiculous – in a virtual twilight zone. The next debate will be held at the presidential library of Ronald Reagan, the much loved patron saint of Republican conservatism. Largely ignored is Reagan’s real legacy. Contrary to Grover Norquist’s much touted Americans for Tax Reform, the 40th president raised taxes eleven times in his eight years in office.  The federal workforce increased markedly and the debt skyrocketed from $700 billion to $3 trillion. He also massively expanded the Pentagon budget. Contrary to the anti-immigrant rhetoric of Trump and his cohorts, Reagan granted amnesty to 3 million illegal immigrants, stating “I believe in the idea of amnesty for those who have put down roots and lived here for some time and may have entered illegally”. He opposed supporting federal initiatives to provide blacks with civil rights and pledged his opposition to the Civil Rights Acts of 1964. Finally, he raised the debt ceiling 18 times during his tenure Republican – a complete heresy in modern day Republican orthodoxy.

Migrants 9-7-2015

7, September                               Migrants There appears to be a serious disconnect between public statements and meaningful actions by many Persian Gulf States to mitigate the migrant crisis. The talk has all but morphed into a few tiny steps. The Gulf States have some of the highest percapita incomes in the world. Yet as millions of refugees risk life and limb to reach save havens, Gulf nations have grudgingly agreed to offer sanctuary to an insignificant few. After the Syrian toddler’s tragic death galvanized Europe, most notably Germany, humanitarian groups have accused Arab nations of inaction. To make matters worse, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have exacerbated the refugee crisis by bankrolling shadowy groups in Syria and supporting the demonic group ISIS who continue to commit unspeakable atrocities in the name of Islam without invoking even a whimper of outrage from mainstream Muslims. One of the most vehement critics of the Gulf states is Sarah Whison, executive director of Human Rights Watch, who stated “Burden sharing has no meaning in the Gulf, and the Saudi, Emirati and Qatari approach has been to sign a check and let everyone else deal with it.”   As one astute observer stated that most Muslims are unhappy in their own countries and wish to migrate to safe havens, but once settled, radical Imams attempt to sway them to adopt an anti-west narrative. Unless host counties integrate these migrants and avoid ghettoization, this trend may continue and compassion may quickly be replaced by outward hostility.

Guatemala 9-5-2015

5, September 2015              Guatemala

In a stunning victory for people power, Guatemala’s, President, Otto Pérez Molina was forced to resign and subsequently jailed on charges of corruption bowing to massive popular protests. Guatemala has been in a virtual lockdown for decades under a brutal military junta. Turning back the pages of history reveals a long struggle against tyranny by courageous activists led by Mayan Rigoberta Menchú whose lawsuits helped bring down former U.S.-backed dictator, Efraín Ríos Montt for his role in the killings of more than 1,700 Ixil Mayan people. Menchú lost her father, mother and two brothers during the Guatemalan genocide. She won the Nobel Peace Prize for her tireless work on behalf of Guatemala’s indigenous population. Now Menchú is calling for Pérez Molina to be tried for his role in the massacres of thousands of civilians the El Quiché region in the 1980s. Using wire taps, a new and emerging independent judiciary has charged Molina with massive fraud pilfering tens of millions from the state treasury. For more than 50 years, ordinary citizens have been in mortal fear of the military especially members of the specialized forces called the Kaibiles, an elite corps whose mission was to stifle dissent. All of these Special Forces were trained at the US School of the Americas.  Another dark stain on US foreign policy going back many decades.  

IRAN EPILOGUE 9-3-2015

3, September 2015                 IRAN EPILOGUE Mercifully, Congress has pledged enough votes to support the nuclear deal with Iran. What is disturbing about this debate is the number of lawmakers who support Prime Minister Netanyahu against their own commander in chief.   Perhaps the free junket to Israel seized by many lawmakers may have persuaded some members of Congress to ‘switch sides.’ What is most striking about the demagoguery is the ostrich in the sand mentality to ignore historical precedents.  Negotiating with adversaries to create a more stable world has long been practiced by Republican presidents. Richard Nixon normalized relations with our nemesis, China. Ronald Reagan signed a landmark missile agreement with the Soviet Union. He even held secret negotiations with Iran, selling it arms in its war with Iraq, using the proceeds to arm Nicaragua’s contra rebels in defiance of Congress – an impeachable offence! President George Bush entered into an agreement with Iran establishing nuclear limits in 2006. The five major powers, the United Nations Security Council, most American nuclear experts and scores of leading American diplomats — have endorsed the pact as the best way to limit Iran’s nuclear bomb making capabilities. America projects strength when important national security decisions have bipartisan support. Sadly, none of this seems to matter to the accord’s opponents, who refuse to be deterred by the facts. Finally, shouldn’t the US negotiate with other nuclear powers, including Israel, to eliminate all these terrifying weapons?

Yemen 9-2-2015

2, September                                    Yemen According to Human Rights Watch, dozens of civilians have been killed and many more wounded by Saudi Arabia using U.S. made cluster munition rockets in the Yemeni city of Hajjah. Following the attacks additional fatalities occurred when unexploded submunitions were picked up.  Ironically, the US, Saudi Arabia and Yemen have ratified the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit indiscriminate warfare. Cluster munitions are, by definition, indiscriminate and therefore all these countries are in complete violation of the Geneva Conventions. Each munition contains 200 submunitions which when released kills or maims anything in its path – men, women and children – totally indiscriminate in its execution. The US just signed a huge military contract with Saudi Arabia for the delivery of military weapons and jets – the largest deal in the world. The Obama’s administration much touted rhetoric on human rights and the rule of law is completely at odds with its indefensible policies of arming the greatest purveyor of terrorism in the world with billions in military hardware. Once again, maintaining the military juggernaut weapons industry always triumph concerns for human life. I urge concerned readers to contact their legislators and the White House and demand an outright ban on these hideous anti-personnel (cluster munitions and land mines) killing machines.

Response to op ed NYT What Should Obama Do Next on Iran? 9-1-2015

1, September 2015       Response to op ed NYT What Should Obama Do Next on Iran?

There appears to be seismic shift in the attitudes of American Jews and the American public who are speaking out in much larger numbers hailing the pending historic nuclear accord with Iran. Prime Minister, Netanyahu’s polarizing attitude and his determination to demonize our president has a lot to do with these changing attitudes. Supporters of the accord are no longer intimidated by the well-worn accusations of anti-Semitism.

Netanyahu has lost all credibility. He has spent decades claiming that Iran is moments away from acquiring nuclear bomb making capabilities – a rather clumsy fear-mongering campaign designed to distract the world from Israel’s appalling history of oppressing Palestinians of basic human rights.

While timid politicians, backed by AIPAC and other extreme-‘pro-Israel’ groups are only too eager to support Netanyahu, American Jews are growing increasingly disaffected. Polls show 49% now supports the accord. It’s time the American public demand that Israel dismantle its huge stockpile of nuclear weapons which pose an existential threat to its neighbors.

In spite of AIPAC’s deep pockets, its polar opposite JVP (Jewish Voices for Peace) has seen a huge surge in its membership. I urge Americans to join JVP which promotes diplomacy over perpetual war, universal human rights, and vigorously opposes the suffering occupation and dispossession of Palestinian land. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/02/opinion/what-should-obama-do-next-on-iran.html?comments#permid=15957444

IRAN 9-1-2015

1, September 2015                   IRAN There appears to be seismic shift in the attitudes of American Jews and the American public who are speaking out in much larger numbers hailing the pending historic nuclear accord with Iran. Prime Minister, Netanyahu’s polarizing attitude and his determination to demonize our president has a lot to do with these changing attitudes. Supporters of the accord are no longer intimidated by the well-worn accusations of anti-Semitism. Netanyahu has lost all credibility. He has spent decades claiming that Iran is moments away from acquiring nuclear bomb making capabilities – a rather clumsy fear-mongering campaign designed to distract the world from Israel’s appalling history of oppressing Palestinians of basic human rights. While timid politicians, backed by AIPAC and other extreme-‘pro-Israel’ groups are only too eager to support Netanyahu, American Jews are growing increasingly disaffected. Polls show 49% now supports the accord. It’s time the American public demand that Israel dismantle its huge stockpile of nuclear weapons which pose an existential threat to its neighbors. In spite of AIPAC’s deep pockets, its polar opposite JVP (Jewish Voices for Peace) has seen a huge surge in its membership. I urge Americans to join JVP which promotes diplomacy over perpetual war, universal human rights, and vigorously opposes the suffering occupation and dispossession of Palestinian land.