National Call-In to Congress, Monday, December 4
With Congressional Democrats meeting December 5 on Iraq and the Iraq Study Group report to be released the following day, peace groups are asking people to call their representatives in Congress on Monday, December 4. Ask your representative and senators to support a timetable for the withdrawal of all U.S. troops and bases from Iraq and to support US talks with Iran and Syria. The Congressional switchboard is 202-225-3121.
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Summary:
U.S./Top News
Writing in the Wichita Eagle Mark Weisbrot and Robert Naiman of Just Foreign Policy say the US government should adopt the commonsense policy of talking to Syria and Iran. With the election of a new Congress and building momentum in Washington for such talks, now is the time the public should tell their representatives to support talks.
Next Wednesday, the Iraq Study Group will recommend withdrawing nearly all U.S. combat units (with the exception of a "quick strike" force) from Iraq by early 2008 while leaving behind troops to train, advise and support the Iraqis, reports the Washington Post citing anonymous sources. This recommendation would come with the caveat that combat units need not be withdrawn if commanders face "unexpected conditions."
Despite the victory of Democrats in a midterm election seen as a referendum on the war, rapid withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq is becoming less likely, argues the New York Times in a news analysis. Leading Democrats and the Iraq Study Group are endorsing longer timelines or vague timelines for withdrawal and President Bush expresses opposition to any withdrawal. One commentator pointed out that it may be difficult to justify the continuing deaths of U.S. soldiers once it is clear that the U.S. is going to withdraw eventually, just to make that withdrawal slower.
In joint press conference with President Bush yesterday, the New York Times reports that Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki said the Iraqi government would be ready to take over Iraqi security forces and more substantial security operations by June. President Bush and his aides seemed to indicate that control over those forces would be passed on more quickly than previously planned, though they did not say when. At the press conference, President Bush adamantly rejected a quick pullout of U.S. forces as al-Maliki said the decision on withdrawal was up to the American government.
Sources indicate the President Bush did not pressure al-Maliki directly to crackdown on ally Moqtada al-Sadr and his militia, the Mahdi Army, reports the Washington Post.
The Bush administration is deliberating whether to abandon U.S. reconciliation efforts with Sunni insurgents and instead give priority to Shiites and Kurds, reports the Washington Post citing anonymous administration officials. The proposal reflects the conclusion of some officials that reconciliation is now unlikely and that the U.S. risks alienating the majority Shiites.
At the U.S.-backed Forum for the Future, which was held in Jordan and whose official purpose was democracy promotion, a Saudi official said democracy cannot be imposed and at least one attendee questioned the democratic credentials of the U.S., reports the Washington Post.
Iraq
Iraqis were unimpressed by the results of the summit meeting between President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki in Jordan, reports the New York Times. This is further indication, according to the reporter, of a widespread loss of faith in the elected government's ability to turn things around.
Similarly, other Arab observers were left wondering, "Is that all?" after the summit, according to the New York Times. There is a perception that the summit produced no results and that Bush was condescending toward al-Maliki.
The leaked National Security Agency memo on Iraq Prime Minister al-Maliki show that the Bush administration is not facing up to reality, according to a Boston Globe editorial. This is particularly true when it argues that al-Maliki should be willing or able to oppose his powerful ally Moqtada al-Sadr. Americans must now decide how slowly or quickly to reduce troops in Iraq.
Iraq's Interior Ministry has formed a special unit to monitor news reporting in Iraq, take legal action on stories they say are false, and disseminate news they say is true. A spokesman said their target is "fabricated and false news that hurts and gives the Iraqis a wrong picture that the security situation is very bad."
Palestine
After meeting with the U.S. Secretary of State, the Palestinian president said unity talks between his Fatah movement and Hamas, the party of the prime minister, have broken down. American, Israeli, and Palestinian officials said Abbas could seek to dismiss the Hamas government and call for elections, probably with American and Israeli support, though there is no clear legal mechanism to do so.
The executive committee of the Fatah-dominated Palestine Liberation Organisation has called on Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of the rival party Hamas to resign, Reuters reports.
Iran
Bush administration officials are growing fed up with the lack of progress in the UN Security Council reaching agreement on sanctions on Iran, the New York Times reports. An anonymous administration official said they may push for a vote on a resolution if no agreement is reached before the end of the year.
Somalia
Suicide bombers targeting the weak transitional government killed 5 people, the New York Times reports. Inter Press Service recently reported that the Bush administration is pushing a U.N. Security Council resolution to exempt a proposed African "peace support" force from a longstanding arms embargo on Somalia. Experts say that could spark a wider war in the Horn of Africa. Ethiopian troops are now in Somalia to back up the government.
Mexico
Felipe Calderón was sworn in as the new Mexican president today, after forcing his way into a Legislative Palace marked by physical fighting between his conservative party and the party of Andres Manual Lopez Obrador, reports the New York Times. Obrador was declared the loser by the courts in a election marked by allegations of fraud this summer. Obrador is leading a mass protest in Mexico City, and his supporters have vowed not to allow Calderón to govern.
Venezuela
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is expected to win reelection by a wide margin in Sunday's vote, reports the Christian Science Monitor.
Turkey
A trip to Turkey by the king of Saudi Arabia is the latest sign that Turkey is turning more toward the Middle East and away from the West, writes Suzan Fraser for the Associate Press. The article fails to note the central role that the largely secular and pro-Western military plays in Turkish politics.
Sri Lanka
The defense secretary of Sri Lanka narrowly escaped being killed in a bomb blast that the government blamed on the Tamal Tigers rebel group, according to Reuters.
Contents: http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/newsroom/blog/ -
Patrick McElwee
Just Foreign Policy
www.justforeignpolicy.org
Just Foreign Policy is a membership organization devoted to reforming U.S. foreign policy so it reflects the values and interests of the majority of Americans.