[Peace-discuss] Just Foreign Policy News, December 21, 2006

[Robert Naiman]

Just Foreign Policy News
December 21, 2006
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/newsroom/blog/

U.S. Should Promote Diplomacy, Not War, in Somalia
The Washington Post reported this week on entry of thousands of
Ethiopian troops into Somalia, with the perceived blessing of the Bush
Administration. Ask Congress to pressure the Bush Administration to
support diplomacy in Somalia, not war.
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/involved/somalia.html

Time to Talk to Iran: Petition
More than 27,300 people have signed the Peace Action/Just Foreign
Policy petition. Please sign/circulate if you have yet to do so:
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/involved/iranpetition.html

Tell Your Representatives: Stop the Money and Bring the Troops Home
Please write/call your Members of Congress if you have not done so
recently. They need to hear from you. The Capitol switchboard is
202-225-3121.
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/involved/iraq.html

Hersh/Ritter on "Target Iran":
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/12/21/143259

Just Foreign Policy News daily podcast:
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/podcasts/podcast_howto.html

Summary:
U.S./Top News
The US and Britain will begin moving additional warships and strike
aircraft into the Persian Gulf region in a display of military resolve
toward Iran, the New York Times reports. Senior American officers said
the increase in naval power should not be viewed as preparations for
an offensive strike against Iran. But they acknowledged the ability to
hit Iran would be increased and Iranian leaders might well call the
growing presence provocative.

Britain, France and Germany have scrapped plans to impose a UN travel
ban on Iranian officials linked to Iran's nuclear program to win
Russian support for a U.N. resolution restricting Iran's nuclear
trade, the Washington Post reports. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov
said the council had made headway in narrowing the scope of the
resolution's measures but more needed to be done to ensure the
resolution supports U.N. efforts to uncover mysteries surrounding
Iran's nuclear program and helps "start talks with Iran, rather than
punish Iran."  Lavrov complained the resolution would establish a
committee with the power to expand trade sanctions, a process that
could cut off legitimate trade.

Representative Louise Slaughter sent a letter to President Bush
expressing concern over former Administration official Flynt
Leverett's allegations he had been censored by the White House for his
criticism of Iran policy. Leverett says a draft op-ed was censored
where he talked about Iran's assistance to the U.S. in Afghanistan and
its offer of a "grand bargain" with the U.S. in 2003.

The debate over sending more troops to Iraq intensified as President
Bush signaled he will listen but not necessarily defer to balky
military officers, the Washington Post reports.

Defense Secretary Gates said Wednesday that senior commanders had
expressed their concern to him that sending more American troops to
Iraq might delay the Iraqi government from taking responsibility for
its own security, the New York Times reports.

The Pentagon wants the White House to seek an additional $99.7 billion
to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, AP reports. The military's
request would boost this year's budget for those wars to about $170
billion.

Iran
The Iranian student movement is reawakening from its recent slumber
and may even be spearheading a widespread resistance against President
Ahmadinejad, the New York Times reports.

President Ahmadinejad's opponents won local council elections in Iran,
AP reports. His hard-line stances are believed to have divided
conservatives who voted him into power last year, with some feeling
Ahmadinejad has spent too much time confronting the West and has
failed to deal with Iran's struggling economy.

Iraq
In the view of the Bush administration, Abdul Aziz al-Hakim is a
moderate and Moqtada al-Sadr is an extremist, the Washington Post
reports, although both lead militias that are widely alleged to run
death squads. Administration officials say they are pursuing a
Hakim-led moderate coalition of Shiites, Sunnis and Kurdish parties in
order to isolate extremists, in particular Sadr. But some wonder
whether the US is overestimating Hakim's ability.

Syria
Senators Kerry and Dodd met with Syrian President Assad Wednesday,
urging Syria to cooperate with efforts to stabilize Iraq, AP reports.
Kerry has criticized the Bush administration for refusing to engage
with Syria and Iran, a move that was recommended by the bipartisan
Iraq Study Group.

Somalia
Somalia's Council of Islamic Courts and the country's transitional
government agreed Wednesday to resume peace talks, the Washington Post
reports. Ethiopia is estimated to have at least 8,000 troops in
Somalia.  The Islamic movement has demanded withdrawal of the troops,
which it regards as a U.S.-backed invading force.

Somalia's Islamists are at war against Ethiopia not the government
according to one of their leaders, Reuters reports. Reuters puts the
number of Ethiopian troops between 15000-20000. Witnesses told Reuters
Ethiopian troops were heavily involved in recent battles.

Bolivia
Some Mennonite farmers in Bolivia are nervous about the government's
land reform program, Simon Romero reports for the New York Times. Some
farmers have clear title to their land but others do not. Nearly 90%
of Bolivia's arable land is held by its wealthiest 10% of families.

Contents:
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-
Robert Naiman
Just Foreign Policy
www.justforeignpolicy.org