[Peace-discuss] Just Foreign Policy News, January 10, 2007

[Robert Naiman]

Just Foreign Policy News
January 10, 2007
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/newsroom/blog/

No to the Escalation, Stop the Funding, Stop the War, Bring the Troops Home
4pm Thursday, Urbana Courthouse Veterans Memorial

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Summary:
U.S./Top News
Liberal activists are pressuring Democratic members of Congress to
take stronger positions against the war in Iraq, the Los Angeles Times
reports. The article misidentifies Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman
as a Democrat, when he was elected as an Independent. The Washington
Post and the New York Times identify him as an Independent. It is not
clear why the Los Angeles Times is deviating from the standard
journalistic practice. To inquire: letters at latimes.com.

Democratic leaders said Tuesday they intended to hold votes in the
House and Senate on President Bush's plan to send more troops to
Baghdad, the New York Times reports. This would force Republicans to
take a stand on the proposal and seek to isolate the president
politically over his handling of the war. The headline and first
paragraph say that the votes would be "symbolic." While it is true
that the votes would not legally compel anything, and it is certainly
important to point that out, it is quite normal for Congress to state
its position on issues of importance and this is not usually regarded
in Washington as meaningless. As the article points out, "the
resolutions would represent the most significant reconsideration of
Congressional support for the war since it began, and mark the first
big clash between the White House and Congress since the November
election."

When President Bush presents his new strategy for Iraq, he will be
ordering his top military brass to take action they initially resisted
and advised against, notes the Washington Post, in contrast to his
previously stated disdain for "micromanaging" the war effort.

The thousands of troops President Bush is expected to order to Iraq
will join the fight largely without the protection of the latest
armored vehicles that withstand bomb blasts far better than the
Humvees in wide use, the Baltimore Sun reports.

Senate Republicans, dreading President Bush's address calling for more
U.S. troops in Iraq, emerged from their weekly luncheon displaying
more dance steps than the Joffrey Ballet, writes Dana Milbank in the
Washington Post.

An Army private charged with the slaughter of an Iraqi family was
diagnosed as a homicidal threat by a military mental health team three
months before the attack, AP reports. The Army and Marines have been
criticized for sending troops already in Iraq who have been diagnosed
with mental illness back to combat duty, AP notes.

Human rights groups will mark the fifth anniversary of the prison at
Guantanamo with protests at the base and around the world demanding
the prison be shut down, AP reports.

Iran
The US on Tuesday barred American financial institutions from doing
business with a major Iranian bank after concluding that it had been
involved in illicit weapons programs, the New York Times reports.

IAEA chief Mohammed ElBaradei called for a negotiated end to the
Iranian and North Korean nuclear disputes, Reuters reports. Diplomats
close to the IAEA say ElBaradei fears sanctions were imposed on Iran
before chances for a negotiated deal were exhausted and could
eventually drive Iran to bar U.N. inspectors and leave the nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Lebanon
Hezbollah and its allies widened their campaign Tuesday to force the
Lebanese government's resignation, the Washington Post reports. In a
protest organized by the General Labor Confederation, a coalition of
unions, the protesters railed against tax increases, privatization and
other policies the government has announced to earn the support of the
International Monetary Fund.

Somalia
U.S. airstrikes in Somalia have rekindled Somalia anger against the
U.S., the New York Times reports, amid unconfirmed reports suggesting
significant civilian casualties.

Pakistan
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said it would reconsider Pakistan's
announcement last month it would lay mines along the border with
Afghanistan in light of Afghanistan's complaints about the plan, the
New York Times reports.

Burma
The US introduced a Security Council resolution calling on the
military rulers of Burma to begin a transition to democracy and
release all political prisoners, the New York Times reports.

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