[Peace-discuss] Ask Barack and Michelle for a Just Foreign Policy

[Robert Naiman]

Here's the alert we sent out today.


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Just Foreign Policy <info at justforeignpolicy.org>
Date: Thu, Nov 6, 2008 at 1:08 PM
Subject: Ask Barack and Michelle for a Just Foreign Policy
To: Robert Naiman <naiman.uiuc at gmail.com>


Ask Barack and Michelle for a Just Foreign Policy

Dear Robert,

Barack Hussein Obama was elected the 44th President of the United
States, on a promise, among other things, of repairing the relations
between the United States and the rest of the world.

If you're like us, you may have received a fair bit of email from the
Obama campaign over the course of the past many months, asking you to
support the campaign.

Now we want to write back, urging Obama to make a clean break with the
Bush Administration's foreign policy. The period between election day
and the inauguration is a critical time. Officials are being chosen
for senior posts. Right now is the time when policies for the next
administration will be set: right now we have an opportunity for
change.

Can you join us in asking Barack for a Just Foreign Policy?

http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/involved/askBarack.html

We've created an action alert that will allow you to urge Barack to
move decisively to fulfill his promise of change.

Here are suggestions we've included:

- Negotiate an agreement with the Iraqi government for the complete
withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, as the Iraqi government has
demanded.

- Establish real diplomacy with Iran, beginning with the establishment
of U.S. diplomatic representation in Iran, as even the Bush
Administration has proposed. Reaffirm his pledge to talk to Iran
without preconditions, make clear that the United States has no
dispute with a peaceful Iranian nuclear program that is transparent
and complies with international agreements.

- Move quickly to establish real diplomacy in Afghanistan, including
all factions in talks and all neighboring countries. State clearly
that the United States supports the efforts of the Afghan government
to achieve reconciliation with the Taliban; follow that commitment
with action.

- Make a fresh start on US efforts to help resolve the
Israel-Palestine conflict, take seriously U.S. policy against Israeli
settlements in the West Bank, the key obstacle to resolution of the
conflict. Turn to new officials to guide US policy, leaving behind
officials like Dennis Ross who helped sink the Israeli-Palestinian
peace process before (and who is pushing towards military
confrontation with Iran.) [1]

- Move quickly to repair relations with Venezuela and Bolivia,
negotiating the return of ambassadors, and the reversal of the Bush
Administration's decision to suspend Bolivia's preferential access to
the U.S. market, a suspension that could cost tens of thousands of
Bolivian workers their jobs.

- End the embargo against Cuba and establish dialogue with Cuba's
government, beginning with Obama's campaign promise to lift the Bush
Administration's restrictions on travel and remittances to Cuba.

- Put military spending on the table for cuts, considering Rep.
Frank's proposal for a 25% cut in military spending. [2]

Early input counts more. Won't you join us in asking Obama to set US
foreign policy on a new path?

http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/involved/askBarack.html

Thanks for all you do to promote a Just Foreign Policy.

Robert Naiman, Chelsea Mozen, and Sarah Burns
Just Foreign Policy

Please support our work.
Your financial support enables us to continue to press for a Just
Foreign Policy:

http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/donate.html

References:

[1] "Top Obama Advisor Has Long Ties to Neocons," Michael Flynn, Inter
Press Service, November 2, 2008

[2] "Pentagon Expects Cuts in Military Spending," Thom Shanker &
Christopher Drew, New York Times, November 3, 2008

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-- 
Robert Naiman
Just Foreign Policy
www.justforeignpolicy.org
naiman at justforeignpolicy.org

Ambassador Pickering on Iran Talks and Multinational Enrichment
http://youtube.com/watch?v=kGZFrFxVg8A