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by Sharon Grimes, W A M M
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Russian Missiles on Hold
Russia is delaying its plan to set up missiles near the Polish border, according to the Russian Interfax news agency. An unidentified Russian military official said the postponement is because the Obama administration is not “pushing ahead” with the Bush plan to deploy an antimissile system in Poland and the Czech Republic, but is reviewing the plan. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said he is hopeful that the Obama administration will reject the Bush plan. (StarTribune, 1/29/09)
Fasting in Solidarity for Human Rights
On February 1, more than 25,000 people from 179 countries and territories pledged to fast in solidarity with the Zimbabwean people and Kumi Naidoo of Save Zimbabwe Now!, who was on day 12 of a 21-day hunger strike. Naidoo attended an African Union conference in Addis and asked the leaders to urge the Zimbabwean government to restore human and democratic rights and declare a national disaster so humanitarian agencies can provide assistance. (The Zimbabwean, 1/31/09)
Local Protesters Found “Not Guilty”
Seven antiwar protesters were found not guilty of trespassing at a Minneapolis National Guard recruiting office. Last March they took part in a series of protests marking the fifth anniversary of the Iraq War. The seven were among a group who tried to get into the recruiting center but found it locked. They were arrested when they refused to leave. They used a “claim of right” defense and cited the First Amendment right to peaceful assembly. (antiwarcommittee.org, 1/15/09)
Petition Draws Attention to Illegal Israeli Settlements
In January, the French company Veolia, which has operated the Stockholm County subway for 10 years, lost an 8-year contract worth 3.5 billion euros. Although the decision was said to be based on commercial considerations, Veolia has been involved in the controversial operation of a tramway connecting west Jerusalem with illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory. A petition with thousands of signatures demanded that the county council choose an operator who would not be associated with violations of international humanitarian law. (Diakonia press release, 1/20/09)
Undoing the Damage
Within the first few days of taking office President Obama made changes to restore human rights and end secrecy in government.
• He ordered all military trials of Guantánamo Bay detainees to be halted.
• He ordered the closing of the Guantánamo detention facility within a year, a study to determine what to do with the detainees, and ending the CIA’s secret prisons.
• He ordered the government not to rely on any legal opinions concerning interrogation between September 11, 2001 and January 20, 2009. He said, “We don’t torture, but we can effectively obtain the intelligence we need.”
• He ordered that presidential and federal records be considered public unless an exception is required. This reverses a Bush executive order that kept many decision-making processes and papers secret. (StarTribune, 1/22/09, 1/25/09; VOANews.com, 1/23/09)
Cooperative Approach Offered
Also at Davos, Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Tehran would take a “cooperative approach” with the U.S. as long as it sees changes that go beyond words. “We do believe that if the new administration of the United States, as Mr. Obama says, is going to change its policies not in saying but practice, they will find in the region a cooperative approach and reaction.” (Boston.com, 1/30/09)
Blackwater Contract in Iraq to End
The U.S. State Department announced that it will not renew the Blackwater Worldwide contract in Iraq. The Iraqi government had already decided to deny a license to the private security firm after several Blackwater guards were accused of killing Iraqi civilians while protecting U.S. diplomats. One guard pled guilty in a U.S. court to voluntary manslaughter and attempt to commit manslaughter; five others are awaiting trial on manslaughter and other charges. The firm denies wrongdoing. (http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre50t735-us-iraq-usa-blackwater/, 1/30/09)
Limit the Military’s Mission, Says Admiral
Admiral Mike Mullen, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the military’s mission should be limited. He urged senior officers to help prevent the militarization of American foreign policy, and said the armed forces should not take the lead in carrying out that policy. He also called for more money and personnel for civilian agencies responsible for diplomacy and overseas economic development. (New York Times, 1/12/09) |
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© 2009 Women Against Military Madness. All rights reserved.
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Complete March 2009 Index - click here
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