Phyllis Bennis
@PhyllisBennis
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Following
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Fellow, Institute for Policy Studies
Washington DC
Joined April 2013
Of 7 countries specially targeted #MuslimBan -US bombing 5, troops in 1, sanctioning 1. US now illegally denying refuge from wars US started.
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1/8 With a new wave of progressive candidates gaining popularity, some people are claiming the left doesn’t have a viable foreign policy. We do – but if we want one that works, it’ll have to come from movements first – here’s some ideas. A thread:.
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@repmarkpocan @RepJayapal @keithellison @RepBarbaraLee @RepHankJohnson It should not take enormous courage to call Israeli actions what they are - clear violations of international law. But it does. Thank you all for showing that courage.
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DemParty just voted down 2 mild amendments to acknowledge Israeli occupation & humanitarian support for Gaza. @CornelWest is right - racism.
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House condemned BDS last week - but trajectory of public & media discourse still favors Palestinian rights & equality for all. Lots to do ahead,including broadening outreach to progressive orgs closer to power than we are. My new piece in the Nation -
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It's as bad as it sounds - the article is titled too accurately - "Foreign Aid that Costs an Arm & a Leg - Literally." And US taxpayers are helping to make it all possible.
This is horrific! UN says 1,700 young Gazans are facing amputation in the next 2 years. They’re among the 7,000 unarmed Palestinians in Gaza shot by Israeli snipers over the last year. Article by @PhyllisBennis of @TNInstitute and @IPS_DC #palestine #BDS.
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Nowhere in #Gaza is safe for civilians. The humanitarian pause was a glimmer of hope. Now the lives of more than 2 million Gazans are threatened. #CeasefireNOW @JoeBiden.
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On @democracynow about new bombing of Libya Major escalation, no congressional authorization. Won't stop terrorism.
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Important new piece from @RevDrBarber & @LizTheo of the Poor People's Campaign - comparing the democrats' platform with the #PoorPeoplesCampaign Jubilee Agenda. Shows we've got a lot of work to do - mobilize to vote & mobilize to win after the vote.
"After seeing #Congress authorize trillions to corporations for 'Covid relief,' we know the claim of scarcity is a lie. We need to go much further.". @RevDrBarber+@liztheo give @UniteThePoor's assessment of the 2020 #Dem #platform:. @inthesetimesmag.
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Israeli sharpshooters kill scores, including children, medics, journalists, wound & maim thousands more. Trumpets & their minions cheer the new illegal settlement embassy in occupied Jerusalem. We have to amend Joe Hill - First mourn, then organize!
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Ending US war that never should have been launched was crucially necessary -even if late. Most important issue now is accountability to Afghans - we must demand US open up, welcome far more refugees/displaced than current limits.
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Not only did Trump come in with NO crisis with Iran, he came in with an international consensus supporting the diplomatic success of the Iran nuclar deal. We still need Diplomacy Not War -- not so-called "maximum pressure.".
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On @DemocracyNow w/@RoKhanna. US could never "win" Afgh b/c no military solution. US troops out but still B-52s bombing Afgh towns, CIA training death squads, killing civilians. People fleeing violence, desperate. Need to end US war, support Afgh people
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4/8 It means reversing the war economy that distorts our priorities at home. The $717 Billions the military gets is desperately needed for jobs, healthcare, and educ at home AND humanitarian/reconstruction assistance to the people of countries devastated by US wars and sanctions.
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"No Wars for the Billionaire Class" for a @BernieSanders Doctrine. my new piece in @theNation.
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2/8 Movements for #Medicareforall and #collegeforall struggle to answer “where’s the money gonna come from?” Easy -slash the 53 cents of every discretionary federal dollar that now goes to the military for wars that don’t keep us safe and kill people of color around the world.
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6/8 It means challenging the Pentagon’s program giving free left-over weapons of war to local police agencies across the US – leading to things like the armored personnel carrier on the streets of #Ferguson after #MichaelBrown was killed.
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3/8 A progressive foreign policy means rejecting US military AND economic domination. That doesn’t mean isolationism, but a strategy of diplomatic engagement rather than -- not as political cover for -- destructive U.S. military interventions.
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@IlhanMN Ilhan, so many thanks. As a Jew, like all in Jewish Voice for Peace we know AIPAC uncritical support for Israeli apartheid & occupation hugely problematic. It does not speak for most US Jews, it DOES use money to threaten members of congress -and it's not antisemitic to say so.
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5/8 Contrary to what too many people (especially in Congress!) believe, criticizing Israeli occupation & apartheid is no longer political suicide.
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Huge victory for the global & US movements for human rights. Non-violent protests - boycotts, divestment & sanctions campaigns for Palestinian rights are legal -just like the Constitution says. Congratulations to all who worked so hard for it! #RightToBoycott prevails indeed!.
#BREAKING: Senate Democrats vote to block consideration of an unconstitutional bill to punish people for boycotting for Palestinian rights! Cloture vote on S.1 fails, #RightToBoycott prevails!
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What we know & don't about chem attack. What we DO know- no military solution, US escalation will make things worse.
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Shouldn't need to be brave to defend kids - but @BettyMcCollum04 is brave to defend Palestinian kids facing Israel's military juvenile detention system. See her piece @thenation & push your member of congress to support her bill.
As I write in @thenation, peace between Israel and the Palestinians starts with promoting the dignity and the inherent human rights of Palestinian children.
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8/8 I wrote about what left anti-war candidates should call for on: NATO, Russia, “war on terror,” Israel-Palestine, Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, North Korea. We could be as strong on foreign policy as on domestic. @inthesetimesmag
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7/8 With global cooperation instead of US domination, we could promote real nuclear disarmament, enact global climate solutions, and protect refugees.
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What a gift for #MLKJr birthday! Michelle Alexander's brilliant @NYTopinion on why Dr King would have supported #Palestinianrights. Gamechanging example of how public & media discourse on #Palestine is shifting.
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#HarryBelafonte was a giant of internationalism. Mr B was a mentor, a hero, among the greats of our movement pantheons. His legacy means all of us need to work even harder to transform this world.
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Challenging trump's order equating criticism of israel with anti-semitism - in @latimes. I'm Jewish, i support #Palestinianrights & i fight anti-semitism.
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Crisis isn't over yet. @ppehrctweets Poor PeoplesCampaign & @RevBarberII launching new initiative to push UN to hold US accountable for act of war. I'll be on @JoyAnnReid show @MSNBC tomorrow (Sat) 11:45 a.m. with Rev Barber & Rev Liz Theoharis.
This crisis between the U.S. and Iran didn't start last week. It started when Trump abandoned the Iran nuclear deal, launched crushing sanctions, and announced “maximum pressure” on Iran. We must demand #NoWarWithIran, now. @PhyllisBennis / @thenation.
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Unlike the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, Afghans, and so many others killed in the wars he launched and in the torture cells he oversaw, Donald #Rumsfeld died peacefully. My obit of the war criminal in @thenation.
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US airstrikes illegal whoever responsible for chem attack. Violate US domestic & international law. on @TheRealNews.
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@jeremycorbyn Jeremy, thanks for reminding us all about the FIRST globally significant 9/11 - the coup in Chile. It calls for solidarity from us all - including support for the creation of a new Constitution that will make Chile the model for real democracy, not the model for fascism.
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Senate war backers tried to add $50 BILLION military spending to budget bill & lost 53-46.#RevDrBarber & others tweeted against it. Military budget already way too high -$753 billion 1 year. (Infrastructure bill only $15 billion per year). Keep pressure on to cut military budget.
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My interview on @DemocracyNow this morning. Biden Defends Ending “Forever War” in Afghanistan & Criticizes Using War as Tool for Nation-Building via @democracynow.
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One of the most reckless international acts of Trump's reckless presidency. Assassination of Gen Suleimani is a serious escalation towards war. We need #NoWarWithIran. We need diplomacy, not war.
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Will join @Lawrence MSNBC @TheLastWord talking Syria #chemicalattack - we know no military solution. US airstrikes make it worse.
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On @democracynow this morning examining the foreign policy part of Iowa debate. Some good stuff, progressive side @ewarren & @BernieSanders way out ahead of centrists. Ultimately comes down to our movements. They won't move further than we make them move.
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@BenEhrenreich Barbara was a gift to all of us. Her brilliant, powerful voice raged, raged against social injustice - regardless of dying or exploding light. Thanks Ben, and all your family, for sharing her with all of us, with the world. Her words will keep us fighting.
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So important that the rest of the world recognizes this reckless act for what it is. It's not about "damaging the peace process" because there is none -- as Jeremy recognizes.
Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, including occupied Palestinian territory, is a reckless threat to peace. The British Government must condemn this dangerous act and work for a just and viable settlement of the conflict.
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#MuslimBan attacks all. 7 countries targeted don't have trump holdings.Saudi,Egypt,others with trump hotels, exempt.
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Will be on @TheLastWord show tonight on @MSNBC - talking about trump's latest cabinet pick Mad Dog Mattis for defense secretary. 10:30 EST.
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Trump escalating wars around the world - no strategy to end them, just raw power to intimidate globally & at home.
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Civilians in poor countries suffer the worst consequences in U.S. wars motivated by profit. #PoorPeoplesCampaign
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Linda Sarsour is not anti-semitic. As Ady says, criticism of Israel, advocacy of boycotts, are not anti-semitism. Those of us who are Jewish, and those who are not, know where the real threat of anti-semitism lies - with white supremacy -enabled by the actions of the white house.
I say this as a Jew and an Israeli citizen:. Criticism of Israel is not antisemitism. Advocacy of a boycott or sanctions against Israel is not antisemitism. Weaponizing the charge of "antisemitism" to silence criticism of Israel is despicable.
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@HRW reports Israeli policy aims at Jewish domination over Palestinians inside Israel & in occupied territories & Israel is guilty of apartheid. My analysis of "Why It's a Very Big Deal" in @commondreams. Quick answer - it's a huge victory for the movement for Palestinian rights.
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@Rev_Barber & I -Elections are not how we change history. But they're key to how we challenge power, & those who've gone before us fought & died for the right to vote. We need to vote -but first we have Movement Work to do. @CommonDreams.
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#taxreform is FAKE NEWS! My colleague @Anderson_IPS in today's #NYTimes why lower corp taxes DON'T produce more jobs
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@RevDrBarber & i, on behalf of @jvplive & @BRepairers, talk in @thenation about the need for unity to defeat white supremacy & hate. Trump fuels hatred, we have to mobilize, organize, and vote as never before to defeat it.
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Israel's ban on @RepRashida & @IlhanMN shows Israel-US partnership at center of global Axis of Authoritarians w/Trump&Netanyahu at core. My latest in Newsweek.
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Trump claimed corps & CEOs use tax cuts to create jobs. He lied. They don't. Tillerson did opposite at Exxon. We say #PayUpCorps.
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#Trump at UN brags, lies & threatens - and this time the world laughs in his face. Threatens Iran, attacks Palestinian rights, undermines the UN, embraces nationalism & condemns "globalism," praises his rightwing partners in Israel, Saudi, India & Poland.
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Talked with @TheRealNews re dangers of provocative & illegal US move of embassy to Jerusalem
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Clinton reckless call for "no-fly" zone in Syria starts with war (as per SecDef Robert Gates) - maybe against Russia.
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Dem platform on war & Israel-Palestine shows necessity of movements to pressure - & limits. My piece in @thenation -
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US-Israeli collaboration prevents congresswomen from fact-finding on impact of US policies (like $3.8 billion aid/yr) on Palestinians living under Israeli occupation --shameful in its own right, also shows role of both in global Axis of Authoritarians.
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No comment needed.
terrorism is one of the only areas where white people do most of the work and get none of the credit.
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#Afghanistan back in the news, rumors of ceasefire, rumors of US troops finally leaving after almost 18 yrs. New talks, good talking to #Taliban, bad to lead w/Bush-era neocon oilman, ignore women. Chance for peace? Stay tuned, but keep expectations low.
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I'm honored to serve on the Advisory Board of #VeteransforPeace and honored to share their commitment to celebrating peace, and not war.
Join #VeteransForPeace as we lift up the original intention of November 11th – as a day for peace. As veterans we know that a day that celebrates peace, not war, is the best way to honor the sacrifices of veterans #ReclaimArmisticeDay .
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Join us for a teach-in on "Iran on the Brink of War" -- Georgetown University, Monday Jan 13 5:00 - 7:00. I'll be speaking along with Keyvan Shafiei from Georgetown, Omar Baddar of the Arab-American Institute, and Mark Lance also from Georgetown.
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A whole new cohort of progressive candidates- talking about immigration, labor, environmental justice, racism, but not policy. Here's assessments why (hint: because our movements aren't either) & ideas of what a progressive 2018 foreign policy looks like.
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Will join @democracynow tomorrow (Mon) 8 a.m. eastern to discuss Dem debate. Hint: Not enough alternatives to war. From anyone.
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@thenation Great news! Welcome, Mohammed. Will be great to have more -- and now regular -- Palestinian voices in the pages of The Nation. Looking forward to your articles and analysis.
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Team Refugees at Olympics moving & inspiring. But is it part of normalizing permanent war & displacement?
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Major escalation in US role Syrian war - near 70 US missiles fired against Syrian airbase, as per CongAdamSchiff. No word yet re casualties.
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Remembering Kofi Annan His legacy complex & contradictory as the UN itself. Decent, principled, not nearly as brave as he needed to be. But he presided over the UN for 8 extraordinary months when it sided with global protesters against war and empire.
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Ro is right. No question new & stronger War Powers Resolution needed. And Biden admin @POTUS needs to END continuing support for Saudi war against Yemen. Not just partial, not just "offensive" but ALL support.
There is growing frustration among House members & Senators about the Admin response to the blockade & potential continued intelligence & spare parts to Saudis. 400,000 children may die. Letters unanswered. Talk on the hill if a WPR needed. @jaketapper @SecBlinken @jakejsullivan.
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War, alternatives to war, why war fails - all missing from presidential campaign. I talk with #lflanders -
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Sign our petition if you think Pres. Obama should finally take action on Israeli settlements after 8 years of talk.
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@kellymagsamen You're certainly right Elliott Abrams is not a "caricature." He's not a cartoon, he's a REAL war criminal - responsible for pain, injury, displacement and death for hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of Salvadorans, Nicaraguans and others. Planning to apologize for that too?.
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This is a moment recognizing that the crisis is of white supremacy & racist xenophobic violence. Not new, rooted in US history from the beginning, but now openly embraced & enabled by president's policy violence & cheerleading for public racist violence.
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On @democracynow w/ @AliAbunimah, Palestinians at #UN & #IntlCriminalCt, #US pressure at #UN. http://t.co/OV8dPdDXCi
http://t.co/zoxQvol1sC.
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From Palestine to Mexico, Stop the Walls! Nov 9 is #StoptheWall Day. Internationalism, Not Walls!.
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My @IPS_DC colleague @lindsayKosh brilliant piece in @NYtimes showing how to pay for #medicareforall - cut the military budget by $300 billion. US still safe, world is MUCH safer, and health care for all becomes possible.
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SO glad @benandjerrys stands by its commitment to stop selling in illegal Israeli settlements!.B&J suing parent company @Unilever that's undermining the boycott by selling the brand to Israeli company that would keep selling ice cream to illegal settlers. We stand with B&J!.
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Congratulations to Sarah for her terrific take-down of the military budget. And thanks as always to my IPS comrades on the National Priorities Project for their research & work to sort it all out for all of us. .
We have a full team (@natpriorities) researching how to use our U.S. budget to fund safety & prosperity for all. This @sarahlazare piece (which cites them!) shows why that work consists *almost entirely* of shrinking the money-devouring monster of war:.
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@FranceskAlbs Same attacks leveled against other SRs & UN people /agencies supporting Palestinian rights. Best answer seen in your mandate reports. False accusations of antisemitism won't stop our work for equality for all, including Palestinian rights & fighting against real antisemitism.
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My piece in @TheHill - why bombing #ISIS increases their support,makes things worse & not better. http://t.co/brQQUFsOv3.
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Talked with Real News about danger of Trump's foreign policy picks- militaristic, islamophobic & more.
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So important that Sen. Warren called for ending the Gaza blockade & solving the humanitarian crisis as well as ending rocket attacks on Israel. .
I welcome the Gaza ceasefire. Dozens were killed in Gaza, and hundreds of rockets fired at Israel. We must work to end rocket attacks on Israel, eliminate the Gaza blockade, and solve the humanitarian crisis so that all Israelis and Palestinians live in security and freedom.
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So @SenSchumer now officially opposes #IranDeal. No surprise, he's consistent --supported Iraq war too. Means he chooses war over diplomacy.
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US escalations in #Raqqa #MosulOffensive #Afghanistan prove again civilian casualties don't matter. In @TheNation.
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Mabruk, congratulations to @RashidaTlaib and her fabulous team, supporters, communities. all of us! At a moment of such horror in Beirut and beyond, SUCH great news. Another world is possible, and we can hear her breathing. .
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Pope calls out war profiteers, calls for ending arms trade & wars. http://t.co/agP6aDQYwm Not what congressional warmongers expected.
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The House vote against BDS last week shows us some of the limitations but -- the good news -- also some of the new potential of the movement for Palestinian rights.
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Getting very dangerous - @HillaryClinton = more war, but alternative far worse - @lflanders & I gulp & vote clinton.
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#PoorPeoplesCampaign not the same as 1968 but same intersectional commitment to MLK's legacy of fighting racism, poverty, militarism & climate injustice - & building movements. Watch for joint IPS-PPC report on those four next week.
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Trump "extreme vetting" = McCarthy revisited. Clinton wants Syria "no-fly" zone- starts with war-against
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Join me @busboysandpoets for a pre-debate discussion with @SteveCobble & me. Tonight 6:30. Laugh & cry #presidentialdebate.
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Bolton's departure reduces threat of accidental war with Iran or NorKor. Trump still dangerous, but Bolton rejection of diplomacy, intl treaties, the UN, including condemnation of UN in debate with me 25 yrs ago. My Newsweek piece below responding to Bolton appointment last yr.
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Iran deal huge victory diplomacy over war. Prevents war with Iran, demonstrates the power and efficacy of diplomacy. http://t.co/IwgOVKaHLE.
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US assault on #Raqqa = "staggering loss of life" per UN. #Whitephosphorous included. discussion on @theRealNews
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Will be on @TheLastWord tonight @MSNBC- is the US "winning" the war with #ISIS. Spoiler alert: of course not-can't bomb "terror" only cities.
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