Win Without War Statement on the Situation in Iraq

Washington, DC- The Win Without War coalition released the following statement by Advocacy Director, Stephen Miles, in response to the latest developments in Iraq.

“The Win Without War coalition remains deeply opposed to a U.S. military intervention that places our men and women in uniform in harms way in Iraq. We must not become a Kurdish air force in a sectarian civil war.

Like all Americans, we support the President’s decision to provide relief and humanitarian aid to the tens of thousands of innocent people trapped by this deadly conflict. But as the President has said himself, there is no military solution to the ongoing crisis in Iraq.

If American personnel in Irbil, or elsewhere in Iraq, are in harms way, they should be immediately evacuated to a safe location. Their safety cannot be guaranteed with a few airstrikes in the midst of a civil war.

Nowhere is the law of unintended consequences more clearly on display than Iraq. Today’s crisis has its origins in the disastrous decision of the Bush Administration to launch of an illegal war of choice in 2003. Today, as we continue to live with the consequences of those mistakes, we must recognize the hard reality that a lasting and sustainable peace in Iraq can only ultimately be achieved with an Iraq-led political solution.

As history has shown, it is impossible to bomb your way to peace.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Donald Trump’s first speech to the United Nations General Assembly today – and in particular, his remarks about North Korea – was nothing short of a complete failure of American leadership. Instead of focusing on efforts to peacefully resolve the crisis surrounding its nuclear program, Trump threatened to “totally destroy North Korea.”

It’s time for this charade to end: We need to stop this slow roll toward a catastrophic war, and work towards defusing the North Korean crisis diplomatically. Trump’s U.N. speech represents yet another reckless escalation in the ongoing tit-for-tat between North Korea and the United States that does nothing but edge us closer to nuclear war.

Collectively, our organizations represent millions of Americans who share in the majority’s view that diplomacy is the only viable answer to reining in North Korea’s nuclear program. Indeed, according to recent polling, anywhere from 65 to 80 percent of Americans support a diplomatic resolution.

There is no military solution to this problem. War on the Korean peninsula would likely kill millions of Koreans, Japanese, and American troops stationed in the region, wreak havoc on the world economy, inflict a humanitarian crisis not seen since World War II, and potentially compel the North Koreans to use their nuclear arsenal.

Unfortunately, we continue to see more of the same bluster and counterproductive threats coming from Donald Trump. Less than a year into office, Trump has managed to take what was a difficult, challenging situation, and turn it it into an even bigger full blown crisis and place our nation on the verge of a devastating and unnecessary war. Threats and bombastic tweets are not leadership, they won’t keep America safe, and they need to stop.

The choice is clear: either we let Trump’s incompetence and bellicosity drive us into a destructive conflict potentially more devastating than the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan combined, or we can focus our efforts on negotiation.

Diplomacy has worked with the North Koreans before, and it can work again. The United States and its allies and partners must immediately move toward easing tensions on the Korean peninsula diplomatically, and work toward ending this conflict peacefully. We will not be deterred in our efforts to prevent another disastrous U.S.-led war. The fate of the region and the world depends on it.

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CONTACTS:

Josh Nelson | jnelson@credoaction.com

Nick Berning | press@moveon.org

Ben Armbruster | ben@winwithoutwar.org

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WASHINGTON — Win Without War Director Stephen Miles released the following statement regarding news that the White House wants to replace Secretary of State Rex Tillerson with CIA Director Mike Pompeo, and replace Pompeo with Sen. Tom Cotton:

Donald Trump has proven once again that chaos theory guides his governing philosophy, as less than a year into his administration, he reportedly plans to replace Secretary of State Rex Tillerson with CIA Director Mike Pompeo, whom he’ll then replace with Sen. Tom Cotton.

It’s clearer now more than ever that Donald Trump has little interest in putting diplomacy first in U.S. foreign policy. What’s worse is that these moves will make more war more likely — particularly with Iran.

Cotton’s elevation as head of the CIA should worry all Americans, as he has, for example,  been a long time advocate for military action against Iran and regime change in Tehran, supports the use of torture, called for journalists to be arrested and prosecuted for reporting stories he disagrees with, and peddles false claims like Iraq was involved in the 9/11 terror attacks.

At the same time, Pompeo is even less qualified to become our nation’s top diplomat than he was CIA Director, given he has also been a proponent of torture, denied climate science, promoted anti-Muslim views, opposed the Iran nuclear deal, and is currently working with other Trump administration officials to build a case for war against Iran.

Pompeo working side-by-side with Tom Cotton is a dangerous formula for U.S. and international security and will further isolate the United States within the global community. Should both men ultimately be nominated, we will work tirelessly to oppose their confirmation. America’s security is too important to be trusted to war-hungry ideologues.

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WASHINGTON — Win Without War Director, Stephen Miles, released the following statement regarding news that North Korea has expressed willingness to negotiate on giving up its nuclear weapons program:

The news today that North Korea is willing to begin talks with the United States on giving up its nuclear weapons is an incredibly welcome and positive development, and provides yet another data point in the power of diplomacy.

As  Donald Trump flails about, barks threats from the sidelines, and dismantles America’s diplomatic corps, South Korean President Moon Jae-in has quietly and patiently pursued negotiations with the North, which has now led to one of the most promising breakthroughs in the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula in the last 20 years.

The ball is now in Donald Trump’s court. He can continue to threaten war with North Korea or he can focus America’s energy on a diplomatic resolution to this crisis. He can start by nominating an Ambassador to South Korea and other key positions at the State Department that remain vacant. We should be under no illusion that talks will lead to a quick breakthrough, but it would be a huge mistake not to take advantage of this limited opportunity for negotiations.

While we should remain cautious about North Korea’s commitment to further negotiations and skeptical about its intentions, it’s clear that Kim Jong-un is calculating, and not some irrational leader bent on war with the United States and its allies in the region.

We urge all Americans — citizens, activists, experts, and lawmakers alike — to fully support these efforts, as diplomacy is the only way to truly resolve conflict on the Korean peninsula.

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Win Without War is a diverse network of national organizations working for progressive foreign policy in America.

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WASHINGTON — Win Without War Director Stephen Miles released the following statement in response to news that Donald Trump agreed to meet with Kim Jong un:

Direct talks between North Korea and the United States are a necessary first step for two countries that have no formal relations with one another but whose leaders are often threatening and taunting the other with nuclear annihilation. We must be aware, however, that this is just the beginning — diplomacy is always a long and difficult process and there should be no expectation that North Korea will give up its nuclear weapons anytime soon.

The stakes are now higher than they have been since the beginning of Trump’s tenure and the question for all those who care about peace and security is whether he is up for the challenge. The State Department has been sidelined by this administration and is operating well below capacity. Traditional key positions remain unfilled, including the Ambassador to South Korea and the Special Representative for North Korea. We can only hope that the career experts remaining at State are providing influence and guidance in this process.

Thus, because this kind of extraordinary moment for diplomacy takes time, focus, capacity, and effort, we remain concerned that Trump has set up a false choice between diplomacy and war. Should this diplomatic process slow down, stall, or appear intractable, it’s likely that Trump, and particularly those who have recently been pushing for war, will claim diplomacy has failed, with no other option remaining but the military one.

As we’ve seen with recent diplomatic successes like the Iran nuclear deal, this kind of rush to war without letting diplomacy work would be a mistake.

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Win Without War is a diverse network of national organizations working for progressive foreign policy in America.

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WASHINGTON — Win Without War Policy Director, Kate Kizer issued the following statement regarding today’s vote on S.J.Res 54 a measure seeking to withdraw the U.S. military from assisting the Saudi-led coalition’s war in Yemen:

Today 44 Senators sent a loud and clear bipartisan message that Saudi Arabia’s deadly war in Yemen must end, and it must end now.

For far too long, without Congressional debate or authorization, the U.S. military has been enabling Saudi Arabia and its regional allies to fight a devastating war in Yemen. That war has, by design, caused the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.

Because of the leadership put forth by Sens. Bernie Sanders, Mike Lee, and Chris Murphy — and the tireless advocacy of hundreds of thousands of Americans — the U.S. Senate was today finally forced to confront America’s unauthorized role in Yemen’s deadly civil war.

We commend the 44 Senators who agreed that U.S. military support for the Saudi-led coalition is unconstitutional, counterproductive, and doesn’t serve U.S. national security interests. Today’s vote should serve as a sober reminder to Saudi Arabia that it must immediately move to resolve this conflict diplomatically, and that American support for its war in Yemen is not unlimited.

Today’s vote is also just the beginning of Congress reasserting its Constitutional role to decide when and where America goes to war. Our nation’s founders placed this power in the hands of Congress not because they expected these debates to be easy, but because they wanted these decisions to be hard. As we mark 15 years of the disastrous, failed war in Iraq, this vote on this day is a fitting reminder of the grave costs when our nation goes to war too quickly, without debating or answering the hard questions.

We — and the hundreds of thousands of Americans who took action to demand Congress end U.S. support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen — will continue to demand that going forward, Congress finally take serious its responsibility to debate and vote on America’s many, endless wars.

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Win Without War is a diverse network of national organizations working for progressive foreign policy in America.

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WASHINGTON — Win Without War Director Stephen Miles released the following statement regarding news that John Bolton will become Donald Trump’s National Security Advisor:

Donald Trump is showing us who he really is by choosing John Bolton to be his national security advisor: a reckless president bent on dragging the United States into more wars. It is clear that a President who ran for office claiming to oppose the disastrous war in Iraq is now assembling a war cabinet to replay that horror show many times over.

Make no mistake, John Bolton is a dangerous and disgraced warmonger who has no business leading our country’s national security apparatus.

On the heels of what looked like a promising push toward diplomacy with North Korea, Trump will now seek counsel on national security issues from someone who has been calling for war with North Korea for years. As recently as last month,he even said the U.S. should launch an unprovoked first strike.

It’s fitting, that as we marked this week the 15th anniversary of the Iraq war — a conflict that cost incalculable lives and trillions of dollars — Trump would choose an unrepentant Iraq war cheerleader who has also spent years pushing for war with Iran.

Already, Trump is close to killing the Iran nuclear deal — one of the greatest diplomatic achievements in U.S. history that has blocked Iran’s pathways to building the bomb . Now, he’ll have in Bolton a top advisor who earlier this year called for regime change in Iran. And just months before the U.S. and its international partners reached a deal on Iran’s nuclear program, Bolton said that “only military action… can accomplish what is required.”

The United States, and indeed the rest of the world, is on a dangerous path with this appointment. With war hawk CIA Director Mike Pompeo tapped to become the next Secretary of State and Gina Haspel, who oversaw key aspects of the Bush-era torture program, nominated to replace Pompeo, Trump is sending a clear signal that diplomacy and rule of law have no place in his administration.

Because Bolton’s position requires no Congressional consent, his appointment makes the Senate’s votes on Mike Pompeo and Gina Haspel all the more vital. Anyone who cares about our nation’s security and hopes to stop the President’s march to war must block these two crucial national security nominations.

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Win Without War is a diverse network of national organizations working for progressive foreign policy in America.

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Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT): John Bolton’s poor judgment and record of reckless right-wing warmongering should disqualify him from any White House role, much less National Security Advisor.

Tweet Thread (3/23)

Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE): In 2005, John Bolton was too extreme to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Today, we are living in an increasingly fragile world. It’s hard to imagine a more dangerous pick for President Trump’s national security advisor

Tweet (3/22)

Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA): I have serious concerns about the selection of John Bolton as National Security Adviser based upon his record.

Over many years he has shown a troubling predisposition to seek to resolve national security challenges through military conflict, instead of using all of our diplomatic tools first.

Tweet (3/22)

Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE): Ambassador Bolton’s stated positions on today’s major issues, most notably North Korea’s and Iran’s nuclear programs, are overly aggressive at best and downright dangerous at worst.

Tweet (3/22) (Thread)

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY): Use of military force should always be a last resort, not a first choice. John Bolton supported the disastrous invasion of Iraq and has supported proactively bombing Iran. I’m concerned his appointment as National Security Advisor will reinforce this president’s worst instincts.

Tweet (3/22)

Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM): General McMaster is a patriot. Putting John Bolton at the helm of our national security apparatus endangers the country.

Tweet (3/22)

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA): (1/2) This is the new National Security Advisor? Disqualified by horrible judgment and dangerous for America and the world.

(2/2) Just 22 days ago, John Bolton wrote a @WSJ op-ed: “The Legal Case for Striking North Korea First.” “Eliminate” them, he said. Make no mistake: this is a war cheerleader, who’s being welcomed into the WH with open arms. So dangerous.

Tweet (1) Tweet (2) (3/22)

Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA): (1/2) With the appointments of Mike Pompeo and John Bolton, @realDonaldTrump is successfully lining up his war cabinet. Bolton played a key role in politicizing the intel that misled us into the Iraq War. We cannot let this extreme war hawk blunder us into another terrible conflict. 

(2/2) John Bolton supports proactively bombing Iran & striking North Korea with nuclear weapons first without provocation. Appointing him to be Nat Sec Advisor is a grave danger to the American people & a clear message from @realDonaldTrump that he is gearing up for military conflict.

Tweet (1) Tweet (2) (3/22)

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ): From his forceful advocacy for the Iraq War (which I proudly voted against), to his reckless approach to foreign policy, John Bolton is far outside the mainstream and I am deeply concerned about the dangerous impact he’ll have on our national security. 

Tweet (3/22)

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR): John Bolton:
Wanted war w Cuba, arguing wrongly that Cuba had WMD
Wanted war w Iraq, arguing – wrong again – that Iraq had WMD
Believes – wrongly – that Islamic law is taking over America
If you’re always wrong on security, you’re the wrong person to be National Security Advisor

Tweet (3/22)

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT): John Bolton is being picked for the top non-confirmable national security job because a Senate that confirmed DeVos, Zinke, Price, and Pruitt will not confirm Bolton for anything bc he is too extreme. Noodle that for a second.

Tweet (3/22)

Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI): Mr. Bolton does not have the temperament or judgment to be an effective national security advisor. I am concerned he and President Trump will make for a combustible combination.

Tweet (3/22)

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT): John Bolton was part of the effort to mislead the US into the disastrous Iraq war and has supported military action against North Korea and Iran. He was too extreme to be confirmed as UN ambassador in 2005 and is absolutely the wrong person to be national security advisor now.

Tweet (3/22)

Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI): The Iraq War was one of the biggest foreign policy disasters in American history and Bolton still thinks it worked. It is not alarmist to be freaked out at John Bolton as National Security Advisor. He is aggressively and dangerously wrong on Iran and North Korea.

Tweet (3/22)

Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY): Mr. Bolton’s tendency to try to solve every geopolitical problem w/ the American military first is a troubling one. I hope he will temper his instinct to commit our armed forces to conflicts around the globe, when we need to be focused on building the middle class here at home.

Tweet (3/22)

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH): With the myriad of complex threats facing our country, the President needs sound, reasonable counsel. That’s not John Bolton. He has a very troubling record & I fear he’ll further undermine diplomatic efforts by prioritizing military engagement.

Tweet (3/22)

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD): Trump appointed Bolton—a man with a history of warmongering—to the most critical national security job in the WH. He was a cheerleader for the 2003 war in Iraq, has supported bombing Iran, preemptively striking NK, and going to war with Cuba. America does not want another war.

Tweet (3/22)

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA): .@realDonaldTrump promised to reduce US involvement in wars overseas, but his new National Security Advisor has never met a war he didn’t like. The last thing we need is someone like John Bolton who embraces military solutions first and puts us all at risk.

Tweet (3/23)

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI): Another analysis of what nutty John Bolton means. Nymag: “Nobody is Left to Save the World From Trump Now”

Tweet (3/22)

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WASHINGTON — Win Without War Director Stephen Miles released the following statement on CIA Director Mike Pompeo’s confirmation hearing to become Secretary of State:

Mike Pompeo did nothing during his confirmation hearing today to alleviate concerns about his disdain for diplomacy or that he would enable the worst impulses of Donald Trump.

Lending credibility to charges that Trump is assembling a “War Cabinet,” Pompeo refused opportunities to reject a first strike on North Korea, nor would he say the war in Iraq was a bad decision or promise to counsel Trump on staying in the Iran nuclear deal. He also failed to amend for past extreme anti-Muslim comments and declined to say whether homosexuality is perversion.

Pompeo also tried unconvincingly to gloss over past bigoted remarks and his extreme or hawkish policy positions, while at the same time making statements that not only at times contradicted what he has said in the past, but also contradicted comments he made during today’s hearing.  

And the fact that he said he would not resign in protest should Trump fire special prosecutor Robert Mueller indicates that Pompeo as Secretary of State will serve to reinforce Trump’s reckless behavior rather than a check on it.

If any U.S. senator was on the fence about whether to support Pompeo’s nomination before today’s hearing, he or she now has all the evidence one would need to conclude that Pompeo is not fit for the job.

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WASHINGTON — Win Without War Director Stephen Miles released the following statement regarding the Senate Foreign Relations Committee vote on CIA Director Mike Pompeo’s Secretary of State nomination:

“The ten Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee sent a clear message today that Mike Pompeo is too extreme and simply unfit to serve as our nation’s top diplomat.

“They were correct in their assessment last year that Rex Tillerson should not serve as Secretary of State, and their evaluation of Pompeo’s nomination is just as accurate.

“Indeed, Pompeo’s aversion to diplomacy is disqualifying.

“His anti-Muslim extremism is disqualifying.

“His opposition to LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights is disqualifying.

“His climate change denial is disqualifying.

“Mike Pompeo’s extreme and un-American views are simply disqualifying. While he may yet be confirmed by the smallest majority ever for a Secretary of State, the strong opposition to his nomination has sent a clear message to the world that while Mike Pompeo may speak for Donald Trump, he does not speak for the American people.”

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Win Without War is a diverse network of national organizations working for progressive foreign policy in America.

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April 26, 2018

WASHINGTON, DC — Win Without War Director Stephen Miles released the following statement regarding the Senate vote on CIA Director Mike Pompeo’s Secretary of State nomination:

“Forty-two Senators sent a clear message today that Mike Pompeo is too extreme and simply unfit to serve as our nation’s top diplomat.

“Pompeo was confirmed by one of the smallest margins ever for a Secretary of State.  This strong opposition to his nomination has sent a clear message to the world that while Mike Pompeo may speak for Donald Trump, he does not speak for the American people.

“As history has shown, those who voted against Rex Tillerson last year were correct that he should not serve as Secretary of State; and those who voted against Pompeo today will be equally validated.

“Indeed, Pompeo’s aversion to diplomacy is disqualifying.

“His anti-Muslim extremism is disqualifying.

“His opposition to LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights is disqualifying.

“His climate change denial is disqualifying.

“As the 10 Senators who voted for Pompeo as CIA Director last year, and today voted against him, can attest, Mike Pompeo’s extreme and un-American views are simply disqualifying. Those who supported Pompeo today did so based on a hope, however misguided, that he will be a moderating force within Trump’s war cabinet, not that he is a good choice to be the face of American diplomacy.”

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Win Without War is a diverse network of national organizations working for progressive foreign policy in America.

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April 27, 2018

WASHINGTON — Win Without War Director Stephen Miles released the following statement regarding today’s inter-Korea summit:

“We celebrate South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as a historic opportunity for peace on the Korean peninsula and a victory for Moon’s diplomatic efforts, the Korean people, and the rest of the world.

“While both sides have made positive first steps toward ending the conflict and denuclearizing the Korean peninsula, the road ahead will be long and challenging.

“The United States should seize on this opportunity to reduce tensions with North Korea and follow President Moon’s lead in helping to secure the Korean peninsula with a lasting peace.

“At the same time, we should remain vigilant that there is still a loud chorus in Washington, including many inside the Trump administration in key positions of power, who want war with North Korea and may try to use this diplomatic moment as a pretext for war.

“We stand ready to vigorously oppose their efforts and to do everything in our power to help ensure that this diplomatic process is a pretext for lasting and sustainable peace on the Korean peninsula.”

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Win Without War is a diverse network of national organizations working for progressive foreign policy in America.

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Monday, May 7, 2018

WASHINGTON — Win Without War Director Stephen Miles released the following statement on Donald Trump’s upcoming decision on the Iran nuclear deal:

Pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal could have consequences as disastrous as invading Iraq, one of the worst foreign policy decisions in U.S. history.

The Iran nuclear deal is working, blocking all pathways for Iran to build a nuclear weapon. Failing to waive sanctions on Iran would violate and effectively kill the JCPOA.

We forced U.N. weapons inspectors out of Iraq before they finished their work, and that’s exactly what we’ll be doing if Trump kills the JCPOA, thereby putting us back on the path to another disastrous war in the Middle East.

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Win Without War is a diverse network of national organizations working for progressive foreign policy in America.

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WASHINGTON, DC — Win Without War Director Stephen Miles released the following statement on Gina Haspel’s hearing on her nomination to become the next CIA Director:

Gina Haspel did nothing in today’s public hearing to alleviate concerns about elevating a key official in the Bush era torture program to the position of CIA Director. Rather, the hearing only confirmed her role in the CIA’s brutal torture program and the subsequent cover-up.

What’s more, not only did she refuse to say whether torture is immoral, Haspel suggested that perhaps she may have been pushing for using torture as late as 2007, well beyond legislative and judicial branch actions that put an end to it.

This shouldn’t be difficult. While it’s abhorrent that we, as a country, have not fully come to terms with our tortured past, we certainly shouldn’t be so blind that we reward those who took part in it.

The Senate should vote down her confirmation and tell the President to nominate a qualified candidate that wasn’t involved in torture.

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WASHINGTON, DC — Win Without War Director, Stephen Miles, released the following statement in response to the Trump administration’s decision to unilaterally move the United States Embassy to Jerusalem and Israel’s attacks on peaceful protesters in Gaza:

“While Trump administration officials and family members celebrated the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem today, Israeli soldiers opened fire on unarmed Palestinian protesters, reportedly killing dozens and injuring thousands.

“Instead of embracing violence, systematic land confiscation and annexation, and permanent occupation, it is time for the Trump administration to invest in inclusive, robust, and sustained diplomacy that helps build a just peace to end decades of military occupation and conflict.  

“A strong, principled U.S. foreign policy should reflect our shared values of peace, cooperation, and commitment to the human rights, freedom and security of all people. Donald Trump should be condemning today’s violence, not making decisions that disregard these values, further fuel senseless suffering and violence, and isolate the United States from the global community.”

“We call on all American elected officials to oppose moving our Embassy to Jerusalem, and condemn the Israel Defense Forces’ violence against Palestinian protesters, which has killed nearly 100 protesters and wounded thousands more since the most recent protests in Gaza began.”

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WASHINGTON, DC — Win Without War released the following statement regarding Donald Trump’s decision to cancel his upcoming summit with Kim Jong Un:

“It’s disappointing that Donald Trump has canceled the upcoming summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. It’s also not entirely surprising, given the Trump administration’s incompetence, mixed signals about its intentions, and complete lack of preparation.

“The summit could have been a historic opportunity to finally put us on the path to achieve long-term peace and security on the Korean peninsula. But instead, Trump and his team have shown time and again that they’re not up to the task of nuts and bolts diplomacy. Trump made a hasty decision to accept the meeting with Kim without proper planning, his administration continued its provocations and bellicose rhetoric, and now, he has cancelled the summit via an inane letter threatening nuclear war.

“At the same time, the diplomatic path is not dead. Diplomacy always takes time and effort, and setbacks are to be expected. Despite the cancellation of the summit, the United States should continue to work toward a negotiated solution that will rein in North Korea’s nuclear program and bring an end to the conflict, by following South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s lead.

“We can’t forget that many in Trump’s administration, including his National Security Advisor and Secretary of State, are thirsty for war. Their repeated threats of regime change in North Korea have contributed to the downfall of this diplomatic opportunity. The American public and Congress must prevent the Trump administration from using this self-inflicted setback to justify a catastrophic U.S. war of choice on the Korean peninsula.”

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WASHINGTON, DC — Win Without War Director Stephen Miles released the following statement on World Refugee Day:

“On World Refugee Day and every day, Win Without War stands with refugees and all persons — whether a refugee, undocumented young person, or asylum seeker on the U.S. border — seeking a life free from violence, insecurity, and persecution. All persons, regardless of who they are or where they come from, have the right to dignity, humanity, refuge, and protection from harm.

“The Trump administration’s policies of, for example, the Muslim bans, separating children from their parents at the southern border, and reducing refugee resettlement goals to historic lows are cruel and inhumane. The U.S. has a moral responsibility to open its doors, not slam them shut, given that the drivers of the global refugee crisis have been in part due to American-enabled violence, endless wars, and climate change.

“What’s more, World Refugee Day comes on the heels of the Trump administration’s nomination of hate-filled and anti-immigrant extremist Ronald Mortensen as Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration — effectively the position of the nation’s top diplomat overseeing U.S. policy towards refugees. The nomination of Mortensen — a man who has built a career off of spreading lies and demonizing immigrant and migrant communities — should spark outrage and condemnation from all Americans. We unequivocally oppose Mortensen’s nomination and urge the Senate to block his confirmation.

“How we treat some of the most vulnerable populations on the planet reflects on the moral values and ideals of this country. On World Refugee Day, in the face of so much heartbreak and violence against displaced persons seeking shelter in the United States and around the world, we instead lift up the dignity and resilience of refugees and asylum seekers. We call on all members of Congress to uphold our collective moral values and global responsibilities to this national and global crisis by advocating for peaceful ends to the root causes that have forced so many refugees to flee, and to continue to oppose all attempts that reduce access to protection for refugees or otherwise effectively seek to dismantle the U.S. refugee resettlement program.”

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Win Without War Policy Director Kate Kizer released the following statement regarding plans by the UAE and the Saudi-led coalition to launch an offensive on the key Yemeni port of Hudaydah:

“The war in Yemen seems to be on the verge of taking a devastating and deadly turn. Reports indicate that the United Arab Emirates and their allies in the Saudi-led coalition are on the verge of launching an offensive on Hudaydah, the vital port city in Yemen home to 600,000 people and the point of entry for 70 percent of Yemen’s food and fuel. A prolonged battle over Hudaydah –whether the city or the port – will be the tipping point that plunges the millions of people suffering in Yemen into a full blown famine and an even greater humanitarian crisis.

“For years we have watched American politicians proclaim their concern over the immense human suffering caused by the Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen, and now is the chance to turn that concern into action. The UAE, the Saudis, and their allies depend on the direct military and political support of the United States to wage war in Yemen and the only thing that can prevent them from a devastating attack on Hudaydah is public pressure and a clear diplomatic intervention by the United States.

“The muddled messages we have seen from Secretary Pompeo, the silence from Donald Trump, and the equivocation we’ve seen for far too long in Congress cannot be allowed to continue. Today, we call on each and every member of Congress to demand the planned Hudaydah offensive be halted and that all parties immediately and without precondition resume negotiations over a political settlement.

“If the UAE and Saudi Arabia move forward with an offensive on Hudaydah, we call on Congress to immediately end all military support to the coalition’s intervention in Yemen.

The post Congress Must Stop UAE, Saudi-led Military Offensive in Yemen appeared first on Win Without War.

WASHINGTON, DC — Win Without War Director Stephen Miles released the following statement on the Trump administration’s announcement today of an 18 month extension, but not re-designation of Temporary Protected Status for Yemen:

Once again, today the Trump Administration made a heartless, cruel decision to slam shut the United States’ doors to some of the world’s most vulnerable people. In a particularly cruel twist, today’s decision serves to help lock Yemenis in a country where the United States is both directly and indirectly engaged in war. When it comes to Yemen, Donald Trump has both helped create the world’s largest humanitarian crisis and, now, trapping people in it as well.

While we welcome the Trump Administration’s decision of an 18 month extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Yemen, we are heartbroken and deeply disturbed by the Administration’s decision to not re-designate TPS for Yemen. This decision would prevent Yemenis who arrived in the United States after January 2017 from applying for TPS— directly putting lives in harm’s way and traumatizing them with uncertain futures.

Given the ongoing US-enabled war and humanitarian travesty overtaking the region, we are extremely concerned that any forcible return of Yemenis who have fled the war back to their home country could be tantamount to a death sentence and worsen the already horrific crisis of human suffering in Yemen.

Yemenis who arrived in the United States after January 2017 are no less vulnerable to harm if forcibly returned than those who arrived before. The fact that even Yemen — a country home to the world’s largest humanitarian crisis — does not meet the standard under the law to receive redesignation means there is no standard and that this administration’s decisions are built on contempt for marginalized and immigrant communities — not compassion, a coherent strategy, or the rule of law.

As with Syria, El Salvador, Haiti, and so many other countries before this, the Trump Administration has shown that their singular goal is to abandon the United States from its international legal and moral obligations to be a refuge to those in need.

What’s more, today’s decision is emblematic of the US’s morally disturbing and contradictory policies towards Yemen. While American bombs, fuel and targeting assistance keep Yemen’s humanitarian nightmares and war raging, we instead expel and cut lifelines for survivors of the violence — including the Muslim Ban which bars Yemeni nationals from entering our shores and the numerous barriers to prevent Yemenis from entering the US as refugees or applying for asylum.

The US needs a comprehensive foreign policy that protects, not jeopardizes, the lives and wellbeing of the world’s most vulnerable populations, including victims of war and mass suffering. Without this, we will continue to fuel hatred, cruelty, and the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.

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WASHINGTON, DC — Win Without War Director Stephen Miles released the following statement in response to the Trump administration re-imposing nuclear related sanctions on Iran:

“The United States today reimposed sanctions on Iran that were lifted as part of an international agreement to curb Iran’s nuclear program, a move that represents yet another in a series of Donald Trump’s self-inflicted national security crises.

“By all accounts, including from our own intelligence services, Iran has been in compliance with the 2015 accord, thereby removing the risk of Iran developing nuclear weapons.

“Trump’s decision to violate the deal and reimpose sanctions not only risks restoring that threat, but it also needlessly escalates tensions with Iran, emboldens Iranian hardliners, and further drives a wedge between the United States and Europe, which has pledged to preserve the agreement.

“We support these efforts by our European friends and we hope they succeed. However, we should also understand that the risk of the deal unraveling is now extremely high, and with that, the path to war with Iran is now clearer than it has been in years.”

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Win Without War is a diverse network of national organizations working for progressive foreign policy in America.

The post Trump Creates Another National Security Crisis by Reimposing Sanctions on Iran appeared first on Win Without War.