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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WASHINGTON, DC — Win Without War Policy Director Kate Kizer released the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Donald Trump’s Muslim ban:

“The Supreme Court’s 5-4 vote to uphold Donald Trump’s ban on travelers from predominantly Muslim countries is a stain on our history. As Justice Sotomayor wrote in the dissenting opinion, the decision ‘fails to safeguard’ the fundamental principle of religious liberty that our nation was founded on.

“The Muslim Ban has no place in our society as it is immoral and discriminatory. Despite cosmetic changes to the ban, Trump’s original intent of banning Muslims from entering the country has not changed.

“The decision to uphold Trump’s ban is particularly heartless and cruel given that U.S. policies and wars have inflamed humanitarian crises in the countries that are part of it:  Syria, Yemen, Libya, North Korea, Iran, Venezuela, and Somalia.

“Today, as we express outrage and grieve the Supreme Court’s decision, we also continue to oppose all forms of discrimination and violence against Muslim and immigrant communities at home and abroad — including this administration’s appointments of anti-Muslim ideologues like Mike Pompeo and John Bolton — in addition to Trump himself — and the broader war against immigrant children, families, and all others seeking refuge in the United States.

“Over the course of the last 16 months, Win Without War has joined millions of Americans and organizations representing diverse communities across the United States  who have mobilized in cities, schools, and airports against this ban. We will not give up. We will continue to work in solidarity with Muslim communities and beyond for a country that upholds everyone’s rights, dignity, and humanity.”

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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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Joint statement by Beyond the Bomb, CREDO, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Indivisible, J Street, MoveOn.org Civic Action, NIAC Action, Peace Action, VoteVets, Win Without War, and Women’s Action for New Directions on Donald Trump’s decision to decertify the Iran nuclear agreement.

Donald Trump’s decision to decertify the Iran nuclear agreement — also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action — is another in a long series of reckless actions that move our country closer to more war and chaos.

Let us be clear: Trump’s decertification decision has no basis in reality, is without justification, and flies in the face of eight International Atomic Energy Agency compliance reports and expert opinion, including that of Trump’s own national security team. The truth is that Trump’s decertification decision, like those on climate, health care, trade, immigration, and much else, is about seeking to undo President Obama’s legacy — and nothing else.

It is possible that Trump’s dangerous decision, coupled with other ill-conceived policies toward Iran, will lead to the eventual collapse of the nuclear agreement. In so doing, Trump’s move will not only grievously undermine America’s role in the world and its ability to conduct diplomacy writ large — and particularly with North Korea — but it could also leave Iran’s nuclear program unconstrained, thereby setting the stage for further military conflict.

Congress will now decide whether to reimpose sanctions on Iran that were lifted as part of the nuclear agreement. Make no mistake: a vote to reimpose these sanctions is a vote to kill the JCPOA, and ultimately, a vote for war. Congress undoubtedly has an important oversight function on all foreign policy matters. However, we must also be clear that the JCPOA’s terms cannot be unilaterally changed by Congress. Any legislation that seeks to do so or that otherwise undermines the agreement should be seen for what it is: a backdoor way of killing the JCPOA, undermining our allies in the agreement, and bringing us closer to war with Iran.

Our organizations represent tens of millions of Americans across the country who fought hard to defend diplomacy and help secure the Iran nuclear deal in 2015. Collectively, we cannot, and we will not, let this Congress and this reckless occupant of the White House destroy one of the greatest diplomatic achievements in U.S. history.

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Statement from ACLU, CREDO, MoveOn.org, and Win Without War in response to the tragedy in New York City and Donald Trump’s response:

“Last night, eight innocent people were killed and more were wounded in an act of senseless violence. Our organizations, representing more than ten million people coast to coast, mourn with New York and the nation. We join hands with groups and organizations on the ground in New York City which are standing together in beautiful solidarity. At the same time, we reject Donald Trump’s divisive and incendiary reaction and his knee-jerk rush toward unnecessary and extreme measures which do not make us safer.

“Today, we ask that members of Congress stand with the people of New York by fighting back against Trump’s already-apparent attempts to destroy the civil liberties that our nation and laws are built upon.

“In the 24 hours following the violent attack, Donald Trump has done nothing but exploit this crisis by threatening the rights of Muslims and immigrants. He threatened to terminate the diversity lottery program, on which more than 50,000 people rely annually to immigrate to the United States; called for another round of so-called ‘extreme vetting’ measures; proposed to send the suspect to Guantanamo Bay, which is an enduring shameful stain on our nation; and consciously incited fear, Islamophobia, and division through his incendiary statements.

“The Trump administration has failed to provide any preventative measures or solutions to the tragedy in New York or any other mass acts of violence. It is disturbingly ironic that an administration that insisted it was wrong to ‘politicize’ the recent tragedy in Las Vegas has eagerly worked to politicize this tragedy in New York with racist scapegoating, rather than evidence-based solutions.

“We cannot let Trump divide us. America has always been strongest when we stand up for our ideals and band together. Those who would have Americans turn against one another in a moment of crisis—or abandon our principles of free speech, free assembly, and freedom of religion for personal political gain—make a mockery of our nation’s greatest strength and must be resisted.”

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Win Without War Director Stephen Miles issued the following statement regarding the recent Senate confirmation of Steven Bradbury to a Department of Transportation post:

The Senate’s confirmation of Steven Bradbury as general counsel at the Department of Transportation represents yet another shameful failure of accountability for George W. Bush’s torture program.

Bradbury was responsible for providing bogus legal cover to many of the torture techniques used on terrorism suspects during the darkest days of the so-called “War on Terror” soon after the 9/11 attacks. Unfortunately, he and the rest of the Bush torture program architects have never been held accountable for their illegal acts. Instead, they’re continually rewarded with high profile jobs that influence and/or carry out U.S. policy. In fact, the only person associated with Bush’s torture program to face jail time was actually a whistleblower trying to expose it.

It’s unfathomable that someone who authorized torture can continue to be involved in legal decisions for any U.S. government agency. What’s perhaps even worse is that Bradbury’s confirmation further legitimizes the whims of an unstable and erratic president who has stated his clear desire to reinstate many components of the Bush-era torture program.

We cannot and we will not let that happen. Bradbury’s reascension to a top government job should outrage every American. And while his confirmation represents a setback in holding the Bush torture program architects to account, we will not relent in our support of efforts to punish those responsible for it, and we will continue to shine a light on Bush’s torture program so that this despicable period in our history is never repeated.

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WASHINGTON — Win Without War Director, Stephen Miles, released the following statement in response to North Korea’s latest missile test: 

North Korea’s latest missile test shows that the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure and engagement” is not working, especially when only one leg of that stool – the maximum pressure leg – is being used. The simple truth is that the challenges posed by the North Korean nuclear program have no military solution. The only way to lower tensions and resolve this crisis is through diplomacy.

Should there be a war, the nonpartisan Congressional Research Services says that between 30,000 to 300,000 people would die in the first few days of fighting, even without nuclear weapons being introduced. If the conflict goes nuclear, the human suffering would be on an unimaginable scale. And, as the Pentagon itself recently made clear, North Korea’s nuclear program cannot be eliminated by airstrikes, meaning a bloody and costly ground-invasion would be needed.

It is past time to get serious about diplomacy with North Korea. While the President has focused his energies on name calling and bombastic threats, leadership from America’s diplomat-in-chief, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, has also been entirely missing. Compounding this failure at the top is the reality that a year after the election, key diplomatic positions

remain unfilled, including the Ambassador to South Korea, the under secretary for arms control and international security, and the assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs.

The current crisis with North Korea is one created by epic failures by the Trump Administration since day one and continuing to this very moment.

We are under no illusion that diplomacy will be quick, easy, or painless. Nonetheless, the current path of tit for tat rhetorical escalation coupled with military shows of force on both sides could lead to a war that will solve nothing yet cost millions of lives while creating unprecedented instability for global peace and security. The American people don’t want war with North Korea; the time for engagement is now.

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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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Win Without War Director Stephen Miles released the following statement regarding Congressional inaction on Donald Trump’s Iran deal decertification:

Working under the auspices of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (INARA) of 2015, Donald Trump in October declined to certify the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — as the Iran nuclear deal is formally known — thereby opening a 60-day window for Congress to fast-track the reimposition of sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program, thus killing the Iran deal.

That 60-day window has now closed, without any Congressional action on this matter.

It’s clear that Congress is beginning to recognize the reality that the JCPOA is working as intended by blocking all pathways for Iran to build a nuclear weapon, and is keeping America and its allies safe. Reimposing nuclear sanctions on Iran at this time — when the International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran is in full compliance with the deal — would kill the JCPOA and put the United States back on a path to war.

So far Congress has declined to follow Donald Trump’s lead in trying to kill the Iran deal. That’s a good thing, and members should continue urging successful diplomacy in favor of a return to racing towards war.

The expiration of this fast-track snap-back sanctions timeline established by INARA also represents the importance of prioritizing diplomacy over war as a means of solving some of the most difficult security challenges we face. And it serves as an example of how the United States and its allies and partners around the world can and should address current and future crises.

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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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Friday, December 7, 2018

WASHINGTON — Win Without War Director Stephen Miles released the following statement regarding Donald Trump’s plans to nominate Heather Nauert U.S. Ambassador to the UN:

“Former Fox News anchor Heather Nauert had no business serving as State Department spokesperson, and she certainly isn’t qualified to become our nation’s next ambassador to the United Nations.

“Nauert not only has no meaningful experience and is seemingly unaware of the most basic historical facts, but she also has a history of xenophobic fearmongering, smearing refugees, and spreading Benghazi conspiracy theories and anti-Muslim hate. We simply cannot afford to double down on ignorance and bigotry as the face of American foreign policy.

“Congress should reject this nomination and force Donald Trump to present a qualified candidate who represents values of inclusion, tolerance, and respect.”

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

The post Win Without War: Heather Nauert Belongs On Fox & Friends, Not At The UN appeared first on Win Without War.

Win Without War Director Stephen Miles released the following statement regarding reports that President Trump is considering a plan devised by his military and foreign policy advisers that would involve sending thousands more American troops to fight in Afghanistan:

“Sixteen years after the initial U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan, there’s nothing a few thousand more troops will do to tip the scales now. America’s longest war simply does not have a military solution, and it’s long past time it ends.

Afghanistan’s problems — endemic corruption, a non-representative political system, and the hardships that nearly four decades of war have brought — will not be solved with more American bombs or boots on the ground.

“President Trump campaigned on disengaging from America’s disastrous and endless wars, and if those promises contained any amount of truth — however unlikely that is — he would immediately reject this fool’s errand.

“But if President Trump ultimately chooses to accept this plan, he must tell the American people what he intends to achieve, how putting more U.S. troops in harm’s way will help him reach that goal, and how he’s going to pay for a war that has already cost American taxpayers trillions.

We won’t hold our breaths.”

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Washington, DC – Following reports of U.S. military strikes against Syrian regime forces, Win Without War Director, Stephen Miles, released the following statement.

“We are deeply troubled by today’s reports of direct U.S. military action against Syrian regime forces. These strikes mark only the second time the United States has directly targeted the Assad regime and a potential major escalation of America’s involvement in Syria’s bloody civil war.

While the exact circumstances of this action remain unclear, the Trump Administration’s dangerous pursuit of military only solutions to the war in Syria will serve to prolong a war that the world should be doing everything in its power to end.

We are also deeply concerned about the potential for spiraling escalation from these strikes. With Russian, Iranian and other forces operating alongside regime forces, the potential for a larger regional or global war remains far too real.

As he prepares to head to the Middle East, President Trump appears poised to double down on the failed belief that more war will somehow make the Middle East peaceful and stable. With the President reportedly set to announce major new arms sales to the region, and with his Administration having dramatically ramped up military action since he took office, Donald Trump continues to pour gasoline on the raging fires of war in the Middle East.

America has been trying to bomb its way to peace and buy stability through arms sales for decades in the Middle East. The results are beyond a failure, with immense human suffering and a region on fire. It is long past time to chart a different course.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 7, 2017

WASHINGTON — Win Without War Director Stephen Miles issued the following statement regarding President Trump’s response to today’s terror attack in Iran:

We strongly condemn the terror attack in Tehran today and stand in solidarity with the victims and their families as they grieve the loss of their loved ones. The world should stand united — regardless of nationality, religion, or ethnicity — against the scourge of terrorism wherever it may take place.

President Trump’s response to these attacks was disgraceful. Coming on the heels of his attacks on London’s mayor as his city reeled from its own terrorist attack, it is clear that the President’s dangerous ideology, personal vendettas, and extremist worldview prevent him from expressing basic human decency to those reeling from deadly violence. Claiming that those attacked somehow had it coming mirrors the mindset that the terrorists themselves use to justify their heinous acts.

The President’s words today — as they have so often been in the aftermath of terrorist attacks — have made our country less safe, fanned the flames of violent extremism, and broken with the long American tradition of standing in solidarity with the victims of terror. As Americans, we want the Iranian people, and all victims of terror, to know that Donald Trump does not speak for us.

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Win Without War, along with 40 other national and local organizations, sent the below letter urging Congress to vote in support of S.J.Res.42 to block the pending $510 million arms sale of precision-guided munitions to Saudi Arabia. Recently, bipartisan members of both the Senate and the House of Representatives introduced joint resolutions of disapproval to block the sale of these weapons due to their repeated use against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Yemen.

The organizations on this letter represent millions of Americans across the nation. Their message is clear: By selling more arms to Saudi Arabia, America is green-lighting the killing of innocent civilians in Yemen. Win Without War calls on members of the Senate to vote in support of S.J.Res.42 when it comes up for a vote, likely later today.

The full text of the letter and list of signers is below. View a PDF of the letter here.

June 8, 2017

Dear Senator,

We, the undersigned organizations, write to urge you to block the recently-notified direct commercial sale of $510 million worth of precision-guided munitions to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, by co-sponsoring and voting for the bipartisan resolution of disapproval introduced in the Senate (S.J.Res.42). Congress must send a clear signal to the administration that US support for the Saudi-led coalition’s intervention in Yemen is not unconditional and that the conduct of our foreign affairs is a moral, and not merely a transactional, endeavor. Moving forward with this sale will exacerbate the already dire humanitarian crisis in Yemen, which has left more than 7 million civilians on the brink of famine, nearly 20 million people facing extreme hunger, and 19 of the country’s 21 governorates country facing an unprecedented cholera epidemic that is spiraling out of control.^[i]

This planned sale reverses the previous administration’s decision to hold munitions sales to Saudi Arabia due to grave concerns about the use of US-sold weapons in coalition airstrikes.^[ii] Despite increased US support in the form of training and smarter weaponry to lessen civilian casualties, it has become clear that Saudi Arabia’s that target selection, not targeting skill or capacity, is the principal cause of harm to civilians and civilian objects from airstrikes.^[iii] According to analysis released by the American Bar Association, resuming unconditional sales of these weapons to Saudi Arabia violates the Arms Export Control Act and the Foreign Assistance Act. ^[iv]

The United Nations^[v] and numerous human rights organizations^[vi] have documented continued violations of law of armed conflict and human rights by all parties to the conflict, including the Saudi-led coalition. Coalition airstrikes have struck hospitals and schools, as well as sanitation systems, bridges, and Yemen’s vital Hodeidah port – the main entry point for food, medicine and humanitarian aid for the majority of Yemenis.^[vii] These airstrikes,^[viii] have played a substantial role in triggering the largest humanitarian crisis in the world.^[ix] Selling more precision-guided weapons will enable Saudi Arabia to continue destroying critical infrastructure and will sustain its seemingly indefinite military campaign. The price will ultimately be paid in millions of Yemeni lives.

At a time when the president appears to have solidified a transactional approach to foreign affairs, it is incumbent upon Congress to ensure that moral concerns, particularly America’s commitment to defending human rights, remain a cornerstone of US foreign policy. Allowing the sale to move forward would signal that Saudi Arabia will not face even modest, reversible consequences for committing human rights violations and ignoring US diplomatic entreaties in Yemen. We strongly urge you to use your authority to block this unconditional weapons sale to Saudi Arabia.

Sincerely,

American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)
Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB)
Arabian Rights Watch Association
Arms Control Association
Cambridge United for Justice with Peace
Center for International Policy
Chicago Area CODEPINK
Chicago Area Peace Action
Circles of Nonviolence/Community Collaboratives Initiative
Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC)
CODEPINK
CREDO
Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL)
Global Progressive Hub
Institute for Policy Studies, New Internationalism Project
J Street
Jewish Voice for Peace
Just Foreign Policy
LEPOCO Peace Center, Lehigh-Pocono Committee of Concern
Long Island Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives
Massachusetts Peace Action
Military Families Speak Out
MLK Coalition of Greater Los Angeles
Muslims United for Justice
Nonviolence International
OMNI Center for Peace, Justice & Ecology
Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility
Oxfam
Peace Action
People Demanding Action
Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED)
STAND: The Student-Led Movement to End Mass Atrocities
Topanga Peace Alliance
Tri-Valley CAREs
United for Peace and Justice
Wasatch Coalition for Peace and Justice, Salt Lake City
Western States Legal Foundation
Win Without War
WNY Peace Center

^[i] https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/02/world/middleeast/unicef-yemen-cholera-saudi-war.html

^[ii] http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-saudiarabia-yemen-exclusive-idUSKBN1421UK

^[iii] http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/en/originals/2017/03/congress-showdown-saudi-arms-sales-bombs-yemen.html

^[iv] https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/human_rights/ABACHRAssessmentofArmsSalestoSaudiArabia.authcheckdam.pdf

^[v] http://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/letter-dated-27-january-2017-panel-experts-yemen-addressed-president-security-council

^[vi] https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/01/12/yemen-no-accountability-war-crimes ; https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2017/03/yemen-multibillion-dollar-arms-sales-by-usa-and-uk-reveal-shameful-contradiction-with-aid-efforts/

^[vii] http://www.savethechildren.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/2212-Watchlist-Field-Report-Yemen.pdf

^[viii] http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=21496&LangID=E

^[ix] https://www.rescue.org/press-release/yemenis-suffer-largest-humanitarian-crisis-world

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Win Without War sent the below letter to all members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives urging them to take action to affirm Congress’ commitment to America’s refugee resettlement program.

The full text of the letter is below. View a PDF of the letter here.

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June 12, 2017

Dear Members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives:

On behalf of the millions of Americans represented by Win Without War coalition members, we are writing to urge you to reaffirm the importance of the U.S. refugee resettlement program. As we approach World Refugee Day on June 20, we should take care to live out America’s founding ideals that all people — whether internally displaced in their home country or seeking refuge from the terror of war and persecution elsewhere — can seek refuge and shelter in the United States.

The world has not witnessed such a dramatic scale of human suffering and displacement since World War II. Climate change, war, poverty, and persecution have forced millions from their homes. Over 65 million people, including 21 million refugees, are now displaced worldwide. As supporters of principled U.S. engagement in the world, we believe that America and the world are stronger, safer, and more prosperous when our policies at home and abroad align with our values. Now more than ever, the United States must reaffirm its commitment to protecting refugees. Failing to do so would not only be an attack on America’s tradition of being a beacon of hope for those seeking refuge, but it would also undermine our credibility on the global stage and worsen an already horrific global crisis of human suffering.

Refugees are the most thoroughly vetted individuals who come to the United States. Today, every refugee is subject to a series of stringent examinations and checks over a two-year period by the FBI, National Counterterrorism Center, State Department, and Department of Homeland Security, which include background checks, multiple interviews, biometric security checks, medical examinations, and recurrent vetting.

While the President is permitted to set the number of refugee admissions, we urge you, as a co-equal branch of government, to assert a clear, principled position in favor of refugee resettlement. While today’s crisis should be met with an equally urgent level of assistance to refugees, it is unconscionable to set the resettlement cap below 75,000 refugees for fiscal year 2018. America should do more – much more – and providing a new home to 75,000 refugees is the bare minimum America must do. We also urge you to oppose any policy riders that would reduce access to protection for refugees, discriminate against refugees of certain faiths or from particular countries of origin, or otherwise pause, defund, or dismantle the U.S. refugee resettlement program. And, as you begin considerations on funding for fiscal year 2018, we urge you to continue America’s commitment to supporting robust funding for international aid and support to those in need, and to providing the diplomatic resources necessary to reduce the root causes creating refugees in the first place. Failing to address these needs will not only continue the suffering of innocent lives and inhibit their greatest opportunity to live with freedom and dignity, but it will also help feed marginalization, radicalization, and instability.

America is at its best when we welcome those in need of a new home. The times when we have failed to live up to our values – like when we turned away Jewish refugees in WWII – are some of our country’s darkest hours. America can stay true to its values without compromising its security. Refugee resettlement saves lives, improves our communities, encourages other countries to keep their doors open to people needing protection, and promotes regional stability and global security. At a time when wars, many of them involving the U.S. military, are spiraling out of control, we must take collective responsibility to help the millions of people whose lives have been destroyed by the violence.

We call on all members of Congress to uphold our collective moral and global responsibility to resettle refugees, to advocate for peaceful ends to the brutal conflicts that have forced so many of them to flee, and to demonstrate the best of U.S. leadership by always committing to an America whose humanitarian efforts are robust and whose strength is grounded in our values.

Sincerely,

Stephen Miles

Director, Win Without War

The post America Must Stand With Refugees – Our Letter to Congress appeared first on Win Without War.

Win Without War Director Stephen Miles issued the following statement regarding today’s Senate vote on whether to block precision-guided munitions to Saudi Arabia:

 Today’s unprecedented opposition to yet another arms sale to Saudi Arabia is a welcome step towards restoring sanity and common sense to America’s foreign policy. In the coming weeks, Congress should turn its attention towards charting a bold new path towards a foreign policy rooted in our values, rejecting the President’s abandonment of America’s historic commitment to human rights.  

The 47 members of the United States Senate who voted to block the sale of precision-guided munitions to Saudi Arabia sent a clear signal that the Saudi-led coalition’s deadly war in Yemen must end. Today’s vote is likewise a strong rejection of Donald Trump’s plans to flood the Middle East with hundreds of billions in American weapons, devoid of any semblance of the human rights restrictions that have long accompanied such sales.

 The message from Congress is clear, something has to change.

Selling more than $100 billion worth of arms — including $500 million in precision-guided munitions — to Saudi Arabia while they continue to commit alleged war crimes is a disgusting and dangerous plan. The Saudi-led war in Yemen has already killed thousands of civilians, helped fuel a rapidly growing cholera epidemic, and plunged millions to the brink of famine. American support for the Saudi-led coalition has similarly fueled extremism in Yemen, threatening America’s national security.

There is no universe in which the solution to this crisis is more American bombs.

We applaud the unprecedented opposition to this arms sale to Saudi Arabia and the bipartisan leadership of Sens. Chris Murphy (D-CT), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Al Franken (D-MN). We’ll continue to oppose any arms deal that harms U.S. security or contributes to insecurity or human rights abuses of innocents abroad, and we’ll work to make Congress, the executive branch, and the American people aware of some of the dangers that these U.S. arms sales pose.

The post Win Without War’s statement on today’s Senate vote on the sale of precision-guided munitions to Saudi Arabia appeared first on Win Without War.

Thursday, December 13, 2018

WASHINGTON — Win Without War Director Stephen Miles released the following statement responding to the Senate vote to end the U.S. role in the war in Yemen:

“In a historic vote, the United States Senate reasserted Congress’s war-making authority by directing the President to withdraw U.S. support for the Saudi-UAE coalition’s war in Yemen. Enough is enough. The bombing must end. The killing of civilians must end. The starvation must end. The misery must end. We congratulate the legislation’s primary sponsors, Senators Bernie Sanders, Mike Lee, and Chris Murphy, for achieving this unprecedented victory.

“Today’s vote also reflects the will of the American people, who overwhelmingly support an end to the war. Indeed, Donald Trump and Saudi crown prince Mohammad bin Salman are increasingly isolated in their quest to perpetuate a misbegotten war that is fueling one of the largest humanitarian crises the world has seen. Yet, because of intense bipartisan pressure from Congress, the warring parties agreed to an initial agreement to deescalate the fighting and alleviate the humanitarian crisis.

“Though the House of Representatives was denied an opportunity to join the Senate this week, the House should immediately change course and vote to end U.S. support for the war in Yemen. The simple truth is the people of Yemen can’t wait.”

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

The post Win Without War: The End Of The Saudi-UAE War in Yemen Is Only A Matter Of Time appeared first on Win Without War.

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

WASHINGTON — Win Without War Director Stephen Miles released the following statement responding to reports that Donald Trump plans to withdraw all U.S. troops from Syria:

“Since the beginning of the conflict in Syria, the United States has gotten its response wrong every step of the way, and Donald Trump’s latest moves are no exception.

“From day one, Win Without War has opposed a U.S. military response to a crisis with no military solution, and we continue to support the full withdrawal of American military personnel from Syria. However, Donald Trump’s plan to declare ‘victory’ and walk away from an ongoing humanitarian catastrophe – one that the U.S. in part helped create – is reckless, shortsighted, and wrong. Even worse, given that just yesterday a federal court judge chastised Donald Trump’s first National Security Advisor for ‘selling out our country’ to Turkey, we are left wondering what secret deals and backroom arrangements with Turkey and other major players in Syria may actually be driving this Administration’s new plans in Syria.

“While U.S. troops should indeed come home from Syria, they should be replaced with a humanitarian and diplomatic surge that works to build a sustainable peace, holds the conflict’s numerous war criminals accountable, welcomes refugees displaced by the conflict, and addresses the instability and suffering that our nation’s violence-first policy has caused in Syria and throughout the region. This includes renewing reconstruction funding to cities like Raqqa and offering accountability to the thousands of civilians affected by the U.S.-led coalition’s military campaign against the self-described Islamic State.

“Finally, when Congress reconvenes in January, it must conduct the basic oversight of Donald Trump’s foreign policy that under Republican House and Senate majorities has thus far failed to provide. Congress must connect the dots between Trump’s web of foreign ties and questionable deals with a growing axis of authoritarian dictators. Any oversight initiative must also shine a light on the continued violence, instability, and human suffering caused by our military misadventures in nearly every corner of the globe.

“The people of Syria have suffered immensely for our nation’s repeated fueling of war and limited efforts at peace. Now, as we bring our service-members home from the battlefield, we must not continue to repeat those very same mistakes.”

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

The post Win Without War: U.S. Troops in Syria Were Never the Answer appeared first on Win Without War.

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

WASHINGTON — Win Without War Director Stephen Miles released the following statement regarding today’s House passage of H.J.Res. 37, a resolution to end the U.S. role in the war in Yemen:

“Today, after years of organizing both inside and outside of Congress, the House of Representatives passed an unprecedented resolution directing the president to end unauthorized U.S. military involvement in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates’ military intervention in Yemen that has helped create the largest man-made humanitarian crisis in the world.

“The American people want Congress to end endless war and reassert its constitutional power to end reckless presidential wars of choice, and nowhere is that need more urgent than Yemen, where U.S. military support has helped fuel a conflict that has put 15.9 million Yemenis at risk of famine.

“This vote should send an unequivocal signal to both the Trump administration, as well as members of the Saudi- and Emirati-led coalition in Yemen that Congress will no longer shirk its constitutional responsibility to determine when and where the United States goes to war and that it will use its power to push the parties to the peace table.

“As the American public slowly became aware of the United States’ shameful role in the conflict, they have been unequivocal in their opposition to their government participating and fueling this war. Win Without War activists have taken over 250,000 actions demanding the United States end its support for this war. We thank Congressman Ro Khanna and the many cosponsors of this legislation for forcing this debate and the American public for making their voice heard on foreign policy. We look forward to a robust debate and final passage in the Senate.”

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

The post Win Without War: Historic Passage of House Bill to End Yemen War Moves Fight to the Senate appeared first on Win Without War.

Thursday, February 28, 2019

WASHINGTON — Win Without War Advocacy Director Erica Fein released the following statement regarding the outcome of the Hanoi Summit:

“While it’s disappointing that the Hanoi Summit has ended without further progress, we must recognize that diplomacy with North Korea will be a long process, and the fact that all sides remain committed to it is encouraging.

“Diplomacy always comes with setbacks, but we must promote and support further dialogue and create and maintain the political space required for the president to continue on this path. Indeed, North Korea’s missile and nuclear weapons testing still remains frozen. The U.S. should refrain from any provocative actions — like resuming military exercises — that can upend previously achieved goodwill.

“We should not root for Donald Trump to fail. At the same time, we cannot ignore the red flags raised about the competency and commitment of Trump and his Administration based on the failure to make progress in Hanoi.

“This isn’t a real estate deal. Trump must recognize the immense complexity of the issues, the need for seasoned, professional diplomats, and the simple reality that diplomacy is not just about the personal connection of those negotiating.

“Reports of what both sides were to supposed to agree to in Hanoi — a partial freeze on North Korea’s nuclear weapons program in exchange for limited sanctions relief in addition to a symbolic peace declaration recognizing the end of the Korean War — would have been welcome and successful steps toward a lasting peace and denuclearization.

“Going forward, U.S. officials at the ‘working level’ will need space for more diplomatic engagement and negotiations with their North and South Korean counterparts.

“We must simultaneously push back against forces opposing diplomacy — like Trump’s National Security Advisor John Bolton — who seemingly had a hand in derailing the Hanoi Summit.

“Diplomacy remains the only option to achieve a lasting piece on the Korean Peninsula and to entice North Korea to denuclearization. War would be catastrophic and is simply not an option.

“We must also remember that the peace and security of the Korean people, the region, and the broader world is at stake. This diplomatic process is about supporting the will of the Korean people and their right to determine their own destiny, not about Trump. We must take advantage of this opportunity to truly open the door to peace, reconciliation, and true security on the Korean Peninsula by supporting further diplomatic engagement that leads to a long-term process towards these mutual goals.”

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Win Without War is a diverse network of activists and national organizations working for progressive foreign policy in the United States.

The post After Hanoi Summit, We Must Continue To Support Diplomacy With North Korea appeared first on Win Without War.