Voting rights of Arab American citizens
No day is more important in the United States than election day. It is a day on which all Americans are equal as they go to the polls. Too often, though, discrimination, ignorance or incompetence take away the right to equal treatment and interfere with the right to vote. In 2000, the Department of Justice successfully...Neocon flap highlights Jewish divide
WASHINGTON (IPS) � A mushrooming media controversy pitting neoconservatives against a prominent Jewish-American political commentator could mark a new stage in the growing battle over who speaks for the U.S. Jewish community on foreign policy issues, particularly regarding the Middle East. Joe KleinTIME columnist Joe Klein's...In defense of prejudice
Palestinians look at rubbish that was thrown by Jewish settlers outside a mosque in the West Bank. REUTERS/Nayef HashlamounBeyond the Golden Gate, on a sandy shore of the cold North Pacific, spayed by black rocks and frequented by Sirens, lies Marin County. In this most delightful part of California, the Sirens do not ravish seamen;...Faith and Values Media announces winners of grants
NEW YORK � Faith & Values Media, the nation's largest coalition of Christian, Jewish and Muslim faith groups dedicated to media production, distribution and promotion, has chosen the winners for its 2008 member productions grants. The awards were given to Faith & Values Media members whose productions showed an innovative...Obama’s Muslim advisor steps down
Washington � This week, Mazen Asbahi, volunteer Muslim-outreach coordinator to the Obama campaign, tendered his resignation. The Chicago-based attorney stepped down amidst personal attacks. "I am stepping down from the volunteer role I recently agreed to take on with the Obama campaign as Arab American and Muslim American outreach...Marketing Obama to evangelicals
OAKLAND (IPS) � For the past three decades, the religious right has dominated the religio-political dialogue in the United States. The right's growth, and its agenda � which revolved around so-called traditional family values issues including, but not limited to, opposition to abortion and to full equality for gays and lesbians...
In Israel, Obama looks to votes back home
August 1st, 20080 JERUSALEM (IPS) � Lighting a remembrance flame at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial. Speaking against the backdrop of a pile of empty rocket casings in the southern town of Sderot. Standing solemnly, face close to the stones of the Western Wall in Jerusalem. These are the images that Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama...Iran in spotlight at Christian Zionist confab
WASHINGTON (IPS) � The controversial Christian Zionist pastor John Hagee and thousands of supporters filled a convention center in downtown Washington this week for his Christians United for Israel (CUFI) organization's Washington-Israel Summit, where the "Iranian threat" was a recurrent theme. CUFI is a proponent of Christian...Ellison addresses Muslim females
WASHINGTON � Female Muslim attorneys, leaders and students from all over the world and the United States descended on Washington, D.C. last week for an intensive summer program on law and leadership. Rep. Keith Ellison spoke with the group near the end of the program, imparting words of wisdom and sharing his own experiences....Islam bullish in a bear market
The funny thing about faith-based mutual funds is, well, that there's anything called a faith-based mutual fund. For one thing, scripture is full of exhortations against accumulating wealth. The New Testament, especially, repeatedly reminds followers of Christ that earthly wealth means nothing in heaven. "It is easier for a camel to...Hamdan case to test military tribunals
NEW YORK (IPS) � As the long-awaited trial of Guantanamo detainee Salim Ahmed Hamdan opened this week at the U.S. naval base in Cuba, human rights groups filed suit demanding that the Department of Justice (DOJ) produce documents related to the U.S. government's ghost detention, torture and extraordinary rendition program....Doves outnumber hawks in Jewish community
WASHINGTON (IPS) � A new poll suggests that U.S. Jews hold views about the Middle East that are considerably more dovish than frequently acknowledged, with large majorities favoring diplomacy with Iran, supporting a two-state solution in Israel/Palestine, and advocating U.S. withdrawal from Iraq. U.S. Jews also favor Barack Obama...Kucinich: Impeach Bush, create Department of Peace
Congressman Dennis Kucinich introduced a new article of impeachment against President Bush in the House last Thursday. In a single, pointed resolution, he charged the president with lying to Congress about the presence of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) in Iraq, in order to obtain permission for a U.S. attack. In the hour...Groups concerned about DOJ guidelines
Washington � The Muslim Public Affairs Council, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), the Arab American Institute (AAI), and other organizations are concerned by an Associated Press report quoting "senior FBI, Justice Department, and U.S. intelligence officials" concerning new Department of Justice guidelines...“State Secrets” privilege derails rendition suit
NEW YORK (IPS) � Maher Arar, whose "rendition" to Syria is widely viewed as an egregious example of mistaken identity, has again been denied the right to appear in court, and congressional efforts to rein in the George W. Bush administration's widespread use of national security as a defence appear to be foundering. Late last......
Big trouble for Big Three automakers
America's automobile industry may be facing the biggest turnaround challenge in its history, a problem punctuated Tuesday as the carmakers released monthly sales results. Times were tough enough in Detroit before gasoline hit $4 per gallon, but in the past two months the outlook has taken a turn for the worse. Shares of...Sewage plant named after Dubya?
Some presidents get carved into Mt Rushmore; others have airports, motorways, and even entire cities named in their honor. But when George Bush leaves office, his most visible memorial may be a moldering patch of human effluent. In November, alongside casting their ballot for the next president, the people of San Francisco will......
Nader takes aim at Obama
WASHINGTON � Legendary Arab American consumer advocate Ralph Nader's remarks about Barack Obama's campaign and race garnered wide media attention. Last week, the third party candidate said the Democratic nominee for president was not challenging the white power structure and was feeding off of "white guilt." On Wednesday,...Christian Zionist gathering mired in controversy
OAKLAND (IPS) � The battle lines over Pastor John Hagee have been drawn, redrawn, and are no doubt being drawn again as this is being written. The San Antonio, Texas-based mega-preacher with the multi-million-dollar empire has always been controversial, but these days, the pastor is a lightning rod for critics. And as...Was Obama’s rhetoric on Israel for real?
UNITED NATIONS (IPS) � When Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic candidate for the November U.S. presidential elections, addressed one of the most influential pro-Israeli lobbying groups last week, he offered himself as a more trusted ally of Israel than his rival, Republican candidate John McCain. In his address to the...McCain makes stuff up
For years now, the U.S. political press corps has traveled with John McCain on his "Straight Talk Express," buying into his image as a paragon of truth-telling. But the real truth is that McCain routinely makes stuff up, as he did on June 11 in lying about Barack Obama's "bitter" comment. During a political talk in Philadelphia,......
Kucinich seeks to impeach Bush
June 13th, 20080 Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) introduced 35 articles of impeachment against President George W. Bush late on Monday during a speech on the House floor. Kucinich, a former contender for the Democratic presidential nomination, pointed to "high crimes and misdemeanors" committed by the Bush administration, including...
Obama clinches nomination, pledges support for Israel and two-state solution
June 6th, 20080 Obama walks fine line at AIPAC WASHINGTON � Speaking last year at the same forum, he received scattered boos. But as Senator Barack Obama strode towards the podium Wednesday morning at the annual policy conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), he was greeted with a standing ovation. The applause kept......
AIPAC report reveals long history of activities harmful to U.S.
Washington � Members of the press, bloggers and law enforcement officials could request a free copy of a special 200 page report on the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) during the annual AIPAC Policy Conference held this week in Washington, DC. "Foreign Agents: The American Israel Public Affairs Committee from the...Bush’s Islamist enemies list
President George W. Bush was rightly condemned when he implied that Democrats want to "negotiate with terrorists" because they are driven by "the false comfort of appeasement," while Republicans are committed to fighting terrorism. But in his speech before Israel's Knesset, Bush made another dangerous statement that got far less......