Posts tagged with "biden"

ICC Investigating Biden Administration for Aiding Israeli War Crimes

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ICC Legal Action Against Biden: US Support for Israel Under Scrutiny

A US-based human rights group, Democracy for the Arab World Now (Dawn), has taken the unprecedented step of formally submitting a referral to the International Criminal Court (ICC) against President Joe Biden and other former US officials. The charges include complicity in Israeli war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Need to Know:

  • Dawn, founded by the late journalist Jamal Khashoggi, is a human rights group that advocates for democracy and human rights in the Middle East and North Africa.
  • The ICC is an international court that prosecutes individuals for the most serious crimes of international concern, including genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
  • The US and Israel are not signatories to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC.
  • Dawn alleges that Biden, former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, former Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and other US officials are complicit in Israeli war crimes due to their continued support of Israel despite knowledge of its actions in Gaza.
  • The submission to the ICC argues that the actions of these US officials meet the legal standard for aiding and abetting under Article 25 of the ICC’s Rome Statute.

Takeaways:

  • The legal action taken by Dawn is significant because it challenges the US government’s support of Israel and its actions in Gaza.
  • The allegations made by Dawn raise serious questions about the legality of US foreign policy in the Middle East.
  • The ICC’s decision on whether to investigate the allegations could have major implications for US-Israel relations.
  • The move highlights the increasing scrutiny of US human rights practices and its foreign policy decisions.

Implications:

  • American Culture: This case could further divide public opinion on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the US’s role in it. It may also lead to increased awareness and discussion about international law and human rights.
  • American Society: The “Abandon Biden” movement shows that there is growing discontent with the president’s foreign policy, particularly among those who are critical of Israel’s actions in Gaza. This discontent could lead to further protests and activism.
  • American Foreign Policy: If the ICC decides to investigate the allegations against Biden and other US officials, it could have serious implications for US foreign policy. The US may be forced to reconsider its relationship with Israel and its approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It could also strain relationships with other countries and international organizations.

Brief Background for ICC Legal Action:

The ICC is a permanent international criminal court with the jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression. It is based in The Hague, Netherlands. The ICC was established by the Rome Statute, which was adopted in 1998 and entered into force in 2002. The US is not a member of the ICC.

The legal action brought by Dawn is based on the principle of “complicity,” which means that even if a person does not directly commit a crime, they can still be held liable if they aid, abet, or otherwise assist in the commission of that crime. Dawn argues that by continuing to provide military and financial aid to Israel despite knowledge of its actions in Gaza, Biden and other US officials are complicit in Israeli war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Watch Democracy NOW! report on YouTube, “Biden, Blinken & Austin Accused of Complicity in Israel’s Gaza War Crimes; ICC Urged to Investigate,” HERE. 

LBJ Dropped Out, Will Biden Follow Suit?

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By JEANETTE LENOIR

 

In March 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson shocked the nation by announcing that he would not seek re-election. This decision came after months of speculation and pressure from within his own party.

There were several factors that contributed to Johnson’s decision. One was the growing unpopularity of the Vietnam War. The war had become increasingly unpopular with the American public, and Johnson’s approval ratings had plummeted. Another factor was the growing opposition to Johnson within his own party. Many Democrats felt that Johnson had become too authoritarian and that his policies were too divisive.

Finally, Johnson’s health was also a factor in his decision. He had suffered a heart attack in 1955, and he was concerned that the stress of the campaign would be too much for him. In his announcement, Johnson said that he had made the “difficult decision” to drop out of the race in order to “put the welfare of the country first.” He also said that he believed that the Democratic Party could unite and defeat the Republican candidate, Richard Nixon. Johnson’s decision to drop out of the race had a significant impact on the 1968 presidential election. Nixon went on to win the election, and the Vietnam War continued to divide the country for many years to come.

The cyclical nature of history 

Today, America has reached a similar reflection point in the reelection of President Biden. And the barbaric genocide of the Palestinian people at the hands of our so-called ally, Israel, reawakens the horrors of Vietnam. The nation is facing an uncertain future without a savior, a champion for The People, one able to fight for a more just and equitable future. And former president Trump, responsible for the January 6th attack on the Capitol and indicted on 34 felony counts, is the candidate being forced down our throats despite the real threat he presents to the ideals and hope for an America that has yet to be. 

Consistently repeating false narratives, the American people are manipulated and heavily propagandized by corporate media to believe that we are faced with choosing one of the two supporters of Israel’s genocide that has killed 40,000 people and counting, mostly innocent civilians; women, children, and the elderly, including journalists. This, despite having other viable candidates to choose from like Jill Stein, the Green Party candidate and Cornel West, an Independent, and a few others that have not yet dropped out of the race for the White House. The media ignores them all by way of manipulation and false offerings. It is simply un-American. And it is so because our country has been compromised by our elected leaders who took bribes from lobbyists and corporations and sold us all out. Today, it’s evident who controls Congress: AIPAC, an Israeli foreign lobby. And if the recent unseating of Rep. Jamaal Bowman didn’t give a clue, here’s the mail, it never fails. 

What’s happening globally will hurt us domestically

The barbarism taking place with boastful impunity in full HD has shaken the world, not just America. And our government’s role in these atrocities lies squarely before Biden and Trump. They both support the genocide and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people for the sake of religious zealots; Zionists who confidently believe there is no God, and at the same time, say they are God’s “chosen people” and above all others. Imagine that.  And we can’t forget what our government is actively doing in Ukraine and Russia, against our will. And these aren’t the only two conflicts America is engaged in. What’s happening in Haiti tells of a coming storm too, the likes of which the world has never seen. 

The recent rulings by the Supreme Court, also a compromised institution, is deliberately weakening federal regulations, producing earthquake-like shockwaves to our legal system and governing structure right before our eyes. Why? Because Congress is compromised, too. Congress is being bought and sold at auction by lobbyists, corporations and foreign influences intent on our destruction and downfall as a powerful nation. And corporate media is driving the bus fast and furious. They blatantly lie to the American people with comfortable ease, especially when they offer us two false choices–Biden and Trump–to lead us into an uncertain future under global duress. Folks, America is in trouble and the rot started within. 

Will Biden step aside?

If history has any merit, yes. And the calls are coming in loud and clear in the face of his party’s denial and panic at their offering for a leader following a disastrous debate; a clearly feeble man in his 80s who needs assistance to walk and talk. The contempt the Democratic Party is showing it has for We, the People is profound. Major news corporations, owned by vicious oligarchs who see profit instead of people, are now calling on Biden to step down. “The truth Mr. Biden needs to confront now is that he failed his own test,” the NYT editorial board wrote. In return, they’re offering the American people only one choice: an unhinged racist felon that will help drive their ultimate agenda, the implementation of Project 2025.

Who do we run to? 

No one. We, the People ARE the government. And it is up to each and every one of us to show up and vote, because our very lives are at stake. Will Biden repeat the story of Truman? Who knows, but it’s a risk Democrats are apparently willing to take. And if The Heritage Foundation gets its way, neoconservative Republicans and their Project 2025 agenda will turn us back to a wrinkle in time when white supremacy and racial barbarism ruled America. We can’t let that happen. 

Americans must take responsibility for their country, see all the real and clear choices before them, and vote to hold our rogue government tearing us apart accountable. 

Biden and Trump are not our saviors. They are the symbolic anchors keeping America in a sunken place. I believe America is worth saving, and who you vote for will determine if we have a chance at turning back toward the America Langston Hughes dreamed of not so long ago. We must all be at the table when company comes, because our elected officials have no right to give foreign governments, lobbyists and corporations the authority to send us to the kitchen while they feast on our hard earned harvest.  The American Dream belongs to Americans, not to lawbreakers, the highest bidders and corrupt politicians.

Power belongs to We, the People. Let’s vote to take it back and change the course for America’s future, together. 

March for Gaza: Thousands Rally in DC for Global Day of Action

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Thousands rallied at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., Saturday as part of a global day of action calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war that started on Oct. 7 after Hamas militants launched an attack on Israel killing about 1,300 people.

Since the start of the war, Israel has launched an aggressive bombardment of Gaza and other parts of Palestine in response, sending shockwaves across the world. More than 23,350 people have been killed – mostly children and women – during its retaliatory attacks on Gaza, according to the Palestinian health ministry. 

Last week South Africa brought a case against Israel accusing it of committing the “crime of all crimes: genocide.”

Judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) are to decide whether Israel, in its war in Gaza, is guilty of an attempt to “destroy a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, in whole or in part,” as defined by the 1948 Convention on Genocide.

Freedom Plaza overflowed onto Pennsylvania Avenue with marchers chanting the popular “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” as they waved a sea of flags in support of the Palestinian people who remain under siege.

Some marchers prayed on mats in the crowd, and outside the FBI building. Some of the speakers shared stories of losing hundred of people in their families and waiting helplessly for word on relatives surviving the night. The Biden administration has not called for a ceasefire in spite the urging of the international community, including the United Nations.

Biden Faces Criticism for Bypassing Congress to Engage in Mideast Warfare

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The U.S. and Britain have started carrying out strikes against the Houthis in Yemen, according to multiple news reports.  And the decision to engage in warfare is not being taken lightly by some members of Congress, including Rep. Ro Khanna who tweeted, “The President needs to come to Congress before launching a strike against the Houthis in Yemen and involving us in another middle east conflict. That is Article I of the Constitution. I will stand up for that regardless of whether a Democrat or Republican is in the White House.” … “Section 2C of the War Powers Act is clear: POTUS may only introduce the US into hostilities after Congressional authorization or in a national emergency when the U.S. is under imminent attack,” the California Democrat went on. “Reporting is not a substitute. This is a retaliatory, offensive strike.”

Conservatives have used the president’s own statement – that didn’t age well – against him, when he attacked former President Donald Trump in 2020 to declare that he did not have the “authority” to launch a strike in Iran.  On January 6, 2020, Biden tweeted, “Let’s be clear: Donald Trump does not have the authority to take us into war with Iran without Congressional approval. A president should never take this nation to war without the informed consent of the American people.”

Emulating Khanna, Rep. Val Hoyle (D-Ore.) tweeted, “These airstrikes have NOT been authorized by Congress. The Constitution is clear: Congress has the sole authority to authorize military involvement in overseas conflicts. Every president must first come to Congress and ask for military authorization, regardless of party.”

Hoyle followed up on pushback and social media disagreement with this statement, “Presidents of both parties have abused the War Powers Act. It’s my job as a member of Congress to be a check within the balance of power even when it means speaking out against members of my own party.” 

Adding some clarity to the debate on whether the president violated the Constitution by bypassing Congress is former Congressman Justin Amash who provided this statement via X:

One of the most frequently misrepresented federal statutes—often falsely used to justify unconstitutional presidential war powers—is the War Powers Resolution (or Act) (50 U.S.C. §§ 1541-1550). If only more people would read it. Contrary to what you may have heard about the War Powers Resolution, it does not allow the president to take military action for any reason for 60-90 days without congressional approval so long as the president notifies Congress within 48 hours. Section 1541(c) of the War Powers Resolution states clearly: “The constitutional powers of the President as Commander-in-Chief to introduce United States Armed Forces into hostilities, or into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances, are exercised only pursuant to (1) a declaration of war, (2) specific statutory authorization, or (3) a national emergency created by attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its armed forces.” Of the three cited authorities, not one indicates a presidential power to take unilateral (without Congress’s approval) offensive military action.

The first two authorities allow the president to take offensive military action but only with Congress’s express approval (Article I of the Constitution grants Congress the exclusive power to declare war). The third authority allows the president to take defensive military action without Congress’s approval in the event of a specific type of national emergency, a sudden unforeseen attack on the United States (happening too quickly for Congress to meet) necessitating immediate action to protect Americans. It’s for this last situation (or for situations in which the president introduces forces into hostilities unlawfully) that the War Powers Resolution provides for the oft-mentioned 48-hour report to Congress (§ 1543) and 60-day (up to 90-day) timeline (§ 1544). If there’s an attack in progress on the United States (i.e., currently happening), we expect the president to respond swiftly to neutralize the attack and protect Americans—and then we will hold the president to account. The Framers of the Constitution agreed at the debates in the federal convention of 1787 that the president should have the “power to repel sudden attacks” but not the power to otherwise introduce forces into hostilities without congressional approval. The War Powers Resolution does not confer any new authority on the president to take offensive military action without congressional approval—nor could it under our Constitution. It instead checks the president when, as the Framers contemplated, the president introduces our Armed Forces into hostilities to repel a sudden attack.

Adding additional substance to the debate is Classical Liberal Caucus with the X handle, @LP_CLC with the following post:

“Jefferson and Madison both got Congressional approval before attacking pirates in 1805 and 1815. That is the precedent Biden ignores. (Madison sought a declaration of war. He didn’t get it.)”

Amash continued his criticism on X, stating “If President Biden had enough time to form a multinational coalition to plan and conduct strikes in Yemen, then he had enough time to seek and obtain an authorization from Congress as our Constitution requires. Without this authorization, any nondefensive military action is unconstitutional and unlawful.”

Regardless of the technicalities of engaging the United States in nonstop warfare, there will be a price to pay. And if history is worth its weight, it is The People who will carry the heavy burden of our elected leaders’ war games.

Biden’s SOTU Address Was A Strong Reintroduction & Bid For Second Term

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BY JEANETTE LENOIR

It started with a familiar kiss that turned dull halfway through his first term as 46th president of the United States. But by the end of his second State of The Union address, President Biden had delivered a powerful resounding message that touched on every bullet point most Americans would identity with and have in their social and political wish bucket. From promises of 12 million new jobs, American manufacturing, unions, healthcare, foreign policy, global competition, ongoing wars and veterans, to police reform and banning assault weapons, the president, hot like a fed-up dad threatening to turn the car around, delivered a focused agenda, and reminding us that, “America is possibilities.” At one point the pact chamber even unified in shouting, “USA! USA! USA!”

After two years of enduring insults and nonstop remarks about his stamina, and mental ability to lead a divided nation to unity and prosperity after Trump and Covid-19, President Biden delivered a one-two punch that silenced his critics, and raised his weary, even doubting supporters, to their feet. And charismatic as ever, with that crooked smile ready to deliver a corny joke, the president raised his voice instead and pointed his fingers at Americans, reminding us, “let’s not see each other as enemies” and that, “we must give hate and extremism in any form no safe harbor. He said, “democracy must not be a partisan issue. It’s an American issue.”

The president stepped up and into his symbolic role as head of a chaotic household to reign in order and extend a hand to “troublemaking” Republicans with a slight edge, for a chance at something different; a government unified on basic truths and the principles our nation stands upon.

Like a kiss on the lips between the FLOTUS and the First Second Gentleman, the speech was unexpected.

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