New Internationalism

The New Internationalism project works primarily on Middle East and United Nations issues. In the Middle East, the key focus areas are the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the Israeli occupation of Palestine. In both arenas the project focuses on education and activism aiming to change the failed and failing U.S. policies, and retooling those policies to meet the goals of peace with justice. The project also works to challenge U.S. domination of the UN, and to help democratize and empower the global organization.

Stay up to date on events in the Middle East with Phyllis Bennis' free newsletter (delivered 1-2x a month).

What's Next in Afghanistan?

When Barack Obama ordered the surge of 30,000 troops into Afghanistan in 2009, he stipulated that a withdrawal would begin in July 2011 and continue until completion by 2014. What remains to be determined is how many troops will come home and what the pace of future withdrawal will be.

IPS's Phyllis Bennis debated Retired Army Lt. Col. John Nagl, president of the Center for a New American Security and Brian Katulis, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress on the future of U.S. policy in Afghanistan.

Page 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 Next

Recent Work

Commentary
What is the State of the Union Address for, Anyway? Obama Launches Campaign
January 25, 2012 - Obama knew that many people who voted for him in 2008 did so based on his commitment to end the war in Iraq, so highlighting that made perfect sense. But he was way wrong in claiming that the war in Iraq has made the United States "more respected around the world." By Phyllis Bennis

Blog
Debate Club: Did the U.S. Withdraw from Iraq Too Soon?
January 24, 2012 - The Iraq War should have never been launched, so it can't be ended soon enough. By Phyllis Bennis

Op-Ed
Obama's Real Israel Problem - and it isn't Bibi
January 9, 2012 - Israel's fundamental policy toward the Palestinians is the problem, and that policy has hardly changed, despite the left, right and center parties that have been in power. By Phyllis Bennis

Interview
[VIDEO] Up with Chris Hayes: Looking Back at the Iraq War
January 6, 2012 - One thing stands out when reflecting on the Iraq War: millions of people were right when they stood up to oppose it at its onset. By Phyllis Bennis

Show
[VIDEO] The Impact at Home of U.S. Troops Around The World
December 29, 2011 - Callers from around the country ask about the presence of U.S. troops around the world, their role, and how U.S. military capabilities compare with other countries in this C-SPAN Washington Journal segment. By Phyllis Bennis

Interview
[VIDEO] Worst Violence in Months Hits Baghdad
December 23, 2011 - A series of blasts in Baghdad which are believed to have killed at least 72 people in an apparently coordinated attack is the topic of this RT interview. By Phyllis Bennis

Page 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 Next

Download America Is Not Broke
- Released November 21, 2011
America Is Not Broke
By Sarah Anderson and John Cavanagh

This report challenges the premise that America is broke. In fact, we argue that the current fiscal challenge poses an opportunity to harness our ample but misdirected resources in ways that will make the country stronger.
Download Barely Making the Grade: Obama
- Released January 14, 2010
Barely Making the Grade: Obama's First Year
By Sarah Anderson, Phyllis Bennis, Karen Dolan, John Feffer, Dedrick Muhammad, Daphne Wysham

After the first 100 days of the Obama administration, the Institute for Policy Studies introduced our Change Index to evaluate the policies and performance of the new president. Did the candidate who promised change deliver on his promises?
Download
- Released February 28, 2008
Iran in the Crosshairs: How to Prevent Washington's Next War
By Phyllis Bennis

As George W. Bush’s administration enters its last year in office, the danger of a U.S. military attack on Iran looms. Widening opposition to the illegal Iraq War, growing recognition that the war in Afghanistan has failed to bring stability or democracy to that beleaguered country, new tensions rising in Pakistan, escalating violence and humanitarian crisis in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories, all have brought new fears but also heightened interest in the wider Middle East region, especially interest in Iran. It is to address this new and renewed interest in Iran, to answer questions, and propose some ideas to prevent another looming disaster, that this pamphlet is designed.

Page 1 • 2 • 3 Next

Buy This Book
- Published January 20, 2010
- 216
- ISBN 9781566567855
Ending the U.S. War in Afghanistan: A Primer
By Phyllis Bennis

The Bush administration answered the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 with what it called the “global war on terror,” beginning with the assault and invasion of Afghanistan and then with the invasion and occupation of Iraq. As more and more Americans joined the opposition to the Iraq war, for many, Afghanistan remained “the good war.” But was Afghanistan ever a “good war”? And will President Obama’s plan and escalation of US troop presence in Afghanistan work?
Buy This Book
- Published May 30, 2009
- ISBN 978-1-56656-685-8
Understanding the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict: A Primer
By Phyllis Bennis

If you have ever wondered "Why is there so much violence in the Middle East?", "Who are the Palestinians?", "What are the occupied territories?" or "What does Israel want?", then this is the book for you. With straightforward language, Phyllis Bennis, longtime analyst of the region, answers basic questions about Israel and Israelis, Palestine and Palestinians, the US and the Middle East, Zionism and anti-Semitism; about complex issues ranging from the Oslo peace process to the election of Hamas. Together her answers provide a comprehensive understanding of the longstanding Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Buy This Book
- Published July 1, 2008
- ISBN 978-156656731
Understanding the US-Iran Crisis: A Primer
By Phyllis Bennis

Widening opposition to the illegal Iraq War, growing recognition that the war in Afghanistan has failed to bring stability or democracy to that beleaguered country, new tensions rising in Pakistan, escalating violence and humanitarian crisis in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories, all have brought new fears but also heightened interest in the wider Middle East region, especially interest in Iran. This book aims to address this new and renewed interest in Iran, to answer questions, and propose some ideas to prevent another looming disaster of a U.S. military attack

Page 1 • 2 Next

January 29, 2012

The Federal Times features report “America Is Not Broke”
Visit the publisher's website • See the report
The Institute for Policy Studies puts the savings from overseas base closures as high as $184 billion over 10 years.
December 23, 2011

CTV
Visit the publisher's website
December 3, 2011

The Real News Network
Visit the publisher's website
What a year this has been! Some of the Occupy encampments are being shut down, but the ideas, the outrage, and the commitment of the Occupy movement remain. The words “99 percent” have entered our permanent vocabulary, and the national discourse is being transformed. In the Middle East the Arab Spring is in the process of turning a region long controlled by once-unchallengeable U.S.-backed dictators into the centerpiece of today’s global transformations. And here in the U.S., through the work of organizations like the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, we are in the midst of our own huge transformation of public discourse on the Middle East. It’s an amazing time.
December 1, 2011

Democracy for America TV features report “America Is Not Broke”
Visit the publisher's website • See the report
A Democracy for America panel discussion of the Institute for Policy Studies report "America is Not Broke -- How to Pay for the Crisis While Making the Country More Equitable, Green, and Secure" (www.ips-dc.org) detailing 24 policy suggestions to secure $824 billion of deficit reduction every year.
December 1, 2011

The Nation features report “America Is Not Broke”
Visit the publisher's website • See the report
November 28, 2011

Public News Service features report “America Is Not Broke”
Visit the publisher's website • See the report
Sarah Anderson, global economy project director with the Institute, contributed to the report.

"We identified a number of fiscal reforms that could raise as much as $824 billion a year and do it in ways that could make our country stronger, as well as putting people back to work."
November 27, 2011

Kansas City InfoZine features report “America Is Not Broke”
Visit the publisher's website • See the report
November 26, 2011

The Salt Lake Tribune features report “America Is Not Broke”
Visit the publisher's website • See the report
The progressive think tank based in Washington, D.C., contends that the country’s financial resources have been misdirected, and it identified several reforms to make the United States “more equitable, green and secure.”
November 23, 2011

WBAI 99.5 FM-Pacifica features report “America Is Not Broke”
Visit the publisher's website • See the report
John Cavanagh, IPS Director, discusses the "America Isn't Broke" report on the federal budget on WBAI's "Wakeup Call, a morning news magazine featuring in-depth coverage of local, national and international news, social and cultural issues and events. "Wakeup Call" brings voices and perspectives that are excluded from mainstream media. While the topics are serious and important, portions of the program are entertaining.
November 22, 2011

KBOO Portland, Oregon features report “America Is Not Broke”
Visit the publisher's website • See the report
As we reported last night, the Congressional Supercommittee has failed to reach an agreement on one point two trillion dollars in budget cuts. To understand the implications of this failure, and examine alternatives to the partisan impasse, KBOO’s Crystal leighty spoke with Sarah Anderson. Anderson co-authored the report ‘America isn’t Broke’, which lays out a plan for reform that would generate seven times the total savings that the supercommittee was supposed to identify.

Page 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 Next

New Internationalism

What's Next in Afghanistan?

Recent Work

The Federal Times features report “America Is Not Broke”

CTV

The Real News Network

Democracy for America TV features report “America Is Not Broke”

The Nation features report “America Is Not Broke”

Public News Service features report “America Is Not Broke”

Kansas City InfoZine features report “America Is Not Broke”

The Salt Lake Tribune features report “America Is Not Broke”

WBAI 99.5 FM-Pacifica features report “America Is Not Broke”

KBOO Portland, Oregon features report “America Is Not Broke”

New Internationalism Staff