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.
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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.
Recent Work
Media Advisory
Expert Available: Phyllis Bennis on Libya's Future
August 23, 2011 - “The success of Libya's uprising will have a great deal to do with the willingness of its leadership to break its dependency on the United States and NATO,” said Bennis in an article on Alternet. She asks, “whether events so far are ultimately a victory for the Libyan people, or for NATO. Given recent models of U.S. and NATO involvement in overthrowing dictatorships, we don't have a lot of examples of how it can be both.”
Commentary
Libya: Too Soon to Declare Victory
August 22, 2011 - The success of Libya's uprising will have a great deal to do with the willingness of its leadership to break its dependency on the United States and NATO. By Phyllis Bennis, published in Common Dreams and Al Jazeera
Interview
[RADIO] The Scenarios For Troop Withdrawals in Iraq
August 3, 2011 - Breaking down the Iraqi governmen's decision to negotiate with the US military — regarding the previously scheduled December 31st departure date — in a Free Speech Radio news interview. By Phyllis Bennis
Blog
From Oslo to Oklahoma
July 23, 2011 - It is a time to mourn, and also to organize against the wars that depend on this kind of hatred. By Phyllis Bennis
Blog
Hollow Deficit Debate Ignores the Burden of Afghanistan Military Spending
July 15, 2011 - Congressman McDermott's floor speech reminds us that out-of-control Afghanistan spending brought down the Soviet Union. By Phyllis Bennis
Blog
Summer Doldrums and War Budgets
July 13, 2011 - As DC's powerful debate the debt crisis, one aspect of our spending is completely absent from the debate: war spending. By Phyllis Bennis
Phyllis Bennis