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.

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Recent Work

Blog
Leon Panetta's Really Bad Day
July 12, 2011 - The new Secretary of Defense is sounding like a Bush-era diplomat by ramping up his anti-Iran rhetoric and subtly reconnecting Iraq to the attacks on 9/11. By Phyllis Bennis

Commentary
Turkish Democracy Gives Rise to Turkish Power
July 11, 2011 - International attention to Turkey's recent election reflects Ankara's rising role not only in the Arab Spring but as a newly powerful democracy with broad regional influence. By Phyllis Bennis

Blog
In Afghanistan Speech, Obama Offers Token Troop Withdrawals While Maintaining the "War on Terror" Mindset
June 23, 2011 - President Obama passed up an opportunity to recognize our democracy and respect the views of the vast majority of the American people with regards to the Afghanistan War. By Phyllis Bennis

Interview
Obama Preps Afghanistan Drawdown, but Debate Lingers on End Goals
June 22, 2011 - PBS NewsHour: President Obama will announce plans for the initial U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan Wednesday. Jeffrey Brown discusses what the president's options are with retired Army Lt. Col. John Nagl of the Center for a New American Security, author Phyllis Bennis and Brian Katoolis of the Center for American Progess. By Phyllis Bennis

Interview
Discussion: Egypt Opens Gaza Crossing
May 28, 2011 - New Internationalism director breaks down the how the revolutionary process in Egypt has met its match in the power struggles over the Egypt-Gaza border. By Phyllis Bennis

Interview
Obama, Israel, and the 1967 Borders
May 23, 2011 - The director of our New Internationalism project commented on President Obama's Middle East speech urging for a peace process based on the 1967 borders and land swaps. By Phyllis Bennis

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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

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August 24, 2011

Al Jazeera features article “Libya: Too Soon to Declare Victory”
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August 23, 2011

Common Dreams features article “Libya: Too Soon to Declare Victory”
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August 23, 2011

Democracy Now!
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August 22, 2011

Uprising Radio
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August 21, 2011

The Financial Times
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Phyllis Bennis a fellow at the US-based Institute for Policy Studies, said it is too early to describe the rebels’ final push as the end game for Col Gaddafi.

“While the opposition forces have made significant gains in the last several days, Tripoli is going to be a different order of magnitude,” she told Al Jazeera English TV channel.
August 1, 2011

Final Call
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“Basically it's individual governments making that decision, showing their true intentions, which is regime change,” added Phyllis Bennis, of the Washington, D.C.-based Institute for Policy Studies and director of its New Internationalism Project. “It's kind of giving an international group power and recognition,” she told The Final Call, referring to the contact group.
August 1, 2011

CTV
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The protesters have said they intend to start holding nightly rather than weekly demonstrations during Ramadan, according to Phyllis Bennis, with the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington.

"In response to that, the regime has shut down a number of key mosques and particularly is looking at the possibility of the protests spreading on a wide level to the capital," she told CTV News Channel Monday afternoon.

"So far it's been in areas surrounding Damascus, some of the suburbs. But it has not yet hit in large scale the centre of Damascus itself."
July 17, 2011

Al Jazeera
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Phyllis Bennis, a fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, said the assassination of Khan could be the Taliban's way of sending a message to the US.

"Jan Mohammad Khan was known to have close ties with the US and was alleged to have been involved in working with the US on some of the military's night raids - which have become such a flash point among Afghan civilians because they have led to so many civilian casualties," Bennis told Al Jazeera.
June 22, 2011

The Diane Rehm Show
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Eighteen months ago, President Obama ordered a surge of 30,000 U. S. troops into Afghanistan. Tonight, he is expected to announce his decision about the pace and scope of bringing them home. Following the death of Osama bin Laden and a decade of war, more Americans than ever say they want our troops out of Afghanistan. Some experts claim drones and special forces can keep the Taliban and al Qaeda at bay. But others say security and corruption are still a concern. And while political talks show promise, they worry the Afghan insurgency is far from over. Diane and her guests discuss the risks and benefits of reversing the surge in Afghanistan.

Guests

David Ignatius: columnist, The Washington Post; contributes to “Post Partisan” blog on washingtonpost.com. His latest book is titled, "Bloodmoney: A Novel of Espionnage."

Lt. Gen. David Barno: former Commander of the Combined Forces Command Afghanistan, 2003-2005 and Senior Advisor at the Center for a New American Security.

Phyllis Bennis: director of the New Internationalism Project at the Institute for Policy Studies; co-author author of "Ending the U.S. War in Afghanistan: A Primer"
June 13, 2011

The Nation - Editors Cut
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Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) fellow Phyllis Bennis says that the Pentagon and military have been brilliant at spreading military production across virtually every Congressional district so that even the most anti-war members of Congress are reluctant to challenge big Defense projects.

“But there’s really no significant constituency for overseas bases because they don’t bring much money in a concentrated way,” says Bennis. “So in theory it should be easier to mobilize to close them.” What is new and heartening, according to Bennis, is that “there are now people in countries everywhere that are challenging the US bases and that’s a huge development.”

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New Internationalism

What's Next in Afghanistan?

Recent Work

Al Jazeera features article “Libya: Too Soon to Declare Victory”

Common Dreams features article “Libya: Too Soon to Declare Victory”

Democracy Now!

Uprising Radio

The Financial Times

Final Call

CTV

Al Jazeera

The Diane Rehm Show

Guests

The Nation - Editors Cut

Project Staff