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

Commentary
Video: Syria Crisis Becoming Increasingly Sectarian
May 16, 2013 - Violent video showing Syrian rebels executing soldiers will make it harder for the U.S. to consider direct military engagement. By Phyllis Bennis

Interview
Video: Drums Beat for U.S. Military Intervention in Syria, but Israel Finds a Weakened Assad "Convenient"
May 14, 2013 - The humanitarian disaster in Syria is mostly ignored as external powers vie for position to control the outcome of civil war. By Phyllis Bennis

Interview
Video: Stephen Hawking Confirms Support of Israel Boycott
May 14, 2013 - Hawking's boycott of Israel will shake Israeli public the way sports boycott affected South Africa. By Phyllis Bennis

Commentary
Syria's Chemical Weapons...Iraq Redux?
May 3, 2013 - Phyllis Bennis discusses Guantanamo, Syria, Afghanistan, and her thoughts on the renewed Palestine-Israel talks. By Phyllis Bennis

Interview
Video: Phyllis Bennis discusses chemical weapons Syria
May 1, 2013 - The UN should have a broad mandate to investigate any use of chemical weapons on either side. By Phyllis Bennis

Interview
Iraq: Sectarian tensions or wider discontent?
April 26, 2013 - Phyllis Bennis discusses civil society movements in Iraq challenging the U.S.-backed sectarian government system. 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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September 26, 2011

USA Today
Visit the publisher's website
The proposal by the Quartet, which includes representatives from the United States, the European Union, Russia and the U.N., "can derail the (Palestinian statehood) application to the Security Council," said Phyllis Bennis, director of the New Internationalism Project at the Institute for Policy Studies, a Washington think tank.

"There is a serious danger that the Security Council will … launch a committee to launch an investigation to issue a report, to … bury the application, so the issue may not surface for months, possibly until after the elections in November 2012," she said.
September 21, 2011

The Des Moines (IA) Register features article “The Iraq War Isn't Over”
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September 17, 2011

Newsday
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Phyllis Bennis, director of the New Internationalism Project at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, said the discussion could drain attention from other worthy UN issues.

"In this case on the question of Palestine, the UN has been engaged since before the state of Israel was created in 1948, but the actual engagement has been prevented by U.S. control of the so-called peace process," said Bennis, author of "Understanding the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict: A Primer."

"Right now, for the first time since it began in 1991 the Palestinian leadership has broken with the single-minded focus on the U.S.-backed peace process because it hasn't led anywhere."
September 17, 2011

Newsday
Visit the publisher's website
Phyllis Bennis, director of the New Internationalism Project at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, said the discussion could drain attention from other worthy UN issues.

"In this case on the question of Palestine, the UN has been engaged since before the state of Israel was created in 1948, but the actual engagement has been prevented by U.S. control of the so-called peace process," said Bennis, author of "Understanding the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict: A Primer."

"Right now, for the first time since it began in 1991 the Palestinian leadership has broken with the single-minded focus on the U.S.-backed peace process because it hasn't led anywhere."
September 17, 2011

Newsday
Visit the publisher's website
"Phyllis Bennis, director of the New Internationalism Project at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, said the discussion could drain attention from other worthy UN issues. 'In this case on the question of Palestine, the UN has been engaged since before the state of Israel was created in 1948, but the actual engagement has been prevented by U.S. control of the so-called peace process,' said Bennis, author of 'Understanding the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict: A Primer.'

'Right now, for the first time since it began in 1991 the Palestinian leadership has broken with the single-minded focus on the U.S.-backed peace process because it hasn't led anywhere.'"
September 15, 2011

The (Highland, CA) Community News features article “The Iraq War Isn't Over”
Visit the publisher's website • See the article
September 14, 2011

The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT) features article “The Iraq War Isn't Over”
Visit the publisher's website • See the article
September 12, 2011

Al Jazeera
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The attacks of 9/11 were a horrific crime, almost 3,000 people were killed in one attack - a crime against humanity. But it wasn't the crime of September 11 that threatened our country's survival, that destroyed our democracy, it wasn't September 11 that expanded the devastating impact of those attacks far beyond those already directly affected.
August 31, 2011

The Huffington Post
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No surprise, wrote Phyllis Bennis of the Institute for Policy Studies, the TNC is "already facing significant and sometimes lethal division within its ranks."
August 24, 2011

Democracy Now!
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PHYLLIS BENNIS: It’s not about access to the oil itself. That will be on a global market. It will be part of it. It’s about control. It’s about controlling the terms of those contracts. It’s about controlling amounts that are being pumped at different times. It’s about controlling prices. It’s about controlling that crucial resource.

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New Internationalism

What's Next in Afghanistan?

Recent Work

USA Today

The Des Moines (IA) Register features article “The Iraq War Isn't Over”

Newsday

Newsday

Newsday

The (Highland, CA) Community News features article “The Iraq War Isn't Over”

The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT) features article “The Iraq War Isn't Over”

Al Jazeera

The Huffington Post

Democracy Now!

Project Staff