Promoting Democracy and Human Rights at International Organizations

US policy on promoting democracy and human rights at international organizations took a giant step forward this past December when the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 was signed into law. A little noticed section of the bill solidifies US support for the work of the democracy caucus at the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Commission; and seeks to establish a democracy caucus at the UN Conference on Disarmament and other broad-based international organizations. The purpose of the democracy caucuses are to forge common positions within and across regional lines within international organizations and to work to revise an “increasingly outmoded system of membership selection, regional voting, and decision making.”

The legislation also calls for the US to work to reform the criteria for leadership and, in appropriate cases, for membership, at the United Nations and other international organizations so as to exclude countries that violate the principles of the organization, are subject to sanctions imposed by the Security Council, or have repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism.

+ FULL STORY: DEMOCRACY CAUCUS

SENATE EXPECTED TO CONFIRM GONZALES DESPITE TORTURE CONTROVERSY

Alberto Gonzales appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on January 6 in what many are considering only a perfunctory step towards becoming Attorney General. The committee’s treatment of Gonzales’s confirmation as inevitable is deeply disturbing in light of the central role he has played in drafting memos redefining and condoning torture.

In his opening statement, Gonzales stated: “Wherever we pursue justice… we must always be faithful to the rule of law.” However, his actions during his tenure as White House Counsel call into question his willingness to defend the rule of law when his superiors seek to compromise it.

In summer 2004, the administration was widely criticized when several internal policy memos were leaked. The memos redefined torture and claimed that in the context of the war against terrorism the President could authorize the use of torture despite the constraints of domestic and international law. Alberto Gonzales requested and reviewed several of the documents central to the scandal and chaired meetings at which proposed interrogation techniques, including live burial and “waterboarding” – which induces the sensation of drowning - were described in detail.

According to the Washington Post, Gonzales “raised no objections, and, without consulting military and State Department experts in the laws of torture and war, approved an August 2002 memo…” which blatantly disregarded domestic and international legal precedents to establish legal justification for such “aggressive” interrogation methods.

+ FULL STORY

BOLTON'S DEPARTURE MAY SIGNAL SHIFT IN U.S. DIPLOMACY

According to a January 11 article in The Boston Globe, John Bolton will not be continuing as the Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs in the second Bush administration.  The Globe reported that Bolton will be replaced by Robert G. Joseph, the former special assistant for national security. Joseph’s international record – although not unblemished – could constitute a marked improvement for globally-minded citizens concerned about the unilateral direction of US foreign relations under President Bush. 

Bolton, who once remarked that “The Secretariat building in New York has 38 stories. If it lost ten stories, it wouldn’t make a bit of difference,”  is now one of the State Department's loudest and most hawkish voices.  He has been a fierce opponent of U.S. multilateral engagement.

The nomination of Robert Joseph to replace Bolton is controversial because of Joseph's involvement in releasing questionable evidence related to Iraq’s nuclear weapons program despite objections from CIA experts. It was at Joseph’s insistence that President Bush accused Saddam Hussein of attempting to buy uranium oxide from Niger in his 2003 State of the Union speech.

Despite doubts concerning Joseph’s record, he could bring a measure of finesse to the role of Undersecretary of State that Bolton lacked. However, Citizens for Global Solutions remains cautious about the direction Joseph's policies could take.

+ FULL STORY

WELCOME TO GLOBAL LEADERS IN 109TH CONGRESS

The 109th Congress officially began on January 4th at noon. 48 newly-elected members joined their colleagues in the pomp surrounding the official swearing in ceremonies and the accompanying receptions. New members, surrounded by their families and supporters, navigated the streets of DC and the hallways of the Capitol campus. It wasn’t all celebration, as the members began working on official business during the afternoon. This included offering thoughts and supporting additional U.S. aid to the survivors of the South Asian tsunami.

Of the new freshmen, Global Solutions PAC endorsed and financially supported four in the House of Representatives and one in the Senate. They represent the newest faces in the struggle to build peace, justice, and freedom in a democratically governed world. Citizens for Global Solutions received excellent candidate questionnaires from each of these members and was in close contact with them during their campaigns. We look forward to working with them in the coming years, both in Washington and in their home districts. Global Solutions members living in their districts are excited to begin working with members of Congress who are globally engaged.

Some brief information on each of the freshmen we supported follows:

• Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, D-Missouri, 5th District
  (Kansas City and Independence)
  Both a United Methodist minister and a former mayor of Kansas City, Rep. Cleaver brings a broad understanding of government to his new position. He is very engaging and fosters close working relationships. He wants the US to be a global leader in the fight against terrorism, poverty, and the spread of AIDS.

• Rep. Allyson Schwartz, D-Pennsylvania, 13th District
  (Northeast Philadelphia and parts of Montgomery County) 
  After earning her stripes in state government, Rep. Schwartz arrives well-prepared on the national scene. Her strength, conviction, and motivation will make her a formidable force in the 109th Congress. She supports ratification of the ICC treaty, CEDAW, and the Rights of the Child Convention. She wants to repeal the current U.S. policy of “no growth” in the UN budget.

• Rep. John Barrow, D-Georgia, 12th District
  (Augusta, Athens, and Savannah)
  Rep. Barrow worked in local politics in Georgia and he will bring a strong understanding of national and international issues to bear during his first term. His friendly and engaging manner will allow him to work easily with many of his fellow members in Congress. He believes the U.S. should strengthen international organizations that promote the rule of law.

•  Rep. Russ Carnahan , D-Missouri, 3rd District (St. Louis)
  Like many of the freshmen we supported, Rep. Carnahan built his record in local politics in the state of Missouri. As a member of the 109th, Rep. Carnahan will continue to uphold the Carnahan family tradition of public service. He is interested in working together with other nations in fighting terrorism and working to treat and eradicate virulent diseases.

• Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois
  The rising star of the Democratic party brings strong values of service, commitment, and compassion to his first term as the junior Senator from Illinois. He supports our core goals of ratification of the ICC Treaty, the Mine Ban Treaty, CEDAW, and the Rights of the Child Convention. He also supports repealing the U.S. policy of zero nominal growth in the UN’s budget. He will be a leader in both national and international policy areas and we look forward to working with him.

Updated January 14, 2005