Today we recognize the 65th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations.  The world has changed dramatically since October 24th, 1945 when 51 nations banded together “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.”  Those intervening 65 years were perhaps the most consequential in the entire history of humanity and the UN has played a vital role.

In 1945 the world’s population was about 2.5 billion.  Europe was in disarray. Ethiopia, Egypt, and Liberia were the only independent nations in Africa.  Today, there are close to 7 billion people in the world and 192 UN member nations. Revolutions in communications, agriculture, health-care, transportation and governance have fueled an increasingly interdependent world.  

When the UN was established, the word “genocide” had not even been invented. There were very few international laws and organizations.  Today the UN has negotiated over 510 multilateral treaties on human rights, terrorism, global crime, refugees, disarmament, trade, commodities, the oceans and many other matters. UN member states have built a global web of institutions, laws, and norms to manage everything from international flights to world economics and genocide prevention.

Built on the ashes of World War II, the UN’s primary goal was to prevent a similar atrocity from happening ever again. Today the UN is recognized as the world’s best peacekeeper with close to 100,000 blue helmets deployed to 16 global hotspots, like Darfur, DR Congo, and South Lebanon; places where the U.S. cannot or should not send its forces, and where international peacekeepers perform a vital stabilizing role.

The United States has been a generous host to the organization, providing crucial financial and political support.  The benefits have exceeded the costs.  According to Peter Yeo of the Better World Campaign, “for every $1 the U.S. invests in the UN, our nation receives $1.50 in return.”  Providing services from peacekeeping to smallpox vaccinations, the UN is of unquestionable value, functioning on a core budget smaller than New York City’s Police Department.

But as we recognize the UN’s accomplishments on this important anniversary, it is important to acknowledge the work that has yet to be done.  UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon believes that “UN Day is a day on which we resolve to do more.  More to protect those caught up in armed conflict, to fight climate change and avert nuclear catastrophe; more to expand opportunities for women and girls, and to combat injustice and impunity; more to meet the Millennium Development Goals”.

The organization’s ability to achieve Ban Ki-Moon’s resolution depends in large part upon the United States’ leadership role in shaping the UN.’s future.  The Security Council still reflects a post WWII power structure. Its membership and the all-powerful nature of the veto must be addressed.  The UN’s ability to protect civilians needs improvement. Our nation can and should play a key role in determining how these needs are addressed.

There is strong support within the U.S. to play this role. Despite recent cries of some Tea Party candidates for the U.S. to pull out of the UN, a new UN Foundation/Better World Campaign poll has found that 59 percent of Americans rate the UN favorably. A majority of Republicans and Democrats recognize that the UN is a good investment and support paying our dues to the UN on time and in full.

Most Americans understand the UN’s important role in creating a better and safer world. When you cast your vote, expand your thinking beyond domestic jobs.  Determine if your Senator or Representative shares your values and beliefs when it comes to tackling problems that no nation can resolve alone. Nations can work together at the UN to find solutions.  Good global policy and an effective UN begins at home in your congressional district.

Happy UN Day!

Don Kraus

With less than two weeks left until Election Day, many congressional candidates around the country are locked in extremely tight races.  In several states, CGS-endorsed candidates appear to be picking up momentum as the final stretch of the campaign begins, as illustrated by the recent polls showing positive signs for Joe Sestak (D) in the Pennsylvania Senate race and Senator Russ Feingold (D) in the Wisconsin Senate contest.

Two polls released in the last several days gave Sestak a slight lead in Pennsylvania over conservative former Rep. Pat Toomey (R) after trailing for months.  Another poll showed Sestak and Toomey tied.  Other polls have shown Toomey with a slight lead, but it seems clear that Sestak has closed the polling gap with Toomey over the last few days.  To read Sestak’s Candidate Questionnaire, visit http://www.globalsolutions.org/politics/elections_and_candidates/questionnaire/2010?id=S0PA00434.  To see his 2010 Congressional Report Card score and voting record, visit http://www.globalsolutions.org/politics/congressional_report_card/2010/grades?STATE=PA&UserDistrict=07.

Meanwhile in Wisconsin, Senator Feingold’s numbers have been improving as well.  Previous polls have shown him trailing his opponent, Republican Ron Johnson, for several months now.  However, a recent poll showed a virtual statistical tie between Feingold and Johnson, with Johnson leading Feingold 49-47, within the margin of error.  To view Senator Feingold’s 2010 Report Card voting record, visit http://www.globalsolutions.org/politics/congressional_report_card/2010/grades?STATE=WI&UserDistrict=.

CGS is proud to endorse both Joe Sestak, who has been an outstanding House member and promises to be a strong internationalist voice in the Senate, and Senator Feingold, our longtime friend and ally who has been a champion of global issues and who recently introduced new genocide prevention legislation.  We wish them the best of luck and will continue encouraging our members to volunteer and donate to their campaigns and vote for them on Election Day!

With only two weeks left until Election Day, CGS has been busy weighing in on important races around the country.  Global Solutions PAC has endorsed over 200 candidates, both incumbents and challengers, running for Congress this year. 

CGS endorses candidates who share our values, are engaged in competitive races, champion our policy goals on the Hill, and who lead important committees in Congress.  These candidates share our views on issues such as genocide prevention, nuclear non-proliferation, and engagement and cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC), among others.

 In the House of Representatives, our endorsees range from committee chairs we have worked with for many years to new candidates whom we believe would be outstanding internationalists once elected.  Here are some examples of the candidates CGS is supporting in 2010.

Gatekeepers

Global Solutions PAC has endorsed a number of “gatekeepers,” incumbent members of Congress who hold important positions as committee or subcommittee chairs or who have strong knowledge and legislative experience in areas of particular importance to us.  Examples include Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA-28), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY-18), chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State Department and Foreign Operations funding; and Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA-3), a longtime friend and ally of CGS with whom we have worked extensively during his tenure in the House on a broad range of international affairs issues.  All three of these incumbents have earned grades of “A” or “A+” on CGS’s 2010 Congressional Report Card.  To read the full Report Card, visit http://www.globalsolutions.org/reportcard.

Freshman Members we want to become sophomores

In 2008, a strong crop of internationalist candidates were elected to the House of Representatives for the first time.  Winning a first election is a challenge, but getting re-elected to a second term in Congress can also prove difficult, especially in a tough electoral climate and for those who won narrowly in swing districts in the last election cycle.  CGS is proud to have endorsed Rep. Tom Perriello (D-VA-5), a staunch internationalist and ally, for re-election this year.  We have also endorsed Rep. Steve Driehaus (D-OH-1), Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (D-OH-15), and Rep. Joseph Cao (R-LA-2), based on their strong voting records and commitment to global issues.  All these members have already made a positive impact during their first House term, and we hope to welcome them back to Congress for their sophomore year in January 2011.

Promising Newcomers

In addition to supporting outstanding current members of Congress, CGS wants to ensure that we will see freshman Representatives next year who are prepared to become leaders on global issues.  We have endorsed several promising challenger candidates, including Democrat Suzan DelBene, who is running for the 8th House district in Washington State, and Democrat Dan Seals, who is running for an open seat in Illinois’ 10th district.  Both Suzan and Dan submitted excellent Candidate Questionnaires to CGS (to view their CQs, click on http://www.globalsolutions.org/politics/elections_and_candidates/races/2010?action=cq) and we believe they will be outstanding future leaders on the global issues we care about.  We look forward to seeing them in the 112th Congress next year.

For a full list of candidates endorsed by Global Solutions PAC in 2010, visit http://www.globalsolutions.org/politics/elections_and_candidates.

And of course, remember to vote on November 2nd or as soon as you are able to in your state!

As posted in the Huffington Post:

My friends at CIVIC just released a new report with findings on the conflicts in northwest Pakistan, particularly the civilian harm occurring on a daily basis that we seldom here about back here in Washington. The group conducted over 160 interviews with war victims, most of whom have never received an apology or help for the losses they've suffered.  That's caused a lot of anger on the ground and is crippling the legitimacy of the Pakistani government. With US support funneling into that country and US drone strikes increasing exponentially, this is something we should all be concerned about.

In one interview Mohammed, who lost his young daughter during Pakistani military operations last year tells CIVIC: "In the evening, artillery started raining shells on the mountains...one of the shells landed near us killing my daughter. When it hit it just blew her up into pieces. My other daughter started crying in a hysterical way after seeing her sister killed...she is unable to forget what happened."

When it comes to US drone strikes, CIVIC found that the numbers of civilian casualties cited by anonymous US officials is likely much lower than reality. What's particularly interesting is that across the border in Afghanistan, the US regularly pays compensation to civilian victims of its operations.  In Pakistan, drone victims are often left to pick up the pieces on their own. Adding insult to injury, their losses aren't even acknowledged.  

Overlooking this kind of harm repeats mistakes the US made in Afghanistan. You'd think the US would have learned this lesson by now.

Over the past several years, Citizens for Global Solutions PAC has endorsed Congressional Candidates who have supported our values and promoted our organization's priorities.  We have built lasting relationships with key decision makers that push for greater United Nations funding, work for ratification of treaties, and promote U.S. international cooperation.

Unfortunately, this campaign season has seen the rise of many anti-internationalist candidates who do not share our goals.

Over 140 Members of the House of Representatives received a rating of A- or higher in our latest Congressional Report Card. As a result of their tireless efforts and their continuing support of constructive legislation to challenging global issues, we are pleased to announce our endorsement of all 140 of these Members. They are as follows:

The future of U.S. global leadership is at stake. We firmly believe that the reelection of these Global Solutions PAC endorsed Members will make all the difference.

For a full list of endorsed candidates and to see who we have contributed to so far in 2010, visit http://www.globalsolutions.org/politics/elections_and_candidates/races/2010?action=endorsed.