Sept. 22, 2014

ISIS and U. S. Foreign Policy: My Enemy's Enemy is Not My Friend
By Dr. Wilmer J. Leon, III

NEWS ANALYSIS

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - “The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it…Through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate.” - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

On September 10th President Obama outlined his strategy for confronting the threat posed by the militant group “Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria” (ISIS). In the speech he said, “I have made it clear that we will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country…This is a core principle of my presidency: If you threaten America, you will find no safe haven.”

The following week the House of Representatives voted 319-108 and the Senate voted 78-22 to approve the measure authorizing the Obama Administration to arm “moderate” rebels in Syria in a fight against Syrian President al-Assad and ISIS.

It is important to recognize that President Obama’s jingoistic rhetoric was stated primarily for domestic consumption. He has made some Americans feel that their Commander–in-Chief is taking charge of this situation. But ISIS could really care less.  A group of people (ISIS) who have committed their lives to martyrdom will never be frightened or deterred by threats of death. Instead, they will only be inspired.

Since America’s primary option is military, every solution has become an air strike.   You cannot defeat an ideology with an army. You defeat ideologies by presenting a plausible counter narrative and reality to those who might otherwise fall prey to, support and finally join the militant adversary.  If militants cannot recruit new members they eventually wither and die on the vine.

ISIS is an offshoot of al-Qaeda.  According to a paper by the Congressional Research Service, Osama Bin-Laden believed that US military presence in the Arabian Peninsula is a direct affront to Islam.  Based upon his success as a “logistical coordinator and financier for the Afghan and Arab resistance to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan” he was able to “…elicit psychological reactions and communicate complex political messages to a global audience…” spreading his ideological variation of a principle known as "defensive jihad." US ham-fisted and misguided interventions in the region serve to validate Bin-Laden’s ideas and entice too many people to subscribe to al-Qaeda’s ideology.

Again, you cannot defeat an ideology with an army. But limited and strategic military action may be needed in order to disrupt the enemy and create the diplomatic environment and political space necessary for long-term solutions to take hold. A major problem is that American action and policy in the region are hypocritical and cannot be trusted.

The president condemns ISIS - and rightfully so - for beheading three journalists. But he says absolutely nothing about its largest ally in the region, Saudi Arabia, who - according to the Washington Post -  “In the space of two weeks last month … executed as many as 22 people. At least eight of those executed were beheaded….”

US policy in the region is not based on a clear understanding of historical, cultural, religious, and ethnic differences, concerns, and realities.  It is based upon what Bush 43’ called “American Internationalism”, an arrogant belief that what is best for America is best for the world.  It’s about continuing imperialism and retaining control of natural resources.  It’s about carving up continents like pieces of meat, installing compliant dictators, violently removing them when they no longer serve a purpose and leaving the indigenous peoples with scraps and pottage.

It’s not by accident that the US is engaged in battling fundamentalist Islam in Iran.  At the request of British oil interests, the US orchestrated the overthrow of the democratically elected Prime Minister Mosaddegh in Iran in 1953 and installed the Shah.  The Shah’s oppression created the climate for the Islamic Revolution in 1979 and the rise of fundamentalist cleric Ayatollah Khomeini.  I submit that this was the beginning of many of the geopolitical problems facing America today and as Malcolm said, “The chickens are coming home to roost.”

Failed policy in Iran led to the US backing Iraqi President Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988) based upon the enemy of my enemy…  Don’t forget the now infamous photo of Donald Rumsfeld, then special envoy of President Ronald Reagan, shaking hands with Saddam in Baghdad on December 20, 1983.

The US trained, backed, and armed the Mujahideen in Afghanistan in the 1980’s as they battled the Soviet’s in Central Asia.  The policy was again based upon the logic, the enemy of my enemy… Then the US backed the Taliban in Afghanistan in the 1990’s as the US was trying to build an oil and gas pipeline in the region and wanted a strong central government in place to protect its interests.  When the US abandoned the Taliban, they turned their guns (that the US supplied) back on us.

President Obama was correct when he said, “Over the last several years, we have consistently taken the fight to terrorists who threaten our country”. But he failed to provide the historic analysis and context of why the US battled Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan and Pakistan.  He failed to explain why the al Qaeda ideology has spread to Yemen, Somalia, Libya and Mali.  Now it is ISIS in Syria, Boko Haram in Nigeria and Al-Shabaab in Kenya.  In this instance he looks and sounds a lot like bush 43’ but with a slightly hipper gait, a warmer smile and an Al Green soundtrack.

FDR once said, “We shall strive for perfection…We may make mistakes—but they must never…result from faintness of heart or abandonment of moral principle.”  Today as the Obama administration and Congress do the complex political calculus they have failed to do the basic moral mathematics.

Dr. King said, “Cowardice asks the question - is it safe? Expediency asks the question - is it politic? Vanity asks the question - is it popular? But conscience asks the question - is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular; but one must take it because it is right.”

Remember, this new group of “moderate” rebels who are anti-Syrian President al Assad are not necessarily pro US.  Don’t be surprised if like so many others before them they turn their US supplied guns back on us as alliances and interests in the region shift over time.

My enemy’s enemy is not my friend.

Dr. Wilmer Leon is the Producer/ Host of the SiriusXM Satellite radio channel 126 call-in talk radio program “Inside the Issues with Wilmer Leon” Go to www.wilmerleon.com or email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. www.twitter.com/drwleon and Dr. Leon’s Prescription at Facebook.com  © 2014 InfoWave Communications, LLC  

Special to the Trice Edney News Wire from TheNorthStarNews.com

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - The overall seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for African-Americans in August was 11.4 percent, the same as July, although the jobless rate for black men dropped slightly but rose for black women, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Friday.

The jobless rate for Black men 20 years old and older was 10.8 percent compared with 11.1 percent in July, BLS reported. Some 929,000 Black men were unemployed in August compared with 967,000 in July, according to BLS's monthly household survey. The labor-participation rate for black men, or the number of men actively looking for work, dropped to 60.1 percent in August, compared with 60.4 percent in July. Some 7,676 million Black men were employed in August, down from 7,704 in July.

The unemployment rate for African-American women 20 years old and older was 10.6 percent compared with 10.1 percent in July. Some 1,015 million Black women were out of work in August compared with 984,000 in July. The August labor-participation rate for women dropped to 61.5 percent compared with 62.3 percent in July. Some 8,581 million African-American women were employed in August compared to 8,736 million in July.

The jobless rate for Blacks is higher than all other ethnic and racial groups as the nation's non-farm businesses added 142,000 jobs in July. The nation's unemployment rate remained little changed at 6.1 percent.

The seasonally adjusted jobless rate for whites was 5.3 percent. White women 20 years old and older reported a jobless rate of 4.8 percent. The unemployment rate for White men 20 years old and older was 4.9 percent. The jobless rate for Hispanics was 7.5 percent in August compared to 7.8 percent in July.

Sept. 21, 2014

This Week’s CBCF-ALC to Focus on the Power of 'You' 
By Hazel Trice Edney

CBCF President/CEO Shuanise Washington

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - More than 10,000 people from across the nation are expected to converge on Washington, D.C. this week for what has become known as the largest annual gathering on African-American issues.

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 44^th Annual Legislative Conference (ALC), set for Sept. 24-27 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, will include more than 70 public policy forums. This year, the conference, themed, “It Starts With You”, will focus on the power of individual action “in making a positive change in the African-American community and the African Diaspora,” says a statement.

"ALC has long been acknowledged as one of the most important gatherings of African-American leaders in the nation," said Rep. Chaka Fattah, chairman of the CBCF board of directors. "The sharing of experiences and ideas among policymakers, community activists, and people from all walks of life on what has worked in terms of moving African Americans forward—and what has not—will be a very valuable outcome from this conference."

People who attend the conference come to explore both “challenges and opportunities facing African Americans and the diaspora through a series of policy panels on education, economic development, public health, immigration, the environment, networking sessions, a town hall meeting and more,” the release says.

In addition to the issues forums, there are dozens of side parties, networking receptions and plenty of evening glitz to balance the panel discussions, debates and educational atmosphere during the day. This year's ALC will also feature the annual Exhibit Showcase and an on-site employment fair and procurement session.

"As we embark on the 44th year of organizing our annual legislative conference, we hope to explore not just the challenges, but more importantly, the opportunities that exist for African-Americans in terms of STEM education and careers, economic empowerment and community development," says CBCF President/CEO A. Shuanise Washington. "ALC is the place where we challenge people and ourselves to engage in the difficult conversations about social justice and economic empowerment, among many issues—and begin the hard work of creating sustainable solutions to the issues Black people face every day.”

Among the highlights:

• The 18^th Annual Celebration of Leadership in the Fine Arts was set to honor actress and director Phylicia Rashad; acclaimed author Dr.Alvin Poussaint, and Grammy-award winning musician Bill Withers on Wednesday evening.
• The National Town Hall Meeting Thursday morning is themed “Voting for Change and Equal Opportunity: Midterm Elections and the State of Black America.” The goal will be to focus on the “power, impact and importance” of the Black vote. The moderator will be journalist Jeff Johnson with a panel featuring U. S. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.); former NAACP/LDF Director Council Elaine Jones; civil rights leader Wade Henderson and U. S. Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.)
• The Annual Prayer Breakfast on Saturday morning will feature Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III, pastor of Abyssinian Baptist church in New York.
• President Barack Obama will once again address the star-studded Phoenix Awards Dinner Saturday night. Award recipients are TV and Radio One founder Cathy Hughes; civil rights leader Wade Henderson, president/CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights; journalist Susan L. Taylor, editor-in-chief Emerita of Essence; and entrepreneur Dr. Robert Wright chairman/CEO of FE Holdings Inc.

For event details or ticket information, visit www.cbcfinc.org/alcevents or call 877.585.6018.

Reps. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.) and Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) will serve as honorary co-chairs of the conference.

"ALC offers the unique opportunity for the world to engage today's African-American leaders with a focus on workable solutions and actionable items," said Rep. Sanford Bishop. "Our goal is to move beyond the conversation and toward resolution of some of the long-standing disparities faced by African Americans and the African Diaspora."

"During ALC, attendees will have an opportunity to interface with industry executives, community leaders, lawmakers and celebrities who are engaged actively on issues affecting our diverse communities," said Rep. Beatty. "The Conference theme, 'It Starts with You,' is befitting; every voice is critical to this collective discourse as we exchange ideas, capitalize on best practices, and focus on actions that will help advance educational opportunities, ensure voting rights, and spur wealth creation."

Sept. 21, 2014

By Zenitha Prince

 

Special to the Trice Edney News Wire from the Afro American Newspaper

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - The shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Mo., and the police department’s bungled response has renewed cries for police reform.

The slaying of Brown, who was unarmed, spurred protest among residents, who saw it as the latest in a string of injustices perpetrated by Ferguson police officers against the mostly-Black community.

The police department’s heavy-handed response—enforcing an information blackout, deploying K-9 dog units, armored vehicles and SWAT officers clad in bulletproof vests and military-grade rifles, some of whom were calling demonstrators “animals”—only exacerbated tensions and further highlighted the frayed relationship between police and the community.

Federal officials, lawmakers, social scientists, civil rights activists and other experts have contemplated several solutions to Ferguson’s problem. A civilian review board has been one of them.

“The Ferguson Police Department is in need of a wholesale re-evaluation of how it does its work…. Policing must be done in a way that meets the community’s needs and does not abuse their constitutional rights. [And] I do think civilian oversight of police is part of the solution,” said Ari Rosmarin, policy director, ACLU of New Jersey.

According to Brian Buchner, president, The National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE), the concept of civilian oversight of police departments developed around the middle of the 20^th century.

“The history of civilian oversight is deeply rooted in the Civil Rights Movement, when communities of color who were suffering from harsh police tactics, discrimination and abuse began to call for increased oversight over police practices and for [just] having a voice,” he told the AFRO.

But the idea really took off, Rosmarin added, when the so-called “War on Crime” unleashed by President Nixon spurred clashes between police and communities of color that prompted an outcry for aggressive oversight of police departments.

“For any democratic society it is a basic tenet that there needs to be checks and balances for any part of government,” Rosmarin said. “By law we give police more power than we give anybody else. We believe that with great and tremendous power must come equally robust accountability.”

Today, as communities continue to figure out how to police the police, civilian oversight has evolved to the point where you have different models, sometimes with different goals. And, there are more than 200 civilian oversight entities throughout the United States, according to Buchner.

Some civilian boards, for example, may investigate and offer findings on individual complaints of police misconduct, while others may concentrate only on big-picture issues, such as framing police policy. Oversight also varies in terms of the powers given to that board—some have subpoena power, for example.

“Whatever model of citizen review a critical [function] is that everyday people have the ability to be heard,” Rosmarin said.

Buchner agreed. He added that while no civilian review board is perfect, there are some factors that can make them more efficient.

“Access, making sure the oversight board has access to police officers and records of the agency,” said Buchner, who sits on a civilian oversight board in Los Angeles. “It’s [also] critical for oversight boards to be independent in thought and action, and oversight needs to be careful to avoid overidentification with the community or with police. They are to be advocates for the law and standards and not any particular group.”

A major criticism of oversight boards is that they often seem to over-identify with police and just “rubberstamp” police findings or the police account of an incident/issue.

Buchner said from his experience, an oversight board’s investigation may veer away from the police’s in terms of approach, prioritization of evidence, evaluation style, etc. and still come to the same decision as the police.

“But all the community knows is that we have the same conclusions,” he said.

“In some ways that is not problematic because it can prove to the community that they can have faith in the department’s investigation and that it was thorough, fair and objective,” Buchner added.

Rosmarin pointed out that while citizen review boards have varying levels of independence, none has independent disciplinary power. As a result, too many times CRB findings and recommendations for disciplinary measures/change are not acted upon by police commissioners and other relevant authorities.

In New York, for example, the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) in 2012 received 5,741 complaints, 258 of which were substantiated and processed by the NYPD, according to a report by WNYC, New York’s public radio.

The CCRB recommended—from the most serious to less serious penalty—charges in 175 cases, command discipline in 70 cases, and instructions in 12 cases.

Of the 175 cases in which CCRB recommended an officer should be charged, the NYPD only sought charges in seven.

Similarly, according to {The New York Times}, in the first six months of 2014, the NYPD has chosen not to impose sanctions in 25 percent of the cases for which the CCRB found cause for discipline.

“It raises many serious questions when the people charged with implementing accountability may have been your squad car partner a few years before,” Rosmarin said, then added, “That’s why people lose faith in review boards.”