Europe

August 3, 2009
NATO's New Agenda and Russian Repression and Violence in Chechnya
by Arn Specter, Phila.

The new head of NATO, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, former Danish Prime Minister,
has set a firm agenda today, focusing on strong support for the Afghan government, the upcoming election, and carrying on the war in order to subdue the Taliban and al-Queda.

At the same time he is taking a diplomatic approach to those moderate Taliban who might join forces with the Western powers of France, England and the United States, along with NATO. (see article below)

Too, he is very pragmatic and conciliatory in making overtures for cooperation with Russia, indicating that their previous antagonistic relationship is no further desired. With tensions between NATO and Russia over the war in Georgia now subsiding, and the question of missile defense in Europe "off the table" for the moment, there seems to be an opening

July 18, 2009 PLEASE SHARE WITH OTHERS
Activists and other supporters of Freedom and Justice,

On Wednesday, July 15, 2009, Natalia Estemirova, 50, activist and mother, was murdered in Russia. The following stories and protests cover just some of the news following her very unfortunate killing. The Human Rights group, Memorial, stated "saying it straightfoward, Russia is suffering from state terror."

This murder follows the murders of other activists and journalists, and people who have called for the improvement of human rights in Russia over the last several years.

Let us lend our voices to the international protests.

1. send a note of support to Memorial

2. call on President Obama to establish a bilateral commission on Russian-American relations as Memorial activists are doing in Russia.

3. call upon the United Nations to protest these murders.

June 22, 2009
Activists,

Subject:
Review of the Missile Defense Factsheet from Congress
http://armedservices.house.gov/index.shtml

Enclosed is a Missile Defense Factsheet, from Loren Dealy of the
House Armed Services Committee, chaired by Rep. Ike Skeleton
dated June 16, 2009 which reflects the decisions made by the Committee
on Missile defense allocations and policies, as part of the overall H.R.2647,
National Defense Authorization Act, passed by the House.

Contents include:
1. The Number of Interceptors in Alaska and California is Enough
to Protect Us
2. Military Commanders Actually Vetted These Missile Defense
Priorities
3. Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) Must be Made
Operationally Effective
4. Combatant Commanders Need Increased Theater Missile Defense Capabilities
5. Decision to Cancel Troubled Missile Defense Programs is Well
Grounded
6. European Missile Defense Must Respond to Real Threat

Objection to H.R.2797, Nuclear/Missiles in Europe
By Arn Specter | Op Ed News

June 22, 2009
Activists,

I read with displeasure the following article:
Nuclear Arms in Europe; U.S. Congressmen Push NATO First Act,
about the formation of H.R,2797, recently presented by Congressmen Michael Turner (R-OH)
and Jim Marshall. (D-GA )

The story is published by the American Chronicle's Congressional Desk, June 11, 2009.

Bill H.R.2797 speaks of U.S. national defense policies and programs, particularly as
they relate to Eastern Europe, Poland and the Czech Republic, and the Missile Defense
System (MDS). This system has been discussed since George Bush proposed it many