PUBLIC POLICY UPDATE Nov.

4, 2011 WASHINGTON UPDATE Senate SFOPs Plans Delayed and Uncertain As the days slip by, it is becoming increasingly uncertain when, if at all, the Senate State, Foreign Operations (SFOps) appropriations bill will be considered on the floor. Earlier predictions were that the bill would be considered this week, starting Wednesday, Nov. 2. That then slipped to introduction today, with debate falling next week. Reports now are that the bills chances even next week are iffy. The Senate will be back in session Monday, with a vote on cloture (ending debate) for another billrepealing a requirement that state and local governments and the federal government withhold 3 percent of payments to government contractorsscheduled for 5:30 p.m. Another bill with a piece of President Obamas job creation act, which Senate Democrats want to force Republicans to vote on just before Veterans Day, will be competing for attention next week. The defense authorization bill is also in the pipeline for sometime in the next two weeks. In addition to the competition for floor time, the bills consideration is subject to apparently evolving feelings about the whole strategy of moving a series of mini-bus appropriations bills combining three or more subcommittee bills. The current mini-buscombining the Agriculture, Transportation-Housing, and Commerce-Justice-Science billsis in conference following approval by the Senate Tuesday, with speculation rife that additional bills will be added to it. The Legislative Branch and Homeland Security bills are the prime candidates, along with a new continuing resolution (CR) to continue funding the government until mid-December (the current CR expires Nov. 18). If that happened and the conference report passes both chambers and is signed, seven FY2012 appropriation bills would remain unpassed. As of press time on Friday, Nov. 4, the fog had not yet cleared, and may not for some days yet. UPCOMING HEARINGS Hearing: Ambassadorial Nominations Full Committee Hearing Committee: Senate Foreign Relations Committee Witnesses: Roberta Jackson, nominated assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs Mari Carmen Aponte, nominated ambassador to the Republic of El Salvador Adam Namm, nominated ambassador to the Republic of Ecuador Elizabeth Cousens, nominated alternative representative of the U.S. to the Sessions of the General Assembly of the UN, and nominated representative of the U.S. on the Economic and Social Council of the UN When: Nov. 8, 10:00 a.m. Where: 419 Dirksen Senate Office Building Contact: 202-224-4651 http://foreign.senate.gov

HEARING SUMMARIES 2014 and Beyond: U.S. Policy Towards Afghanistan and Pakistan, Part I House Committee on Foreign AffairsSubcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia Nov. 3, 2011 Witnesses Zalmay Khalilzad, Center for Strategic and International Studies, former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan David W. Barno Center for a New American Security, former head of Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan Ashley J. Tellis, Carnegie Endowment C. Christine Fair, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University

Opening Statements Chair Steve Chabot (R-OH) The administrations existing withdrawal strategy is little more than disparate policy elements haphazardly fashioned into a comprehensive plan. U.S. must proceed carefully, smartly and with strategic patience in drawdown over the coming years. o If the Afghan government and population do not believe that the U.S. is committed to their safety, they will look towards negotiating with militants. o Likewise, if insurgents believe that the U.S. will abandon the region, they can be confident in their ultimate objective. As far as Pakistan goes, its continuing habit of giving sanctuary to terrorist networks must remain a concern and a priority for the U.S. Ranking Member Gary L. Ackerman (D-NY) Pakistan is not a U.S. friend or ally. o While ostensibly cooperating with the U.S., Pakistan has been facilitating the resurgence of the Afghan Taliban, as well as of other militant groups. Pakistan is a sovereign state pursuing its own self-defined national interests in what it perceives as a tough neighborhood. U.S. must recognize that Pakistans national interests are ultimately contrary to those of the United States. U.S. should designate Pakistan as a state sponsor of terrorists. Zalmay Khalilzad U.S. currently faces a range of possible futures: o On one end, the U.S. constructs a functioning regional security apparatus that includes Pakistan, regional economies integrate and Afghan governance improves. o On the other end, Pakistan continues to support terrorist networks, and Afghanistan refuses to address its governance issues. U.S. can increase the likelihood of the positive outcome with a two-step strategy: o U.S. must implement cogent strategy towards Pakistan that includes: A diplomatic, joint U.S.-Afghan approach to persuade Pakistan to change its posture by indicating that Afghan security is in its interest; Increased military and economic pressure on Pakistan. 2

U.S. must push Afghan government to confront issues of governance and corruption.

David W. Barno U.S. drawdown must be shaped by the ultimate protection of long-term vital U.S. interests. Protecting three vital security interests should dominate a U.S. strategy in Afghanistan: o Preventing the regions use as a base for terror groups to attack U.S. and allies; o Ensuring that nuclear weapons do not fall into the hands of terrorists; o Preventing nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan. Ashley J. Tellis Achieving a modicum of success in Afghanistan requires the U.S. to adopt a drawdown policy that: o Ensures that Afghanistan provides the U.S. with sufficient basing rights to conduct counterterrorism operations over the long term; o Delays the withdrawal of U.S. surge troops beyond 2012 to enable them to consolidate coalition control before the security transition; o Assists Afghanistans economic integration into the region, the development of its administrative capacity, and management of its economy. A new policy towards Pakistan must include: o Terminating U.S. transfers of conventional warfighting equipment that have no relevance to Pakistans counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations; o Reviewing the expenditures related to Coalition Support Funds; o Conditioning U.S. civilian aid on Pakistans support for regional economic integration. C. Christine Fair Each time Pakistan engages with the U.S., it does so to service its own strategic aims while professing commitment to those of its partner. Ten years into the most recent engagement, it has become clear that Pakistans strategic interests diverge starkly from those of the U.S. o From at least 2004 onward, Pakistan resumed its support for the Taliban to ensure its own security in relation to India, Afghanistan, and an increasing U.S. presence. U.S. and partners must reorient their efforts toward containing or mitigating the various threats that emanate from Pakistan. Questioning Chair Steve Chabot (R-OH) 1. What is the likely result of such a speedy 2014 withdrawal, especially since the U.S. military will be relegated to an advisory role as early as 2012? Khalilzad: o It would be more prudent to give U.S. troops another fighting season. o As long as insurgency continues to get support from Pakistan, U.S. accepts a large risk in giving up its primary combat role and moving to advising position. Berno: o It is a sound policy to refocus U.S. military efforts towards an advisory role sooner rather than later.

o Shifting U.S. efforts to a central focus on training, advising and enabling Afghan forces will permit Afghans themselves to take the lead. Such a policy allows for a test drive of Afghan troops capabilities while U.S. retains sufficient forces to backstop and adjust to shortfalls. o Afghan government and security forces must face the reality soon that U.S. troops will no longer be in the lead in 2014, and U.S. dollars will be far fewer. Tellis: o The shift to an advisory role in 2012 is an acceptable policy if it does not wholly preclude U.S. combat operations. Fair: o At the end of the day, Pakistan is the problem: Regardless of what the U.S. does in Afghanistan, if Pakistan continues to support terrorist networks, any U.S. efforts in the region will be undermined. o It is absolutely necessary to take account of Pakistans strategic interests in any engagement in Afghanistan, and form a comprehensive strategy to address Pakistan. 2. What is managed jihadism? Tellis: o Pakistan seeks out and engages with terrorist groups that do not threaten Pakistan, but may present a menace to Pakistans foes. For Pakistan, these militants keep India on a leash, Afghanistan subordinate, and the U.S. in a payoff role. o Pakistan believes these groups can be managed and controlled through a reciprocal relationship that benefits them both. By aiding these militants, protecting them, and supporting their operations, Pakistan seeks to use them as bargaining chips in its regional relationships. o As long as this policy of managed jihadism does not ricochet, it will be the key instrument by which Pakistan seeks to secure its strategic aims in the region. Khalilzad: o It should be noted that these relationships always come back to bite Pakistan, because these militants readily exploit the partnership to their own advantage and use violent tactics to do so. Ranking Member Gary L. Ackerman (D-NY) 1. How would the U.S. withdrawal work if there were no deadline? Berno: o A deadline is necessary to focus the hardening of the Afghan state, and it forces all parties involved to move within that timeframe. o However, it was a strategic mistake by the Obama administration to announce a public deadline for withdrawal. It has motivated insurgents to run down the clock, while also inducing Pakistan to engage with insurgents with the expectation that they will become indispensable to Pakistan after the security transition.

Tellis: o A deadline provides focus to the campaign, but it has also convinced terrorists that U.S. forces are irrevocably headed out the door by 2014 and will leave behind a fragile Afghanistan ripe for takeover. o Meanwhile, Pakistan sees the deadline as even more reason to support militants as part of its post-withdrawal strategy to secure its own policy aims. 2. What should an aid package look like in Pakistan? Fair: o U.S. efforts to elicit changes in Pakistan through its USAID program are misguided. The strategic use of U.S. aid as a diplomatic instrument fosters Pakistani cynicism that the U.S. attempts to help Pakistan only when its own aims are being served. o Moreover, large-scale aid projects have failed to deliver, due to deficiencies in USAIDs business model, an overreliance on contractors, an inability to identify U.S.-friendly Pakistani NGOs, a lack of reform-minded Pakistani government partners, and a security posture that prevents Americans from leaving their enclave. o In the short term, the U.S. should give assistance more through multilateral development agencies, which are more capable of delivering results. o In the long term, U.S. assistance to Pakistan should be given with less publicity, and with greater focus on projects that are tangible, such as power, roads and other infrastructure. In the same vein, U.S. aid should focus less on areas, such as education, curriculum reform, and other inflammatory social issues. 3. What about U.S. military aid to Pakistan? Fair: o U.S. cupidity towards Pakistan has overwhelmingly emphasized support to Pakistans military. o However, U.S. assistance has been directed into Pakistans growing nuclear arsenal, and the weapons systems provided to Pakistansuch as F-16shave greater use against India than against Pakistans domestic terrorists. o U.S. military aid to Pakistan should be both cut back and better focused towards weapons explicitly gauged towards domestic counterinsurgency. Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA) 1. How would the panel characterize the relationship between Pakistan and the Haqqani network? Tellis: o The Haqqani network is supported by Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and with the coming withdrawal of U.S. forces, ISI will not retrench its support now. 2. So their relationship is a threat to U.S. interests and mission? Fair: o Pakistan increasingly uses its relationships with terrorist networks to undermine Indias expanding presence in the region. This will have obvious impacts on U.S. interests in the region if its foremost partner India is the focus of Pakistans revisionist goals. 5

o The Haqqani-ISI relationship also undermines the U.S. mission in Afghanistan, given that the U.S. is largely at war with Pakistans proxies in Afghanistan. 3. Does the relationship between Pakistan and the U.S. have any strategic importance for Pakistan? Fair: o No. Pakistan has consistently demonstrated that it does not want a strategic relationship with the U.S. o Pakistan seeks to maximize its economic, political, and military gains while minimizing its commitment to the U.S. Tellis: o Pakistan supports the Taliban insurgency while offering only as much counterterrorism cooperation as is necessary to keep U.S. assistance flowing. Women and the Arab Spring Senate Foreign Relations CommitteeSubcommittee on International Operations and Organizations, Human Rights, Democracy and Global Womens Issues; Subcommittee on Near Eastern and Central Asian Affairs Nov. 2, 2011 Witnesses: Melanne Verveer, ambassador-at-large for global womens issues, State Department Tamara Wittes, deputy assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, deputy special coordinator for Middle East transitions Manal Omar, U.S. Institute of Peace, Iraq, Iran and North Africa programs Mahnaz Afkhami, Womens Learning Partnership Sandra Bunn-Livingstone, Freedom3 Opening Statements: Chair Barbara Boxer (D-CA) (Subcommittee on International Operations and Organizations, Human Rights, Democracy and Global Womens Issues) The attendance of this meeting shows this issues relevance and importance. Ranking Member Jim DeMint (R-SC) (Subcommittee on International Operations and Organizations, Human Rights, Democracy and Global Womens Issues) Concerned about the plight of Coptic Christians. In Saudi Arabia, women are not free to obtain drivers licenses. In Libya, Sharia law is now being implemented and polygamy has been legalized. The U.S. must work with transitioning governments to protect minorities. Melanne Verveer Agree with DeMint, women stood shoulder to shoulder with men during protests and are now facing challenges as new governments emerge. If women play an inclusive role in governments and businesses, it is beneficial to the country: o Democracy without women is a contradiction in terms. o It is in the interest of dictators to keep women excluded.

It is important to ratify Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). o Recommend that women leaders are included in discussions when U.S. representatives meet with coalition leaders overseas; sending a message to leaders that women are an important part of the democratic process.

Tamara Wittes Resources that support the efforts of women include: o Get Out and Vote in Tunisiaworks with the media to see how they cover elections and encourage women voting. o Tunisian Bar Association. o U.S. government run nonpartisan training program in Egypt, which helps women hold central roles in institutions. o Nonprofits founded by women in Libya that support new political parties. The Middle East Participation Initiative has women as its core focus. Chair Robert Casey (D-PA) (Subcommittee on Near Eastern and Central Asian Affairs) The inclusion of women in Arab Spring countries will make those countries healthier, more stable and more prosperous, and this will in turn benefit the United States. Manal Omar In Tripoli, women have had the right to vote since 1964, but citizens were discriminated against based on alliance to party and gender. Women do not generally oppose Islamic law, just the patriarchal interpretation of it. Women are hesitant to join politics without a safe environment, which the Gadhafi regime did not provide. o Libyan women and men have equal access to education at the primary level and women have higher rates of graduation from secondary education than men do. o Women make up 25 percent of the labor force. Recommend supporting the National Transitional Council (NTC) quota to bolster representation of women in the transitional government, with a sunset clause and build support for cross-country learning. Mahnaz Afkhami Truly equitable societies provide all opportunities for all citizens in constitution, laws and free expression. The U.S. must give explicit support and focus on social and political issues: o Development of communication free from censorship; o Investment in training women in technology; o Empowerment of institutions with history of including women; o Engaging local regional media; o Support of international norms of womens rights. Without U.S. support, women will be marginalized and lose ground. Sandra Bunn-Livingstone In the interest of time, will focus on the testimony of women in Arab Spring states: o Irine of Cairo: women, the poor and Christians are targets in Egypt. o Dr. Fatima of Medina: Tunisia used to allow women the freedom of choice to be veiled. After the revolution, students and professors demanded female professors wear a veil while teaching at the university. 7

o Questioning:

U.S. support for freedom should be contingent on the rule of law.

Chair Barbara Boxer (D-CA) (Subcommittee on International Operations and Organizations, Human Rights, Democracy and Global Womens Issues) 1. What are the levers that the United States has to ensure the Egyptian military meets certain benchmarks, in light of recent reports of virginity tests and beatings perpetrated by members of the Egyptian military against detained women? Verveer o The U.S. cant select candidates; however, it can constantly raise issues, be strategic in its assistance for greatest impact and make investments in building civil society. 2. How would the U.S. enhance participation of women if it ratified CEDAW? Verveer o The U.S. currently stands with the pariah countries who have not signed (Somalia, Iran). CEDAW is used as a lever to hold governments accountable in countries where it has passed; the U.S. should stand with them. Ranking Member Jim DeMint (R-SC) (Subcommittee on International Operations and Organizations, Human Rights, Democracy and Global Womens Issues) 1. Oppression of women is derived from religion in the Middle East; therefore, establishing an Islamic state would codify oppression of women. How can the U.S. deal with that without interfering in religious freedoms? Wittes o Democracy is about being committed to nonviolence, equality and the rules of the game. Parties have to be prepared to meet these benchmarks. 2. How important is religious freedom to protecting womens rights? Bunn-Livingstone o There is a minority of 10 percent of Coptic Christians in Egypt. It is important to interpret religious freedom as freedom of thought, conscience & belief, freedom to change beliefs, and freedom to practice in public and private. Governments that repress these minorities are not respecting that right. 3. What can Congress do to protect women? Afkhami o Congress must consider that the population is young, with 70 percent under 30, and primarily concerned with economic issues, education, culture and jobs. The general population has similar values to the ones held in the U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) 1. Which country has the most promising future in the expansion of womens rights, and which has the most challenging? Verveer o Tunisia is the most promising because women have participated in the economy and there are a large number of female students in universities. o Recently women have been locked out of the political process in Libya, and it may be the most challenging. Egypts situation is more complicated, as the quota for women in government has recently been removed.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) 1. How does Sharia law revolve around womens rights? Verveer o Morocco has been able to work around values to implement reforms in family law, and Quranic verses were used to justify the reforms. Wittes o Solidarity is crucial, and the organization Vital Voices helps cultivate crossboundary coalitions. Chair Robert Casey (D-PA) (Subcommittee on Near Eastern and Central Asian Affairs) 1. Will there be different gradations or different approaches that Islamist parties in different counties will take as the Arab Spring unfolds? Omar o Institutions are weak in many of the countries impacted by the Arab Spring, and the Islamist groups are well organized compared to other groups in these countries. For example, the Muslim Brotherhood has the ability to mobilize the grassroots. Afkhami o Societies have a tradition of networkingthere is no traditional philanthropy other than religious charity. o Irans revolution was initially about inclusivenesscaution is important, and the definition of moderate is important. 2. Assess what the Arab Spring revolutions mean to womenare they experiencing substantial oppression or not? Verveer o After any conflict, there is a window of opportunity. o Recognizing the NTC should be conditional on including women. Bunn-Livingstone o The priorities of the Arab Spring are: 1. Overthrowing the dictator; 2. Economic progress; 3. Opportunity for women. Afkhami o It is a 50-50 splitdepends upon interaction with the outside world. o With the perception of power and prestige of the U.S., what is possible for the U.S. to do may be overestimated. Chinas Role in Africa: Implications Senate Foreign Relations CommitteeSubcommittee on African Affairs Nov. 1, 2011 Witness: David Shinn, George Washington University Deborah Brautigam, International Food Policy Research Institute Stephen Hayes, The Corporate Council on Africa

Opening Statements Chair Chris Coons (D-DE) China increasingly dominant in Africa. 9

o U.S. ceding not only economic leadership, but political and moral leadership too. Clear differences in assistance that the U.S. provides in Africa and Chinese assistance. o Clear U.S. distinction between public and private investment is not always apparent under the Chinese. U.S. government is investing in the people of Africa; China only investing in infrastructure. o 70 percent of U.S. assistance is spent on health. o 70 percent of Chinese assistance is spent on infrastructure. Even if we can win the battle against disease, we are losing the battle for the hearts and minds of Africans. Need a comprehensive strategy for U.S. investment in Africa.

Ranking Member Johnny Isakson (R-GA) Focus on better governance has made Ghana a better country. o Hope President Jonathan of Nigeria will be able to follow the example of former President Mills and step down if he is to lose the next elections. U.S. businesses have great presence in Africa. o Rotary Clubs investment in bed nets helped to eradicate malaria in Zanzibar. Rep. Richard Durbin (D-IL) Development of middle class in Africa will be crucial for future prosperity and stability. David Shinn China has four hard interests in Africa: o Maintaining or increasing access to energy, minerals, timber and agricultural products. o Developing good relations with all African states to engender their support at regional and international forums. o Exports to Africa. o Ending Taiwans official diplomatic presence in Africa. Magnitude of Chinese involvement in Africa has increased exponentially since the 1990s. o Diplomatic relations with 50 of the 54 African nations. o Chinese President Hu Jintao has made six different trips to Africa, visiting a range of countries on each occasion. o Ever since 1991, the first foreign visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister has always been to Africa. China became the most important trade partner of Africa in 2009. o Exact figures are difficult to find, but estimates are that Chinese investment in Africa in 2010 was almost $40 billion. Soft power element of Chinese strategy in Africa. o China has provided lifeline to states like Zimbabwe and Sudan. o However, it has also allowed states with whom the U.S. is closer to be more selective in terms of which advice they accept from the U.S. China currently poses no security threat to the U.S. in Africa. Deborah Brautigam China has a range of investment tools in Africa: o Infrastructure loans allow poor countries to pay with tomorrows exports. o $1 billion equity fund available to encourage small- and medium-sized Chinese businesses to invest in Africa. Chinas rise must be seen in context. 10

o o o

Still a developing country and has more in common with them than U.S. We need better information on exactly what China is up to in order to make good policy. Need to engage China multilaterally not a member of OECD, for example.

Stephen Hayes Issue of Chinese investment in Africa is of high urgency for the U.S. government and businesses. China is certainly not alone in increasing its investment in Africa, and it is of course allowed to do so as it sees fit. However, Chinese counterfeits in Africa are undercutting American products. o Counterfeit medicines are particularly damaging. U.S. strategy in Africa must do more to help American companies invest in Africa. Furthermore, Americas aid program must shift its focus towards the private sector in Africa.

Questioning Chair Chris Coons (D-DE) 1. What specific policy recommendations would you give to best help U.S. businesses to succeed in Africa? Hayes: o Export-Import Bank has not done well in supporting U.S. businesses in Africa. o Chinese equivalent provides much better support. o USAID should shift focus toward developing the private sector and supporting the development of the middle classes. 2. Is there any evidence that China has undermined U.S. policies, for example of good governance and transparency, with regard to Africa? Has Chinese involvement been beneficial to any African countries? Shinn: o China certainly has helped to develop African infrastructure. o However, Chinese involvement in Africa has undermined efforts to improve human rights situation in many African countries, e.g., Ethiopia. Brautigam: o Own research has not given empirical evidence that Chinese involvement has led to worsening of human rights or political freedom in any one African country. o We tend to draw unfair generalizations about the impact of China upon Africa from the examples of Zimbabwe and Sudan, which are not representative of the broader picture. Ranking Member Johnny Isakson (R-GA) 1. How concerning is the relationship between Sudan and China? Shinn: o The governments in both Juba and Khartoum need to make a lot of changes, otherwise they could both on track to become failed states. o Neither Sudan nor South Sudan want that, and neither do China or the U.S. all support the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

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75 percent of the oil is found in South Sudan, yet they currently have no option other than to send it to refineries in the North, and so the South and North remain joined at the hip.

Rep. Ben Cardin (D-MD) 1. Is there any indication that Chinas involvement in Africa has had negative consequences? Shinn: o Corruption had traditionally been a problem, but China is increasingly discovering that this is not the best way to conduct business, and so perhaps we will see a change in future Chinese policy. 2. Any evidence that technology imported from China is helping certain governments to commit human rights abuses? Shinn: o There is evidence of this in Zimbabwe, and in Ethiopia, where the Internet is controlled in a very similar way to China. o Need to continue to raise these issues, first with African governments but also with the Chinese. Rep. Richard Lugar (R-IN) 1. Are there reasonable estimates as to the amount of natural resources remaining in China? What will happen when these resources start to become dear? Brautigam: o Hard to know, but indications are that there are still significant oil reserves in China although obviously this supply is finite and that China will in the future become increasingly dependent on foreign supplies. o Common perception that China is leading the Land Grab in Africa. o No evidence of large Chinese investments in agriculture to send back to China. o Neither is China making speculative land investments thus far. Hayes: o There are very few U.S. agricultural companies in Africa; this is a huge opportunity that we must take. Shinn: o 10 percent of worlds oil reserves are in Africa, and experts predict the majority of future discoveries will be made in Africa. Rep. Tom Udall (D-NM) 1. What have been the environmental consequences of Chinese investment in Africa? How can we encourage China to undertake sustainable practices? Shinn: o Five or six years ago, Chinese programs in Africa had huge environmental consequences. o However, increasing awareness of environmental consequences a project to develop coal production in Gabon was scrapped because of opposition to its environmental impact. o Domestic environmental developments in China, such as those surrounding the Ganges Dam, have caused the Chinese to reconsider the environment. o Improvement, but certainly still far behind Western companies. Brautigam: o Chinese firms are very interested in idea of corporate social responsibility.

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Change has in part come from external pressure; certainly has not come from the African governments themselves.

Hayes: o Diplomacy with African governments concerning these issues must be strengthened. ARTICLES AND REPORTS

BBC Nov. 2: Incumbent Ortega heading for victory in Nicaraguan elections Incumbent President Daniel Ortegas support has risen ahead of elections on Nov. 6, despite growing doubts about his commitment to democracy among human rights groups, opposition leaders and members of the international community. Questions also persist about his sidestepping a ban laid out in the Nicaraguan constitution over consecutive reelections. CBS Nov. 1: U.S. cuts UNESCO funding after Palestine vote The U.S. has cut its funding to the UNs cultural agency after UNESCO voted to approve the full membership of Palestine. Only 14 countries, including the United States, voted to oppose Palestinian membership. The vote triggered a congressional ban on U.S. funding to UN bodies that recognize Palestine as a state before an Israel-Palestinian peace deal is reached. The Guardian Nov. 3: Chinese mining firms accused of mistreating Zambian workers Human Rights Watch has accused Chinese-run copper mines in Zambia of illegal safety practices, hostility to trade unions, and dangerously long shifts. HRW called on Michael Sata, the newly-elected Zambian president, to live up to his campaign promise to address illegal Chinese labor practices. New York Times Nov 3: Sierra Leone to sent troops to Somalia The government of Sierra Leone has announced that it will contribute 850 soldiers to the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia, which will arrive in the middle of next year. Currently 9,000 peacekeeping troops, mainly from Uganda and Burundi, fight to secure Mogadishu from Islamist rebels. The AU claims it will require 20,000 troops to pacify the entirety of Somalia. USAID Nov. 4: United States and El Salvador sign partnership for growth A U.S. government delegation, including representatives of USAID, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and the U.S. Departments of State, Treasury, Justice and Commerce traveled to El Salvador to sign the Partnership for Growth with the Government of El Salvador. The Partnership for Growth is not confined to a single sector, but aimed at broad-based economic growth. Washington Post Nov. 1: Launch of Haitian house loan scheme To aid in reconstruction from the January 2010 Haiti earthquake, a program led by international donors and local agencies has been launched to help members of Haitis small middle class to get a mortgage for the first time. Several micro-mortgages will also be offered to families who make as little as $150 a month. Around 500,000 Haitians still remain homeless after the quake.

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Disclaimer: Articles linked in the Update are intended to provide a dashboard view of newsworthy and topical issues from popular news outlets that will be of interest to readers of the Update. The articles are an information sharing vehicle rather than an advocacy tool. They are in no way representative of the views of InterAction or the U.S. NGO community as a whole.

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