Latest news with #JoeWilson
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
US Congress members call to sanction Iranian-backed militias in Iraq
US congress members called to sanction several Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, including the Popular Mobilization Forces, in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The US should sanction Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, including the powerful Popular Mobilization Forces, US Members of Congress Joe Wilson and Greg Steube asserted in a letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The PMF include numerous militias arranged in dozens of brigades. Most of the militias are linked closely to Iran and have carried out numerous crimes in Iraq. According to the letter the PMF are 'an umbrella group of 238,000 Iranian-backed militias, have been legitimized as part of Iraq's state security services and receive over $3 billion annually from the Iraqi government—funded in part by American taxpayer dollars. Since 2015, the US Department of State has provided Iraq with $1.25 billion in Foreign Military Financing, in addition to billions more in aid to Iraq's Interior Ministry and Defense Ministry, despite these institutions being deeply infiltrated by Iranian proxies. These same Iran-backed militias, now operating with legal authority under the PMF, have launched rocket attacks on US bases in Iraq and Syria.' Wilson and Steube began their letter by noting, 'We write to express our deep concern over the complete subjugation of Iraq to the Iranian regime. More than 4,400 American service members sacrificed their lives since the start of the Iraq War, yet today, Iraq stands as nothing more than a puppet of Tehran. This outcome is the direct result of disastrous policies that, under previous administrations, empowered Iran's control over Iraq's government, military, and economy.' They added 'The National Security Policy Memorandum-2 (NSPM-2) of February 4, 2025 clearly articulates the reimposition of maximum pressure on Iran and its terror proxies. However, any campaign against the Iranian regime will require an equally robust campaign against Iraqi institutions, which have become essential clients of the Iranian regime.' The report argues that the US should expand sanctions on the various militias. The US has already sanctioned Kataib Hezbollah, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, and some other militias and their leaders. The members of Congress say that the US should sanction the PMF as well as 'the Muhandis General Company, and the Badr Organization as foreign terrorist organizations.' They also call for sanctions on Iraq's importation of Iranian gas. They also said a bank in Iraq and a number of individuals who support Iran should be sanctioned. These include 'former Prime Ministers Nouri al-Maliki and Adel Abdulmehdi, Izzat Shabander, Hadi al-Ameri, AbdulKarim al-Sudani, Abbas Shia al-Sudani, Haider Shia al-Sudani, Abdul Karim al-Faisal, Yasser Suhail al Maliki, Minister of Higher Education Naem al-Aboud, Governor Adnan Feihan,' and others. This is an important development and illustrates how the US is moving to potentially clip the wings of Iran's role in Iraq. For instance, Kataib Hezbollah, which is part of the PMF, continues to hold Elizabeth Tsurkov, a researcher who is also an Israeli citizen. Tsurkov was kidnapped in 2023 in Iraq while doing research. She is a doctoral student at Princeton. Her kidnapping was orchestrated by the Iranian-backed militias. Reports from Iraq indicate that Baghdad is seeking to harm the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq by not paying salaries. This illustrates how Baghdad is destabilizing Iraq through its policies.
Shafaq News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Republican lawmakers urge immediate US sanctions on Iraq
Shafaq News/ On Wednesday, two Republican members of the US House of Representatives called for immediate sanctions on Iraq, accusing Baghdad of falling fully under Iranian influence and acting as a 'puppet' of Tehran. In a letter addressed to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Representatives Joe Wilson of South Carolina and Greg Steube of Florida demanded a 'comprehensive reassessment' of US-Iraq relations, urging the suspension of all American aid to the Iraqi government until 'serious steps' are taken to curb Iran's dominance. My letter today with @RepGregSteube to Secretary Rubio asking for sanctioning Iraq to be included as part of maximum pressure. ⬇️ — Joe Wilson (@RepJoeWilson) May 28, 2025 'Iran now effectively controls the Iraqi government and large parts of its security apparatus,' the lawmakers wrote, adding that continued US support for Baghdad amounts to 'a betrayal of the more than 4,400 American service members who died since 2003.' The letter also blamed former President Barack Obama's administration for 'emboldening Iran's position in Iraq' by backing former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and allowing Iran-backed militias to expand under the pretext of fighting ISIS. Wilson and Steube described current US policy toward Baghdad as a 'strategic failure,' and called for a firmer stance to contain Iranian influence not only in Iraq but across the region.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Rubio urged to punish Iraq with 'maximum pressure' sanctions for its 'complete subjugation' by Iran
FIRST ON FOX: A pair of House Republicans are urging Secretary Marco Rubio to punish Iraq with sanctions for its "complete subjugation" by Iran as part of the U.S.'s "maximum pressure" policy toward Tehran. "More than 4,400 American service members sacrificed their lives since the start of the Iraq War, yet today, Iraq stands as nothing more than a puppet of Tehran," Reps. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., and Greg Steube, R-Fla., wrote in a letter to the secretary of state and interim national security advisor. The letter laid blame on the Obama administration, arguing former President Barack Obama and his Iraq envoy Brett McGurk "propped up" Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, whose leadership was marred by brutal political crackdowns and led to the rise of ISIS. "The Obama administration doubled down on its mistakes, relying on Iranian-backed militias to fight ISIS," the letter read. "The consequences of those failed decisions are now undeniable: Iran-backed forces wield unchecked power over Iraq's government and security services." Trump Admin Ends Waiver Allowing Iraq To Buy Iranian Electricity As Part Of 'Maximum Pressure' Campaign Since 2015, the U.S. has offered Iraq's forces $1.25 billion in foreign military financing, in addition to billions more for the interior ministry and defense ministry. Read On The Fox News App Iran's influence over Iraq was on full display when, in 2021, Iraq issued an arrest warrant for President Donald Trump for the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, even as the U.S. still has 2,500 forces on the ground in Iraq to partner with local forces and fight ISIS. Steube and Wilson called on the U.S. to cut all foreign aid to Iraq until it comes out from under Iran's influence. The letter calls for the U.S. to sanction Iraq's importation of Iranian gas. Currently, only payment for the gas is under sanction, meaning Iran gives fuel to Iraq without charge but expects repayment in other ways. The Trump administration ended a waiver that allowed Iraq to buy Iranian electricity in March. Gop Rep. Joe Wilson Trumpets 'Make Iraq Great Again!' Message The lawmakers called for designating the Popular Mobilization Forces, an Iranian-backed paramilitary group operating in Iraq, and its financial backers as foreign terrorist groups and sanctioning Iraq's state banks that financially support Iran. It also called for sanctions on Iraq's political figures that allow Iranian influence to flourish. "We urge you to take immediate action to implement these necessary policies and ensure that American resources are no longer used to prop up Iran's control over Iraq." The U.S. initially invaded Iraq in 2003, toppling Saddam Hussein's regime and drawing down its troop presence from wartime levels in 2007 and leaving altogether in 2011, before returning in 2014 at the head of the coalition to fight the Islamic State. Other nations, including Germany, France, Spain and Italy, also contribute hundreds of troops to the coalition. In September, reports emerged that the Biden administration was working on a plan to draw down the U.S. troop presence in Iraq within the year, but no set-in-stone decision was made. Fox News Digital reached out to the State Department and the Iraqi Embassy for article source: Rubio urged to punish Iraq with 'maximum pressure' sanctions for its 'complete subjugation' by Iran
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Don't miss this: Kauaʻi's most important exhibit of the summer opens May 30
HONOLULU (KHON2) — A groundbreaking exhibit documenting Hawaiʻi's queer past is making its way to Kauaʻi this summer to offer residents and visitors alike a powerful opportunity to learn, connect and reflect. Kaulike No Nā Mea A Pau: Toward Queer Justice in Hawaiʻi will open on May 30 at the Performing Arts Center at Kauaʻi Community College and remain on display throughout the month of June. It's part of celebrating Pride Month by uplifting the lives and legacies of Hawaiʻi's LGBTQ+ communities. Meet Hawaiʻi award-winning student filmmakers who swept HIFF, ʻŌlelo YXC awards this year The traveling exhibit is part of Lei Pua ʻAla, a project co-founded by Joe Wilson and Dean Hamer. The project is focused on documenting and memorializing gender and sexual diversity throughout Hawaiʻi's complex and multicultural history. 'We are really excited to be working with folks on Kauaʻi who wanted to bring the beautiful exhibit that was mounted at the King Kamehameha the Fifth Judiciary History Center last year,' said Wilson. 'It's a beautiful exhibit that takes viewers on a journey across the different time periods in Hawaiʻi, as foreigners were arriving, as new religious influences and other types of ideas were mixing, creating a new legal landscape under which people across the spectrum of gender and sexual diversity had to figure out how to live their lives.' The Hawaiʻi State Commission on LGBTQ+ Affairs member Philip Steinbacher was a key component in bringing this exhibition to Kauai. 'One of my objectives as Commissioner is to increase LGBTQ+ happenings and community involvement on Kauaʻi, and this just seemed like the perfect opportunity to do that' explained Commissioner Steinbacher. 'It is my hope that Kaua'i residents take advantage of the chance to learn more about LGBTQ+ history here. Kaua'i is known for its strong sense of community, where residents support each other, and in my mind this should be no less true because of sexual orientation, gender identification, or gender expression.' His journey of discovery of his chosen home led Commissioner Steinbacher to see the depths of Hawaii's unique history and culture. 'While this journey mirrors similar narratives from other cultures and other places, it is Hawai'i's unique story that warrants hearing by many,' he added. 'I had the opportunity to view the Kaulike No Nā Mea A Pau exhibit in October 2024 when I visited Oʻahu for Honolulu Pride. I was deeply moved by the narrative that Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson created, and it sparked a hope that this story might be shared with a broader audience, explained Commissioner Steinbacher. 'I have lived on Kaua'i for more than twenty years but only had an inkling of the struggles and successes of the Māhū, LGBTQIA+/MVPFAFF+ community in Hawai'i.' Though the exhibit debuted in Honolulu and remains partially on view at the Judiciary History Center in the Supreme Court building, its expansion to Kauaʻi marks a deeper effort to include voices and experiences from our neighbor islands. 'For us, it's been really exciting because, as you said, so many things are taking place in the urban core of Honolulu,' said Wilson. 'We've been working really hard to create links and conversations between and among people on neighbor islands. There's so much important work happening in community organizations in those places.' The exhibit is free and designed to be accessible to all. And it's not just something to look at. It's an invitation to participate.'We're very open to hearing more stories, especially on the outer islands,' said Hamer. 'Our website, Queer Histories of Hawaiʻi, has an easy contact form. We do encourage people to tell us about stories. Some of the most interesting stories that we found have been on the outer islands— in Maui and Molokaʻi and Kauaʻi.' 'There are other couple stories on Kauaʻi that we're interested to work with folks to bring further forward,' added Wilson. One example is the Atherton Garden, part of the National Tropical Botanical Garden on Kauaʻi's south shore. Its layered past touches on intersections of Hawaiian culture, environmental history and queer identity. Another site, near the mouth of the Wailua River, is connected to moʻolelo that include gender fluidity and same-sex love. 'There are also, throughout the islands, many sites that are involved in ancient legends and lāʻau that involve same-sex relationships or gender fluidity,' said Hamer. 'We might think of those as woke ideas, but they're very, very long lasting and embedded in Hawaiian history.' Can't make it to the exhibit in person? Much of the project's material lives online. Lei Pua ʻAla features a Hawaiʻi Queer Histories Map available on its website and through the Bloomberg Connects app. The map includes everything from ancient monuments honoring gender-fluid healers to the sites of legal battles over marriage equality. Visitors can also view Kauaʻi Pride's short video which is co-hosted on the project's website. It features interviews with residents sharing personal stories about struggle, pride and community. 'They've allowed us to co-host that on our website, too,' said Wilson. 'So, people can watch that video and get ready for the upcoming Kauaʻi Pride by seeing that story.' 1. Respect the culture and context This exhibit is rooted in Kanaka ʻŌiwi worldviews and reflects deep traditions of aloha, ʻohana and moʻokūʻauhau. These stories are not curiosities or tourist attractions. They are real histories from real lives. Approach with humility and care. Speak thoughtfully, ask permission if you're taking photos in sensitive areas and be mindful of the cultural weight of what is being shared. 2. Use the map as a starting point, not an end The Hawaiʻi Queer Histories Map offers a broad look at key sites across the islands. But don't treat it like a checklist. Each place deserves more than a quick photo. Do some research, read the moʻolelo and understand why these sites matter before you arrive. And always remember that many places are sacred. 3. Avoid stereotyping or romanticizing māhū identities Many of the stories shared in the exhibit reflect the lives of māhū, those who embody both kāne and wahine spirit. Māhū identity is complex and culturally significant. It's not the same as transgender or nonbinary in Western frameworks. Don't reduce it to a concept or curiosity. Listen first, learn carefully and speak with respect. 4. This is not the mainland Some behaviors that might be common in urban queer spaces elsewhere may not translate well here. Public displays of affection, performative allyship or uninvited activism can be seen as disrespectful, especially in more rural or conservative areas. Engage locally. Support community-led events like Kauaʻi Pride. Learn who is doing the work and follow their lead. 5. Be part of the story Lei Pua ʻAla isn't just collecting history. It's building it. If you have a story to share or know someone who does, reach out through the website. 'People live and live their lives and do their queer stuff every place in the islands,' said Hamer. 'And even a story that sounds the same can turn out to be very, very different when it's told by people on a different island.' 'There is a local saying — One island, many people, all Kauaians — and this exhibit seems to offer a great chance to stand by that and support all Kaua'i's people,' said Commissioner Steinbacher. Kaulike No Nā Mea A Pau is more than an exhibit. It's a homecoming for stories long pushed aside. It's a space where history breathes and identities are honored. And for Kauaʻi, it's a long-overdue recognition that queer lives have always been part of the fabric of Hawaiʻi. You can click to learn more about the exhibit and Lei Pua 'Ala. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHON's morning podcast, every morning at 8 'It's really helpful to have folks from those islands talking to us, because that's a history that is even less well known,' said Hamer. 'Especially here in Honolulu, where so many of the big structures are.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Morocco World
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
New Report Urges US Attention to Polisario Terror Threats Against Americans, Regional Security
Rabat – The Polisario Front and its supporter and sponsor, Algeria, are facing more pressure for their involvement in destabilizing the region, especially in light of the group's terror attacks against Americans. The Daily Signal issued a comprehensive piece, in which it detailed that Republican Congressman Joe Wilson recently vowed to introduce legislation to designate the Algeria-based separatist group as a terrorist organization. Criticizing the US administration for its ignorance of Polisario's threats, the report recalled how Polisario missiles struck two aircraft owned by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in 1988. The attack killed five Americans. 'And the U.S. failed to respond with sanctions,' Robert Greenway and Amine Ghoulidi, the authors of the report, remarked, noting that now Wilson's proposed legislation forces Washington to finally recognize the Polisario Front as the proxy threat it has become. Notably, the report mentioned Polisario's war threats, and its unilateral decision to withdraw from the UN-brokered ceasefire of 1991 in 2020, when Morocco peacefully ended weeks of blockade that hampered a trade route launched by the Polisario separatists. 'Polisario's threats rest on a foundation of Algerian sanctuary plus three mutually reinforcing pillars: Iranian military assistance, a growing Russian influence network, and a mature trans-Sahel illicit economy that overlaps with jihadist financing streams,' the report said. Algeria, a dangerous safe haven for terror The report further zoomed in on Algeria's role in the Western Sahara dispute and its direct aid to the separatist group, both logistically and financially, as the North African country harbors the terrorist organization on its soil, providing them with multi-billion-dollar financial and arms support within the Tindouf camps. 'This safe haven allows the group to stockpile ordnance, experiment with new systems, and cultivate external sponsors at minimal risk,' the report stressed. In 2018, Morocco cut ties with Iran, accusing its proxy of training and providing military logistics and support for the Polisario Front. Iran denied this collusion, but Morocco stressed that it has provided a detailed report, with evidence, showcasing this collusion that could never happen without the Algerian regime's support. Notably, several reports resurfaced, doubling down on evidence showing Algeria's interference in the internal affairs of other countries. Algeria's global interference This interference does not stop with Morocco, as Algeria's regime has also interfered in the domestic affairs of Syria under Bashar al-Assad's rule. In April, the Washington Post highlighted the deeper collaboration between Algiers and Iran-backed Hezbollah, in which it was using the Polisario Front to undermine not only Morocco's territorial integrity and sovereignty over its southern provinces but also meddle in Syria's domestic affairs. The news outlet quoted sources who confirmed that Hezbollah trained Polisario separatists to advance its interests. 'Over the years, Iran has fostered a wide array of proxy groups to advance its interests,' the report said, quoting a regional official and a third European official who said Iran trained fighters from the 'Algeria-based Polisario Front' that are now detained by Syria's new security forces. This is not the first report that documented Polisario's incursion in Syria. In December 2024, a highly confidential document that reportedly was an official correspondence from the former Syrian government shows that Polisario sent militants to undergo military training with the Syrian Arab army. The document, which dates back to January 2012, shows a series of communications between Algeria's Ministry of Defense, Syria's Ministry of Defense, and Polisario's leadership. Wilson's remarks and the new report by the Daily Signal are part of a growing outcry calling on the US and other countries to declare the Polisario a terrorist group. Liam Fox, former Secretary of State for Defense in the UK, also joined the chorus of politicians who emphasize the importance of labeling Polisario as a terrorist group. 'Like Hamas and Hezbollah, the Polisario Front is an Iranian proxy organisation. For the sake of our Moroccan allies, Western governments must move quickly to designate this group as a terrorist organisation,' Fox wrote on X. Ireland's first independently elected senator, Gerard Craughwell, made the same appeal on his X, in which he also described Morocco as a 'beautiful, peaceful country.'
