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We must do better: Nine states still lagging behind when it comes to combating human trafficking

Natalie Gonnella
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A leader in the fight against modern-day slavery, and one of the most prominent anti-trafficking organizations in the US and Japan, Polaris Project this week released the 2011 update to their annual state ratings, which tracks the presence /absence of 10 key statutes they believe to be integral to combating exploitation across the US.

Sadly, despite human trafficking being one of the largest and fastest growing criminal enterprises in the world, less than a dozen states come close to meeting all 10 conditions, with Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Massachusetts, Montana, South Carolina, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming, sorely lagging behind:

7-9 conditions met | 5-6 conditions met | 3-4 conditions met | 0-2 contions met

While there have been significant improvements across the country, the fact that most states continue to overlook a number of the suggested statutes remains extremely worrying. As Polaris Project's Policy Director Mary Ellison said in regards to the report's release:

Every day we are identifying an alarming number of victims from every state through the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline. Ten years after the passage of the federal anti-trafficking law, forty-five states, including D.C., now have sex trafficking criminal statutes, and forty-eight states have labor trafficking criminal statutes...Continuing to improve the legal framework at the state level by enacting critically important statutes will literally save lives.

With over 100,000 US minors at risk of commercial sexual exploitation each year alone, we must do better.

Further information on Polaris Project's 2011 analysis is available to view here.

As the eyes of the world turn to the Middle East we must not forget Cuba's Ladies in White

Natalie Gonnella
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With little attention given (both by the media and the Obama Administration) to the Castro regime's repeated attacks against the non-violent Ladies in White this summer, amid the ongoing (and widely watched) events in the Middle East and North Africa this week, House Foreign Affairs Chair Ileana Ros-Lehtinen urged Americans to also remember those bravely fighting tyranny in Cuba :

Once again, agents of the Cuban regime assaulted the Ladies in White as they peacefully marched in support of freedom and human rights in Cuba. Regime violence against women, including the Ladies in White, is on the rise and demonstrates the depths to which the dictatorship will sink to suppress and silence the Cuban people’s cries for liberty.

As the eyes of the world are on developments in the Middle East and North Africa, we must not forget about the people of Cuba and the brutal attacks that they endure at the hands of the tyrannical Castro regime. Yesterday’s attack by Cuban security forces on the Ladies in White is the most recent example of this repression.

At any hint of dissent, even by grieving mothers, sisters and wives of political prisoners, the Cuban regime responds violently. Just as free, democratic nations are rightly expressing their solidarity with those rising up against dictators in the Middle East and North Africa, so too must responsible nations support the democratic opposition in Cuba.

The Obama Administration has recently taken a strong stance against the Syrian regime by increasing U.S. sanctions against Damascus and its repressive leaders. I urge the Administration to show the same resolve against the Cuban tyranny and immediately reverse its easing of regulations targeting the Castro regime.

Rebels take control of Gadhafi compound: "Strategically, this means that Tripoli has fallen"

According to NBC News:

Rebel forces gained "full control" over Moammar Gadhafi's fortified Bab al-Aziziya compound in Libya's capital Tuesday.

The compound, which was heavily damaged by NATO airstrikes, had emerged as one of the last centers of government resistance.

"Strategically, this means that Tripoli has fallen," NBC's Richard Engel said from inside the compound.

An Associated Press reporter at the scene said the compound's green gates were blasted open, allowing hundreds of rebels poured into the complex, some driving golf carts as the area resounded with celebratory gunfire.

It was not immediately clear whether Gadhafi or members of his immediate family were in the compound when it was breached by the rebels, but the ferocity of the battle led many to speculate that the maverick leader may have been inside.

House Foreign Affairs Committee chair urges the immediate recall of the US envoy to Syria

Natalie Gonnella
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Joining the growing wave of voices demanding that the White House to get serious about the current situation in Syria, House Foreign Affairs Committee chair Ileana Ros-Lehtinen this morning issued a stern statement calling for the immediate recall of the US Ambassador to Syria, an action the Obama administration should have initiated long before today.

A vocal advocate of the protection of freedom and human rights, here's a look at what the Congresswoman had to say:

The recess appointment of an Ambassador to Syria was an ill-advised overture to the Syrian regime by the Administration. The Administration should reverse this mistake by recalling the Ambassador immediately.

Ambassador Ford’s recent participation in a regime-organized tour of northern Syria provided legitimacy to a ploy aimed at covering up the regime’s violence against the Syrian people. It compromised U.S. credibility with freedom and pro-democracy advocates within Syria at a critical time. 

The regime has made it clear though its brutal actions and through the refusal of senior officials to meet with the Ambassador that it is not interested in diplomacy. Any continued presence of a U.S. Ambassador will either be used by the regime for propaganda purposes or just plain ignored

For the first time in a decade as many Republicans as Democrats say the US "should mind its own business" when it comes to global affairs

Natalie Gonnella
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As opposition grows in Washington over US action in Libya, a recent Pew research poll reveals that when it comes to global engagement, nearly half of GOP voters feel the US should "mind it's own business":

[F]or the first time in a decade, as many Republicans (45%) as Democrats (43%) said the United States “should mind its own business internationally.” In three surveys conducted between 2002 and 2005, only about half as many Republicans as Democrats expressed this view.

Overall, "majorites in every partisan group –including 55% of conservative Republicans – said the U.S. 'should pay less attention to problems overseas and concentrate on problems here at home.'"

While this change is attitude is not entirely surprising considering current criticism coming from lawmakers and 2012 contenders, it is still troubling. As Senator John McCain commented earlier today on ABC's This Week:

The fact is, our interests are our values. And our values are that we don't want people needlessly slaughtered by the thousands if we can prevent such activity

Senator Lindsey Graham: If we really care about the Syrian people now is the time to let Assad know that all options are on the table

Natalie Gonnella
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As violence continues to escalate in Syria, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham today reiterated his calls for the US to take a greater stand against President Bashar Assad, including the potential use of military force.

Discussing the Assad government's "wholesale slaughter" against the Syrian people with CBS's Bob Schieffer, Graham urged the administration to take a bold approach to the situation, similar to recent action in Libya:

I think we need to turn our attention strongly to Syria with the regional cooperation like we have in Libya...Turkey is being overrun by Syrian refugees to put on table at the United Nations in an international way aid to the Syrian people. Humanitarian disasters are bound, what we did in Libya to protect the people against a rogue regime. If it made sense to protect the Libyan people against Qaddafi, and it did because they were going to get slaughtered if we hadn’t sent NATO in when he was on the outskirts of Benghazi. The question for the world is have we gotten to that point in Syria? And I think we may not be there yet but we’re getting very close. So if you really care about protecting the Syrian people from slaughter, now is the time to let Assad know that all options are on the table.

Graham continued that:

It has gotten to the point where Qaddafi’s behavior and Assad’s behavior are indistinguishable. The reason we went in to Libya is to protect the Libyan people from wholesale slaughter when they protested Qaddafi started killing them in the streets. He took his army, turned them on his own people. That’s exactly what’s happening in Syria. If we could have a power change, a regime change in Syria that breaks Syria from Iran, the world would be a much better place but it’s going to take regional and international cooperation to get there. But if you really care about the Syrian people, preventing them from being slaughtered, you need to put on the table all options including a model like we have in Libya.

Since March, over 1,400 people have reportedly been killed as a result of the regime's brutal crackdown against anti-government protests. Earlier today Syrian troops continued their attack on the northwestern city of Jisr al-Shughour, their latest attempt at reasserting Assad's authority.

In their observance of Holocaust Remembrance Week, Republicans call for an enhanced commitment to fighting hatred and injustice wherever they appear

Natalie Gonnella

As the world reflects on the need for continued vigilance in the fight against evil following recent events in Pakistan, coincidentally, this week also marks the national observance of Holocaust Remembrance Week.

In recognition of this year's Days of Remembrance, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Ileana Ros-Lehtinen issued the following statement stressing the importance of education in the fight against hatred and injustice across the globe:

[A]s we reflect on the news of Osama bin Laden’s death, we are reminded again that one of the grim lessons of the Holocaust is the need to stand up to agents of hatred. 

Even in the face of unthinkable persecution and a seemingly insurmountable enemy, it was the courage, compassion, conviction, and humanity of the victims and survivors of the Holocaust, and those devoted to saving them, which defeated an evil regime and ideology and shaped the path the world took to the future. 

The example of the Holocaust serves as a terrible reminder of what can happen when good people do nothing. There are those in the world today who hope that that lesson has been lost. Many even deny the Holocaust while espousing the type of hatred which led to it. 

As we remember all those whose lives were forever changed by the Holocaust, it is important to remain vigilant against the forces of evil, and also to promote Holocaust education and enhance our commitment to fighting hatred and anti-Semitism wherever they appear.

In addition to Ros-Lehtinen's comments, here's a look at what a few other Republicans had to say in observance of the national Days of Remembrance:

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor reminded lawmakers and Americans of the the imperative need for vigilance, calling for an increased effort to teach younger generations to stand against tyranny and hatred:

The scourge of Holocaust denial and anti-Jewish incitement is currently experiencing a rebirth around the world, with the regime in Iran leading the charge. We must answer these challenges by redoubling our efforts to teach the lessons of the Holocaust to our children, make it clear that we will not stand for intolerance or injustice, and remember what happens when well-intentioned individuals ignore threats and stand idly by in the face of dehumanization and evil.

Congressman Lou Barletta urged Americans to continue to advocate for freedom and justice, stressing the ever apparent need for education and the promotion of tolerance:

Those who died in the Holocaust continue to light the way, not just for those who share their religion, but for all mankind. They serve as an eternal warning against man’s ability to be cruel to his fellow man. They are in our minds as we mark this Time of Remembrance.

Now, we must continue to advocate for them. We must continue to teach the lesson taught to us by the six million Jews who perished during the Holocaust. And we must make sure that our children and grandchildren can always see their brilliant light.

Commemorating the first Holocaust Memorial in North Orange County, during remarks Congressman Ed Royce (who was joined Leon Leyson, the youngest Holocaust survivor on Schindler’s List, and Bruno Ryff, the Consul General of Switzerland delivering) urged Congress to do more to protect Israel and the wider cause of freedom around the world:

In Congress, we can resolve to do more in the cause of freedom, to do more to commit the United States to make certain that nothing like the Holocaust ever occurs again.

In this regard, today's world events are very troubling. The Jewish people faced intolerance and hate long before the Holocaust. And they face it to this day. I am deeply concerned about the security of Israel. The Middle East is tumultuous. And in Iran, our friends face a determined and able enemy. I am working in Congress with allies to see that Iran never obtains the means to act on its leader's sick dreams of attacking Israel.

Information regarding Days of Rembrance events across the country is available to view here.

What They're Saying: Republican freshmen reflect on their week-long congressional delegation trip to Europe and Afghanistan

Natalie Gonnella

Six members of the House of Representatives arrived back in the US yesterday following a week-long congressional trip to Afghanistan and several key European allies.

The bipartisan delegation began their travels in Prague, discussing bilateral defense policy with members of the Czech government.  They then moved on to Baku, the capitol of Azerbaijan, where they met with President Ilham Aliyev to discuss "regional security as well as ways to strengthen democratic institutions" within the country.

The congressmen then traveled to Afghanistan where they discussed "the security situation and strategy for our ongoing counterinsurgency efforts against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda" with top level military and civilian commanders including General David Petraeus and Ambassador Karl Eikenberry.

Concluding the trip with a stop in Georgia, "the group visited Georgia’s border with Russia, the site of continued dispute between the two nations and met with Georgian President Mikheil Saakasvili."

Chairman of the House Caucuses on Azerbaijan and Georgia Congressman Bill Shuster said of the delegation's visit:

It is important that we have the opportunity to meet with military and civilian commanders as well as our soldiers that put strategy into action...We are entering spring offensive when the fighting in Afghanistan is most intense.  We cannot lose sight of how critical our mission in Afghanistan is to our security and we must make sure our commanders have the flexibility to do their jobs and our soldiers the equipment and training necessary to do theirs.

Shuster was joined on the trip by Democrats Chris Murphy and Cedric Richmond, as well as Republican newbies Jon Runyan, Adam Kinzinger and Sean Duffy.

Their first overseas congressional visit, here's a look at what the GOP freshman had to say about their recent travels:

Congressman Jon Runyan commented:

"It was an honor to meet with our troops in the field.  They and their families suspend their lives and time to answer the call of our nation and sacrifice themselves for those the world over. There aren’t enough words of appreciation for what they do...As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, and as the elected official who represents the premier military facility in my state - Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst – this trip on the ground was both invaluable and informative to better understand the needs of our personnel and the progress achieved as well as efforts that require additional attention.

Congressman Adam Kinzinger, a former air force pilot who has himself served several tours in the Middle East, said of the trip:

Over the last few days, I spent time with our men and women who are fighting for the freedom of Afghanistan, and ultimately the security of our nation...Given the difficulties we face, I was impressed with the courage of our soldiers.  I remain committed to protecting democracy, and fighting for a free and secure Afghanistan.

Congressman Sean Duffy, who has posted a number of photos from the trip, said of the experience:

There is nothing quite as humbling as getting to visit with our nation’s finest young men and women who are serving on the front lines in harm’s way...The most sobering part of the trip was also a profound reminder that it is our uniformed heroes and their families who make the ultimate sacrifices in the war on terror...I attended a memorial service for the nine Americans killed at Kabul airport last week and, as a Wisconsin Congressman, I was deeply moved and honored to participate in the ‘Angel Flight’of an Appleton native killed in action. Their service and sacrifice represent the very best of American honor and valor.

What They're Saying: Republicans weigh in on the Obama administration's continued inaction on Syria

Natalie Gonnella

In an editorial yesterday, the Washington Post described the Obama administration's continued inaction on Syria as nothing short of shameful, commenting that:

Massacres on this scale usually prompt a strong response from Western democracies, as they should....The administration has sat on its hands despite the fact that the Assad regime is one of the most implacable U.S. adversaries in the Middle East. It is Iran’s closest ally; it supplies Iranian weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip for use against Israel. Since 2003 it has helped thousands of jihadists from across the Arab world travel to Iraq to attack American soldiers. It sought to build a secret nuclear reactor with the help of North Korea and destabilized the pro-Western government of neighboring Lebanon by sponsoring a series of assassinations.

With many Republicans sharing a similar view, here's a look at what several prominent conservatives have said this week about President Obama's feeble response to the abuses committed by Bashar al-Assad's regime:

Senator John Kyl earlier this week issued a statement condemning President Obama's silence, commenting that:

More and more, the U.S. looks irrelevant to a growing movement of millions across North Africa and the Middle East.  Long term, the damage to U.S. influence will be incalculable.  More importantly, peoples’ future and freedom are at stake. 

The President should personally stand up and publicly condemn the attacks by the Assad regime on the Syrian people.  The President must also make clear to the rulers of Iran that their interference in Syria’s democratic uprising will be opposed by the United States.  The United States must not condone by its silence Tehran’s repression of the Syrian people any more than its repression of the Iranian people. 

Lastly, President Obama, who felt it was important to rejoin the United Nations Human Rights Council, should now use that body to pass a resolution calling to an end to Assad’s violence against the Syrian people.

In an interview on Thursday, former Governor Mitt Romney said of the administration's response:

[I]t is hard to understand exactly how it is that we’re as actively engaged militarily and politically and diplomatically in Libya as we are, when at the same time, saying very little, if anything, about Syria. And of course, the President should speak out against Assad, should…in the same way he should have spoken out in favor of the voices of dissent in Iran when they took to the streets. He is remarkably silent when our most adamant foes are under attack by voices of freedom and dissent and democracy. But he gets very, very active in other settings.

Former Governor Tim Pawlenty, in response to this week's violence, said in a statement via his website on Friday:

[The] brutal crackdown by the Syrian regime on peaceful demonstrators is unacceptable. With 75 Syrians killed by their government today and 200 more in recent weeks, the United States must send a clear and strong signal to the people of Syria that we support their drive towards freedom and getting rid of the Assad regime. President Obama should immediately recall the ambassador that he sent to Syria and move to invoke additional economic sanctions. Moreover, he should instruct the US Ambassador to the UN to call a special meeting of the Security Council to condemn the Syrian regime's murderous conduct. As the world pauses to celebrate this holy weekend, our thoughts and prayers are with today's victims and all those around the world who are denied their rights to freedom of religion, free speech, and democracy.

"The protection of human rights and freedom of expression are fundamental necessities under a free society": House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Ileana Ros-Lehtinen marks the 50th Anniversary of the Bay of Pigs Invasion

Natalie Gonnella

This week a number of Cuban-American Congress members marked the 50th anniversary of the Bay of Pigs invasion, paying tribute to the approximately 1,500 CIA-trained soldiers who stormed the beach in Cuba as part of a secret attempt to overthrow the Castro regime and curtail the spread of communism.

Although panned by many as an "immoral" and "incompetent" failure by the Kennedy Administration, in a statement last week on the House floor, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Ileana Ros-Lehtinen reminded Americans of the courage and dedication of those involved in the operation on the ground and the continued importance of protecting human dignity and freedom across the globe. An avid advocate for human rights and democracy, here's a look at what House Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen had to say about the 50th Anniversary of the event:

On April 17, 1961, the anti-communist patriots of Brigade 2506 were determined to help their homeland and their loved ones who were living under a repressive regime. Even though the operation was not successful, the dedication and the commitment that these brave individuals illustrated during the conflict was exceptional.

During the operation, one hero was asked if he wished to be evacuated, and he said, “I will never leave this country.” These individuals showed a strong sense of heroism as they were up against the repressive regime’s armed forces.

President Ronald Reagan was a longstanding supporter of individuals taking action to free themselves from oppressive socialist and communist regimes. When referring to the Bay of Pigs, President Reagan stated, “By supporting courageous freedom fighters around the world, we're shining a light on the path out from Communism.”

These heroes reached the beaches of Playa Girón to fight against communism in Cuba that was being supported by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The evil empire made a strong push into Cuba that became a national security threat to the United States. A strong Soviet Union presence in Cuba led to the Cuban Missile Crisis.

This intrusion cemented the dangers of the Soviet Union having very close ties to the Cuban regime. Democracy and liberty of the people in the Western Hemisphere were in severe jeopardy as the communist forces were looking to expand their control. But the will of freedom-loving people who seek for a better future will not be deterred by the evils and the power of communism.

The protection of human rights and freedom of expression are fundamental necessities under a free society. As the spread of communism crumbled during the Cold War, democracies throughout the Western Hemisphere flourished in open societies. However, the United States must remain vigilant that history does not repeat itself.

At this moment, Russia is currently infiltrating the Western Hemisphere by joining forces with anti-democratic tyrants such as Chavez, Ortega, and Morales. Recently, reports have indicated that Russia has sold $15 billion worth of weapons and military equipment to Chavez. In addition, senior Russian military officials have mentioned the possibility of establishing refueling bases for Russian bombers in Cuba.

Russian activities in the Western Hemisphere raise serious concerns as they are arming rogue regimes that are counter to the interests and the security of our beloved nation. The veterans of the Bay of Pigs symbolized this struggle between communism and freedom. The brave Brigade 2506 patriots decided to risk their very lives in order to liberate an oppressed society.

These men fought courageously on that historic day. They came from many backgrounds, but all of them cared about freedom and liberty for the people of Cuba. Even though the Bay of Pigs operation was not successful, their call to serve rose again to protect our nation from enemies abroad. Many of these veterans continued to serve the United States by joining our Armed Forces and fighting with honor during the Vietnam War.

I would like to acknowledge all individuals who consistently are working toward fulfilling the dreams of a free Cuba, which is the dream of the veterans of Brigade 2506 who aspired and fought for a free and democratic Cuba. I would also like to recognize the veterans of the Bay of Pigs who are with us today in the gallery.

Gentlemen, thank you very much for your sacrifice and commitment for a free Cuba and a strong United States.