Medea Benjamin

Medea Benjamin

Medea Benjamin, co-founder of Global Exchange and CODEPINK: Women for Peace, is the author of the new book, Inside Iran: The Real History and Politics of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Her previous books include: Kingdom of the Unjust: Behind the U.S.-Saudi Connection; Drone Warfare: Killing by Remote Control; Don’t Be Afraid Gringo: A Honduran Woman Speaks from the Heart, and (with Jodie Evans) Stop the Next War Now (Inner Ocean Action Guide). Follow her on Twitter: @medeabenjamin

Articles by this author

"Hawkish Senate Democrats play a critical role as swing votes to keep the country at war and to ensure that the lion’s share of tax revenues keep flowing to the military-industrial complex." (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Views
Thursday, June 07, 2018
How The War Industry Corrupts The U.S. Congress
Former President Jimmy Carter has called U.S. politics a system of “legalized bribery” in which powerful interests spend billions of dollars on lobbying and campaign funding to ensure that members of Congress pay more attention to them than to the general public. With the upcoming midterm elections...
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"Instead of celebrating the true Saudi heroes, since May 15 at least 11 activists, both women and male allies, have been arrested." (Photo: @noconversion/Twitter) Views
Thursday, May 31, 2018
The Message From Saudi’s “Reformist” Crown Prince to Saudi Women: Shut Up And Drive
The June issue of Vogue Arabia is dedicated to the “trailblazing women of Saudi Arabia” and the much-awaited June 24 date that will give Saudi women the right to drive. The cover shot is a glamorous photo of Princess Hayfa bint Abdullah Al Saud in the Jeddah desert, perched in the driver’s seat of...
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Monday, April 30, 2018
Olive Branch for North Korea, Bombs for Iran?
The Iran nuclear deal is on the verge of sinking on May 12 , when Donald Trump will decide whether or not to waive the nuclear-related sanctions, as the deal calls for. While the world is cheering the upcoming meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jung Un (including Trump’s fans calling...
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Tuesday, March 27, 2018
10 Reasons to Fear John Bolton
Let’s not mince words: John Bolton is a war-monger and his appointment to be Donald Trump’s National Security Advisor is a threat to global security. Bolton advocates a foreign policy that exaggerates threats, belittles diplomacy, shows contempt for international institutions and is quick to use...
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Monday, March 19, 2018
Don’t Believe the Media Hype About Saudi Prince Mohammed Bin Salman
Saudi Arabia’s 32-year-old Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, heir to the Saudi throne after eliminating his rivals, is on a two-week whirlwind visit to the United States starting March 19. He plans to cement his ties to the Trump administration, shore up support for his war in Yemen while whipping...
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Thursday, March 15, 2018
The Iraq Death Toll 15 Years After the US Invasion
March 19 marks 15 years since the U.S.-U.K invasion of Iraq in 2003, and the American people have no idea of the enormity of the calamity the invasion unleashed. The US military has refused to keep a tally of Iraqi deaths. General Tommy Franks, the man in charge of the initial invasion, bluntly...
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In a 2015 speech to the U.S. Congress, the very Congress that is so beholden to the war machine, Pope Francis asked why deadly weapons were being sold to those who inflict untold suffering on society. The answer, he said, was money, “money that is drenched in blood, often innocent blood.” (Photo: Fibonacci Blue/Flickr/cc) Views
Monday, February 05, 2018
As Congress Feeds the Merchants of Death, the People Must Divest
In recent budget negotiations, Senate Democrats agreed to a boost in military spending that exceeded the cap for fiscal 2018 by $70 billion, bringing the total request to an enormous $716 billion. Inevitably, this means more Pentagon contracts will be awarded to private corporations that use...
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Monday, December 25, 2017
10 Good Things About a TERRIBLE Year
Every year I do a list of ten good things about the year. This year, I was about to skip it. Let’s face it: It has been a particularly horrible year for anyone with a progressive agenda. When I recently asked a prominent activist how she was doing, she took my hands, looked me in the eyes and said...
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"The state of Jordan called it “nuts” and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said it was a gift to “radicals and extremists.” (Photo: Getty) Views
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Why Are Democratic Senators Enabling One Of Trump’s Worst Decisions?
President Trump’s announcement stating that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and directing the State Department to begin moving the embassy sparked anger and protests across the world. One would think that Democrats would be be jumping at the chance to hammer Trump for his reckless plans that...
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All the Cubans we talked to thought the sonic attack was a bunch of baloney. From taxi drivers to government officials to dissidents, Cubans told our group that the whole episode was concocted to justify turning back the clock on Obama’s détente with Cuba. Views
Friday, November 10, 2017
While Clinching Deals With Communist China, Trump Cracks Down on Trade and Travel to Cuba
On Wednesday, November 8, just as President Trump was clinching new business deals with the repressive Communist government of China, the Trump administration announced its new rules rolling back President Obama’s opening with Cuba. The new regulations restricting travel and trade with the...
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