Chris Hedges Resigns From Human Rights Organization PEN Over over Appointment of Suzanne Nossell

[KoKo]

Published on Tuesday, April 2, 2013 by TruthDig.com
Chris Hedges Resigns From Human Rights Organization PEN Over over Appointment of Executive Director, Suzanne Nossel
by William Pfaff

The Truthdig columnist was scheduled to speak at events sponsored by PEN American Center next month, but he has resigned his membership in the writers’ organization over its executive director, Suzanne Nossel, a former aide to Hillary Clinton who may have coined the term “soft power.”

In addition to working for the State Department under Hillary Clinton as deputy assistant secretary of state for international organization affairs, Nossel has worked as executive director of Amnesty International USA, and for Human Rights Watch and The Wall Street Journal.

Chris Hedges emailed the following statement to PEN and it is reprinted here with his permission:

I will not be participating as a speaker in the PEN World Voices Festival in May. I will not participate because of your decision to select Suzanne Nossel as Executive Director of the PEN American Center. This appointment makes a mockery of PEN as a human rights organization and belittles the values PEN purports to defend. I spent seven years in the Middle East, most of them as the Middle East Bureau Chief of The New York Times. The suffering of the Palestinians under Israeli occupation and the plight of those caught up in our imperial wars in countries such as Iraq are not abstractions to me. Nossel’s relentless championing of preemptive war—which under international law is illegal—as a State Department official along with her callous disregard for Israeli mistreatment of the Palestinians and her refusal as a government official to denounce the use of torture and use of extra-judicial killings, makes her utterly unfit to lead any human rights organization, especially one that has global concerns. PEN American Center, by appointing Nossel, has unwittingly highlighted its own failure to defend and speak out for our dissidents, especially Bradley Manning. I hereby resign from PEN. I will wait until the organization returns to its original mandate to defend those who are persecuted, including those within the United States, before returning to the organization.

Sincerely,
Chris Hedges

MORE AT: http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/04/02-6

More about PEN: It is a global organization made up of writer members that advocates for free expression and other human rights causes. The chapter representing the eastern United States is called PEN American Center and was founded in 1922. Its membership has included Robert Frost, Tony Kushner, Langston Hughes, Thomas Mann, Arthur Miller, Susan Sontag, Salman Rushdie and John Steinbeck.



----------------------------------
U.S. Cooption of the Human Rights Movement Continues

An Appeal to PEN: Exec. Director Suzanne Nossel Must Go

by John V. Walsh and Coleen Rowley / April 1st, 2013

The Subversion of Human Rights Organizations

For many decades the rhetoric of human rights has been used by the West to justify its aggressive actions around the world. James Peck in his superb and much neglected work, Ideal Illusions: How the U.S. Government Co-Opted Human Rights, painstakingly and meticulously documents such subversion over the past 50 years. But the subversion goes farther than the selective attention often paid to official enemies and the relative neglect of human rights violations by U.S. allies. He also points out that the concept of human rights that has prevailed in the West over this period is a shriveled one, basically confined to civil rights. Although the mainstream human rights movement in the West claims to take its inspiration from the UN Declaration of Human Rights, it rarely mentions Articles 25 and 26, among others, which affirm health care and education as rights. Thus the fact that Gaddafi’s Libya had the highest literacy rate or highest score in all of Africa on the UN’s Human Development Index counted for nothing in assessments of Gaddafi. Nor is faintest praise to be found for the many hundreds of millions lifted from poverty and made literate in New China.

Similarly, Jean Bricmont in his insightful, Humanitarian Imperialism, another book studiously avoided by “progressives” in the West, details the use of human rights rhetoric to gain the support of European intellectuals for the Clintons’ assault on the Balkans. This in fact marked a turning point in the view of intellectuals toward the wars of present day imperial powers on weaker nations, a view that set the stage for assaults on Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Libya and now Syria. It marked a sharp break with the opposition of intellectuals to the U.S. war on Vietnam. The important principle of sovereignty enshrined in international law to protect weak nations from falling prey to powerful ones was rudely tossed aside, with much talk of human rights as the justification.

PEN Shows No Concern for Julian Assange or Bradley Manning

The principle at work here is not new. Julien Benda raised it long ago in The Treason of the Intellectuals. As Benda said, “There are two sets of principles. They are the principles of power and privilege and the principles of truth and justice. If you pursue truth and justice it will always mean a diminution of power and privilege. If you pursue power and privilege it will always be at the expense of truth and justice.” In our time we may identify Noam Chomsky and the late Alexander Cockburn among those who follow in the tradition of Benda. They represent the best in the tradition of PEN.

The question is which way will PEN go – the way of Benda or continue along the way of Nossel. Today a search on the PEN, America, web site readily yields entries for Pussy Riot, Ai Weiwei, and Liu Xiaobo, but nothing is to be found for “Bradley Manning” or “Julian Assange”! That in itself speaks volumes about Nossel’s PEN. As Chomsky and others have often pointed out, the primary duty of intellectuals is to critique their own ruling elite. After all, we can most affect our own rulers and it is their actions we are most responsible for. And that is what requires genuine courage. Criticizing elites in countries that are America’s official enemies is an easy and secure career path.

PEN members should take action

For those who are appalled by what is happening at PEN, here are links to a list of current and newly elected officers and Trustees. They bear ultimate responsibility for the path that PEN is taking and for Suzanne Nossel’s employ. The issue can also be raised at the upcoming PEN World Voices events in NYC. It is clear that many speakers at these events, perhaps the overwhelming majority, hold views quite the opposite of Nossel’s, as well they should. Nossel should resign. Speaking out in cases like this is the only way to prevent the Empire from corrupting all it touches, including the human rights movement.

MORE AT: http://dissidentvoice.org/2013/04/u-s-cooption-of-the-human-rights-movement-continues/#more-48267

[KoKo]

1. Interesting Comment on this over at Truth Dig Tom Carberry • 3 hours ago I wonder if anyone else w

Tom Carberry • 3 hours ago

I wonder if anyone else will follow Chris Hedges's lead? Probably not, as we have learned that "belonging" to special groups means more to most pundits than ethics or morality. Look at how the entire "liberal" establishment urged everyone to vote for Obama as the lesser evil.

Ms. Nossel seems to have made the rounds of all the places true "liberals" look up to -- executive director of Amnesty International, worked for Human Rights Watch, for Hillary Clinton, and of course for the Wall Street Journal.

The last 4 years of the Obama administration has shown the complete emptiness of the major "liberal" organizations in the face of Empire. Environmental groups have had no success stopping oil, coal, and nuclear disasters. Peace groups have had no success even slowing wars down, much less stopping new ones. Economic justice groups have seen the rich get richer and the poor get the shaft. Whistle blowers have gone to prison while torturers have gone free.

[frazzled]

2. PEN is not a human rights organization

It's an organization that "works to advance literature, to defend free expression, and to foster international literary fellowship." (Though it stands up for rights of writers who have been censored, or worse, for their views.) It has some 3,300 writers, editors, and translators in the PEN American Center. I guess these three will have to be missed.

It's kind of funny that these writers are protesting specifically because of a single article this (otherwise accomplished sounding) woman wrote in 2004 and are calling for her resignation. Isn't that a bit like censorship for written views? That would seem the antithesis of what the organization stands for.

[KoKo]

3. I believe it's her Appointment as Executive Director of Pen given her

Background that is the problem. With her background WHY was she appointed Executive Director of this Writers Organization.

It was Truth Dig, who chose the Title, but the criticism is valid from the reading of the articles.

[frazzled]

4. No, previous directors weren't primarily writers

The last exec direc was Steven Isenberg. His bio here:

PEN American Center, the largest branch of International PEN—the world’s oldest literary and human rights organization—today announced the appointment of Steven L. Isenberg as Executive Director, effective immediately. For the past six years, Mr. Isenberg was a Visiting Professor of Humanities at the University of Texas (Austin). During his distinguished career, Mr. Isenberg has served in a variety of leadership roles in journalism, government, academia, and law, including prior positions as interim President and Chairman of the Board of Adelphi University, Publisher of New York Newsday, Executive Vice President of the Los Angeles Times, and as Chief of Staff to New York City Mayor John V. Lindsay.

http://www.pen.org/press-release/2009/08/03/pen-american-center-names-steven-l-isenberg-executive-director

I don't see what's so shocking about her "background":

ost recently, she served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Organizations at the U.S. Department of State, where she was responsible for multilateral human rights, humanitarian affairs, women’s issues, public diplomacy, press and Congressional relations. At the State Department, Nossel played a leading role in U.S. engagement at the U.N. Human Rights Council, including the initiation of groundbreaking human rights resolutions on Iran, Syria, Libya, Cote d’Ivoire, freedom of association, freedom of expression and the first U.N. resolution on the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons. Prior to that, Nossel served as Chief Operating Officer for Human Rights Watch, where she was responsible for organizational management and spearheaded a strategic plan for the global expansion of the organization. During the Clinton administration she served as deputy to the Ambassador for U.N. Management and Reform at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, where she was the lead U.S. representative to the U.N. General Assembly negotiating a deal to settle the U.S. arrears to the world body. During the early 1990s Nossel worked in Johannesburg, South Africa, on the implementation of South Africa’s National Peace Accord, a multi-party agreement aimed at curbing political violence during that country’s transition to democracy; she has also done election monitoring and human rights documentation in Bosnia and Kosovo. Nossel is the author of a 2004 article in Foreign Affairs magazine entitled “Smart Power” and coined the term that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has made a defining feature of U.S. foreign policy.

http://humanrightsinvestigations.org/2012/09/30/suzanne-nossel-executive-director-of-amnesty-international-usa/#more-2108

What did she write that was so shocking?

The Bush administration has hijacked a once-proud progressive doctrine–liberal internationalism–to justify muscle-flexing militarism and arrogant unilateralism. Progressives must reclaim the legacy of Wilson, Roosevelt, Truman, and Kennedy with a foreign policy that will both bolster U.S. power and unite the world behind it.

I'm sorry. If Chris Hedges wants to get his panties in a twist about this, fine. But it seems like iron-fisted ideological censorship to me. That's not what PEN stands for at all. Buh-bye, Chris. I doubt many will follow him.

[Demeter]

5. It's a 1% Appointment

A person chosen for "fame" and high profile, not for competence, commitment, or consistency with the organization's values.

Like Jack Lew, of Citigroup, in the Treasury. Or other benighted choices.

See also: Revolving Door

[KoKo]

6. If you went to the sites and read the articles in full

He explains along with others why her policy statements and affiliations were offensive to him and others at PEN.

The second article goes into how Amnesty International and Human Right Rights Watch have promoted the US Empire over Peace. Some of it is right here in the snip above but to understand the whole point you need to read both articles linked.

Her policies are not in accordance with PEACEFUL Actions. My own question is why she moves around so much from one organization to another. And since her last position was in the State Department under Hillary then why did she leave. She's a young woman from her photo at the site of the first Article and why she's moved around from Amnesty, Human Rights Watch, Wall Street Journal and now PEN would seem to be worth the questions that are brought up in the second article at the site that I posted.

[truedelphi]

7. Yet another reason for this household's total

and complete admiration of Hedges.

K & R

[xiamiam]

19. ditto..he is one courageous and principled human. ..amazing and brilliant man

Wish there were more like him. I'm appreciative of all that he does. Walks the walk is an understatement.

[Cleita]

8. Good for him. It's refreshing when people, who have more power

and influence than the average person, stand up for principles instead of status quo and not rocking the boat. I hope this is the start of a trend.

[KoKo]

10. I think the "NGO's" have had influence that may or may not have been Corrupted..

and that's part of what this is all about.

If we corrupt our "PeaceKeepers" and their mission than their service as "PEACE Keepers" gets undermined by the PTB and the Think Tanks/PAC's/Council on Foreign Relations, AIPAK, and so Many other Established Think Tanks...even our OWN..."Center for American Progress" that so thoroughly supported President Obama that they actually assured us on his "first run" that they Had EVERYTHING in PLACE that would address the issues that Dems were Disgusted by with Bush and that Obama would be "Guided by Podesta and Clinton Era Liberals who would make his "TRANSITION" the easiest in current American History.

WE LEFT DEMS were Promised so Much that I felt if Obama had problems like Clinton did that "Center for American Progress" had "his back" and that all us Millions who Voted him In ...so horrified over Bush II that we were desperate for Change would FINALLY see PUSH BACK TO THE REPUGS... WE WERE THRILLED!

Now.......here it is. "how to move forward...is our search."

CLEANING UP SHIT and FINDING THE CAUSES....IS OUR MISSION as DEM CITIZENS along with "SEEKERS" Disillusioned" WITH ALL OF THEM! Just saying...

[ReRe]

9. I support Chris Hedges in this move...

... as I respect his highly moral views, unfettered in the face of TPTB. You rock on, Chris Hedges, and don't you ever compromise your values for nobody. Take the road less traveled!

[KoKo]

11. Agree...Hedges "Principles" offen upset many...but, it's good to

know that SOME will DRAW LINE...and STICK to their Priciples while others "pick and choose" and get "Press Time" ...for it.

I'ts hard to know the REAL TRUTH of ANYTHING these days with the Lies and Media Hype...but, I've felt Chris Hedges and Bill Moyers are TRYING to tell us the TRUTH...if we will listen. Whether WE Will Listen...is what remains to be seen...

[KoKo]

12. If we don't start to "Lean Left" then where is the "Push Back" that

Obama said he needed? I'm not doing this for OBAMA ...but because I'm sick of the Reagan=Bush Policies.

It's bringing back the Democracy that we grew up to BELIEVE IN...and to see it fall down in lies...shattered.. Is not something I want to go to my Grave having lived with...and I WILL NOT DO IT!

We need to STAND UP for WHO WE ARE..."THE PEOPLE"...and we've been SO TRASHED..by Wall Street and lack of Regulation. We need to STAND UP... Times are dire.....even worse than the 50's..McCarthy and Vietnam...it's morphed FORWARD...If Obama cannot Do It...then it's time for "The People to Do it!"

We are the "CAPTURED"...we need to do something to "PUSH BACK."

[ReRe]

13. I agree with both of your replies, KoKo

... Let's say that many of us are CAPTURED. But many of us AREN"T. I never was captured by their confusing double speak. Honey, I knew something was up when I was 5 years old. I was skeptical when words didn't match actions.

And the DLC thing has got to end. We DO need to get back over to the left of the line. Because the days of not being able to win elections unless we behave like the Republican Party are over. We see where the "Me, Me, Me" Greed meme has gotten us. No effing where but in the ditch, and at each other's throats over how we got here. Now that we see what they did and why (to enrich the few and not the many) AND the changing demographics, it's high time We The People got a grip and started acting like Democrats again!

[KoKo]

14. So many of us NOW have a History we can CATALOG...and we are

NOT Naive and we are NOT Clueless and we VOTE AND VOTE..every Election...but what happens? Where does the vote go for why we came out and did it?

Where is "Our Back" ....Who Has "Our Back?" We've been Good Democrats (I have all my voting life...and that's back to way back with my first vote for JFK...but it's a "trail of tears"...so many years.

WHY? No one can ever address ...WHY?

BTW...Not WHINING...but ASKING...WHY? Were IS OUR DEMOCRATIC PARTY?

[ReRe]

16. Because...

... someone else was running the show, KoKo. TPTB treat us like pawns. The reason is because that is exactly what we are to them. Pawns to be played. To be used for their selfish purposes. That's why. Our life is not our own. We think we are the masters of our destinies, but now we find out our lives have been a lie. We have to overcome the betrayal of it all and get involved more than just going to the polls every two years. I must run for now, KoKo. Dinner is ready! We're coming back, KoKo. Because we have to, for our descendants sake!

[xiamiam]

21. its gone...

the democratic party that I thought existed is gone..It only exists in our minds when the repubs are in office as I witnessed here for 4 years before Obama was elected. We were united in our absolute disgust..and we voted for change..and we got it...congress, the white house...we were gonna take our country back..stop the wars..close gitmo..stop torturing..help main street and not wall street...hopefully indict war profiteers..etc. etc.

well, we all know how that turned out so far and I dont expect anything from either party. 40+ years as a democrat..I'm over it. Terrible lesson to learn much akin to experiencing a broken heart. The divide between dems and repubs is an exaggerated fabrication as both parties represent their corporate masters. I voted green this past election just to try to help them get 5% of the vote so they could qualify for campaign dollars. Short of a revolution, I dont know what else would work.

[KoKo]

15. +1...well said..in many ways. (Response to "ReRe")

LOL's..."Our Lives Have Been a Lie." We played their "Credit Card Game" the "Dot Com" the Banking/Real Estate "Pump and Dump" ...but along the way our Jobs were going to NAFTA/GATT...and while the Credit was good we thought we were IMPORTANT...UNTIL...they pulled the PLUG.

NOW...they are RAMPING UP AGAIN! "Things are GOOD...SPEND...buy REAL ESTATE (if you weren't totally wiped out) and "It's COMING BACK!"

It Really IS ( "Coming Back for the 1%)...it will ALWAYS come back for them!

Bloomberg Business News had this morning that "Manhattan Real Estate is in a Boom! After the Latest Hurricane that Flooded out Lower Manhattan...there are NEW Condo's/Rentals Going Up and they are being Scapped up in the Million Dollar Range!

I lived in Manhattan long ago..so I keep up with that stuff in NYC. Where I lived in "West Village in Lower Manhattan" is NOW "Huge Hot" for Real Estate Investment...even though the Banks are Laying Off. It's said that it's the new Cornell University High Tech Center and the Wall Street Algo's are Now into Tech Businesses creating "Silicon Valley" in Lower Manhattan!

AYYYYYYYYY! The Next BUBBLE...but for THEM...THEY will SURVIVE!

[xiamiam]

22. same thing happening here in central ca..real estate sales up...lots of press

and thats good...but I also read the blue sheet weekly which lists notices of default and foreclosures as well as scheduled auctions...Its not over...not yet.

[idwiyo]

17. K&R

[KoKo]

18. ...for the West Coast Night Crowd..

if there's interest.

[woo me with science]

20. K&R

[xchrom]

23. Du rec. Nt