Annie's New Letters (& notes): 3/8/26

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Torture doesn’t create safety: it produces pain, trauma, and hatred. When people deprived of their liberty are abused, society loses its humanity. Torture is always illegal, immoral, and never justified.

Torture doesn’t create safety: it produces pain, trauma, and hatred. When people deprived of their liberty are abused, society loses its humanity. Torture is always illegal, immoral, and never justified.

https://x.com/ICRC/status/2031460079208124859/video/1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdDM6KFmmfE

[AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO READ GOOD ARTICLES (or quotes) IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine, or at least fair and just laws and policies]

MIFTAH: In Gaza, bearing witness has become a deadly act. Those who document the truth are targeted, while the world fails to hold Israel accountable for its crimes.

MIFTAH

@miftahpal

In Gaza, bearing witness has become a deadly act. Those who document the truth are targeted, while the world fails to hold Israel accountable for its crimes.

https://x.com/miftahpal/status/2031715040898715940/photo/2

So the State Department used an emergency authority to give Israel $650 million in 500lb, 1000lb, and Small Diameter bombs. What happens next?

A New Policy

@anewpolicyorg

So the State Department used an emergency authority to give Israel $650 million in 500lb, 1000lb, and Small Diameter bombs. What happens next?

BREAKING: Late on a Friday evening, when public attention is at its lowest, the Administration is once again blowing up the Congressional review process to notify a major arms sale to Israel. Details to follow.

With U.S. munitions stockpiles under strain, tonight @SecRubio is invoking emergency authority to expedite the sale to Israel of 20,000 munitions worth over $650 million.

The sale includes 12,000 BLU-110 1,000lb bombs made by Turkish firm @Repkon_Inc 's US subsidiary. Some of the bombs will be transferred directly *from U.S. stocks* per @StateDeptPM

The BLU-110 is the base bomb for the MK-83, which has been cited by the UN as having been used in strikes in Gaza including on hospitals. See https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/12/pattern-israeli-attacks-gaza-hospitals-raises-grave-concerns-report

The remainder of the transfers, including 10,000 BLU-111s (the component bomb for the MK-82 500lb bomb) will not be publicly posted because they are an expansion of a previously notified case - such expansions are sent to Congress, but not publicly posted.

https://x.com/anewpolicyorg/status/2030073081130021083

https://anewpolicypac.org/

A New Policy

@anewpolicyorg

America’s lobby for a new U.S. policy toward the Middle East that advances our interests and aligns with our values.

Washington, D.C.

Americans who believe in a U.S. policy toward the Middle East that advances American interests and reflects American values of freedom, equality and human rights.

What We Do

Provide supporters with the critical information and resources needed to determine which candidates for Congress support a new policy toward the Middle East.

Who We Support

Candidates for federal office who seek to support a new U.S. policy toward the Middle East that serves American interests, reflects American values, and complies with American law.

LET AID INTO GAZA: People in Gaza are still living in dire conditions while humanitarian aid is being blocked. On 28 February, the Israeli authorities closed all crossings into the Gaza Strip, raising concerns about food security and fuel supplies needed to sustain humanitarian operations. Although one, at Kerem Shalom, was partially reopened, the others remain closed. UNRWA has never stopped working even if its aid supplies have been blocked for over a year. But we need to be allowed to scale up.

UNRWA

@UNRWA

People in #Gaza are still living in dire conditions while humanitarian aid is being blocked. On 28 February, the Israeli authorities closed all crossings into the Gaza Strip, raising concerns about food security and fuel supplies needed to sustain humanitarian operations. Although one, at Kerem Shalom, was partially reopened, the others remain closed. UNRWA has never stopped working even if its aid supplies have been blocked for over a year. But we need to be allowed to scale up.

https://x.com/UNRWA/status/2031655169503412334