Martin Michaels

Martin Michaels is a Mint Press staff writer specializing in immigration, international affairs and social justice issues. A native New Yorker, Michaels graduated with a degree in international relations and democratization in the Middle East. He has traveled to Jordan, Egypt and Israel, conducting research and studying human rights issues there. Michaels has also worked in various positions with J Street and Occupy Wall Street, promoting peace and social justice. Contact Martin at [email protected] or follow Martin on Twitter at @MMichaelsMPN.

Syrian Opposition Highlights Vested International Interest In Regime Transition

Syrian army soldiers, hold the Syrian revolution flags as they stand in front their armored personnel carrier shortly after they defected and join the rebels, at Khaldiyeh neighborhood, in Homs province, central Syria, Saturday May 12, 2012. Syria's uprising started in March 2011 with mostly peaceful protests inspired by successful revolts elsewhere calling for political […]

Martin Michaels
Par Martin Michaels
Syrian army soldiers, hold the Syrian revolution flags as they stand in front their armored personnel carrier shortly after they defected and join the rebels, at Khaldiyeh neighborhood, in Homs province, central Syria, Saturday May 12, 2012. Syria's uprising started in March 2011 with mostly peaceful protests inspired by successful revolts elsewhere calling for political reform. The Syrian government responded with a brutal crackdown, prompting many in the opposition to take up arms to defend themselves and attack government troops. (AP Photo/Fadi Zaidan)

(Mint Press)-- UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon made an ominous announcement on Friday stating he believes the May 10 bombings that killed 55 people in Damascus were carried out by al-Qaeda. The attacks in the Syrian capital raise the spectre of fundamentalist factions hijacking the populist movement for democracy and self-rule, further diminishing

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Out Of District Funding Increasingly Influences Congressional Races

U.S. Senator Richard Lugar speaks at a news conference in Moscow, Friday, Dec. 19, 2008. Richard Lugar, the senior Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that the new U.S. administration could help improve relations between Russian and U.S. with talks on crucial arms control and security issues.(AP Photo/ Sergey Ponomarev) (Mint Press)–Congressman Eric […]

Martin Michaels
Par Martin Michaels
U.S. Senator Richard Lugar speaks at a news conference in Moscow, Friday, Dec. 19, 2008. Richard Lugar, the senior Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that the new U.S. administration could help improve relations between Russian and U.S. with talks on crucial arms control and security issues.(AP Photo/ Sergey Ponomarev)

(Mint Press)--Congressman Eric Cantor (R-VA) coasted to a 2010 victory, gaining 67 percent of the vote over his Democratic challenger, Rick Waugh. While Virginia’s 7th district has been historically more conservative, Cantor’s robust fundraising effort put him at a distinct advantage having raised more than $5 million compared to Waugh’s modest

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Potential Prison Swap Renews Hope Of New Chapter In US, Cuban Relations

Judy Gross, wife of Alan Gross, an American imprisoned in Cuba, right, talks to Nirma Medrano, left, during a rally to support her husband, Monday, Nov. 28, 2011, outside the Cuban Interests Section in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) (Mint Press)– On Thursday, a CNN interview on Wolf Blitzer’s program, The Situation Room, offered a […]

Martin Michaels
Par Martin Michaels
Judy Gross, wife of Alan Gross, an American imprisoned in Cuba, right, talks to Nirma Medrano, left, during a rally to support her husband, Monday, Nov. 28, 2011, outside the Cuban Interests Section in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

(Mint Press)-- On Thursday, a CNN interview on Wolf Blitzer’s program, The Situation Room, offered a rare opportunity to advance talks on the release of Alan Gross, an American contractor working for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) who was detained in Cuba in 2006 on charges of plotting against the state. Speaking to

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Dubious « Charity » Label Masks ALEC Political Activities

Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue holds up a sample Voter ID after signing the bill into law at the Capitol in Atlanta, Jan. 26, 2006. Sen. Cecil Staton, R-Macon, sponsor of the Voter ID legislation in the Senate is seen in the background. The U.S. Department of Justice on Wednesday, June 28, 2006, approved rules governing […]

Martin Michaels
Par Martin Michaels
Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue holds up a sample Voter ID after signing the bill into law at the Capitol in Atlanta, Jan. 26, 2006. Sen. Cecil Staton, R-Macon, sponsor of the Voter ID legislation in the Senate is seen in the background. (AP Photo/Ric Feld)

(Mint Press)-- A complaint submitted to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) could invalidate charity status for the conservative advocacy group: American Legislative Elections Council (ALEC). The query, submitted by Common Cause, a self-described independent non-partisan organization, has brought significant public condemnation prompting major

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How The Use of Hunger Strikes Is Changing The Face Of Peaceful Protest In the Middle East

A Palestinian man looks at posters of Palestinian prisoners Mahmoud Issa, left, and Abdallah Barghouti, during a rally held by hunger striking activists in solidarity with Palestinians prisoners held in Israeli jails. (AP Photo/Adel Hana Update– Hunger strikes by some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners have ended in an Egyptian brokered deal that will ease the use […]

Martin Michaels
Par Martin Michaels
A Palestinian man looks at posters of Palestinian prisoners Mahmoud Issa, left, and Abdallah Barghouti, during a rally held by hunger striking activists in solidarity with Palestinians prisoners held in Israeli jails. (AP Photo/Adel Hana

Update-- Hunger strikes by some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners have ended in an Egyptian brokered deal that will ease the use of Israeli use of administrative detention without charge. The 308 people held under this order will either be set free or sentenced to crimes. Israel has also agreed to reforms that will bring about more humane conditions in

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Special Report: French Elections Signal Growing Discontentment With Economic Austerity

French Socialist Party candidate for the 2012 presidential elections Francois Hollande delivers his speech during a campaign meeting in Lille, northern France, Tuesday, April 17, 2012. The first round of the election will take place on April 22, followed by a second round on May 6, 2012. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) (Mint Press)— The narrow victory […]

Martin Michaels
Par Martin Michaels
French Socialist Party candidate for the 2012 presidential elections Francois Hollande delivers his speech during a campaign meeting in Lille, northern France, Tuesday, April 17, 2012. The first round of the election will take place on April 22, followed by a second round on May 6, 2012. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

(Mint Press)— The narrow victory by Socialist Presidential Candidate Francoise Hollande over the more conservative incumbent, Nicolas Sarkozy sent shockwaves through Europe over the weekend. Winning nearly 52 percent of the vote in runoff elections, Hollande has become France’s first Socialist president in 20 years, a clear rejection of previous

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Moderates Continue To Push For Diplomacy With Iran

Keith Ellison (D-MN) has stated that the United States should take a more democratic approach to dealing with Iran and its nuclear program. (Photo by Center for American Progress Action Fund) (MintPress)—War with Iran, always a hot issue in Washington, has become a major foreign policy issue for President Obama ahead of November’s election. Pursuing […]

Martin Michaels
Par Martin Michaels
Keith Ellison (D-MN) has stated that the United States should take a more democratic approach to dealing with Iran and its nuclear program. (Photo by Center for American Progress Action Fund)

(MintPress)—War with Iran, always a hot issue in Washington, has become a major foreign policy issue for President Obama ahead of November’s election. Pursuing a policy of diplomacy and sanctions, a growing minority has voiced support for the President’s tempered approach to dealing with Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Among them is Congressman Keith

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