U.S. Russia at war...neither will admit it

The U.S. and Russia, possessing over 13,000 nukes between them, are at war. By imposing economic sanctions designed to collapse the Russian economy, and funneling billions in weaponry into Ukraine to combat the Russian invasion, the U.S. has taken sides, aiding Ukraine’s efforts to fend off the criminal Russian invasion. That represents de facto war with Russia.

But neither the U.S. nor Russia will admit such a war exists between them. To do so puts every weapon at their disposal to defeat the other side. That includes those 13,000 nuclear weapons, only a few hundred of which could end life on earth.

In recognition of this, Russia has ignored America’s crushing economic sanctions and American made weaponry killing invading Russian soldiers. America, in turn, has turned down repeated requests from besieged Ukrainian president Zelensky and many in the U.S. to establish a ‘no fly’ zone over Ukraine. Why? That would quickly result in U.S. pilots shooting down Russian war planes, ripping off the façade that no war exists between them. That is also the reason the U.S. refused to be a middleman in funneling Polish war planes to the under equipped Ukrainian air force.

Putin and Biden are both walking a precarious tightrope. Putin seeks to subdue Ukraine quickly to forestall more deadly U.S. action against his aggression. Biden seeks to go right up to the line of open conflict with Russia without eliciting a Russian military response to NATO countries or the U.S. itself.

That is why many of us in the peace community do not support pumping billions of weaponry into a war zone. It will not only increase casualties on both sides, but it could also bring the world closer to a larger war of horrifying destruction. Outside of the U.S. and NATO, few countries are pouring arms into Ukraine.

What is needed more than ever is diplomacy to bring the fighting to an end. So far there have been 4 sessions between Russia and Ukraine, the last brokered by NATO member Turkey. Israel has also urged negotiations and compromise by both sides to end warfare.

Virtually every war ends with diplomacy, not unconditional surrender.

Why isn’t the U.S. getting involved with diplomacy instead of going right up to the edge of acknowledged war with Russia? One reason is the U.S. has never, and so far will never, acknowledge and deal with Russian security concerns that influenced their criminal invasion in Ukraine, the flashpoint for U.S/NATO, Russia tensions that should never have occurred. Had the U.S. taken that stance with North Vietnam, we might still be fighting the Vietnam war.

These are inconvenient truths neither the U.S. government nor U.S. media will allow discussed. That must end. Better to acknowledge there is a place for diplomacy rather than trip over the line of all out war with Russia.

Let's not move the Doomsday Clock up a hundred seconds to... Doomsday.

Walt Zlotow

West Suburban Peace Coalition