How White Sox catcher segued into Oppie A bomb saga

 How White Sox catcher segued into Oppie A bomb saga

The buzz over ‘Oppenheimer’ biopic has rekindled critically needed discussion of the Manhattan Project which endlessly haunts our future.

One local Chicago connection has yet to come up but should.

It involves former White Sox catcher Moe Berg, whom Casey Stangle called the “strangest man to ever play baseball.” At a time when Big Leaguers we’re mainly uneducated farm boys from the South, Berg might have well been from Mars. He got degrees from Princeton and Yale Law, new a bunch of languages and read 10 daily newspapers. But his brain didn’t translate to batting. It was said he knew 12 languages but couldn’t hit in any of them. He must have been a riot in the clubhouse.

Berg toiled in the Bigs from ’23 thru ’39 amassing just 6 dingers in 1,812 at bats. During that time he began a second career….as a spy for Uncle Sam. When his team toured Japan in the ‘30’s, he was tasked photographing Japanese military installations from his hotel window.

During WWII his language skills got him assigned to the OSS (Office of Strategic Services), predecessor to the CIA. After entering Yugoslavia to gather intelligence on resistance groups there, he landed tangentially in the Manhattan Project. He was sent to Italy to mingle with potential German nuclear scientists at a conference. His assignment was to assassinate the top guy if he could determine he was building a German A bomb. Realizing he was not, Berg passed on adding 'assassin' to his resume.

After the war Berg handled additional assignments for the CIA.

Berg’s stats will never get him to Cooperstown. But if the Hall added a wing titled ‘Ballplayers who helped with the Bomb’, it would have but one entrant…former White Sox catcher Moe Berg.

President Joe, retire and enjoy little Navy in your golden years

 President Joe, retire and enjoy little Navy in your golden years

Kudos for President Joe finally recognizing his 7th grandkid, 4 year old Navy Roberts yesterday. After refusing to recognize the existence of Navy, love child of son Hunter and gal pal Lunden Roberrs back in 2019, likely for political reasons, Joe said yesterday he wants the best for Navy, adding “she’s not a political issue.”

Good thing Joe saw the light. Now Navy won’t grow up thinking he’s the worst grandpa that ever lived.

I’ve been advocating Joe retire for 2 reasons. He’s too old, it being questionable he’ll make it to the Convention, much less Election Day. More importantly, he’s an unrepentant promoter of American exceptionalism who’s pushing America to possible nuclear confrontation with Russia and China simultaneously.

He sure screwed up the Democratic field by freezing everyone out except Bobby and Marianne, both marginal candidates.

It’s not too late Joe. Give some younger (and hopefully more peace oriented) Democrats a chance. Then figure out a way to meet little Navy and give her some of those famous Biden hugs the other 6 grandkids have been enjoying.

 Senate passes $886 billion NDAA: No audits necessary

President Joe wants no audit of the billions in weapons of mass Ukrainian death provided in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

His compliant Senate majority gave him every buck of the 886 billion bucks he requested to wage US exceptionalism round the world. Besides ravaging the life of millions in dozens of countries worldwide from bombs and sanctions, US foreign policy risks nuclear war with Russia and China over Ukraine and Taiwan respectively.

Republican Sen. Rand Paul’s amendment requiring audits and investigations of Ukraine aid was swamped 78 -20, with all Democrats voting to keep auditors away from the weapons giveaways. They are terrified an honest investigation would reveal how billions in weapons wind up with bad actors, get destroyed as soon as they’re introduced into the killing fields, and simply raise the Ukrainian death toll that can only be eliminated by negotiations.

America’s grotesque military budget should be reported in full on every front page, instead of disappearing from public consumption like invisible ink. On cable/network news, it’s the shame of America that dare not speak its name.

Every day countless Ukrainians die for US exceptionalism, and every day nuclear confrontation creeps closer.

All rea

Ace of traitors

 Hey, Donald

Congrats

on your 3rd indictment. 2 more and you'll be an Ace....of traitors.

Have gifts, will decide accordingly

 Have gifts, will decide accordingly

Situation wanted

Aging US Supreme Court justice willing to trade court decisions for lavish travel opportunities, tricked out motor home, gifts of all shapes and sizes. No questions asked. No checks or charge cards. Cash only. Billionaire status preferred. Wire Clarence, Washington DC

Peace activist Matt Hoh reviews Russo Ukraine war at 18 months

 Peace activist Matt Hoh reviews Russo Ukraine war at 18 months

Iraq war vet turned peace activist Matt Hoh addressed West Suburban Peace Coalition on the Russo Ukraine war at 18 months Tuesday on Zoom.

Hoh began by reviewing the terrible ravaging of Ukraine in this now protracted war: thousands of land mines, depleted uranium, unexploded cluster bombs, white phosphorus. If the war stopped today it would take decades to make Ukraine relatively safe again for its citizens.

He then discussed how both the Biden administration and its compliant media have greatly toned down reports of imagined Ukraine success and Russian failure, possibly even Russian collapse. It’s just not happening. The ballyhooed Ukraine counteroffensive has been a failure. Over $40 billion in US weaponry is not turning the war in Ukraine’s favor, much less ensuring victory. Much of it ends up in the wrong hands, is useless, or is quickly demolished on the battlefield.

But US/NATO support has created a stalemate that may have unintended consequences. A critical one is that stalemate does not end the killing that has reached several hundred thousand on both sides combined with no end in sight. Nor will stalemate end destruction of Ukraine as a viable country with a sustaining economy. It is on US/NATO life support and will be indefinitely.

Furthermore, stalemate raises possibility of internal collapse, more likely in Ukraine which is incurring virtually all the warfare and destruction. Such collapse could expand the already terrible Ukraine refugee problem.

What if the stalemate results in revolt and ouster of Putin? While many in the West might cheer, the result could install a greater military hardliner ratcheting up the war to unforeseen levels, possibly even involving nukes. Remember the truism: Be careful what you wish for.

Another ominous consequence could involve other countries entry into the war. Hoh mentioned Poland and Romania as possibilities. Sure enough, next day antiwar.com reported Polish military resources were heading to the border with Russian ally Belarus.

After all that gloom, did Hoh offer any positive thoughts? The major one, besides both Biden and US media going quiet about victory, is that most country leaders outside of US/NATO are calling for negotiations, negotiations, negotiations; not weapons, weapons, weapons. Hint, hint, President Joe?

Hoh concluded by posing the different views of Russia and the US on what can be negotiated. From Day 1 Russia has sought negotiations to resolve both their and Ukraine’s long term security interests. Call that a win-win…and both got close 16 months ago till the US sabotaged the ceasefire negotiations to weaken Russia.

For America it’s a zero sum game. No negotiations till Ukraine prevails on the battlefield. Since that will not happen, chances for a quick end to the Russo Ukraine war, and US proxy war against Russia…are blowing in the deadly wind.

All reactio

It’s Biden, not Bobby that should be causing anguish in Camelot

 It’s Biden, not Bobby that should be causing anguish in Camelot

The Kennedy Clan is in turmoil about the presidential campaign of Bobby Jr.

JFK grandson Jack Schlossberg calls it a “vanity project… trading in on Camelot, celebrity, conspiracy theories and conflict for personal gain and fame.”

Sister Kerry calls his campaign “deplorable and untruthful.” Brother Joseph II, terms him “morally and factually wrong.” Joseph III, his nephew and Biden administration envoy to Ireland “unequivocally condemns what he said,” about vaccines.

Apparently none of the Kennedy Clan tuned into Bobby’s near 2 hour campaign announcement which didn’t mention vaccines. But it did mention something the Clan is all for….endless US proxy war by their beloved Joe Biden getting hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians killed to keep Russia away from US dominance of Europe.

Bobby’s a Kennedy outlier all right, promoting end to all US perpetual wars, especially in Ukraine, and drawdown or our trillion dollar plus national security budget. Bobby wants that peace dividend used to reduce poverty afflicting 40 million, roughly 12% of the world’s richest country.

But the Kennedys are horrified Bobby is promoting end to the US proxy war with Russia; indeed all US forever wars. If their adopted family member Joe Biden promotes such rampaging militarism that threatens nuclear confrontation with Russia and China simultaneously, so will they; the Camelot legacy that sought a peaceful world be damned.

Bobby appears to be the one Kennedy that leaned the true lesson of Camelot…peace. Uncle Jack worked to end the Cold War. Papa Bobby worked to end the Vietnam War. Both were assassinated before their work was complete. Alas, Bobby Jr.’s effort to end US perpetual wars, is also being done in, but this time by a ferocious campaign of vitriol from much of the Democratic Party, including his own family.

Aborgion freedom train keeps on a rollin'

“We’ve taken it on the chin since Dobbs,” One of the things we learned was to get out in front and get out ahead and don’t wait because you’ll be run over by the train.”

---Michael Gonidakis, president of Ohio Right to Life in Columbus, Ohio, who helped organize efforts supporting the proposal on Tuesday. 3 million Ohioans showed up to power the train of abortion rights over Gonidakis and his anti abortion fanatics in Ohio. Their amendment to make it harder for pro abortion folks to protect abortion got steamrolled 57% to 43%....in a very conservative state. Toot, toot...the aborthion freedom train is rolling on.

All reaction

Chicago Tribune Opinion August 9

 Chicago Tribune Opinion August 9

Criticism of Trump charges

As a letter writer who expresses strong opinions on governmental malfeasance, I respect the Tribune publishing responsible opinions from all sides of an issue.

The key word is “responsible.” It’s disheartening, therefore, to see the scurrilous letter written by Dan Schuchardt (“Indictment a political sham,” Aug. 3) condemning prosecutors of Donald Trump for alleged election interference.

Calling the charges against Trump “nothing more than a political witch hunt” by “paid political hacks” and “purely election interference” is an affront to our system of justice and the protection of democratic elections. The letter adds neither facts nor value to discussion of the bedrock of democracy: fair and peaceful elections.

If Schuchardt were writing 100 years ago about a similar legal proceeding, he might very well offer the same comments condemning Bavarian prosecutors’ indictment of a former landscape painter who tried to overthrow the duly elected Bavarian government.

— Walt Zlotow, Glen Ellyn

Why can't Joe adopt this prescription for a sane foreign policy in his '24 campaign?

 Why can't Joe adopt this prescription for a sane foreign policy in his '24 campaign?

Bobby's '24 Peace Platform

BRING IT HOME

In the long term, a nation’s strength does not come from its armies. America spends as much on weaponry as the next nine nations combined, yet the country has grown weaker, not stronger, over the last 30 years. Even as its military technology has reigned supreme, America has been hollowing out from the inside. We cannot be a strong or secure nation when our infrastructure, industry, society, and economy are infirm.

A high priority of a Kennedy administration will be to make America strong again. When a body is sick, it withdraws its energy from the extremities in order to nourish the vital organs. It is time to end the imperial project and attend to all that has been neglected: the crumbling cities, the antiquated railways, the failing water systems, the decaying infrastructure, the ailing economy. Annual defense-related spending is close to one trillion dollars. We maintain 800 military bases around the world. The peace dividend that was supposed to come after the Berlin Wall fell was never redeemed. Now we have another chance.

As President, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. will start the process of unwinding empire. We will bring the troops home. We will stop racking up unpayable debt to fight one war after another. The military will return to its proper role of defending our country. We will end the proxy wars, bombing campaigns, covert operations, coups, paramilitaries, and everything else that has become so normal most people don’t know it’s happening. But it is happening, a constant drain on our strength. It’s time to come home and restore this country.

“America cannot be an empire abroad and continue to be a democracy at home.” -- Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

In Ukraine, the most important priority is to end the suffering of the Ukrainian people, victims of a brutal Russian invasion, and also victims of American geopolitical machinations going back at least to 2014. We must first get clear: Is our mission to help the brave Ukrainians defend their sovereignty? Or is it to use Ukraine as a pawn to weaken Russia? Robert F. Kennedy will choose the first. He will find a diplomatic solution that brings peace to Ukraine and brings our resources back where they belong. We will offer to withdraw our troops and nuclear-capable missiles from Russia's borders. Russia will withdraw its troops from Ukraine and guarantee its freedom and independence. UN peacekeepers will guarantee peace to the Russian-speaking eastern regions. We will put an end to this war. We will put an end to the suffering of the Ukranian people. That will be the start of a broader program of demilitarization of all countries.

We have to stop seeing the world in terms of enemies and adversaries. As John Quincy Adams wrote, “Americans go not abroad in search of monsters to destroy.” Robert F. Kennedy will revive a lost thread of American foreign policy thinking, the one championed by his uncle, John F. Kennedy who, over his 1000 days in office, had become a firm anti-imperialist. He wanted to exit Vietnam. He defied the Joint Chiefs of Staff and refused to bomb Cuba, thus saving us from nuclear Armageddon. He wanted to reverse the imperialistic policies of Truman and Eisenhower, rein in the CIA, and support freedom movements around the world. He wanted to revive Roosevelt’s impulse to dissolve the British empire rather than take it over.

John F. Kennedy’s vision was tragically cut short by an assassin’s bullet. But now we have another chance. The country is ailing, yes, but underneath there is vitality still. America is a land rich in resources, creativity, and intelligence. We just need to get serious about healing our society, to become strong again from the inside.

America was once an inspiration to the world, a beacon of freedom and democracy. Our priority will be nothing less than to restore our moral leadership. We will lead by example. When a warlike imperial nation disarms of its own accord, it sets a template for peace everywhere. It is not too late for us to voluntarily let go of empire and serve peace instead, as a strong and healthy nation.