'44 Vice Presidential pick haunts cause of peace 82 years on

 '44 Vice Presidential pick haunts cause of peace 82 years on 

 

May 8 marked 81 years since Victory in Europe Day. That victory kicked off the 46 year long Cold War against our great WWII ally Soviet Union (now Russia) underpinned by the NATO alliance.

 

 

Sadly, the 1991 end of the Soviet Union didn't spell the end to NATO and full economic and political integration with a now harmless Russia. Just the opposite. It spurred NATO expansion thru former Soviet satellites right up to Russia's borders to weaken Russia and isolate it from the European political economy. America decided to use its sole superpower supremacy to keep Russia subservient forever.  What good is a trillion dollar military, the world’s largest, if you do not have a monstrous enemy to justify it? 

 

But proposed NATO expansion in Ukraine beginning in 2008 was an existential threat too far for Russia who worked assiduously for 14 years to prevent it. When the Biden administration rejected Russia's pleas out of hand, Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. 

 

Nearly five years on, Ukraine is near collapse. The US, bogged down in its lost war against Iran, has largely bowed out. Europe remains bellicose in Ukraine's defense but has neither the weapons nor money to mount any defense that will save Ukraine from defeat. In fact, European nations face economic ruin and domestic chaos themselves flushing hundreds of billions of Euros into a lost cause while constituents go without. 

 

 

This Cold war, now hot war history might have been avoided except for arguably the worst vice presidential pick in American history.

 

 

Every American today knows about Harry Truman but few know his vice presidential predecessor Henry Wallace. Wallace, a great 20th century American visionary, was shoved out of the vice presidency in 1944, denying him the presidency upon the imminent death of FDR, and changing America and the world for the worse.

 

 

Henry Wallace has been largely written out of the American Story told to succeeding generations of Americans by the protectors of the American Super Power Myth.

 

Born in 1888 to an affluent Iowa Republican farm family, Wallace increased family wealth with his Hi-Bred Corn Company. But the Depression turned Wallace into a zealous champion of the common man, landing him the Secretary of Agriculture post in FDR's first term. Possibly the most effective New Dealer, Wallace championed the broken American farmer using curtailed production and price supports to ameliorate rampant rural poverty. His unbridled Bernie Sanders like democratic socialism of the 30's garnered him FDR's reverence and the 1940 third term vice presidency.

 

 

Wallace transformed the vice presidency for the good, long before Dick Cheney transformed it for evil. FDR made him what journalists tabbed the 'Assistant President' in his role mobilizing war production during WWII and championing FDR's vision for a truly peaceful post WWII world working in partnership with critical war ally Russia and seeking end of European colonialism in Asia and Africa.

 

 

In 1942 he gave his famous "Common Man" speech, declaring the 20th century must celebrate the common man, not just, as Time publisher Henry Luce pompously postured, the American Century. In 1943, he joined with the black community following the Detroit race riot, arguing "We cannot crush Nazi brutality abroad and condone race riots at home."

 

 

His near FDR like popularity made him a lock for VP again on the '44 Democratic ticket. But with FDR fading mentally and physically, party leaders saw opportunity to dump him for a successor who wouldn't rock the boat. Wallace's peace proclivities threatened their continuation of a war economy to combat their imaginary new Hitler in the form of Joseph Stalin.

 

 

They closed the late night convention session on the brink of re-nominating Wallace for a second term. That garnered time to make deals with the other candidates to move the pliant Harry Truman from last to first in the final VP tally.

 

 

Three months into term four FDR died, thrusting Truman into the presidency for which he was woefully unprepared on foreign affairs. This set the stage for the Cold War due to Truman's capitulation to the conservative Russophobes of his day such as James Byrnes and Jimmy Forestall who demanded a fresh enemy to keep the emerging Military-Industrial Complex in business. The chance for a truly peaceful post WWII world with the Soviet Union was irrevocably lost.

 

 

The hardliners won out over Wallace, but undaunted he launched a 3rd party progressive campaign in 1948 to unseat Truman. The McCarthyite red smears and personal attacks on his progressive philosophy doomed him to just 3% of the '48 vote, ending his career. Also ended was any opportunity for America to retreat from senseless Cold War that haunts us till today with the hot war destroying Ukraine and senseless Russophobia back in fashion. 

 

At the Democratic Convention in 1944 Henry Wallace deserved better. America deserved better. The world deserved better.  

Walt Zlotow  West Suburban Peace Coalition,  Glen Ellyn IL 

Third impending Trump, Netanyahu attack on Iran may bring worst defeat yet to world’s two worst war criminals

 Third impending Trump, Netanyahu attack on Iran may bring worst defeat yet to world’s two worst war criminals

 

All signs point to a third try by US President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to destroy the Iranian regime shortly after the November 3 US midterms, if not before.

 

US criminal War Secretary Pete Hegseth recently met in Israel with Netanyahu almost certainly to discuss upcoming attack plans.

 

In a rare meeting, Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, visited the White House on Thursday to brief President Trump on military options for attacking Iran. Joining Cooper were Hegseth and Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. All three are virulent war hawks likely encouraging Trump who’s long boasted about destroying the Iranian civilization along with their Islamic leadership.

 

Senator Chris Murphy, after being briefed on the US plan to launch Iran war 3.0 made this astounding statement never before uttered by a US congressperson: “I'll just say this, their plan is insane, It will lead to devastating escalation and the likely destruction of our commitment to the rule of law."

Forget 'destruction to the rule of law' for the US and Isreal. Both destroyed that decades ago attacking countries, changing out regimes like changing underwear, interfering in elections, and worst of all, cooperating on genocide destroying life for 2,2000,000 Palestinians in Gaza.

 

But it will surely bring 'devastating escalation' to US, Israeli efforts to continue ruling the world. Iran has had over four months to prepare for the near certainty of round three of the criminal US Israeli tag team to oust the only country standing between them and absolute rule in the Middle East and beyond. Iran will likely polish off what remains of US Gulf State bases, destroy most if not all of remaining Gulf State oil infrastructure and reap devastating damage to the now vulnerable Israeli nation. If that occurs, we cannot rule out Israel, even the US resorting to nuclear weapons to avoid catastrophic defeat.

 

What is truly remarkable is only one of 535 congresspersons even has their hair on fire over what Trump and Netanyahu may ignite within the next few days.

   

Walt Zlotow West Suburban Peace Coalition Glen Ellyn IL

US, European leaders push war, economic ruin; constituents seek peace, prosperity

 US, European leaders push war, economic ruin; constituents seek peace, prosperity

The people of the US and Western Europe are mystified by their war crazed leaders.


In the US, President Trump promised peace and prosperity in term two. Instead, he embarked on criminal war on Iran murdering thousands, making life difficult if not unaffordable for all but the wealthy at home. Forty days of relentless bombing ended in failure that severely damaged all US Gulf State bases while choking off a fifth of the world’s oil supply and other valuable resources. Everything in the US and the entire world has become less affordable with no end in sight.


Trump’s boast about restarting the slaughter after the midterms next week has no chance of succeeding….and he knows it. With two more years of failed war to endure, the worst is likely yet to come for the American people utterly against the madness Trump unleashed upon them as well as the innocent Iran nation.


In Europe it’s the same story, just a different senseless war. Back in 2022, European leaders hopped aboard President Biden’s deranged quest to weaken, destroy the Russian regime by sending forth its Ukraine proxy to join NATO to allow NATO nukes on Russia’s border. Europe joined the US in training the Ukraine military to polish off the Russian leaning Ukraine Donbas separatists on Russia’s border as well. Both were existential threats to Russian security Russia had been warning the US and NATO about for years to no avail.


European leaders believed Biden’s boasts that US and NATO weaponry and economic sanctions, but not one drop of Western blood would collapse the Russian regime. They even ditched cheap Russian oil for high priced US liquified natural gas (LNG). Nearly five years on their Russian regime change plan is an utter failure as Ukraine nears collapse while their economies nosedive from skyrocketing energy costs as loss of Russian oil is exacerbated by loss of Middle East oil from Trump’s lost Iran war.


Both US and European leaders remain oblivious their constituents are fed up with senseless war degrading their living standard. Trump appears deranged when he says ‘”I can end the Iran war anytime I choose to.” If he meant that he’d end it today by returning to the Memorandum of Understanding he signed on June 17 which would have ended the war on Iran’s sensible terms to reopen the Middle East oil spigot. Now he faces likely loss of Congress and effective end to his presidency November 3.


Same goes for the leaders of the big 3 in Europe, the UK, France and Germany. While their economies decline, their leaders Burnham, Macron and Merz remain locked in senseless, delusional Russophobia that brooks no realistic diplomacy with Russia to end the Ukraine war on Russia’s sensible terms: No return of Donbas to Kyiv bent on destroying Russian culture there. No NATO for Ukraine. Neutrality between East and West for Ukraine going forward.


They know they are all running out of weapons and money to flush down the rathole of Ukraine’s lost cause. But they’ve spent years warning ‘The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming.’ They cannot bring themselves to accept the reality of the economic and political self destruction their Russophobia has brought on.


In an odd difference between the US and Europe, Trump may be swept from power from the left which will likely renew weapons and other aid to prolong Ukraine’s suffering. Democrats preposterously charge if Trump seeks a diplomatic end to the war he must be a Russian agent so we Democrats will restore war funding to Ukraine. European leaders face removal from the right who promise to divert Ukraine war spending to neglected domestic needs.


The Iran and Ukraine wars reveal how leaders can embark on senseless war without regard to the wishes and needs of their constituents. Once begun, it shows how difficult, likely impossible it is to admit their catastrophic mistakes and do what is right for their people, their political future; indeed, for humanity.

Walt Zlotow West Suburban Peace Coalition Glen Ellyn IL

Are mass murderers Netanyahu, Trump, planning more mass murder ahead of their October 27, November 3 elections?

Are mass murderers Netanyahu, Trump, planning more mass murder ahead of their October 27, November 3 elections? 

Both of these war criminals are hinting that renewed attacks on Iran may be imminent. Netanyahu is again dredging hup his decade’s long fantasy Iran is on the cusp of acquiring a nuke. He’s facing possible defeat for reelection next week. That’s two good reasons from his twisted mind to restart the war. A third is endless war on its neighbors is simply standard Israeli foreign policy.  

Donald Trump has been saying, bragging actually, he’ll not attack Iran before the November 3 election, but most likely will shortly thereafter. But with Netanhayu’s time frame more imminent than Trump’s, we cannot rule out Trump will join Isreal in a massive attack on Iran to help save his Israeli master from defeat and possible jail next Tuesday.

Some evidence is that non essential military personnel and families are being evacuated from the region. In Saudi Arabia, private pilots are working overtime spiriting Saudi Royals and prominent Saudis to safer climes.

Added to this concern is that the Trump administration has decimated the top ranks of professional diplomats and military leaders who could sensibly push back against senseless war. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth traveled all the way to Israel to confer with Netanyahu. One guess what was Topic One on the agenda.

Renewed war will be catastrophic on many levels. It’s a war the US and Israel cannot win. Just like ahead of the Mass Murder Twins’ February 28 attack, Iran is preparing a robust defense. It will likely the collapse the Saudi regime and further destroy its oil production. Can you see $10 a gallon gas signs in your mind’s eye?

Worst of all? If the US and Israel face failure once again, will they reach for their nukes? Some sensible analytes are raising this ominous prospect. We cannot rule that out from leaders who are laser focused on Israeli hegemony in their region and US hegemony, in partnership with Israel, over the entire world.

Congress needs to light its collective hair on fire over the imminent prospect of renewed war. Republicans love the current war and may even welcome a renewed attack. Democrats, salivating bout regaining Congressional control, are simply playing politics. They’re charging the war is hurting Americans’ affordability but ignoring his grotesque murder and criminality. They offer not one word of concern Trump may be ready to light the fuse to renewed catastrophe. Shame on both parties.

Sadly, our future remains in the bloody hands of two demented leaders who care nothing about how many they kill and how much destruction they inflict on the world. We can only hope we’re still around when they are no longer in charge of our collective fate.

Walt Zlotow  West Suburban Peace Coalition  Glen Ellyn IL

It’s Bob Kustra, not Trump, who betrays Ronald Reagan’s Realpolitik on foreign affairs

 

It’s Bob Kustra, not Trump, who betrays Ronald Reagan’s Realpolitik on foreign affairs

 

In his Chicago Tribune commentary, ‘Donald Trump’s actions against Ukraine betray Ronald Reagan’ former Illinois political leader and current foreign affairs commentator Bob Kustra mis imagines how long deceased President Reagan would react to President Trump’s efforts to end the Ukraine war.

 

Reagan talked tough to the old Soviet Union telling them to “Tear down this (Berlin) wall.” But he negotiated with the Russians on issues of nuclear disarmament and avoiding hot war. When the Soviets shot down Korean Flight 007 killing 269 on September 1, 1983, Reagan howled in protest, then went silent. When 241 US soldiers were killed in the October 23, 1983, Beirut bombing, Reagan didn’t go in for revenge with guns blazing. He pulled out US forces, because he sensibly realized the US had no business there in the first place.  

 

Kustra implies, without stating explicitly, that Reagan would give Ukraine every miliary tool needed to prevail against Russia. Yet the only basis for that is claiming Reagan won the Cold War against the Soviet Union “with sharp ideological rhetoric, military strength and diplomatic skills.” That is an irrelevant word salad that has no connection to the current war in Ukraine. 

Kustra appears oblivious that Ukraine is careening toward collapse which will not be helped by US sanctions whatsoever. Kustra’s claim that Trump’s diesel fuel revenue "will bolster his (Putin’s) struggling war economy” is ludicrous. Biden imposed the ‘mother of all sanctions’ on Russia in February 2022 to achieve victory. Russia simply pivoted east and south, bypassing the West and is doing just fine financing their approaching victory.

 

Kustra follows the scrip of the entire pro Ukraine war clique that Putin is another Hitler: “Putin’s expansionist Russian strategy seems eerily like Adolf Hitler’s advances across Europe and certainly reminiscent of Soviet Russia building an Iron Curtain around Eastern European nations after World War II.” Utter hyperbole, Mr. Kustra.

 

Bob Kustra has no plan for victory over Russia besides sanctions and cancelling the diesel fuel deal. He doesn’t demand we squander another $175 billion in weapons and other aid which has done nothing to keep Ukraine from losing more territory and another million casualties. He doesn’t advocate sending American soldiers to fight alongside the disappearing Ukraine military. He does not advocate threatening Russia with nuclear annihilation if they do not cease hostilities.

 

If Kustra wants to invoke his beloved Ronald Reagan, then he should encourage President Trump to continue his negotiations with both Ukraine President Zelensky and Russian President Putin to end the war at the negotiating table, not on the battlefield. If he could pop in down from Conservative Heaven, that’s precisely what the Gipper would be doing.

 

Walt Zlotow  West Suburban Peace Coalition  Glen Ellyn IL

Thank you Mr. Presdient for cutting off most US treasure to fund Ukriane proxy war

 Thank you Mr. President for cutting off most US treasure to fund Ukraine proxy war

Former President Biden squandered upwards of $175 billion in direct and indirect aid to Ukraine in America’s senseless proxy war to weaken, destroy Russia.

Back in November, 2021, Russian President Putin reached out to President Biden one last time to avert military action against Ukraine massing troops to finish off Ukrainian Donbas separatists seeking autonomy and peace from their Kyiv masters. Included was Russia’s security demand that Ukraine not join NATO, a Russian red line it had been warning the US not to cross since America’s 2008 NATO membership pledge to Ukraine.

Biden’s response? Russia’s security concerns regarding Ukraine NATO membership and Donbas autonomy were not even on the agenda. Biden knew that meant Russia would launch an invasion which occurred 3 months later. He cared not one whit how many would die, believing that Russia would self destruct from US aid to Ukraine like Russia did in Afghanistan between 1979 to 1989.

Biden left office 3 years later with Ukraine in ruins with no chance of prevailing, Russia stronger than ever, and $175 billion of precious US treasure squandered on death and destruction in furtherance of America pretending it still ruled Europe, indeed the world.

Trump began his second term boasting he’d end the war on Day One. Six hundred forty days in, Trump still flails around seeking an end to Biden’s insane Ukraine proxy war so he can concentrate on polishing off Iran to please his Israeli masters.

But thankfully, he has largely cut off squandering endless tens of billions for the lost cause of defeating Russia to please the Russophobes that infest both the Republican and Democratic Parties, the military, the CIA; virtually the entire national security state. They are all supported by mainstream media which totally censures any pushback to the madness of continued war in Ukraine till the last Ukrainian soldier is dead.

There are many reasons to revile President Trump. But his cutting off squandering our precious treasure to continue the destruction of Ukraine in order to weaken, destroy Russia is not one of them.

Walt Zlotow West Suburban Peace Coalition Glen Ellyn IL

Zelensky still the most dangerous man in the world

 Zelensky still the most dangerous man in the world

 

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has been pushing all out war between the West and Russia since the Russian invasion of February 2022. And ‘all out’ only has one inevitable outcome…nuclear war.

 

That’s a long time to be put under threat of nuclear annihilation by a former comedian. Zelensky used his celebrity to win the Ukraine presidency in 2019, promising to make peace with the Russian leaning Ukrainians in Donbas on Russia’s border being brutalized by the ultra nationalist Kyiv government for years preceding Zelensky.

 

The Kyiv deep state quickly disabused Zelensky of reproachment with Donbas Ukrainians and Russia. With the US and NATO cheering Zelensky on, this made the Russian invasion nearly 3 years later inevitable. 

Zelensky went along, foolishly believing Western aid would defeat an overwhelmingly more powerful Russia that Ukraine had no chance of defeating single handedly.

 

But right at the start, President Biden, most responsible for provoking the war, declared no US troops or long range weapons for Zelensky because ‘that would lead to nuclear war.’ That essentially sealed Ukraine’s fate, a truth Zelensky could not comprehend.  

 

How right Biden was then and how wrong Zelensky was and is today, demanding endless long range NATO weapons that are reaching deep into Russia.

 

And European NATO countries are following Zelensky down the rabbit hole of possible nuclear war by giving him the missiles that Zelensky hopes will launch the all out war between NATO and Russia that will save Ukraine’s bacon.

Alas, Zelensky appears oblivious his bacon will be incinerated along with possibly all of us if that hoped for war breaks out.

 

Russia has not taken Zelensky and NATO’s bait. While they have justification for attacking NATO countries responsible for long range missile attacks, most recently on St. Petersberg, they are laser focused on collapsing the Ukraine military and government, making further NATO involvement moot.

 

Zelensky could have ended the war a month in with the March 2022 Istanbul Peace Talks that would have left Ukraine intact and neutral between Russia and the West with no NATO membership. But delusional, power hungry Zelensky fell for US/NATO promises to keep fighting till Russia was defeated with US/NATO help.

 

Four and a half years on Zelenski, ruling Ukraine as an unelected dictator for the past two and a half years, continues to demand endless billions in NATO weaponry and governing aid for a nation entering its death throes. He’s oblivious that Europe is going broke funding his lost war. Out of touch European leaders have lost credibility and approval as political unrest will likely sweep them from office. Look at France to see what's ahead for the others. They will be replaced by nationalist governments that will use dwindling treasure to uplift their people instead of shoveling it down the rathole of Zelensky’s lost war.

 

Zelensky’s last, desperate hope is that NATO will go ‘all in’ against Russia. Too many European leaders have hopped aboard that death train. If that happens the rest of us may go ‘all out.’ That is why Volodymy Zelensky is still, after four and a half years, the most dangerous man in the world.

 

Walt Zlotow  West Suburban Peace Coalition  Glen Ellyn IL

Democrats, not Trump, betraying Ukraine by promoting endless war destroying Ukraine

 Democrats, not Trump, betraying Ukraine by promoting endless war destroying Ukraine

Democratic office holders and candidates are pounding the campaign trail and haunting mainstream media with their hair on fire over Trump’s easing of sanctions on Russia to scoop up Russian diesel to drop US diesel under $6 a gallon ahead of the election. 


“Trump just gave Putin the best birthday gift he’ll get this year. By giving the Russian economy life support, Trump’s deal with the devil keeps getting dirtier.


“There’s nothing America First about Trump caving to Putin and exempting Russia from US sanctions.”
Democrats are unanimous in support of continuing the war in Ukraine in furtherance of retaking control of Congress November 3.

Once back in power, Democrats will likely rejoin NATO in ramping up sanctions and weapons deliveries targeting of Russian assets none of which will save Ukraine from being utterly destroyed by overwhelming Russian military and economic might. But Democrats will not offer one drop of US blood to save Ukraine from impending defeat. For Democrats it's all bluster and virtue signaling. 


An unintended consequence is that it could make general war between Russia and the West break out that could easily go nuclear. European NATO nations are already at war with Russia by supplying missiles, logistics, targeting and intelligence inflicting significant tho non strategic damage to Russian resources. Even the US CIA continues to provide targeting assistance in spite of Trump’s directive to cease and desist. The US deep state simply cannot be controlled by Trump.  


Russia ignores the West’s war on them to concentrate on completing Ukraine’s collapse. However, If Democrats follow thru on their deranged promise to reengage in the lost Ukraine war provoked by Demorcrat Biden in 2022, all out nuclear war becomes increasingly likely. 


President Trump in is no friend of peace. He’s killed many thousands in criminal warfare in Somalia, Syria, Nigeria, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan, Libya, Pakistan, and most recently, his catastrophically lost war against Iran he cannot quit. He’s taken ghoulish delight like a kid in a shooting gallery blasting little unarmed boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific to smithereens, killing hundreds.

But Trump has little interest in further destroying Ukraine to satisfy the bloodlust of US and NATO Russophobes. For some inexplicable, bizarre reason, Democrats have not learned that sensible lesson. 


Walt Zlotow  West Suburban Peace Coalition  Glen Ellyn IL

Freedom, democracy in Ukraine sure a bit bizarre

 Freedom, democracy in Ukraine sure a bit bizarre

The recent Trump, Putin diesel fuel deal designed to drop diesel under $6 a gallon ahead of the election has got the endless Ukraine war crowd promoting Ukrainian freedom and democracy as the cause they're fighting for.


But these folks, shielded from the reality of political life in Ukraine, are oblivious how unfree, undemocratic Ukraine is, and how unpopular acting President Zelensky and his endless war against Russia are.


Zelensky’s 5 year term expired May 20, 2024 but he’s cancelled elections while he rules Ukraine dictatorially under martial law. He’s banned all opposition media and rivals, even jailing and torturing some. Over 7 million Ukrainians have fled the former Ukrainian democracy. Running out of troops to serve as cannon fodder, young men and teens are scooped up off the streets while their wives and mothers beg for their release.


No wonder Zelensky’s approval and trust ratings hover around 40%. Three quarters of Ukrainians want immediate negotiations to end the war destroying all vestiges of life in Ukraine with no hope of reversal.


And in alleged despotic Russia? Putin, in his third year as duly elected Russian president, enjoys approval and trust ratings over 70%. Thousands of recruits flock to enlistment centers monthly to complete pushback to NATO expansion to put nukes on Russia’s borders in Ukraine and prevent further destruction of Russian leaning Ukrainians in Donbas.


Supporters of continuing the war in Ukraine till the last Ukrainian soldier is dead can use thousands of words in their support. But freedom and democracy are two words that should be left out.


Walt Zlotow, West Suburban Peace Coalition, Glen Ellyn IL

Advocates opposing Trunp’s easing Russian sanctions to buy Russia diesel will do nothing to prevent impending Ukraine collapse

 Advocates opposing Trunp’s easing Russian sanctions to buy Russia diesel will do nothing to prevent impending Ukraine collapse

Joel R. Levin and Mariya Dmytriv-Kapeniak got one thing very right and one very wrong in their Chicago Tribune commentary ‘President Donald Trump throws a lifeline to Vladimir Putin’.

In criticizing President Trump for easing sanctions on Russia to allow sales of Russian diesel to the US, they correctly argue the purchase “will have little, if any, effect on the price of diesel.” The ‘if any’ is much more likely. We don’t even know if one barrel of Russian diesel will arrive stateside to keep US diesel from hitting $7 a gallon.

That’s because Ukrainian Presisdent Zelensky has ignored Trump’s demand to stop bombing Russian oil refineries which may end the Russian surplus Trump covets. Another reason? Trump endlessly fanaticizes foreign deals to boost his electoral fortunes that never come to pass. How many times has he boasted about imaginary Iranian deals to submit to US victory in the Middle East?

What Levin and Dmytriv-Kapeniak get terribly wrong is that Trump’s easing of economic sanctions on Russia to purchase diesel “comes in the wake of newly authorized sanctions that have the potential to throttle the Russian war machine.”

When it comes to fantasy, Levin and Dmytriv-Kapeniak, like all those supporting Ukraine remaining in a war that is systematically destroying the Ukraine state, believe that economic sanctions will win the war.

That is nonsense. When Russia invaded Ukraine February 22, 2022, the US and NATO pledged the ‘Mother of all sanctions, but not one drop of US/NATO blood’ to achieve Ukraine victory. Russia simply retooled their economy to avoid Western sanctions and have created a massive war machine that is unstoppable.

With Ukraine nearing collapse, it’s time for Joel R. Levin and Mariya Dmytriv-Kapeniak, along with all well meaning supporters of Ukraine’s cause, to acknowledge that economic sanctions on Russia are utterly meaningless. They need to embrace Realpolitik…and leave fantasy to President Trump.

Walt Zlotow, West Suburban Peace Coalition, Glen Ellyn IL

Trib's Col. Robert R. McCormick nailed Trump's mendacity 95 years ago

 Trib's Col. Robert R. McCormick nailed Trump's mendacity 95 years ago

Chicago Tribune should dust off 95 year old editorial by legendary Publisher Col. Robert R. McCormick to celebrate Trump losing Congress Nov. 3

They only have to change 2 words in McCormick's scathing  editorial celebrating monstrous Chicago Mayor Big Bill Thompson being booted from office, losing his fifth and last mayoral election to Anton Cermak, April 7, 1931,

"For America Trump has meant filth, corruption, idiocy and bankruptcy. He has given the country an international reputation for moronic buffoonery, barbaric crime, triumphant hoodlumism, unchecked graft and a dejected citizenship." 

America's BFF Saudi Arabia likely won't be forever

America's BFF Saudi Arabia likely won't be forever


A disastrous unintended consequence of Trump's lost war on Iran is the impending destruction of its best Middle East ally Saudi Arabia. Both Iran and now Ansah Allah (Houthis) in Yemen are pounding Saudi infrastructure and oil facilities, drastically degrading the Saudi economy. No oil revenue may signal the end of Saudi Arabia as an economic power. Saudi Arabia may wind up a failed state with its hated rulers fleeing for safe havens.


The head of Aramco, the Saudi oil company, advised it will take at least two years for oil production and delivery to return to normal. And that's if no further damaging attacks occurs.


Back in 2015 Saudi strongman Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) jumped into the Yemen civil war to prevent the Houthis from polishing off the Saudi backed Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) which was a minority element with no chance of prevailing.
But even with hundreds of billions in US bombs, jets, intelligence, logistics that kept the killing going for 7 years, the Saudis gave up in futility in 2022. Over a quarter million Yemenis dead simply for Uncle Sam to protect its Saudi ally against the Houthis who controlled 80% of Yemen including the capital couldn't stop the popular Houthis.


Last year the Houthis came to the aid of Gaza's Palestinians undergoing genocide by Israel. When they disrupted Israeli Red Sea shipping, the US launched over a thousand air strikes costing over a billion dollars during a 7 week air campaign that failed miserably.


Having failed twice to deter the Houthis, the US stupidly greenlighted the Saudis to attack Yemen's main airport in Saana last July 13, reigning the Yemen, Saudi war that ended 4 years ago. Big mistake. The results have been so devastating to Saudi Arabia that MBS called up Trump begging for US air strikes on Yemen. But bogged down in his lost war on Iran, Trump demurred squandering his dwindling drone and missile stockpile to bail outhe incompetent Saudis.He's left his former BFF MBS to face Houthi attacks that cannot be stopped.


Wise foreign policy analysts foresee Saudi Arabia collapsing politically along with their collapsing oil gravy train. MBS may have slaughtered his last political opponent such as Kamal Khashoggi, the Washington Post columnist MBS had chopped up in the Saudi consulate in Turkey in 2018.


MBS may soon be MIA. Can't come soon enough.

Walt Zlotow West Suburban Peace Coalition, Glen Ellyn IL

When it comes to mass murder, Nidal Hasan is a piker compared to Pete Hegseth

 When it comes to mass murder, Nidal Hasan is a piker compared to Pete Hegseth

Former Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan, a mass murderer who killed 13, wounded 32 in 2009, deserves to remain in prison till he's no longer a threat to society.

But executing Hasan, which the US plans to do December 3, simply makes the US guilty of murder number 14 in this horrific crime. For the US to murder Hasan is arguably more criminal than that of Hasan. His murder rampage was fueled by an out of control mental defect while the levers of government calmly decided to extract collective bloodlust dispensing not a whit of justice to society.

But the planned execution of Hasan has taken a ghoulish turn. Our mentally disordered Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth plans to livestream the execution for all the world to witness. If carried out, Nidal Malik Hasan will be the first American publicly executed since Red Jackson in Missouri 89 years ago. Red's hanging was witnessed by a mere 500. Nidal's may be witnessed by billions worldwide.

Pete Hegseth is a strange choice to be gloating about sending a fulleride of bullets into the body of Nidal Malik Hassan. Wnen it comes to mass murder Pete Hegseth should look in the mirror. For the past 13 months he's been sending his war fighters out to bomb little, unarmed boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific on the pretext they are sailed by bad guys. So far, he's sent 70 boats and 235 folks as innocent as the 13 Hasan whacked at Fort Hood down to Davy Jones Locker.

If there was justice in this violent world, Pete Hegseth would be Nadal Malik Hasan's cellmate for decades to come.

One more thing. If Pistol Pete does shout 'Ready, Air, Kill' on December 3 before the entire world, let's not call it a livestream. It's a deathstream.

Walt Zlotow West Suburban Peace Coalition Glen Ellyn IL

Fanatical US Iran war supporters must stop fantasy Iran attacked US 47 years ago

 Fanatical US Iran war supporters must stop fantasy Iran attacked US 47 years ago

During my 75 years following US justifications for waging senseless war, I’ve never heard anything as bizarre as that supporting the current senseless war on Iran.


Trump’s war defenders claim Iran has been waging war on America for 47 years beginning with the US embassy hostage takeover in November 1979. During the intervening 47 years, Iran has killed thousands of US miliary personnel in the Middle East. They condemn all preceding presidents beginning with Jimmy Carter for not defending against Iran’s dastardly war on America. They praise Trump for finally confronting Iran head on in a war of existential threat to our homeland.


This narrative is repeated endlessly on conservative media, even the floor of Congress. In arguing against a War Powers Resolution to end Trump’s deranged Iran war that may crash the world economy, Montana Sen. Tim Sheehy said, "We didn’t start this war, we did not. But we will finish it. Democrats were right to call the conflict a war of choice, but the choice was made by Iran’s regime decades ago — not by Trump. It’s a war of choice that was begun by a radical, lunatic band of terrorists that took over a beautiful nation 47 years ago. This regime that we are fighting does not care about our partisan politics, don’t care who you voted for, who you pray to, or where you live. They want to kill all of us. And they don’t just say it, they actually do it. And they’ve been doing it for 47 years."


Somehow, Sen. Sheehy missed that it was President Trump repeatedly threatening to wipe out the entire Iranian civilization; indeed, even before the United Nations General Assenbly. It was Trump who sucker punched Iran with bombs while negotiating peace in June 2025, and again in all out war on February 28 this year. After twice being deceived with bombs, Iran fought back ferociously, essentially defeating the most murderous, duplicitous regime on earth.


In truth, it’s America that has been at war with Iran for decades and a lot longer that 47 years. One must go back 73 years to Operation Ajax, America’s first Iran regime change operation, which toppled the legitimate Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh in 1953 to retain British, US control of Iranian oil. Once deposed, the US installed Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran, to serve US interests in perpetuity. For the Iranian people it meant the Shah’s brutal rule enabled by the US military and CIA which killed upwards of 10,000 anti Shah dissidents.


After twenty-six years the Iranian people forced the Shah to flee in February 1979, allowing the transition from monarchy to an Islamic Republic.


Had President Carter not allowed America’s three decade puppet ruler to seek refuge in the US, there would likely never been the November 4, 1979 takeover of the US embassy by 500 students resulting in taking 66 US hostages for 444 days.


Shortly thereafter the new Iranian government made 3 reasonable demands of the US, that if granted, would likely have promptly returned the hostages. Most important was return of the Shah, a mass murderer, to face justice in Iran. Second, a US apology for the ’53 US coup that overturned Mosaddegh and installed the Shah’s brutal rule. Third, return of the $20 billion the Shah stole and the US seized after the revolution.


Besides quick return of the 66 hostages, there would have been no failed April 1980 rescue mission that killed 8 service members.


But the hard liners in the Carter administration led by National Security Adviser, Zbigniew Brzezinski would have none of that, setting off 47 years of endless US machinations in behest of every US administration and Israel to complete the second Iranian regime change in 73 years.


No, Iran has never attacked the US or been at war with the US…until President Trump bombed an Iranian school, killing over a hundred little girls on the first day of his deranged, criminal war to depose the Iranian regime at the behest of Israel.


Instead of diplomacy, common sense, peace, Trump gives us war, death, economic decline, possible global economic collapse. And he justifies this madness with the fantasy that the victim has been the aggressor for 47 years.


Walt Zlotow West Suburban Peace Coalition Glen Ellyn IL

John T. Shaw’s Chicago Tribune Commentary ‘Finland’s president offers a compelling plan for a new world order’ ignores impending disaster for Ukraine and end ofAmerican world hegemony

John T. Shaw’s Chicago Tribune Commentary ‘Finland’s president offers a compelling plan for a new world order’ ignores impending disaster for Ukraine and end ofAmerican world hegemony

Shaw, a professor at Marquette University’s Les Aspin Center for Government in Washington, D.C., demonstrates an astonishing lack of knowledge easily possessed by a freshman political sciende student.

Shaw pretends Ukraine is winning its lost war with Russia. His evidence? He cites his aspirational hero, Finland President Alexander Stubb, who “believes that Ukraine is now taking control of the battlefield, skillfully using support from the European Union and NATO.” “I think the peace process will begin again,” he said recently. “This is going to be a strategic failure for Russia.”

Shaw completely omits that Ukraine is approaching collapse as Russia launches thousands of missiles and drones upon Ukraine which cannot be defended against. Ukraine has lost its Black Sea ports, crippling its economy, possibly beyond repair. Kyiv is becoming both ungovernable and unliveable. Russia has again warned Western military and diplomatic personnel that Kyiv is no longer safe in which to operate. For Shaw to erase that from his narrative is unprofessional and inexcusable.

Shaw also uses Stubb to advance his second point that America’s ‘Rules Based Order’ of the sanctity of borders established by the US 80 years ago has now been “shattered, most dramatically by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine." Yet Shaw remains clueless that the ‘rules based order’ he so admires enabled America to launch criminal wars destroying Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Iran; snatching the president of Venezuela, destroying Cuba’s economy by cutting off life sustaining oil, among other country destroying misadventures. Shaw appears oblivious that that is a rules based order that should and must be shattered.

The Chicago Tribune should ask John Shaw back for another commentary when Ukraine collapses into failed state status and the US withdraws from the Gulf States and Iran in humiliating defeat signaling the end of US dominance of both Europe and the Middle East.

Walt Zlotow West Suburban Peace Coalition Glen Ellyn IL

 

2026 West Suburban Peace Coalition Peace Essay Contest

 2026 West Suburban Peace Coalition Peace Essay Contest

Hasset Van Daele of Goshen, Indiana has been selected winner of West Suburban Peace Coalition's 2026 Peace Essay Contest. 

The annual contest requests entrants submit an essay up to 600 words on how to foster a more peaceful nation and world. The essay should be directed to a person or organization that can influence the cause of peace.

Ms. Van Daele's essay reviewed the history of the 1928 Kellogg Briand Pact "signed by the United States and 63 other countries which renounced war as an instrument of national policy and committed signatories to settle disputes by peaceful means. As a ratified treaty It remains the supreme law of the land under Article VI of the Constitution."

She submitted her essay to the Director of Mennonite Central Committee United Nations Office, a global advocacy platform, based in New York City that advocates for justice, peace and reconciliation. Ms. Van Daele was a participant in their 2024 student seminar. Director Ashley Gagne responded that her organization will include Ms. Van Daele's request to promote the Kellogg Briand Pact in future seminar programs. 

Hasset Van Daele's peace essay and response received furthers the aim of our Peace Essay Contest to promote the cause of peace in a world consumed by senseless war. 

West Suburban Peace Coalition, based in Glen Ellyn IL, awarded Hasset Van Daele $500 for her winning peace essay. 

For more information on West Suburban Peace Coalition contact Walt Zlotow, zlotow@hotmail.com, 630 442 3045