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

Took 23 years, 6 months, 10 days...but US finally out of Iraq

 

Took 23 years, 6 months, 10 days...but US finally out of Iraq

President George W. Bush criminally attacked Iraq on March 20, 2003 for no other reason than he could. He used the 911 attacks in New York, D.C. and Pennsylvania to remake the Middle East in America's image starting with Afghanistan 17 months earlier. 

Like Afghanistan, Iraq was a colossal disaster. Seeing their leader deposed and their people slaughtered didn't endear the Iraqi people to their Yankee invaders. They resisted violently, resulting in 6,000 US military and contractor deaths and over 100,000 injured. Trillions squandered with endless billions for decades' long term vets' health care to come. 

Bush, Obama, Trump, Biden refused to end the madness of senseless war and occupation that killed hundreds of thousands of Iraqis. 

The Iraqi government has spent all 23 plus years demanding the US leave Iraq. Two years ago President Biden agreed to end US troop presence but later reneged, stating  he wouldn't pull all US forces out but was only changing the mission from the anti-ISIS coalition to a “bilateral security partnership.” Militant Iraqi groups no like and repeatedly launched attacks on US positions, occasionally wounding, even killing Americans. 

Even war fanatic Trump had enough and rescinded Biden's ludicrous 'hang around' order, pulling out the last soldiers September 30. 

Abu Mojtaba al-Yasiri, a leader in the Iraqi Shia militias known as the Islamic Resistance of Iraq (IRI), put it bluntly:  “On September 30, we will celebrate the turning of a black page ⁠in Iraq’s history and the failure of the occupation to impose its will on our country. Iraq has proven that its sovereignty cannot be secured by foreign forces, but by the resistance and the will of its people.” 

When America invaded Iraq, war loving neocons gloated 'real men go to Iran.' That was always the ultimate goal in the deranged US makeover of the Middle East. Seven moths before Iraq finally kicked out America, another idiotic president did just that. Unlike the 23 years, 6 months, 10 days it took Iraq to oust America, Iran will vanquish America from its neighborhood before this war's first anniversary.  

Walt Zlotow  West Suburban Peace Coalition  Glen Ellyn IL 

 

 

Trump Iran war supporter fails to comprehend Trump, US lost and benefits of accepting defeat

Trump Iran war supporter fails to comprehend Trump, US lost and benefits of accepting defeat

Larry Craig's Tribune letter 'Trump wrong to halt the war' is astoundingly wrong and misleading. 

Trump's biggest mistake was not stop fighting. It was starting an illegal, immoral war that has criminally killed over 3,000 innocent Iranians, including 120 school kids on war day one. American casualties exceed 850 including 18 dead. 

Craig is wrong to state Trump even stopped fighting. He stopped massive bombing because his missile cupboard ran dry. He's still blockading and firing on Iranian ships in the Hormuz Strait, cutting off more precious oil from reaching an oil starved world, including America. In do so Trump is goosing the ever increasing cost of gas to Mr. Craig and every American. 

When the bombing campaign failed and all US Gulf State bases were wrecked, Trump certified he lost the war on June 17 when he signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). In doing so Trump accepted Iran's terms of surrender. Realizing his blunder, Trump simply ignored the MOU, imposed the blockade, and created a stalemate of defeat from which he has no exit. 

Craig's belief that had Trump just kept bombing with imaginary missiles and drones, there would be a new Iranian regime, the Strait would be open, gas would plunge from $4.50 to $2.00; the entire Middle East would be as peaceful as the Riviera. 

If Mr. Craig seeks to achieve any of the goals he promotes with endless war, he should urge President Trump to return to the June 17 MOU forthwith. 

Walt Zlotow  West Suburban Peace   Glen Ellyn IL 

 

President Donald Trump’s biggest mistake in his years in office was to stop fighting Iran to try to make a deal while Israel was also engaged in the war. Now to resume fighting looks petty and bullyish (“Trump threatens to ‘annihilate’ Iran,” in print Sept. 23).

If Trump hadn’t stopped the war to talk, this would all have been over a long time ago. There would be a new regime in Iran. The Strait of Hormuz would be open. The price of gas would be $2. Hezbollah and Hamas would be gone. The Middle East would have been transformed. There would be peace throughout the Middle East.

During World War II, nobody asked for a ceasefire to try to work out a deal with Germany and Japan. We fought until they surrendered. And what’s the result? We now have peace and have had peace for 80 years. But we are also friends and allies too.

War is hell, but it generally resolves things. Ceasefires just postpone the war, giving the losing side time to catch their breath and rebuild for Round 2.

— Larry Craig, Wilmette

US media ignoring approaching Ukraine collapse

US media ignoring approaching Ukraine collapse

US media is loathe to level with the American public about the dire condition of Ukriane in its war with Russia. 

There is virtually no news on the war other than coverage of NATO promising to back Ukraine with endless billions in weapons to repel the Russians. There's also extensive coverage of Ukraine drone strikes doing tremendous damge to Russian energy facilities and economic resources. 

Neither of these narratives offer any hope to prevent the inevitable Ukraine collapse being covered up by US media. They have imposed a blackout of the unfolding economic, military and political disaster unfolding across Ukraine, especially in capital Kyiv. 

We're not being informed that Ukraine has lost access to its Black Sea ports, essentially cutting off its ability to export grain needed to propel its economy. It's steel industry is largely shutting down. It's rail and road links to Europe are still functioning but increasingly degraded. It's data centers and internet services are in shambles, further inflicting economic decline. Gas stations and warehouses are being inexorably eliminated. 

Russia warned the West in May that Kyiv would eventually become unsafe for Western diplomatic and military personnel. The West ignored that warning for months but is now starting to take notice. It's not inconceivable the Zelensky government may have to flee east as Kyiv becomes more ungovernable and unsafe. 

Yet, NATO and even the US continue to pour precious treasure into the lost cause of Ukraine prevailing against an overwhelmingly larger, stronger Russia. 

Both are still conjuring up the bogyman of a 1950's Soviet colossus they imagine seeks to gobble up all of Europe starting with Ukraine. NATO leaders are near totally out of touch with their electorates who know this is folly, who want their treasure spent on improving their declining economies, who plan to replace them with nation first governments at the next election. 

The approaching collapse of Ukraine being ignored by US media could have easily been avoided. The US and NATO spent 2008 to 2022 promoting Ukraine NATO membership to complete the isolation of Russia from Europe and weaken Russia beyond repair. That represented a red line of existential threat for Russia that would inevitably result in war if not halted. The West knew Russia would eventually attack but guessed wrong it would be Russia that would collapse, not Ukraine and its US/NATO benefactors. 

Facing their gargantuan mistake, both the US and Europe remain locked in denial. Europe remains 'all in' while Trump, bogged down in the biggest military blunder in US history in Iran, is still giving weapons and intelligence to Ukraine as they ever more quckly sink into failed state status.  

Yet, all we hear from US media is Russia is suffering tremendous casualties, damaged energy facilities, as the brave people of Ukraine fight on to save their democracy. The truth is not being reported. Zelesky has no support as he governs unelected as a dictator. Ukrainians flee Ukraine by the millions. Military desertions sour. Men and teens are dragged off the streets and thrown into the meat grinder of a lost military cause. 

To paraphrase Jack Nicholson in 'A Few Good Men', US media believes... 'The American People can't handle the truth.'    

 

Saudi Arabia to Europe: ‘Sorry, no oil for you this winter….try Russia’

 Saudi Arabia to Europe: ‘Sorry, no oil for you this winter….try Russia’

Thanks to President Trump, giant oil producer Saudi Arabia’s massive oil spigot has largely run dry. First Trump attacked Iran causing a shut down of the Hormuz Strait. That knocked out 20% of the world’s oil supply, much of which comes from Saudi Arabia. But the Saudis had a couple of workarounds: the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and their East-West pipeline. The latter moved 7 million barrels daily across Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea.

No more. Trump in his infinite stupidity, authorized the Saudis to attack the Yemen airport in Sanaa July 13. That reignited the Houthi rebel war against the Saudis. Now both the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and their precious East-West oil pipeline are kaput for transporting Saudi oil.

Since European leaders are waging war on Russia in their hopeless bid to prevent Ukraine’s collapse, they can’t buy cheap energy from neighbor Russia. They were counting on getting their energy resources from the Saudis.

Europe’s Russophobia has backfired on their economic future spectacularly. They’ve spent the last 35 years allowing the US under 7 presidents to expand NATO up to Russia’s borders. They even jumped on the ‘Ukriane in NATO’ bandwagon in 2008, which if not halted, virtually guaranteed military conflict would erupt, ending the cheap energy gravy train Europe was enjoying with Russian oil.

It took 14 years but war came because Europe believed US lies that Russia would self-destruct trying to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO. Instead of Russia, it’s Ukraine that has self-destructed by allowing the US and Europe to convince Ukraine to abandon a peace agreement with Russia in the first months of the war that would have cost Ukraine not one square mile of territory.

With Middle East and especially Saudi oil largely unavailable, European leaders are now out of options to get oil for the coming winter. Wait, wait. All they have to do is pull the plug on squandering billions of Euros to prop up the disappearing Ukraine government and military. Tell Ukraine President Zelensky the weapons cupboard is empty and it's time to settle on Russia’s sensible terms: No NATO for Ukraine. No return of lost territory. Vastly reduced Ukraine military. Ukraine neutrally between East and West going forward.

Then Europe needs to bury its self-destructive Russophobia forever and welcome Russia back into the European political economy. Host a farewell party for NATO which lost its mission when the Soviet Union went poof in 1991. Invite Russia as guest of honor. Then restart the oil spigot from Russia to Europe.

Forget Saudi oil which has largely disappeared. Enjoy cheap Russian energy. Maybe European leaders might even salvage their political careers which are currently on life support.

Alas, that would take common sense, moral courage and brains…all of which appear to be in short supply in European capitals.

Walt Zlotow West Suburban Peace Coalition Glen Ellyn IL

How does US fund Israeli genocide? Let us count the billions

How does US fund Israeli genocide? Let us count the billions


President Biden hopped on the Israeli genocide campaign to destroy Gaza and its Palestinian population the day after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Isreal.


Approaching three years this October 8, Gaza’s 141 square miles are a pile of rubble covering up tens of thousands of dead Palestinians among the hundred thousand plus dead. The remaining 2.2 million survive agony in an ever tightening area as Israeli forces occupy over half of Gaza and shoot any Palestinian who get close to the Israeli zone.


None of this genocidal atrocity would have been possible without President Bidenn gifting Israel with over $20 billion in weapons to inflict the most grotesque genocide this century.


Even after the January 2025 ceasefire which released the remaining Israeli hostages, Israel continues to bomb and kill Palestinians daily.



Now President Trump, even tho running out of weapons to fight his lost war on Iran, plans to gift Israel with another $2.8 billion in 2,000 lbs. bombs to continue the slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza and Lebanese in Leban0n.


One courageous, morally centered congressman, Rep. Gregory Meeks, seeks to stop the massive weapons transfer to Israel.


“The Trump administration’s proposed sale of 40,000 2,000-pound bombs, some of the most destructive munitions in our arsenal, raises grave, unresolved concerns about how these munitions could be used in densely populated areas of Gaza and Lebanon. The Trump administration has not provided sufficient assurances that these weapons will be used by the Netanyahu government in accordance with US law and with appropriate protections for civilians. I therefore will not clear this sale at this time.”


Rep. Meeks knows full well that the proposed $2.8 billion, just like the previous $20 plus billion from Biden, will be used to further obliterate Gaza and Southern Lebanon in furtherance of expanding Greater Israel.


Why Trump continues the weapons flow to Netanyahu after he suckered Trump into launching his disastrous attack on Iran will forever remain a mystery.



The US economy is facing disaster, possibly even collapse over Trump’s lost war against Iran. We’re not bombing Iran anymore because we've largely run out of weapons. Our debt has raced past $40 trillion. Inflation is out of control. Yet, Trump has enough loyalty to his masters in Israel to find $2.8 billion in genocide weapons for Israel to complete the project his predecessor enabled 3 years ago.


That is not ‘America First’. It is ‘Genocide First…America Last.’


Walt Zlotow West Suburban Peace Coalition Glen Ellyn IL

Presidential families must cease enabling mentally degraded members from seeking, serving the presidency

 Presidential families must cease enabling mentally degraded members from seeking, serving the presidency

At 77 and a half, Joe Biden should not have sought the presidency in 2020. He was clearly slowing down mentally and physically from the vigorous young man first elected to public office half a century earlier.

And he knew it. Biden hinted he’d be a one term president if elected, saying he’d be a transitional leader who would make way to a new generation of Democratic leaders.

But like virtually all aging US leaders, Biden fell under the spell of the power and glory of high office. He couldn’t resist the allure of the presidency, arguing in his last year he had to ‘finish the job’ of ‘great things’ he’d accomplished till then. When he decided to seek reelection, all viable younger contenders dropped out.

But it was not only Biden who succumbed to the hubris of presidential power, it was the entire Biden family who did nothing to dissuade him from stepping down in this 82nd year.

Led by wife Jill, the Bidens enthusiastically pushed him forward tho he’d be 86 at the end of term two…in the unlikely even he’d survive that long managing the most grueling job on the planet.

Biden, Democratic leaders, and especially his family were tragically wrong. Biden’s first term decline accelerated in year four largely out of public scrutiny tho everyone around him knew it. But they kept silent and kept up the charade.

Biden’s private decline as revealed publicly at the June 27, 2024 debate when a clearly befuddled Biden self destructed before America. The curtain protecting his decline fell and his candidacy was quickly cancelled, not by his family, but an intervention by Democratic leaders who dropped the charade to to the noble thing.

Alas, it spelled electoral disaster for Democrats as it was too late to hold a nominating process to select a competitive candidate. That represented both personal shame for the Biden family and their senseless betrayal of responsible political conduct.

Astoundingly, Biden’s opponent Donald Trump was also clearly showing signs of mental decline during the campaign. At 78, Trump was noticeably more distracted, disoriented, unintelligible than even the bizarre ravings of 70 year old Trump in the 2016 campaign.

And just like the Biden family cheering on hapless 81 year old Joe, the entire Trump family gloried in the return of the mentally declining patriarch. In the Trump family case, it likely had nothing to do with propping up an aging, debilitated Trump to continue a successful administration. It was simply about Trump accelerating the apparatus of government to perpetuate the greatest grift of wealth for the Trump family ever perpetrated upon the electorate by a decrepit, aging ruler.

The Democratic intervention with Biden worked, preventing a mentally unfit Biden from continuing to campaign.

But the power hungry Republican Party has no moral spine about allowing mentally degraded octogenarian Trump, mired in a senseless war he no longer even cares about, to wreak havoc on the world stage. The GOP remains oblivious the world economy is at risk as long as Trump remains in office.

The Trump family has enough billions to last generations. But even they lose if the entire system collapses. They must hold an intervention and force the patriarch from office without delay. His successor may have enough sense to fend off the coming collapse.

One election, two candidates. Both too old, too mentally challenged to hold arguably the most difficult job in America, if not the world. Two families, one which refused to intervene on behalf of the American people, one which still has the opportunity. Tho not likely, the Trumps should count the billions they scarfed up and cease allowing a very sick family member continue to govern.

For selfish reasons the Bidens and Trumps engaged in elder abuse. Sadly, the abuse spilled out to tarnish all of America.

Walt Zlotow West Suburban Peace Coalition Glen Ellyn IL

A worthy 911 remembrance

 A worthy 911 remembrance 

On the 25th 911 anniversary we should also ponder victims and cost of America's War on Terror designed and implemented to reshape the Middle East in America's image in response to and revenge for the attacks. 

Estimates from the Brown University Costs of War project place the toll at 4.5–4.7 million people since 2001, including ~940,000 direct deaths (combatants, civilians, journalists, aid workers) and 3.6–3.8 million indirect deaths from disease, malnutrition, and health complications 

.

U.S. military and contractor deaths: About 7,074 U.S. military deaths and 8,189 contractor deaths 

Costs according to warcosts.org

Total cost: $8+ trillion since 2001

Breakdown:

Direct military operations: ~$3.2 trillion.

Pentagon budget increases: ~$1.8 trillion.

Veterans care (projected through 2050+): ~$2.2 trillion.

Homeland Security expansion: ~$1.1 trillion.

Interest on war debt: ~$1.1 trillion

.

On 911 Remembrance Day Americans should urge their government to turn away from senseless war whether it be against Iran, Venezuela, Somalia, Yemen, Nigeria, Cuba, little unarmed boats plying the Caribbean or other locals we're not informed of. That would be a noble way to honor the victims of the senseless violence perpetrated on America 25 years ago today. 

Walt Zlotow  West Suburban Peace Coalition  Glen Ellyn IL

Trump off by one election when gas will come down

 Trump off by one election when gas will come down

Facing defeat at the midterms in 54 days, Trump tried to reassure his MAGA baase to maintain his control of Congress. ‘Just vote R November 3 and gas prices will plumet below $2 per gallon right after the election.’

Of course that was simply Trump delusional nonsense. He lost the Iran war in the first week over 6 months ago but is still claiming victory while gas and everything else Americans buy keeps rising.

He has no way out and he knows it. So he falls back on the lesson he learned from his corrupt lawyer Roy Cohn decades ago…deny reality and lie, lie, lie.

Since Trump cannot admit defeat to reopen the Strait of Hormuz on Iran’s sensible terms, oil will remain blocked and inflation will rise indefinitely. After the midterms, Trump will still be prosecuting his lost war on Iran and making up new imaginary tales of impending victory and imminent drop in gas prices.

Unless an unexpected event occurs such as a health crisis that forces Trump from office, the Iran war will remain lost, the Strait will remain closed, oil will remain blocked.

Worst case scenario? Gas prices will not recede till after the 2028 election when, hopefully, a sane peace supporting president is electied who will end the Iran war madness of Donald J. Trump upon inauguration in January, 2029.

Walt Zlotow West Suburban Peace Coalition Glen Ellyn IL

US to NATO: Keep buying US weapons for lost Ukraine war…it gooses our economy

 US to NATO: Keep buying US weapons for lost Ukraine war…it gooses our economy

If there was a Nobel Prize for the most most cynical foreign posicy among the world’s 193 countries, the US would win weapons down.


Under Secretary of War Elbridge Colby just told European NATO countries to keep buying US weapos to keep Ukraine being destroyed in their lost war with Riussia.



“The situation makes it all the more important for Europe to sustain support for Ukraine while also accelerating its own rearmament and reindustrialization. First, Europe must continue — and where necessary increase — support for Ukraine’s immediate battlefield requirements through Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL). The continued flow of munitions and critical capabilities is effective; it remains essential to enabling Ukrainian forces to hold the front line and deny further Russian advances. Second, Europe must plan now for sustained procurement that supports both Ukraine’s long-term force reconstitution and Europe’s own defense requirements." Colby omitted that NATO weapons purchases fit neatly into US economic policy.


But not one weapon will be supplied by the US. They must all be purchased by NATO countries struggling with their declining economies due in large part by squandering tens of billion of Euros on Ukaine sinking deeping into failed state status. The fact Ukraine has suffered over over two million causualties and lost a fifth of their land forever means nothing to Colby and his bosses War Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Trump. All they care about is how those billions in weapons sales will help salvage the declining US economy from Trump and Hegseth’s failed Iran war debacle ahead of the approaching November 3 midterms.


Trump has been lusting for a Nobel Peace Prize since hie took office in January 2017. He’s been tirelessly promoting his candidacy claiming he’s ended 8 wars when he’s ended none while waging war on Iran, Venezuela, Yemen, Somalia, Nigeria and any small boat in the Caribbean he claims is carrying drugs.


Yep, the Nobel Committee should consider awarding a Nobel Cynical Foreign Policy Prize. Donald Trump, on behalf of the United States would be selected unanimously.

Walt Zlotow West Suburban Peace Coalition Glen Ellyn IL

Democrats playing politics with Trump’s Iran war while ignoring it’s a supreme international crime

Democrats playing politics with Trump’s Iran war while ignoring it’s a supreme international crime

 

Democratic congresspersons and candidates are all in criticizing President Trump’s Iran war.

 

‘It’s a foolish war with no end in sight. ’It’s driving up the cost of driving and everything we buy at the store.’ It’s opposed by an overwhelming majority of the American people.’ ‘It was not authorized by Congress as required by the Constitution.’

 

While all true, Democrats are fixated on exploiting Trump’s clearly lost war that has backfired spectacularly, to take over Congress at the November 3 election. What we do not hear from Democrats is the most important criticism that must be leveled at Trump’s deranged February 28 attack on Iran. It is a criminal war that is rightly being defended to the death by Iran posing no threat to America whatsoever.

 

Not one of the 259 Democratic congresspersons and a single Democratic congressional candidate is following the mandate of Nuremberg War Crime Trial Chief Prosecutor Robert Jackson. He issued the mandate that the trial was to establish that unlawful war was the supreme international crime from which every death, injury, destruction of property emanated from that supreme international crime. Jackson stated that while the law set forth in the Kellogg Briand Pact of 1928 was first being applied to Nazi war criminals, “the law includes, and if it is to serve a useful purpose, it must condemn aggression by any other nations including those who sit here now in judgement. The real complaining party at your bar is Civilization.”  

 

"Those sitting here now in judgement", Democrats, includes the United States. You must condemn Presidient Trump’s endless war on Iran which has killed and injured thousands first, as the criminal war it is requiring immediate end, and second, prosecution of Trump and his war counsel for war crimes. Everything Democrats offered till now is politics.

Walt Zlotow  West Suburban Peace Coalition  Glen Ellyn IL 

Some inconvenient truths about Trum'p's Iran war

Some inconvenient truths about Trump's Iran war

The US lost the war within the first 3 days when the US, Israeli attack and assassination of Iranian leader Ali Khomenei did not collapse the Iranian regime

Bombing Iran for 39 days was a catastrophic military failure. Iran's retaliatory defense decimated all 20 US Gulf State bases inflicting over 750 US casualties including 18 dead

Running out of both offensive and defensive missiles, Trump blinked first and called for a ceasefire on April 8, war day 40. 

The June 17th signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was essentially a US surrender document. 

Realizing the MOU signaled his defeat, Trump simply ignored it, implemented a blockade and resumed periodic bombing. Both utterly failed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to resume the critical flow of oil to prevent worldwide economic calamity.

Having been sucker punched with bombs twice by Trump during negotiations, Iran has signaled it will never negotiate with Trump during his remaining 2 years, 5 months in office. 

Trump's statements that Iran is negotiating surrender on Trump's terms, the Strait is open and will become US territory, the blockade is a resounding success, are so detached from reality one must ponder Trump's sanity. 

Refusal to capitulate is spreading the war within the region to Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, West Bank, Iraq, Syria, possibly even Turkey v. Israel. 

If Trump's last gasp is to utterly destroy Iranian infrastructure, Iran will retaliate and destroy the entire Gulf States oil infrastructure and possibly Israel's infrastructure as well.  

Unlike for the US, Trump's war is an existential threat to Iran's existence. They have been preparing for the US, Israeli tag team war machine to destroy them for decades. They are and will prevail regardless of the cost. 

Israel will do whatever is necessary to to keep Trump in the war to destroy Iran. Trump's only way out is to sever ties with Israel and capitulate to Iran's sensible terms. Given Trump's history, the chances of that are nil. Removing Republican control of Congress in 9 weeks may be only chance for America to avoid economic collapse.

If so, only if a Democratic Congress has the wisdom, decency and good sense to end the most self destructive war in America's 251 years. 

Walt Zlotow  West Suburban Peace Coalition  Glen Ellyn IL