Veterans for Peace Radio Hour

Today we review Biden's strange speech to the UN. Then Scott Ritter speaks to the Rage Against the War Machine Rally. We share Lebanese Journalist Ghadi Francis' thoughts on Lebanon and Hezbollah from the Brian Becker podcast. From the International Peace Coalition, we play portions of Dr, Glenn Diesen's presentation on Putin's new Nuclear Doctrine and the danger we face. Then Professor Steve Starr of the University of Missouri asks us why is nobody worried about the prospect of Nuclear War? We finish with Masters of War, Bob Dylan.

Ron Bettag of the Schiller Institute joins us to discuss the International Coalition of Peace and the new paradigm for peace. The Schiller Institute for decades has been advocating for people through global development through mutual cooperation. They have envisioned a worldwide land bridge, (a worldwide Belt and Road) in which the people benefit by the exchange of ideas, technologies, and development. However, they know that at this point we are on the brink of WW III and so they are bringing together worldwide voices to generate a global coalition of peacemakers to pressure worldwide leaders to stop their juvenile competitions and replace it with global cooperation. Ron also discusses the architect Lyndon Larouche and rehabilitates and sets the record straight about this man so controversial in the US media.

The massacre on the USS Liberty demonstrates the long history of betrayal and murder of Americans by Israel. Thanks to independent journalist James Li and his interview with Phil Tourney a sailor who survived the Israeli attack, we share how Israel's disdain for American lives and US complicity in that disdain goes back decades beyond Rachel Corrie. We also talk about recent actions by VFP members during our week to focus on Gaza.

VFP Activist Anthony Donovan joins us to discuss his recent article in Peace and Planet News that "Iran is NOT our Enemy" despite all we hear and all we are manipulated to believe. Anthony visited Iran and met the people and reflected on the differences between what he learned on his visit versus what we are told here in the US. Anthony sees us being manipulated into war with Iran and warns us not to trust what we hear from Israel and especially our own government. He explains Iran's efforts to maintain peace and avoid war despite the antagonists in Israel and the neo-cons in the US.

MacGregor Eddy, a member of World Beyond War, WILPF, War Resisters League, and more joins us to discuss the midnight protests at Vandenberg AFB as they test ICBMs. Yes the US, four times a year launches an ICBM (thankfully without a warhead) from Vandenberg to splash down where, the Marshall Islands of course. MacGregor outlines the history of the protest with Daniel Ellsberg and the logistics of today's protest since they are no longer announced. We also remember Daniel Ellsberg and his thoughts on ICBMs and Nuclear War. We finish with Bruce Springsteen.

Veterans for Peace held a dynamic, important Convention with incredible speakers and critical topics. From climate, to militarism, to Gaza, to police brutality on campus, to the Freedom flotilla, we try to share just a little of the impact of the Convention. The Convention demonstrated just how hard VFP is working to make this world a better and more peaceful place and the results that can be achieved with dedication and commitment.

Veterans for Peace just finished a wonderful, important, timely, committed convention and in this first show, we share just a little of what went on. We share Keynote Speaker Margaret Kimberly, Four Arrows spiritual leader, Elliot Adams introducing the International Peoples Tribunal for Korean victims of US atomic bombs. We also have two military Conscientious Objectors, who share their stories and why they could not take facilitating/participating in genocide anymore. Then Bill Ehrhart shares three poems and we finish with Dave Rovics.

Dr. Henry Maar joins us to talk about his book Freeze, the Grassroots Movement to Halt the Arms Race and End the Cold War. Dr. Maar is considered the authority on how the Nuclear Freeze movement of the 1970s/80's began. He talks about those people and organizations that generated the Freeze Movement, their challenges, and successes. He also relates how this movement actually made politicians listen and act. Can we do it again, must we do it again to avoid today's threats of nuclear war? This is so important as we approach the VFP convention and plan our month of action for September. We finish with Phil Ochs.

Rory Fanning veteran, author, conscientious objector, activist, and more joins us to talk about Veteran and American healthcare debt while we spend billions on supporting Israel's genocide. We get the genocide update from Max Blumenthal on the Judge Napolitano show after a heart-wrenching speech to the UN Security Council by the Deputy Observer from Palestine. We finish with Leonard Cohen and "Partisan."

Greg Mello, Executive Director of the Los Alamos Study Group and John Wilks Vice President of the Albuquerque Chapter of Veterans for Peace join us to discuss how the EPA, DOE, NNSA, and DOD are continuing to spend money fouling New Mexico while aggravating a Nuclear Conflict and creating a national nuclear waste catastrophe. However, there might be good news along the way as there may be cracks in the empire and crack in the military-industrial complex.