Josh Shurley, VP of Veterans for Peace, interviews Christian Sorenson, Assoc. Director of Eisenhower Media Network, Former U.S. Air Force Arabic linguist Author, and military affairs analyst covering the business of war.   They discuss the intricacies of militarism and business, who is making profit, at the tax-payer expense, thus endless war for endless profit?

KJ Noh joins the show to clear up several questions including is Ukraine bouncing back against Russia or is are we manipulated by western propaganda. Then, surely the US has decided not to attack or start a kinetic battle with China, after our debacle with Iran, right? We can't be that stupid, right?

Josh Shurley, Vice President of Veterans for Peace, talks to Harper Bettis a trans Veteran and no activist for peace, inclusion, and humanity. Harper, an 11 year service member and Major, shares her story of coming out while in the Air Force and the roller coaster of challenges she faced as different administrations set different requirements and different levels of oppression. She describes the inconsistent support from her fellow service members and superiors. She then shares the mounting challenges of being trans in the United States and having to wade through the inconsistent legislation from state to state to understand where she is welcome and safe.

josh shurleyHarper Bettis

This is my full interview with Bill Ehrhart, Bill Ehrhart joins Jim to discuss two of his books, "Thank You For Your Service: Collected Poems," and "Getting Shot At, Essays on War, Conflict and Culture Clash. While discussing several essays and poems from these extraordinary books, we of course veer off into Bill's reflections on his participation in the Ken Burns documentary on Vietnam, the need to study history, and what a young student maybe should study after high school. We discuss his essay on the myth of Vietnam Vets being spit on upon return from Vietnam. Bill also shares his poems and heartfelt feelings for his wife and daughter.  Yes we still finish with John Prine.

Bill Ehrhart joins Jim to discuss two of his books, "Thank You For Your Service: Collected Poems," and "Getting Shot At, Essays on War, Conflict and Culture Clash. While discussing several essays and poems from these extraordinary books, we of course veer off into Bill's reflections on his participation in the Ken Burns documentary on Vietnam, the need to study history, and what a young student maybe should study after high school. We discuss his essay on the myth of Vietnam Vets being spit on upon return from Vietnam. Bill also shares his poems and heartfelt feelings for his wife and daughter. This is an abridged version of my interview and to get the full interview go to BillEhrhartFullShow right here on Sound Cloud. We finish this show with John Prine.

Craig Bardo of Veterans for Peace and Party for Socialism and Liberation joins Jim Wohlgemuth of Veterans for Peace to remember the USS Liberty and the blatant attach by IDF in June of 1967 killing over thirty sailors. Thomas Massey finally called to honor the sailors on the floor of the house last week. Then we discuss the further betrayal of the US by Israel as members of our congress are trying to push a section 224 in the NDAA which would forever link the US and Israel together militarily and technologically. This must stop we must retain our sovereignty and we must stop funding of Israel after all these decades of abuse from our so called ally.

Haitham Arafat, Palestinian American, cyber security consultant and engineer, born in Gaza and Global Sumud Flotilla activist joins us to share his experience in a boat crossing the Mediterranean and then captured, detained, and tortured by Israel. We have all seen bits and pieces of what the participants experienced in Israeli "concentration camps," however, Haitham shares his story of the collective torture perpetrated on the international humanitarians trying to bring aid to the people of Gaza. It was worse than we have heard and provides further evidence of the crimes being committed by the Israeli regime.

This is a special show outside of our normal Veterans for Peace Radio Hour as I continue to do what I can to share voices of peace, humanity, and justice. I wanted to share some of the words and insights from a recent conference hosted by Schiller called The Urgent Need for a New International Security and Development Architecture. I am sharing the words of three of the six speakers on this panel including Professor Zhang Wei (China), Director of the China Institute at Fudan University: “Building a Profitable Multipolar World Order. Then Chas Freeman (USA), former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia: “The Birth, Death, and Prospective Rebirth of the World Order” and finally Dr. Wolfgang Bittner (Germany, author: “Sovereignty, Neutrality, Culture”

Michael T. McPhearson joins Jim Wohlgemuth to discuss the dilemma of Veteran Deportation and Memorial Day.  Michael participated in an NAACP Town Hall concerning the Naturalization of Veterans.  Unfortunately, non-citizens will join the US Military, thinking it is a path to citizenship, and find out, nope.  Michael spoke at that event, sharing the efforts VFP takes to help these veterans.  We also watched the film "Bring Them Home" and heard from a panel that included Zahid Chaudhry, VFP chapter president, and currently fighting to stay in the country.   Then Michael gave a Memorial Day speech in front of the Federal Building in downtown Seattle, which was then published in the South Seattle Emerald.  We discuss the speech and reflect on Memorial Day.  Michael then shares his vision of VFP.

Josh Shurley welcomes Sara Flounders,  political writer, member of the Secretariat of Workers World Party, as well as a principal leader of the International Action Center, and Dee Knight, author and activist blogger.    Thanks to media manipulation and fear-mongering, the US population is in the dark about the reality of China.  Sara Flounders and Dee Knight and the books they have contributed provide us with a clearer picture of China and the ally, or at least the cooperative partner they could be.  Sara discusses "China Changes Everything," and Dee discusses:  "Befriending China: People-to-People Peacemaking."