Veterans for Peace Radio Hour

First, we get quick updates on Kilmar Abrego Garcia and his imprisonment and hearing in Nashville and the protests in front of the Federal Courthouse from Craig Bardo of Veterans for Peace and Pan Walker of United Volunteers of Tennessee. Then we turn to KJ Noh and his discussion on the war the US has always wanted. Yes, if you think this is Bibi's war, think again. Also, he shows how this aggression against Iran is actually part of the neocon plan for war with China to maintain US hegemony. So, stand by this one is rough.

Poet, Scholar, Teacher, Author, Activist, Vietnam (Purple Heart) Veteran joins us to share several poems and stories from his own collection and from a Gazan Poet. He also shares the story of a young woman he wrote about in his article for Peace and Planet News called "A Part of You Will Die with Us." He also reflects on Memorial Day, especially in light

Mike Ferner, past Executive Director of Veterans for Peace, joins the show as co-organizer of a 40-day fast to call our attention to the continual and escalating (if that is possible) atrocities perpetrated by Israel with our complicity in Gaza. After hearing clips from Gabor Mate and Ray McGovern on why we need to do more, Mike describes how VFP, allied groups, and almost 700 people registered for the fast are doing more. Despite health challenges and aging challenges, Mike is out there in front of the UN, in front of the US Mission to the UN, with co-organizer Phil Tottenham and other members and allies making a difference. What are you going to do to stop genocide?

Noura Erakat calls out the United States for its complicity in Gaza, and then pleads with the international community at the UN General Assembly to realize that while the US is an empire, the US is not the world. Gideon Levy joins Glenn Diesen to share a gloomy assessment of the Middle East and asks what happens after the killing in Gaza stops, there is no plan. Kyle Kulinski, in a very short clip calls out the democrats and then equates the US and Israel with Nazi Germany. We finish with Maura O'Connell bringing Out the Guns of Love. Good time to lock and load those guns.

Jim and Harvey reflect on Mother's Day as the US continues to be complicit in the killing of Mothers in Gaza, oh, the hypocrisy. Then we turn to Trump's talks with Yemen, Iran, and Hamas. Could Trump actually be putting American interests in front of Israel? Not time for optimism yet! We use clips from The Electronic Intifada and their crew, as well as from the Statecraft program of the Global India Today news channel with Trita Parsi.

Brian Becker of the Socialist Program podcast joins us to talk about trump, the world, the right-wing threats worldwide, and the need for socialism now. Boomers grew up in fear of this dreaded system called socialism, even though it is and has been working in the thriving countries of Europe. Brian discusses why boomers feel this way and how to alleviate fears of a system that works for the people instead of the profiteers. For a song, we remember that 55 years ago, four students at Kent State and two more at Jackson State were killed by our government.

Esa Galloway, activist, podcaster, and friend of the show, joins us to dig deep and reflect on the substance underneath the news. Esa (Paul) Galloway returns to the show after moving from Nashville and the American Muslim Advisory Committee to activist and podcaster. We discuss Islamophobia: Is it still relevant? Anti-Semitism, so what is a Semite? If only the democrats could have... . Then remember who you are because your Existence is Your Resistance.

Dr. Lesley Gill joins us to discuss complicity with trump's fascism, and by that, she means universities, businesses, law firms, and all who are willing to cave to trump's threats. She contends that this is no caving or collaborating but complicity. She also talks about the government's kidnapping of students and legal residents for deportation. This is no time to be sitting, it is all hands on deck. We end with all you fascists gonna lose by Woody Guthrie.

Doctoral Candidate at the University of Sussex, Will Faulkner discusses how science and study have neglected Nuclear Winter and why. Harvey met Will at the Nuclear Deterrence Summit as he studied the perspective of the attendees. Will describes the science behind Nuclear Winter and its catastrophic effects on the global environment, even when a country or continent has not participated in a nuclear exchange. Through his study, he is hopeful that people of the world can put pressure on the people in charge and find a way to continue to avoid nuclear exchange.

Trump is conducting an assault on any program that is good and helpful, and while we would like to talk about them all, we have to focus. Today, Suzanne Gordon and Russell Lemle of the Veterans Health Policy Institute join Bruce Carruthers of the Veterans for Peace Save Our VA (SOVA) working group to discuss trump and musk's assault on the VA and its impact not only on Veterans but on the US in general. After all, if they can hurt veterans and the VA, you know they are going to hurt YOU and Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and more.

Antony Donovan (of Veterans for Peace) and Kelly Lundeen (of Nuke Watch)are just back from the Meeting of States Parties of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons where most of the world has taken action to prohibit nuclear weapons, but where is the US, where was Biden, where is trump? They reflect on the great work being done by more than 90 countries which have ratified the TPNW and wonder why no US. They talk about the US and international organizations including Nuke Watch and their work to expand and enforce the TPNW and what YOU can do.

Susan Schnall President of Veterans for Peace spoke at the Rally in DC on Friday the 14th about all things awful about the trump/musk administration and called on all veterans to speak out against the chaos. Trump and musk continue to run roughshod over the American public and in this show, Jim and Harvey point out the dangers and then share clips from Veterans who are taking a stand to stop it. We also hear from Veteran Rebecca Roberts. Then Jim meets up with Pan Walker of 103.9 Knoxville while at the Nashville March supporting the VA. We finish up with Billy Simons..

From firings to plane crashes to economic crashes to increased militarism, not to mention the deterioration of rights and the crackdown by the cops, what can we do? Craig Bardo member of Veterans for Peace, Black Alliance for Peace, Party for Socialism and Liberation sits in for Harvey Bennett who is on assignment. Craig discusses his evolution from military service member, banker, and capitalist, to a peace activist. We talk capitalism, socialism, media complicity, and the BOOMERANG EFFECT. We hear clips from capitalist Nancy Pelosi and non-capitalist Second Thought. We discuss all this and ask the question what we can do as members of Veterans for Peace.

Using clips from Professor Jeffrey Sachs as he lectures the EU Parliament and from Professor John Mearsheimer on the Daniel Davies podcast, we reflect on the oval office debacle and how vance and trump's activities may have, but hopefully not, derailed the possibilities of peace in Ukraine. We also discuss Jeffrey Sach's plea with the EU to end their childishness and work for peace.

Anthony Donovan, author, activist, and documentarian, joins Greg Mello, Executive Director of the Los Alamos Study Group, to discuss the idea of deterrence's lack of credibility and reflect on the insanity of the Nuclear Deterrence Summit. They then shift to Trump, Congress, the Budget, and what might be a positive budget cut for DOGE.

Harvey is back and shares his participation at the 2025 Nuclear Deterrence Summit just outside Washington DC, where the talk of actual deterrence was mostly absent. However, the talk of a nuclear love-fest was clear. Harvey shares some of the stories of other anti-war participants at the Bus Boys and Poets gathering and reflects on why this summit even took place. After all, it was shortly thereafter that President Trump talked about de-nuclearization and cutting the military budget in half, which was such a positive in the wake of Trump's first month in office. We finish with Sly and Stand.

With Trump's and Musk's war on DEI, Harvey and Jim revisit the discussion we had on Prince Edward County in Virginia when white supremacists decide to close all public schools for five years rather than segregate in the 1950's. There are more comparisons with what Trump and Musk are trying to do now with their war on DEI than you would expect. The problem is they are trying to expand what happened in Prince Edward County to more than just education and also take it nationwide. To finish we hear Sam Cooke's plea for change.

Margaret Kimberley of Black Agenda Report joins us to discuss the world under Trump. She weighs in on everything from the airplane disaster in DC, to the FAA, to Trumps picks, to Gaza, Ukraine, Europe, Canada, Panama, the Congo, student protests, and mainstream media failures. She also reflects on Black History Month. So buckle up it gets feisty.

Richard Freeman joins the show to discuss the OASIS plan as developed by the Schiller Institute to try to bring peace to the Middle East. We know that peace has not been achieved by all the methods whether diplomatic or militaristic and things seem to be getting worse. So why not try the OASIS plan which would be a cooperative effort to bring salt water in, desalinate it, and then provide clean fresh water to the Palestinians, Israelis, Jordanians, Egyptians, Syrians, and more to irrigate, drink, and what water does. Then Rich discusses a 60-year-old plan to bring water, that would rain into the ocean, from Alaska to the southwest US to help irrigate and support sustainable vegetation and reduce the impact of the fires.

With the fires raging in Southern California, Cindy Piester joins us from South California to talk about Climate Change, the fires, the hurricane in NC, and their connection to militarism. She also reflects on COP 29, Trump's drill baby drill, and is there optimism. She also turns the tables on Harvey and Jim and asks questions about nuclear war, deterrence, US hegemony and more. We finish with Peter Tosh.

We welcome Gerry Condon and Helen Jaccard back to talk about a number of issues including Pete Hegseth, Ceasefire, Trump's cabinet and then we focus on Nuclear weapons. Helen will give us an update on all things Golden Rule. Gerry talks about the work and projects of the Nuclear Abolition Work Group. Then we all talk about and help Harvey prepare for the upcoming Deterrence Summit in the DC area.

Jimmy Carter passed away and if you listen to the reflections either he was a saint or a sinner. Matt Hoh joins us to give a balanced view of Jimmy Carter from his troublesome Presidency and what was at the core of his policies to the humanitarian who called Israel an apartheid state and wielded a hammer for Habitat rather than a champagne glass at Martha's vineyard. As a result, Matt takes us into the depth of the US empire and why our Presidents should probably be called emperors instead of presidents and why Carter's legacy should be more about post-presidency.

Today we share a number of voices from a number of sources to give you a foundation on what is happening and what might be happening around Trump/Putin, Ukraine/Russia, Turkey/Syria, Turkey/Israel, US/Turkey/Israel, and more. We include clips from Owen Jones with Ilan Pappe, Judge Napolitano, and Alistair Crooke, as well as clips from the International Peace Coalition Helga Zepp-Larouch, Ray McGovern, and Larry Johnson. Then we finish up with Anything Goes, which is sung by Ella Fitzgerald.

We welcome back KJ Noh for two discussions. First, we talk about Han Kang who won the Nobel Prize for Literature, and why this reflects the Nobel Committee's only chance to comment on the genocide in Gaza. Then we turn to the chaos that is going on in South Korea with the President calling for Marshall Law, the legislature rejecting that, and the hundreds of thousands of protestors taking to the streets. There is more here than our press and our government would like to admit. We finish with the song the protestors sing during the protests.

Harvey and Jim reflect a little on the last year but primarily look at the importance of VFP radio/podcasts along with other independent news sources as our national media fail to provide us the information that we need to take on the powers and the problems that are engulfing the world. We look at media failures from covering up the Christmas Truce, to a Palestinian lawsuit, Admiral Buchanan talking about winning a nuclear war, and the most listened-to news outlet worldwide letting us down by covering for genocide. Then we turn to the VFP power structure to provide us with some hope and direction. VFP President Susan Schnall, Vice President Josh Shurley, and Program Coordinator Mike Ferner provide us with information and tools on how we need to approach this coming year as a member of VFP but also as an organization that is looking to collaborate with other peace organizations to raise our voices and efforts to make a difference.

Bruce Carruthers member of Veterans for Peace and expert on VA Health Care joins us to talk about the damage that is outlined in Project 2025 on veterans' health care and veterans' benefits. We need to be worried if you get your health care from the VA or if you are a family member of someone who does especially for those ailments that can not be directly attributed. Thus the Pact Act and coverage of ailments linked to burn pits and Agent Orange could be in jeopardy. Their goal is to make veteran's health care a profit-making business through privatization.

Harvey and Jim break down a panel discussion hosted by Scott Ritter at the National Press Club which included Dennis Kucinich, Don Kovalik, and Margaret Kimberly. With the world in chaos the panel focused on what the public needs to do and that is pepper congress with letters and calls and more. We have to get arms frozen before Biden and Blinken and Sullivan lead us over a cliff.

We have two great guests. First Dennis Speed talks about the work of the International Peace Coalition, especially concerning the thought of peace through economic cooperation. Then friend of the show and VFP member Anthony Donovan reflects on his recent visit to Vietnam and how that war 55 years ago emphasizes a connection with today's wars in Ukraine and especially Gaza. Once again the US can not help itself but be culpable.

This show is extremely important for anyone considering the military and anyone in the military who feels things are not quite right. Three members of the Air Force: Joy Metzler, Juan Betancourt and Larry Hebert join us to discuss why, after joining the military with good intentions, they decided enough was enough and are pursuing Conscientious Objector Discharges. They relate what was the tipping point for them that pushed them over the edge. They discuss the disillusionment and possible betrayal by the military. They relate how helpful Veterans for Peace has been in their efforts. They also discuss what they are telling young people considering the military.

We have been waiting to share this powerful interview by Frank Barat with Gabor Mate on the current world situation surrounding Gaza and Israel. We have become numb to the tragedy and we need to recognize that so that we can continue to work together to stop the continuing funding of Israel. We must also recognize the psychological problems that we are leaving with those who manage to survive and even our own sense of humanity.

Don Pageler was a green seaman and Crypto Technician when he joined the USS Liberty in May of 1967, after a month he was a hardened sailor, combat survivor, and victim of betrayal and cover-up by his own government. Don joins us to recount the attack but more than that the lingering effects, the PTSD, the physical and emotional trauma, and the constant efforts to try to bring the truth to light. Suffering from the physical effects of that day, June 8, 1967, Don is one of the few members of the crew that survives to this day and is still working to gain accountability. Hear his story now.

KJ NOH author, activist, international scholar, and friend of the show rejoins us to talk Trump part two. KJ talks about what we might want to look out for in the international policy of a Trump administration. What might be our relations with the Far East, Middle East, Russia/Ukraine, NATO, nuclear, and climate.. Will the Trump administration be that much different on the international stage than Biden? Is there a chance Trump might end the Ukraine war, the genocide in Gaza, or attack Iran? Is there anything we should be doing or planning?

We finish up our interview with Matt Hoh and add portions of our webinar with Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson. We hear them talk about Israel, and Ukraine but mostly about the state of the empire and it is not good. They also talk about the nature of military service and the impact it can have on a young person. Col. Wilkerson also talks about our nuclear posture in this dangerous world. We finish with Harvey remembering Barbara Dane and the day she came to the People's House in Clarksville.

Matt Hoh of the Eisenhower Media Network joins us for part one of this two-part discussion. He shares his primary concern that we, the American citizens, citizens of the empire, seem to be patiently waiting for the crisis. We know something is coming, but why do we feel helpless? He talks of Israel, Ukraine, the climate, the election, and the mainstream media and their complicity in our complacency.

Joseph Gerson is Executive Director of the Campaign for Peace, Disarmament and Common Security joins us to explain that the Nobel Peace prize this year is a desperate plea to the world to stop its insane rush toward nuclear confrontation. The award was given to Nihon Hidankyo, the grassroots movement of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, also known as Hibakusha. Joseph explains and identifies what he considers the greatest nuclear threat. We also share a clip about real journalism from real journalists, Ryan Grimm and Jeremy Scahill. We finish with Randy Newman dropping the big one.

Terry Lodge, Legal Counsel for Veterans for Peace, and Mike Ferner, Executive Director for Veterans for Peace join us to discuss the immediate need to gather a panel to indict Secretary of State Blinken and the letter to the Department of Justice outlining his culpability. Veterans for Peace is taking this major stand based on recent revelations from Propublica that Blinken lied to Congress about continuing aid to Israel, but it goes much deeper. Blinken apparently was complicit in genocide from the start. We also hear from VFP member Craig Bardo who spoke to a rally in Nashville and called for Blinken's indictment.

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.

Can our policymakers at the State Department, Defense Department, and the White House really be stupid enough to give Ukraine Missiles to knock out Russian early warning systems and at the same time put missiles in Germany? How is Putin going to feel with this nuclear threat right in his backyard and at the same time having his sight knocked out? Do we not understand that a blind Russia could think we are launching nuclear missiles at them when we aren't? Is our stupidity leading us to the brink of apocalypse?

The Nuclear Facility in Oak Ridge Tennessee makes nuclear bombs. We talked to people from the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance (OREPA) who are trying to educate people as to the dangers of that facility in making weapons, the cost overruns at the facility, and the age and instability of this Manhattan-era facility. Tanvi Kardile, Coordinator, and Rachel Stewart, Vice President of OREPA join us to discuss Oak Ridge, their efforts, and connecting to the community and the students at the University of Tennessee and other universities nationwide. They also discuss the linkage of their efforts to the students supporting divestment of the University from support of military contracts and Israeli investments.

Dr. Javeria Farooqi joins us to talk BDS its importance, its successes, its impact, and how YOU can take part in ending apartheid, occupation, and genocide. Dr. Farooqi shows us specifically the tools we can use to Boycott. From Apps to Websites, you can view products, and stores to support or avoid. She also talks about how your investments can be powerful in changing the world for the better, for the humane, for the compassionate. She also has a step-by-step guide on reviewing your investments and Jim will send you a copy if you text him at 703 403 6135.

Jack Gilroy faces jail time for trying to share Terry Lodge's VFP letter that outlines US culpability in genocide by supporting Israel. Terry Lodge drafted a letter which was signed by Susan Schnall, President and Mike Ferner, Executive Director of Veterans for Peace. The letter, addressed to the State Department, outlines the 5 laws and one Executive Order that the administration is in violation of by supporting Israel's genocide in Gaza. Of course, this criminality includes the weapon's industry so Jack Gilroy wanted to share the letter with BAE Systems in Endicott, NY where he was arrested and faces charges of trespass, so he was trespassing while trying to help BAE avoid criminal behavior. They both join us to update Jack's challenge and share Terry's VFP letter. We finish with Pete Seeger

The Veterans for Peace Nuclear Abolition working group hosted an important webinar about Nuclear Power and Nuclear weapons with William Hartung of the Quincy Institute, Linda Pentz-Gunther of Beyond Nuclear, and Greg Mello of the Los Alamos Study Group. In the show, Harvey and Jim abridged, discussed, and emphasized the topics discussed during the webinar. You will learn things you never knew and be challenged but guided to take action. We need a movement. We finish with Billy Bragg and There will be a Reckoning.