Veterans for Peace Radio Hour

After Jack Gilroy shares his plea for us to take action to encourage Pope Leo and Arch Bishop Wester to join the movement to reject nuclear weapons and promote peace, Harvey interviews Bruce Carruthers of the Veterans Health Care Policy Institute on the status of Veteran Care and the continued efforts of this administration to undermine and privatize VA health care.

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."

Craig Bardo or VFP, Black Alliance for Peace, and Party for Socialism and Liberation is back to discuss his article in substack PolicyFool about what we are doing to Cuba, Harvey calls it Genocide.  Since Trump is losing in Iran will he turn to Cuba for an easy victory? Why is the US mainstream media so hostile to Cuba and supportive of US efforts to starve a country that has never attacked us?

In this episode Josh Shurley talks with Jacqueline Luqman about the Black Alliance for Peace, which focuses on anti-imperialist struggle and addressing issues of capitalism, militarism, and racialized oppression. They discussed a recent peace delegation to Venezuela, where they both participated. The conversation highlighted the connection between Dr. Martin Luther King's concept of the "Triple Evils" and global struggles against these issues.The conversation expanded to include AFRICOM's role in Africa, particularly regarding the Sahel Alliance countries (Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger) that are challenging imperial control. The episode concluded with a discussion of the Black Alliance for Peace's campaigns, including calls for U.S. withdrawal from Africa and a boycott of the World Cup.

Two members of Veterans for Peace were arrested last week for getting into good trouble at the Rotunda of the Cannon Office Building in the Capitol.  Joy Metzler and Michael McPhearson participated in a protest with more than 100 other veterans and family members to call for the end of the US / Israeli war of CHOICE.  They both join the show to share why they were there and why the action was so important, and why speaker of the house mike johnson were not brave enough to hear their demand.  Joy also talked about all the resources available for young people in the military and considering the military to use to make a choice that fits with their moral compass.

Craig Bardo fills in for Harvey as we discuss a peace proposal from China/Russia?  Who knew?  Alice Slater fills us in.   Does Israel have the right to exist?  Matthew Cooke weighs in.  Then we ask does the US have a right to exist?  Then trump's fight with the POPE, so if you are a Christian should you be thinking of Conscientious Objection?  Looks like the Pope thinks so.  We share the GI rights hotline again.  Then we talk No Kings, AIPAC, are the democrats going to mess this up again?  We finish with Buffy Saint Marie.

This show is SO important. We share information about Conscientious Objection Status, how to get it and who is there to help you get it. We borrowed this important and timely show from Margaret Flowers of the Clearing the Fog Podcast. Here she interviews Mike Prysner, Executive Director of the Center on Conscience and War on their efforts to help anyone research and pursue CO status. This is after she interviews James Branum of the Military Law Task Force on the challenges and strategies of refusing illegal orders.

Craig Bardo friend of the show joins us to discuss, what else, our miscalculations of the people and commitment of the people of Iran and our manipulation by Israel. We realize how the US empire is in jeopardy and that Israel has lost any claim of a moral high ground.

Reverend David Gierlach, Vicar, Emmanuel Episcopal Church,HI joins us to discuss the manipulation and misinterpretation of the message of Jesus to reflect the civil society of the US and the dangers that brings when incorporated into our military.

Just think for a moment if an American elementary school was struck by an off-course missile from Iran and just think about how Americans would respond to that, how outraged we would be. That is a quote from Bill Astore, Senior Fellow from the Eisenhower Media Network who joins us to talk our war of choice or Israeli manipulation and how it is not in our interest. We also have a small salute to Country Joe MacDonald.

Matt Hoh, Senior Fellow at the Eisenhower Media Network joins us to explain yet another motive Israel has in manipulating Trump into attacking Iran. Then on to the Iranian response and their motive to make the world pay.

Craig Bardo, member of Veterans for Peace, Party for Socialism and Liberation, teacher at Nashville State College, and more , joins us to discuss how our policies against Cuba have been used on the Black Community here in the US for centuries. We also discuss our need for solidarity with the Cuban people and what that would look like right here. No Kings is not enough.

K.J. Noh returns to the show and this time he is talking about the prospects of US war on Iran, will trump or won't trump. Of course the smart thing is don't do it but is trump under too much pressure from netanyahu. Then we turn to Marco Rubio at the Munich Security conference and his revisionism and mendacity as he proposed a New Western Century.

Greg Mello, Executive Director of the Los Alamos Study Group joins us to discuss the expiration of the New Start treaty and the impact that expiration is going to have around the globe and right here in the US. We are in for difficult and dangerous times but Greg also wants us to look for any silver lining and thus he points several out.

What is an illegal order?  Terry Lodge of VFP joins us to explain.  Why do service people need that information?  We share clips from Danny Haiphong  with Ali Alizadeh and KJ Noh on trump's threats of war with Iran.

Harvey and Jim discuss the domestic and international thugery being displayed by the trump administration. They start off with an update (????) on Minneapolis and then switch to clips from Jeffrey Sachs and John Mearsheimer from Breaking Points.

Harvey found a great clip from the Chris Hedges Report (http://chrishedges.substack.com/) with Norman Finkelstein in which they discuss the recent UN Security Council Resolution to support the Trump peace plan and Peace Board for Gaza. Does this resolution undermine human rights, the UN Charter, the United Nations itself?

Using a variety of clips, Jim and Harvey discuss US Government terrorism in the streets of the United States and around the world, focusing on Venezuela.

Two activists, Anthony Donovan and Delaney Wilder, are just back from the West Bank where they lived, talked, and ate with the Palestinian people who are under siege from Israeli settlers. The witnessed the apartheid, the oppression, the daily insults, the abuse, and the neglect from the Israeli government and the IOF. Yet the Palestinian people opened their hearts, homes and kitchens to Anthony and Delaney, This show is what they saw and heard.

Zahid and Melissa Chaudry, who are true patriots and demonstrate what Americans can be, join Harvey and Jim to discuss more than two decades of government harassment of this disabled Army veteran. They relate government criminality dating back to FBI efforts coercing Zahid to set up fellow innocent Muslim post 911. They relate decades of harassment from INS and other government agencies as Zahid followed all the rules to try to gain citizenship. They relate his abduction and confinement in an ICE detention center and their extra judicial efforts to deport him without due process. They relate the findings of the District 9 just who released him condemning the DOJ.

This is such a powerful show. More music than normal along with the inspiration we can draw on from those truly brave soldiers in the trenches of WW!.

Stewart Battle of the Executive Intelligence Review news organization (eir.news) to discuss the impact and chaos brought on by the administrations National Security Strategy and the Trump Corollary to the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine. Stewart discusses, and breaks down the international angst, especially in Europe, that the strategy has caused. Is Trump really divorcing Nato? Is he threatening setting up an attack on Venezuela? What is the response of the Global South and BRICS?

Yes Harrison Mann, one of the first military and government members to resign over the US support of Israel's genocide in Gaza.   He takes us back to explain why he was one of the first; why it did not take long to know that our policy, the Biden policy was wrong.  However, now as Associate Director for Campaigns and Policy at Win Without War he is ramping up his activism.  He talks about Ukraine, Venezuela, illegal orders, National Guard in our cities and what to do if you are in the military and are having second thoughts.  In other words he just scratched the surface of what he and Win Without War are involved in.  winwithoutwar.org.  

Our own JACK GILROY is producing another play and he wants it to come to YOUR TOWN. It is a two person play about a drone pilot and HER daughter in college and the struggles they have reconciling what Mom is doing with what the daughter sees as reality. Jack talks about the play and the relevance today as we face continuing confrontations in the Middle East, Africa, Ukraine, and the escalating tensions with Venezuela and the Caribbean. Find out how you can get this important play into your town along with ideas for getting students active in peace from elementary through college.

Greg Payton, author, activist for peace,  Vietnam Veteran, VVAW and VFP member joins us to talk about his new book "Peace Warrior"   Greg tracks his journey from the projects, to Vietnam, to addiction, PTSD , recovery and his continued optimism for peace, harmony, and humanity.   Greg's experience in Vietnam showed the challenges that an out spoken black man in the Army will face and the punishments to be endured.  However, beyond Vietnam Greg demonstrated the resilience and commitment that took him to apartheid South Africa, and civil war torn Belfast.  His is an amazing story of survival when so many wanted to silence him.

Veterans United for Peace held a powerful webinar on Armistice Day evening in which Phil Tottenham, Hani, Nofal, Brian McGinnis, Greg Stoker, Anthony Aguilar, and Josephine Guilbeau all shared powerful messages. They talked about the military, the US empire, their service and participation, coming to realize what they were doing, reflecting on Aaron Bushnell, and more. In this episode we concentrate on Greg Stoker, Anthony Aguilar, and Josephine Guilbeau. We finish up with Phil Ochs.

After hearing from Dr. Kelly Benton-Borhaug on Military Moral Injury last week, we decided to replay a show from a year ago with three military members who have a conscience and who could not take what the military was doing and supporting any longer. This is the perfect follow up.!

PLEASE LISTEN TO THE FIRST FIFTEEN MINUTES and if you want to turn it off you have my blessing, but I can not emphasize too much how important this show is for Veterans and those who care about Veterans (meaning everyone else). Dr. Kelly Denton-Borhaug rejoins Harvey and Jim to review and to update her work and study on Moral Injury. She is the author of two books with a third near completion. Her second book, "And Then Your Soul is Gone: Moral Injury and US War Culture, is the go to book on Moral Injury and how you can figure out why you feel this way. In this episode she expands on that book and also traces the road to recovery for those of us who suffer from Moral Injury. Please listen to at least the first fifteen minutes... and then the rest. PEACE

PLEASE LISTEN TO THE FIRST FIFTEEN MINUTES and if you want to turn it off you have my blessing, but I can not emphasize too much how important this show is for Veterans and those who care about Veterans (meaning everyone else). Dr. Kelly Denton-Borhaug rejoins Harvey and Jim to review and to update her work and study on Moral Injury. She is the author of two books with a third near completion. Her second book, "And Then Your Soul is Gone: Moral Injury and US War Culture, is the go to book on Moral Injury and how you can figure out why you feel this way. In this episode she expands on that book and also traces the road to recovery for those of us who suffer from Moral Injury. Please listen to at least the first fifteen minutes... and then the rest. PEACE

Matt Hoh, Senior Fellow at the Eisenhower Media Network, VFP Advisory Board Member, author, and activist rejoins the show to talk about so much. From Gaza to Ukraine, from Nato to Venezuela, from China to the US, from ICE, to militarism, to troops on the street of the US, Matt weighs in on the status and challenges of today's world especially in these days of Trump.

No Kings is just the tip of what Veterans for Peace is doing. Today we hear powerful voices, including VFP Executive Director Michael McPhearson on the indepth meaning of Peace at Home and Peace Abroad. We hear Jon Spitzberg, 87 year old VFP activist, on getting arrested, AGAIN. We hear voices from No Kings rally, including Santa, Unicorns, and Dinosaurs. We hear a clip from young Veteran and Podcaster Greg Stoker. We finish with a song from Tom Morello.

This is a powerful show with Marie Purcell, Veteran, Conscientious Objector, and now VFP Twin Cities Activist specializing in the new program starting within VFP to create rapid responses to national and international issues. Right now the work has concentrated on the genocide, the flotilla's and the recent ceasefire. She also reflects on the power and resilience of the Palestinian people and the example they give to all of us. She also points out that the oppression we see coming from Israel is also right here on our streets and the role VFP and ALLIES can take to resist.

Dr. Nizar Hallek joins the show.  He is a Palestinian American, US CITIZEN, activist, and Doctor, who Harvey met while getting into good trouble disrupting Elbit Systems in Charleston, S.C..   Dr. Hallek covers  discusses his efforts as a Palestinian to bring knowledge and understanding the people of the US that if you do not believe this is a genocide, then you must be a Holocaust denier.  You can not believe in one and not the other.

Harvey and Jim are away and so this is a replay of a very timely show from one year ago. 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.

NO MAS, in other words No Military Air Shows. VFP members and activists Jim Rine and Gary Butterfield join us to discuss their upcoming tours to educate the public about the link between militarism and our climate catastrophe by focusing on military air shows. Jim and Gary are VFP members and activists within the Climate Crisis and Militarism Project. They have outlined airshows throughout the country and plan on doing three tours of those air shows with an RV filled with Climate and Militarism information. Why air shows? This is where they can get the most people to educate about the military's huge impact on the climate. FIND OUT IF THEIR TOUR IS COMING TO YOUR TOWN AND HOW YOU CAN HELP, EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT ON THE TOUR. Time to get back on the road again.

Today, we are joined by two dynamic activists who are walking the walk and can give us inspiration to take our own path to make a difference.  Hani Nofal resigned his commission in the Navy because of our complicity in genocide.  He now works for Rebuilding Alliance (rebuildingalliance.org) working to provide aid and support for the people of Palestine and more.   He has been interviewed on the national media and is a desired speaker at national rallies.  We also have Katerina, who just happens to be his wife and is also active doing lactation consultation with the moms in Gaza, and yes, that is possible despite the trauma they are going through.   She herself is a Mom of two babies, and she shares the stories and the strength of Gaza Moms trying to survive and care for their babies.

Harvey is back from assignment with a full report from the powerful People's Conference for Palestine.  Harvey describes his participation, and we include clips from Mahmoud Khalil and Chris Smalls.  The theme of the conference was that Palestine is our compass, our guide, our wayshower to humanity and peace.  We finish with a song about Palestine by Billy Bragg.

Veterans for Peace member and President of the Rachel Corrie Chapter was kidnapped by ICE during a citizenship interview.  He has lived in the US legally for 25 years and is an Army Veteran suffering from a service injury, which keeps him in a wheelchair.  He has been striving to gain his citizenship and was within an interview of getting it when ICE took him.  He, of course, is one of thousands, but he is also a part of the VFP family and needs your support:  https://www.veteransforpeace.org/pressroom/news/2025/08/25/ice-kidnaps-disabled-army-veteran .  We also share a clip from Brian Becker of The Socialist Program as he interviews Dr. Richard Wolff about the Trump/Gop War on immigrants.  We finish with Dave Rovics' new song about Zahid.

Bill Astore retired lieutenant colonel (USAF), author, professor of history, TomDispatch regular, and a senior fellow at the Eisenhower Media Network with a sub stack called Bracing Views, joins us to discuss his latest article, "An Ailing, Flailing, Failing Empire Lashes Out, America the FUBAR."  We discuss if the idea of the rule of law in the US is on the same footing as the tooth fairy?  Do we need to practice some dark humor to spread the word?  What will get people off the couch?

It is so frustrating, there are so many issues, which one should I focus on: war, immigration, genocide, climate, racial justice, worker's rights, or something else? Mike Ferner who is just recovered from the VFP FAST joins us to discuss a movement that just might relieve your frustration and address all the issues at once. All of the issues we face today have one thing in common and that is corporate backing. From immigration to genocide, from proxy war against Russia to war against workers, from climate to health care, we can track it all back to corporations and capitalism. Mike shows how corporations have been in charge of our country for the most part of over 100 years and with the help of the supreme court (purposely not capitalized) their power is greater than ever. That is why Mike and over 300,000 members of MovetoAmend are working hard to educate the public in order to take away corporate power.

Yes, on top of everything else.  This is really hard to deal with as we face endless war, threat of nuclear confrontation, fascism, Christian nationalism, racism, and more; we still have to pay attention to the climate.  Tom Grose, our resident climate guru in Nashville, talks about the end of EPA responsibility.  Then we go back to the VFP convention and the presentations by Shirine Jurdi speaking from Lebanon, that the Israelis are not just killing Palestinians but all of us.  Then we turn to climate activist Charlotte Dennett on the oil off Gaza.  Finally, Mike Prysner of Empire Files really hits us with the linkage of the climate catastrophe and militarism.

Today, we talk to two activists who are working hard to eliminate Elbit Weapons Systems, an Israeli company,  from their community in Charleston, SC.  Elbit has been producing cannons for the Israeli military to participate in the continued genocide in Gaza.  These two activists are part of a coalition of groups that are picketing the facility, addressing their local Council, and asking their community if this is how they want their tax dollars spent.  Why is Elbit, an Israeli genocidal company, in South Carolina and ten other facilities across the country, here in the US, with our government's endorsement and support?  These two answer the question and then ask what you can do to stop them.