The 164th consecutive weekly meeting of the International Peace Coalition (IPC) commenced with remarks by Helga Zepp-LaRouche, Schiller Institute founder and IPC initiator, who called attention to very important recent statements by retired German Air Force four-star general Harald Kujat. She noted that it is incomprehensible to him how world leaders can be so oblivious to the lessons of history that they could seriously contemplate a third world war. She referred specifically to the threat of a U.S. attack on Iranian facilities that are located deep in Pickaxe Mountain, “out of reach of bunker buster bombs…. What hangs there in the air is the potential that a nuclear weapon could be used.” Due to the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the entrance to the Red Sea, both of which are vital to shipments of many products including crude oil and oil products, liquified natural gas, and various types of fertilizer, “A hunger crisis in the world is already pre-programmed.” She commented further on the “strange agreement” of U.S. President Donald Trump with the Saudis which purportedly provides assistance for nuclear energy development, but also requires Saudi Arabia to sign the Abraham Accords, which the Saudis will absolutely not do. Unfortunately, she said, after 164 weeks of IPC meetings, “we are closer to nuclear war than when we started.”
Jack Gilroy is a regular IPC participant who represents Veterans for Peace, Pax Christi–New York State, and Pax Christi International. He opened by saying, “People cannot continue to live in denial” about the war danger. He reminded the participants of how, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, President John F. Kennedy used trusted friends like Norman Cousins as backchannel intermediaries to Pope John XXIII. He then gave an update on his organization’s Letter to Archbishop Wester, which was scheduled to be sent in hard copy on the same day the IPC meeting took place.
In the Shadow of Jonathan Pollard
Jose Vega, independent candidate for New York’s 15th Congressional District in the Bronx, briefed the participants on Section 219 of the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This section is titled “American-Israeli Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative,” but it were better called the “Jonathan Pollard Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative,” because it would share with the Israeli military the same sort of intelligence products which Pollard stole for them, and for which he was convicted of espionage. The NDAA, with this benighted section intact, has unfortunately now passed the House. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally takes credit for this section, which he says moves Israel’s status from aid recipient to formal partner. This has become controversial nationwide, due to the efforts of the IPC and former Congressman Dennis Kucinich to expose it. Vega listed journalists and podcasters on both the left and right who have covered this. Even U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), the Democratic Congresswoman for New York’s 14th C.D. (which includes the eastern part of the Bronx and parts of north-central Queens in New York City) has commented on it.
Prof. Clifford Kiracofe of the Washington Institute for Peace and Development explained the importance of calls and emails to elected officials. Hand-written postcards are perhaps the most effective means of communication, as they are instantly accessible and personal. He explained how the offending Section 219 could be deleted in the House-Senate reconciliation process.
Referring to the need for a new international security and development architecture as proposed by Zepp-LaRouche, he emphasized, “It’s extremely important that we have that vision in front of us.” He recalled that the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche was an important force behind the rise of militarism in the 19th Century, but there were also many conferences that focused on diplomacy, which is what we need today.
Moderator Anastasia Battle made a point of announcing the phone number for the U.S. Capitol Switchboard, 202-224-2131, for people to call their Congressman and Senators.
Larry Johnson, former CIA intelligence official and a member of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS), predicted a major assault by the United States against Iran on the day of the IPC meeting, “after the stock market closes.” He also forecast a response by Iran that would be directed at Israel, including its refineries that produce diesel and aviation fuel. He said it is obvious that Russia and China are aiding Iran; both countries are interested in testing U.S. response to their weapons technology, and they are also glad to see the United States expending its arsenal.
Zepp-LaRouche responded, saying, “I think that if this happens, we are in a new geometry of destruction.”
