Remembering 42 years ago, when a million of us marched in Central Park against nukes and for an end to the Cold War arms race
The worst part is, we’re closer to nuclear war now than we were then.
On this day in 1982 — A million people (I made it 1,000,001) descended upon New York City’s Central Park, demanding nuclear disarmament and an end to the Cold War arms race. It was the largest disarmament rally in American history. Funny, I can’t remember any of the speakers. I really couldn’t hear them. What I do remember most was Linda Ronstadt and Jackson Browne. After 42 years it’s all a blur. The worst part is, we’re closer to nuclear war now than we were then.
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The risk of nuclear escalation in Ukraine
Now that Biden has given Ukraine’s Pres. Zelensky permission to use American weapons to strike inside Russia’s borders, all eyes are on Russian Pres. Putin to see how he will respond.
Biden himself, has been talking about the US/Russia proxy war turning nuclear since 2022 when the Russian invasion began.
Now, Putin is characterizing Biden’s move as a “completely new round of escalation of tension” and announced on May 6 that it would conduct drills simulating the use of tactical nuclear weapons, or—as Russia describes them—“non-strategic” nuclear weapons.
An article today, in the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists warns:
Russian nuclear policy is not built on a series of bluffs. Rather, it captures a fundamental pillar of deterrence theory dating back to the heyday of the Cold War: Threats that leave something to chance and force the adversary to face potentially uncontrollable risks that entail unacceptable costs.
US sends arms to the Azov Brigade
In addition to his lifting of the ban on striking inside of Russia, Biden also lifted his ban on sending weapons directly to the neo-Nazi Azov Brigade.
I love the way AP calls the group, “controversial.”
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US troops in Gaza?
An Israeli raid on the Nuseirat refugee camp, ostensibly to free four Israeli captives held there, reportedly resulted in the death of at least 274 Palestinians as well as in the death of three other hostages, including one US citizen.
In a video posted earlier this week, a young boy from Al-Nuseirat explains that the soldiers who raided his family home, extinguished a cigarette on his neck, and killed his 12-year-old brother were not Israeli military.
"They were American Special Forces. Those who attacked us in our home were not Israeli forces. They were American… And the person who killed my brother is one of them. From Biden's army."
The post was dismissed by several critics who claimed that there weren’t any American troops fighting in Gaza. One wrote,
“If American Special Forces are secretly in Gaza, why wouldn't they borrow uniforms from the IDF? You would probably believe if he said he saw Batman.”
In fact, Batman isn’t fighting in Gaza, at least not on the side of the IDF. But US special forces certainly are — and it’s no secret. Hundreds of US troops and private contractors (mercs) are engaged in Gaza. This, according to ABC News who reported back in March that hundreds of US troops were en route to the Gaza coast to build a massive floating pier that would supposedly open up a desperately needed route for humanitarian aid.
The US sent special forces to Israel in November, reportedly to assist in “finding the hostages” held captive in the Gaza Strip by Hamas, according to a senior Pentagon official. Though the US has previously said it has sent military advisers to help Israel in its war on Hamas, Christopher Maier, an assistant secretary of defense, indicated that commandos have also been deployed.
US troops were also heavily involved in the murderous raid on the refugee camp in Nuseirat, according to CNN, Axios, and the NYT. All of this makes the young boy’s charges of war crimes by some American troops believable.
Your columns and narratives have bolstered and expanded my knowledge of what is going on in Israel-Palestine. If Americans are so engaged in this debacle, I droop my head in shame.
Sounding too familiar. Thanks.