Provisonal World Parliament Condemns Illegal Attack on Iran, Seeks Ratification of Earth Constitution

PROVISIONAL WORLD PARLIAMENT 

WORLD CONSTITUTION AND PARLIAMENT ASSOCIATION

4 March 2026

For immediate release:

The Provisional World Parliament and its sponsor, the World Constitution and Parliament Association, condemn the corrupt and criminal actions of the United States and Israel in their attack on Iran. It is a return to barbarism in human affairs.

Not only have both these countries (tightly linked together in a network of corruption and graft) trashed whatever remains of International Law and civilized behavior among nations, they have also initiated a global lawlessness of cruelty, human rights violations, and militarized destruction. 

Their criminal behavior trashes the efforts of more than 100 years in which civilization attempted to create a workable world system not predicated on endless war and imperial domination. We are back to the lawless world that existed before World War One and are therefore facing the very real possibility of a World War Three, this time based on nuclear weapons and the possibility of exterminating humankind in thermonuclear holocaust.

We call upon all civilized peoples around the globe and all nations of integrity to oppose this chaos in every nonviolent way open to them. We call upon all peoples and nations to initiate steps toward a holistic, free, and peaceful world system by urgently and seriously considering ratification of the Constitution for the Federation of Earth.

The Presidium of the Provisional World Parliament*

**********

*The Provisional World Parliament's (PWP) 16th Session met in India in December, 2026 and elected a Presidium -- consisting of 5 members of the Parliament as an executive council to carry out the directives of the PWP and the Constitution for the Federation of Earth (aka Earth Constitution).  

A top priority is planning for a World Constituent Assembly to amend the EC in view of new developments such as the rapid emergence of Artificial Intelligence. The EC is designed to replace the outdated UN Charter whose flaws have prevented the UN from doing its job, such as ending war. 

A "new UN" utilizing the EC calls for the UN General Assembly to join forces with the PWP. The strategy is to establish the House of Nations along with the House of Peoples thus putting together an emerging democratic World Parliament under the Earth Constitution. 

-- Info contact: rkotila@earthconstitution.world +1 415-328-2341

December 3, 2025

The UN cannot save us so we need a World Parliament Now

#1 Earth Constitution Solution & Provisional World Parliament

Roger Kotila, PhD  Earth Federation News & Views

Imagine being allowed to lie, cheat, steal and kill without fear of getting arrested and ending up in jail?  How convenient if you are a psychopathic leader whose world crimes make your nation an outlaw state! Since you have no conscience, and enforceable international law is weak to nonexistent, there are no guard rails to prevent you from endless crimes such as endless wars.

The world community's main protectors, the United Nations and the International Criminal Court, are denied adequate power to stop war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other world crimes. When the most powerful nations are rogue, the world community stands by, frustrated and helpless to prevent the carnage and injustice. 

Peace, human rights, and environmental activists are developing an alternative to the current UN global governing system, namely the need for a "new UN" or Earth Federation government.

It is a Two Track Strategy: (1) Develop Earth Federation government from the grassroots by establishing the HOUSE OF PEOPLES in a Provisional World Parliament. (Meeting in India in December 7-10, 2025); and (2) Reaching out to the UN General Assembly to develop the HOUSE OF NATIONS as called for under the authority of the Earth Constitution as part of an emerging democratic World Parliament.

Predatory, Bully nations mock human rights and law & order

The Earth Constitution is designed to replace the outdated and fatally flawed UN Charter which lacks an adequate world judiciary system and enforcement. For powerful predatory Bully nations, there is no sheriff in town. No federal marshals to enforce Law or protect human rights. Law and order are absent, leaving only anarchy and war. 

A significant development to address such deadly flaws in the current global governance system (i.e., the United Nations Charter) has been the introduction by peace activists of the Earth Constitution (aka "Constitution for the Federation of Earth") to inspire, educate and ultimately replace the deeply problematic UN Charter. 

Einstein understood how to abolish war

"Einstein on Peace" (Nathan & Norden, 1981 edition) is a brilliant analysis of what will be needed to abolish war, -- and eliminate all nuclear weapons. Stated bluntly, Einstein concluded that only world government could be successful -- this is a core principle of world federalism: To have world peace (and justice), the solution must be world (federal) government. 

Cyberspace and AI, a tool for the World Parliament?

For tech worshipers the bad news is that modern cyberspace/Internet, even with AI, cannot, and will not, bring the world either peace or justice. No way. But it can be a powerful tool, even a game-changer by assisting the World Constitution & Parliament Association and Earth Constitution Institute to establish the HOUSE OF PEOPLES as called for by the Earth Constitution -- a key grassroots part of an emerging PROVISIONAL WORLD PARLIAMENT to replace the corrupt, dismally-failed, totally undemocratic, UN Security Council.

The HOUSE OF PEOPLES is designed for the world's 8 billion people distributed into 1000 Electoral Districts. You will vote for a delegate to represent your District and be part of decision-making on global issues. Such a large world population will require help from cyberspace/block chain/AI for secure elections and other tasks.    

Ongoing international crimes never seem to cease

Perhaps it is not necessary to remind readers of the ongoing world crimes unfolding day after day in almost every part of the world: Israel with the help of the US government slaughtering the Palestinians as if they were American Indians in the 1800s. US/NATO obliterating Iraq with "shock and awe." Some critics condemn Russia's military invasion of Ukraine despite the covert US-directed violent regime change of Ukraine's government. 

It is not just military invasions or illegal coups, it is also criminal economic warfare such as the US attack against Venezuela utilized to destroy a government which prefers a socialist or communist economic model. Illegal economic blockades indirectly murder civilians who cannot get adequate medicines, other life-support supplies, or employment in an economy like in Venezuela crushed by US covert and overt invasion. 

Empowering the UN General Assembly with the Earth Constitution

Bully nations know that the UN system can't stop them from committing any crime, no matter how egregious. Israeli genocide against Palestinians with US help just the latest example. European NATO countries, Russia and China all have had criminal episodes in their history, with the UN unable to protect and bring justice because of the faulty Charter.

The UN General Assembly could empower itself by adopting the HOUSE OF NATIONS and utilizing the authority of the Earth Constitution. They would be giving themselves the right to vote on global affairs and to take action, as well as launching a new, more effective world law and order system to better control psychopathic leaders of rogue nations.  

It's time for new hope and inspiration, a nonviolent revolution -- a Renaissance. Join the Earth Constitution Movement for a well-thought out World Judiciary and Enforcement System giving more meaning and authority to the principle that no one should be above the Law. Support the Provisional World Parliament's democratic design under the visionary, yet practical Earth Constitution. ~ R. Kotila, PhD [earthstarradio@aol.com]   

www.earthfederation.info

www.dwfed.org

June 11, 2025              DWF NEWS

WELCOME TO WORLD PUBLIC INTEREST JOURNALISM

Under Earth Constitution government, we are all world citizens with certain inalienable rights (Article 12, Bill of Rights for the Citizens of Earth). Israel would never have been allowed to steal Palestinian homes and lands, to establish an apartheid state, or to commit mass murder (genocide).

Because the undemocratic UN Charter has prevented the UN from protecting Palestinians, the world community and family of nations must look elsewhere for solutions. The World Constitution & Parliament Association is developing the House of Peoples for the Provisional World Parliament with 1000 Electoral Districts to represent the Earth's 8 billion people under the authority of the Earth Constitution.

The UN General Assembly has an opportunity to empower itself (utilizing the authority of the EC) if it establishes the Earth Constitution's House of Nations which would give 187 nations, for the first time since 1945, voting rights on global issues. -- R. Kotila, PhD, editor

December 28, 2024

Disarmageddon: Do We Have a Choice?

IN FOCUS, 30 Dec 2024

Roger Kotila, Ph.D. | Earth Federation News & Views – TRANSCEND Media Service

As a psychologist, I realize that all religions have certain texts declared to be “sacred.” This means one cannot question the directives or prophecies in these texts. Yet when scripture seems to lead to massive death and destruction of innocent men, women and children, it seems necessary to at least discuss the possibility that an interpretation comes not from a good, loving God, but from Satan — the latter the great trickster who causes the faithful to commit horrendous sins thinking they are doing “God’s will.”

An example is where some American fundamentalist Christian groups actually help Zionist Israel expand territory by violently seizing Palestinian homes and lands. As expected, conflict and war grow ever more intense, a sign of End Times. An horrendous Palestinian genocide should help finish the job to precipitate Armageddon– while the faithful eagerly await the return of Jesus Christ to Earth. Do we dare ask what’s wrong with this picture? Which raises an unusual question:

If Jesus returned today, either in spirit or in person, would he become a peace activist?  Would he speak out against nuclear war and Armageddon?

28 Dec 2024 – As the war on terror deepens in the Middle East, the spreading military chaos raises the question of an Armageddon scenario—the Biblical prophecy of the end of the world.

Professor Michel Chossudovsky’s carefully documented 102 page “Towards A World War III Scenario” offers an ominous warning: “The U.S. has embarked on a military adventure, a ‘long war’, which threatens the future of humanity.”

So is Armageddon inevitable, or do antiwar activists have a peaceful alternative?

The public is largely unaware of the Earth Constitution—what I’ve described as a “gift to humanity” waiting to be discovered, and perhaps our best option to bring about a fundamental change from a geopolitical UN war system to a global peace system.

Unfortunately for the world, there are millions of Christians who believe that a “final battle”, literally, is on its way. Some, who believe in the Rapture, welcome it.

Provoking conflict

For example, some Christian groups help fund illegal Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory which serves to provoke dangerous eruptions of conflict—another step closer to a “final battle.”

Chossudovsky notes that the Global War on Terrorism is presented to the public as a “clash of civilizations.”  Islamic extremists are said to seek a global caliphate under Islamic law, whereas the US/NATO/Israel are described as defending themselves and Western values.

Yet the real conflict, Chossudovsky concludes, is not about values and religion, but an “outright war of conquest, guided by strategic and economic objectives.” In other words,   US domination in the Middle East for military advantage and control of oil and other resources.

Longing for Jesus at any cost

Chossudovsky’s analysis of Middle East hostilities may be generally accurate, but he may underestimate the role of Armageddon enthusiasts. There are millions of Christians who believe that we are now witnessing signs of the Last Days that will culminate in Armageddon.

Indeed, prophecies in both the Old and New Testament warn of a time of suffering, death and destruction of epic proportions–a war between good and evil prior to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

The belief in End Times coupled with a longing for the return of Jesus Christ, causes some Christians to ignore, or reject outright, the antiwar movement.

If it takes Armageddon before Jesus will return, then so be it—bombs away!

One might dismiss Last Days prophecy as delusional fantasy, except for the very real existence of nuclear weapons, and documented options developed by the Pentagon and NATO to use nukes on the conventional battlefield, and by US/Israel for a surprise attack against Iran.

There are eerie similarities between prophecy and current geopolitical conflicts.

For example, in the Gospel of Luke (Chapter 21):  “Then he said to them, Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom…And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven…”

In the Book of Revelation (Chapter 16) St. John’s bizarre vision describes a God that orders his angels to “…pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.”

An angel “…poured his vial upon the sun—and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.” “For they are the spirits of devils…which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty…And he gathered them together into a place called…Armageddon.”

Would Jesus be a peace activist?

Which raises an unusual question:  If Jesus returned today, either in spirit or in person, would he become a peace activist?  Would he speak out against nuclear war and Armageddon?

Fortunately for humanity, Jesus Christ is known more for his desire for peace than a demand for war.  Among Christians he is proudly proclaimed to be the “Prince of Peace”.

In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew, Chapter 5) Jesus preached that “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.”

Isaiah 9:6-7 predicts that “a son is born” whose name shall be called “Wonderful,” “Counselor,” “The mighty God,” “The Prince of Peace.”  “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end…”

In Isaiah 2:2-4 we read, “And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nations shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any  more.”

A path to safety

World federalists believe that there is a path to safety that can eliminate nuclear weapons, and end war.  We must establish a democratic world federation.  World union must replace competition for resources and military advantage.

When Texas and California have a conflict, they don’t go to war, they go to Court, or to Congress.  Disputes are resolved peacefully.  Peaceful solutions are possible because the states are in a federal union government under the U.S. Constitution. In similar fashion, nations must join in a world federal union government under the Earth Constitution.

The public has a right to know that there is a civilized way to govern the world without war or nuclear endangerment.  We know what to do. The Earth Constitution took thirty years to draft by visionaries anticipating this moment in history.--R. Kotila, PhD 

Invoke Article 6 of the United Nations Charter:

Expel the US to Rescue the UN

Fritz Pointer

         Article 6 of the UN Charter states:

A member of the United Nations which has persistently violated the Principles contained in the present Charter may be expelled from the Organization by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council.

The invocation of Article 6 to expel the United States from the United Nations is a concrete action that should be taken by the 192 member states of the UN General Assembly as well as NGOs and political activists and groups globally.  This action involves the removal of the single most malignant, cancerous, force in that organization. Once that malignant force is removed then the UN has some chance of being reformed or rehabilitated; to become a genuinely representative global international consultative council of countries an insurer of states, which is what it is purported to want to be, what it’s supposed to be.

The aim of the UN Charter is to save humanity from war; to reaffirm human rights and the dignity and worth of the human person (Palestinian, Jewish, African, European, Asian, Latin. Etc.). To proclaim the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small; and to promote the prosperity of all humankind.  The UN Charter is the foundation of international peace and security. 

The United States is the Greatest Threat to Global Peace and Security; the U.S. has consistently broken the principles of the UN Charter since the United Nations Security Council’s inception. For example, in October 2001, George W. Bush invaded Afghanistan, even thought Afghanistan had not attacked the United States. Two years later, Bush invaded Iraq to change its regime.  Both of Bush’s wars – oin Afghanistan and Iraq – violated the UN Charter.

John Bolton, then Bush’s temporary ambassador to the United Nations admitted that the U.S. government considered the UN to be a tool of its foreign policy. Bolton declared: “There is no United Nations. There is an international community that occasionally can be led by the only real power left in the world, and that is the United States, when it suits our interest and when we can get others to go along.” Bolton added, consistent with U.S. arrogance, racism, hubris and stupidity, “When the United States leads, the United Nations will follow. When it suits our interest to do so, we will do so.” 

Madeline Albright, Bill Clinton’s secretary of state called the UN “a tool of American foreign policy.”  It was Albright who oversaw the US-led NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999, which also violated the UN Charter.

Barack Obama and his counterparts in France and Britain engaged in forcible regime change and murdered Libyan president Muammar Qaddafi. Here the US hid behind the doctrine of “Responsibility to Protect.” In accordance with Chapters VI and VIII of the UN Charter, this doctrine is intended to help protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic-cleansing, and crimes against humanity. It is not surprising that the US and its allies have not utilized the Responsibility to Protect doctrine to protect the people of Palestine from massacres and a genocide in progress by the United States /Israeli - Christian /Zionists (2023-2024).

 Donald Trump followed suit by bombing Syria and Iraq and threatening to attack North Korea. In 2017 Trump sent 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles to attack Syria.  Syria had not attacked the United States. The Security Council had not approved Trump’s use of force.  It therefore violated the UN Charter. Invoking Article 6 of the UN Charter to expel the United States is a practical and expedient solution to pursue World Peace.

January 20, 2022                                                                                                                    UN Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons Now Needs the Earth Constitution

Roger Kotila, PhD  1/20/22  Earth Federation News & Views 

June 11, 2021

 [The following recommendations for the upcoming Summit Meeting with Presidents Vladimir Putin and Joseph Biden are the product of discussions among a core group of international think tanks specializing in world peace, disarmament, and a federal geopolitical system change to transform the United Nations. -- R. Kotila, Ph.D.]

 

OPEN LETTER  

New Direction for Biden & Putin at the June 16, 2021 Summit

 

Dear Presidents Putin & Biden:

 

There is an urgent need for an inspiring, new direction at the upcoming June 16, 2021 Summit Meeting -- a different path that up until now most foreign policy experts have thought to be impossible -- until attention to the UN Charter's Article 109(3) opened new possibilities and the introduction of the Earth Constitution.    

 

Factually US/NATO and Russia appear to be gravitating toward war either by accident or design.  Tactical nuclear warfare is not out of the question. The Livermore Lab in California, for example, is suspected of working on first strike and tactical nuclear missiles/warheads.

 

The United Nations is unable to stop the emerging nuclear arms race, sidelined by its defective Charter and thus helpless when it counts the most -- a world in extreme danger if war breaks out between US/NATO and Russia.   Article 109(3) is a legal requirement for a review of the UN Charter, opening the door to establish a "new UN" and introducing the Earth Constitution.  

 

Under the present United Nations global system Presidents Biden and Putin are themselves victims, trapped by a geopolitical system which forces them to defend their country against secret operations by the Other, and requires them to prepare militarily in the event of war, or a surprise,  first strike nuclear attack.   

 

There appears to be an inexorable drift to war as each side demonizes the Other.  US/NATO with its 800 foreign military bases appears to be encircling Russia and China.  Instead of a peace race, an arms race is underway.  Our leaders know of no other alternative.  They are stuck in the old geopolitical paradigm where the final arbiter of conflict between nations is not a World Court, a democratically elected World Parliament, or the United Nations, but war. 

 

As reported in my lecture to the Academic Council on the UN System (ACUNS, 6/20) to end war and achieve complete nuclear disarmament only a democratic federal world union is realistic.  A new geopolitical system is what is required.  This means a new UN Charter and a "new UN."

 

The needed governing structure has been drafted by the World Constitution & Parliament Association.  It is the Constitution for the Federation of Earth (also known as the Earth Constitution), designed to serve as a model and guide to replace the fatally flawed UN Charter.  

 

Federating the 193 nations at the UN using the Earth Constitution has the capacity to resolve the underlying geopolitical system defects which even at the signing of the Charter in 1945 have prevented the UN from stopping war or eliminating nukes. The UN Charter has done some good things, but failed where it counts the most -- "ending the scourge of war."   

 

With a "new UN" under the Earth Constitution there is no longer a need for national military forces or for secret agencies which breed paranoia and undermine trust.  The June 16 Summit in Geneva is an opportunity for the leaders of two superpowers to radically change paths.  Calling for a "new UN" will change the current narrative from name calling which is lethal to constructive communication and counter-productive.   

 

Track II Diplomacy

The intention of this OPEN LETTER is to invite Presidents Putin and Biden to take seriously the world federalist think tank proposals described herein.  It is the practical alternative to having more wars, and sooner or later, suffering a nuclear nightmare.   

 

For world peace and humanity,

 

Roger Kotila, Ph.D.

Psychologist

President, Democratic World Federalists 

San Francisco

Why It’s Especially Necessary to End NATO Now

MILITARISM, 15 Mar 2021

Eric Zuesse – TRANSCEND Media Service

13 Mar 2021 – In a previous article I argued “Why It’s Necessary to End NATO”. However, recent events are making clear that the urgency of this need is increasing, instead of decreasing.

In 2011, the U.S. Government started planning a take-over of Ukraine, which, at that time, was a neutral country that has a 1,625-mile border with Russia. At its nearest point to Moscow, that border is only 5 minutes flight-time away from Moscow, via the fastest missiles. Obviously, that’s far too little time for Russia’s Government to be able to evacuate themselves from Moscow and to launch a retaliation against a U.S. blitz-attack. The U.S. goal is to get Ukraine into NATO, so that America can position its missiles there and really achieve “Nuclear Primacy” (which I discussed in that earlier article as being America’s meta-strategy since at least 2006 — safely to destroy Russia, even though that won’t actually be possible).

On February 1st of 2021, Ukraine’s President, Volodmyr Zelenskyy, made undeniably clear his intention to fulfill on Obama’s plan, for Ukraine to become a NATO member. Whether Joe Biden is going to push for that will be the most important decision of his Presidency, because it would be a commitment to World War III. It would, in effect, be a U.S. declaration of war against Russia. Whether the blitz-invasion would come from the U.S. (presumably assisted by missiles placed in Ukraine), or instead from Russia (in order to wipe out those and all other U.S. missiles), would be the only remaining question. Who will try the blitz-attack first? Either way, the world — at least the biosphere that sustains human life — would end.

Zelenskyy said:

We are grateful for everything, but Ukraine is not just saying in words that it wants to be an equal member of the Alliance, an equal member of NATO, because this is one of the most important security points – the same security that President Biden is speaking about. How should we further state the desire to accede [join], if it is enshrined in the Constitution of Ukraine – the movement towards the European Union, European integration, as well as accession to NATO? Therefore, I have a very simple question – why is Ukraine still not in NATO? Putting away these phrases that we will all contemplate and communicate, the first simple question from me would be: “Mr. President, why are we not in NATO yet”?

If Ukraine becomes a NATO-member, then Ukraine will have the right to demand that America join its war to grab back the former Donbass region and also the former region of Crimea. The U.S. Government would then be put into the position of having to either fulfill its NATO commitment to the new NATO member (presuming that restoration of both Crimea and Donbass to Ukraine would be accepted as being a part of that commitment to what then would be a fellow-NATO-member) or else become very embarrassed by not doing so. If such a NATO commitment would be fulfilled, the world as it has always been known would end very fast — less than an hour.

The way that WW III would then start is that Ukraine would become more heavily armed by the U.S. and then would invade both Donbass and Crimea, Russia would then attack Ukraine for doing that, and the U.S. would then launch a blitz-attack against Moscow from Ukraine, and, simultaneously launch against all other command-and-control targets in Russia, so that before those have become hit, Russia would already have been decapitated.

The United States Government is fortunately not obliged to allow Ukraine into NATO and has many ways to prevent it from joining NATO. Some of these ways wouldn’t at all embarrass the U.S. Government, and the reason for this is that if any one NATO-member nation refuses to okay Ukraine as becoming a member, then Ukraine won’t become a member, and the scenario that has been described won’t then happen. The U.S. Government has enormous clout with each existing NATO member-nation, because NATO was created by the North Atlantic Treaty (also called the “Washington Treaty”) in Washington, DC, on 4 April 1949, at a conference that was chaired by U.S. diplomat Theodore Achiles, who subsequently retired to become a Director of the Atlantic Council, which also is in Washington, and which is the PR arm of NATO. The U.S. Government could easily get at least one NATO-member country to say no to Ukraine’s joining. However, if U.S. President Biden announces that the U.S. endorses NATO-membership for Ukraine, then that’s, in itself, virtually a U.S. declaration of war against Russia, and Russia might not wait for it to be made official before responding to it — blitz-invading the U.S. and its allies.

According to Achilles’s account of the creation of NATO:

The NATO spirit was born in that Working Group. Derick Hoyer-Millar, the British Minister, started it. One day he made a proposal which was obviously nonsense. Several of us told him so in no uncertain terms, and a much better formulation emerged from the discussion. Derick said, and I quote, “Those are my instructions. All right, I’ll tell the foreign office I made my pitch, was shot down and try to get them changed.” He did. From then on we all followed the same system. If our instructions were sound, and agreement could be reached, fine. If not, we worked out something we all, or most of us, considered sound, and whoever had the instructions undertook to get them changed. It always worked, although sometimes it took time. That spirit has continued to this day, I believe, although the size to which NATO has grown makes it far less easy. Two years later we began in London to put the “O” on the NAT by creating the organization. Some of the members of the delegations had been members of the Working Group, some had not. 

Was that the beginning of the end of the world? Perhaps Biden will decide whether it is, or not.

However, if he does decide to do it, then I doubt he’d do the attack prior to getting Ukraine into NATO — if he can do that. On March 10th, The Saker headlined “Is the Ukraine on the brink of war (again)?” and speculated whether Biden will provide now the backing that the Obama-installed stooge-regime there wants. Though the stooge-regime might re-invade Donbass (and maybe even attack Crimea), I doubt that Biden will provide the type of assistance that the U.S.-stooge regime in Kiev would need in order to retake that land (and certainly not Crimea). I would expect that Biden is therefore informing Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy not to try. So, I would expect that, instead, the crucial decision will be whether or not the regime in Washington will decide that it really does want Ukraine to become a member of NATO.

On March 10th, Sweden’s Defense Research Agency issued in two different parts, a 300-page report, “Western Military Capability in Northern Europe 2020,” which concluded that Russia would likely win WW III in Europe, and which analyzed only conventional war and virtually totally ignored even the possibility of the use of nuclear weapons in WW III — the presumption was instead that the meta-strategy “MAD” still would prevent that, and they ignored the U.S. regime’s actual abandonment of “MAD” and switch to “Nuclear Primacy”. They also simply presumed that the U.S. is their ally and non-aggressive and that Russia is their enemy and is aggressive. In other words: it is fantasyland, at least in the Swedish Government.

Furthermore: the core strategic question, of whether the loser in a conventional WW III would accept defeat instead of blitz-nuclear-attack the opponent so as to ‘win’ the war, was simply ignored, as if there would be a 100% likelihood that the conventional-war loser would just surrender and not escalate to a blitz nuclear attack against the opposite side in order to ‘win’ and would leave its enormous nuclear stockpile unused. They ignored the fact that NATO, after the Warsaw Pact ended in 1991, is the trip-wire to an all-out nuclear war — the exact opposite of an asset to its participants’ national security. NATO-participation makes all of them inevitably a part of the battlefield, and forces Russia to target them. Sweden’s Defense Research Agency produced there an insanely stupid study, and one which shows that Europeans, at least in Sweden, are being ‘defended’ by a government that is either in the pocket of the U.S., or else is simply idiotic.

That study is shockingly stupid; it makes some of the craziest assumptions imaginable — assumptions that are tragically at variance with established facts (facts such as that America is, by far, the world’s most aggressive nation, and perpetrates far more coups, sanctions, and invasions, than does any other nation). At least regarding foreign relations, Sweden’s Government is monstrously disserving its public, and yet Swedes aren’t enraged against it. Are their news-media really that bad, so as for Swedes to tolerate a military alliance with the world’s most aggressive nation?

The only sane path forward for the nations that currently are NATO members (or “Partners” as Sweden is) is to withdraw and to urge other members (and Partners) likewise to withdraw, so that NATO will end — as it should have ended when the Soviet Union’s NATO-mirror organization the Warsaw Pact ended in 1991. End the Cold War, finally. NATO — the American military alliance against Russia — is simply the trip-wire to WW III. End it. Now. Even 30 years after 1991 isn’t, yet, too late to do it. But, maybe, 31 years would  be. That’s why it must be done now, delayed no further. Either NATO will end, or it will end all of us.

___________________________________________

Investigative historian Eric Zuesse is the author, most recently, of  They’re Not Even Close: The Democratic vs. Republican Economic Records, 1910-2010, of Christ’s Ventriloquists: The Event that Created Christianity, and of Feudalism, Fascism, Libertarianism and Economics.

January 25, 2021 (lightly revised/updated February 2, 2021) Earth Federation News & Views

The Psychology of Nuclear Disarmament: Only A Democratic Federal World Union Is Realistic

By Roger Kotila, Ph.D.

 

SUMMARY and EXCERPTS revised and updated  from a lecture on psychological factors to the Annual Meeting (June, 2020) of the Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS):  The United Nations Charter is part of a geopolitical system which breeds paranoia.  Paranoia, coupled with character defects among some leaders of nations, produces perpetual conflicts, wars, and a dangerous nuclear arms race.  Core masculinity issues, racism, greed, sexism and lust for power frustrate diplomatic UN solutions.  Powerful psychopathic leaders mock the UN and international law;  the undemocratic and defective Charter allows them to be above the Law. 

 

The Earth Constitution addresses these shortcomings in the outdated Charter while evoking alarm bells and psychological resistance by those fearful of change, but also raises a sense of excitement and anticipation at the vision of a "new UN."  Will the 188 nations in the UN General Assembly, all denied voting rights,  launch Charter Review as required by Article 109-3) using the Earth Constitution as their model and guide for a "new UN" which transforms into a democratic world federal union government?   Such a new governing structure for the nations must be established if we are to end wars between nations and to permanently eliminate the ever present danger of a nuclear nightmare.  

 

EXCERPTS

Treaties are a mixed blessing

In international relations, multilateralism refers to an alliance of multiple countries pursuing a common goal. en.wikipedia.org     Unfortunately, history shows that agreements based upon treaties are eventually broken or ignored.  Time and time again, particularly with the more powerful, treaties are discarded when seen as inconvenient (just ask indigenous/native Americans).

Although the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) appears to be a positive step in reducing the nuclear arsenals of the United States and Russia, in reality it will do little to change the fundamental problem of an UN geopolitical system which is so badly designed that militarization, wars, and maintaining nuclear weapons is virtually inevitable.  

 

Similarly the now activated Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) will hit a brick wall.  The nuclear powers are refusing to disarm.  The fact that possession of nukes will now be illegal is helpful.  It will put public pressure on the Bully nations to abandon the nuclear arms race now underway.  "Pressure" is not enough we must END the very existence of nuclear weapons, or they will end us.

 

When nations sign treaties, it gives us a false sense of security.  Treaties, therefore, must be understood as only an interim step.  Nevertheless, by addressing issues such as nuclear weapons (and war) via treaties, nations are acknowledging problems of broad concern and importance despite differences in culture and tradition. We can reasonably conclude, then, that there are areas of ethics and conduct which the majority of people worldwide accept as valid -- universal standards that can be applied to all.

 

Because we cannot rely on a multilateral approach for nuclear disarmament (treaties), we must think in terms of a stronger type of governance between the nations.  The next step from multilateral agreements are constitutional, as outlined by the Center for UN Constitutional Research (CUNCR) based in Brussels.  CUNCR has provided a legal basis to open up the fatally flawed UN Charter for a long overdue review, the beginning step to revise or replace the outdated Charter.  

 

The UN, like the League of Nations, is not Constitution-based, but instead is a multilateral treaty agreement which makes it too vulnerable to the whims of powerful, Bully nations.  Fortunately, the World Constitution & Parliament Association's Constitution for the Federation of Earth (aka Earth Constitution) anticipated the problem, and is ready to serve as a model and guide for the UN General Assembly to create the urgently needed "new UN." 

 

With the U.S. (Federal) Constitution, if Texas and California have a conflict they don't go to war, they go to Court or to Congress.  Similarly, France and Germany are unlikely to go to war since they belong to a semi-federal government -- the European Union.

 

The United Nations must federate.  The Earth Constitution can be the foundation for a "new UN."

 

Institutionalized paranoia and character defects

What do psychological factors have to do with achieving complete nuclear disarmament and ending war?

The key psychological dynamic associated with national sovereignty is institutionalized paranoia.  A paranoia grounded in the myths, stereotypes, and deliberate lies about the dreaded "Other."  To understand this type of paranoia, one only needs to examine prison gangs, an opportunity I had professionally while working as a psychologist within the California prison system. 

 

Like nations, these racially or territorially constructed gangs are "sovereign," and like nations, gangs fear that the other side is seeking an advantage.  Hence, even when prison authorities do a complete, clean sweep of weapons, within weeks the various gangs are rearming themselves.  

Why?  Paranoia.  This is the psychiatric disorder which the current geopolitical system of sovereign nations cannot overcome.  It is an inherent response to the system of national sovereignty and secret operations... Nations routinely spy on each other in a world flooded with a winner take all, survival of the fittest mentality.   

Institutionalized paranoia between nations originates primarily from fear that the Other will get the upper hand in terms of use of force or military might, and fear that the other will gain economic advantage and control.  

 

This type of paranoia in our current UN system will never be resolved no matter how many disarmament treaties are signed. It is a hard psychological fact among sovereign states -- always a fear that perhaps the other nation is cheating or gaining advantage.  Such a fear is not unrealistic when we see that some nations are ruled by sociopaths or psychopaths. 

 

In Kathleen Barry's "Unmaking War, Remaking Men" the danger of leaders with "core masculinity" issues is very real.  "We are number one!" they proudly proclaim.  Such leaders  brag about having a powerful military and feel more important because they possess nuclear weapons.  To make matters worse, such sociopathic and/or psychopathic leaders are characterized by dishonesty, sexism, racism, lying, being greedy with a lust for power, and lacking conscience or empathy.  

 

Every nation therefore, whether or not fully in the Federation (i.e.,"new UN"), must accept open inspections at anytime, anywhere.  Only a world federal union government ("new UN") can eliminate the paranoia which fuels militarization and a nuclear arms race.    

President Ronald Reagan's famous quote regarding disarmament "trust but verify," was absolutely correct, but incomplete.  Because some leaders are psychopaths, there must also be serious consequences (jail or prison) for criminal acts.  No one should be above the Law.        

 

Good medicine for a mentally ill world and a means to control psychopaths

In a federal world union governing system, laws would be enforceable on all individuals no matter what their level of authority.  This rule of law is absolutely necessary.  Whereas people with a normal, healthy conscience will do the right thing without threat of punishment,  those who are sociopaths or psychopaths must be restrained by knowing they will face real punishment for wrongdoing.           

 

Put bluntly, there is no shortcut except to establish a constitution-based democratic world federation -- just as world federalists have been saying for over sixty years.    

 

The psychology of full nuclear disarmament and world peace requires a global structure which can eliminate the mental illness of paranoia, and control the dangerous behaviors of psychopathic leaders.  The Earth Constitution/Earth Federation government ("new UN") is the required medicine to treat paranoia and to simultaneously create a healthy and positive world -- free from the tyranny of fear, greed, lies, dogma, and lust for power. 

A federated democratic world union under the Earth Constitution has the potential to end paranoia, and a democratic designed World Parliament with a World Judicial/Enforcement system will provide a means to control the handful of sociopaths and psychopaths who destroy and impoverish our world. 

 

With the healthy foundation of the Earth Constitution to start anew, the world can free itself from the undemocratic roots which were incorporated into the UN Charter, and begin an era where "we, the people" have a true voice regarding global affairs.  

 

Roger Kotila, Ph.D. is a psychologist (ret.) and President of Democratic World Federalists.  He is co-editor of DWF NEWS, and editor of Earth Federation News & Views.   www.earthfederation.info 

 EARTH CONSTITUTION WATCH

The USA in Crisis

Glen T. Martin

'Time for a Major Shift': Groups Demand Biden Vow End to Endless Wars and Destructive US Foreign Policy

February 24, 2020 A BIG IDEA EMERGES! Putin Will Call for P-5 (Emergency) Summit Meeting

Sharon Tennison Center for Citizen Initiatives

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th January, 2020) A meeting of the leaders of Russia, China, the United States, France and the United Kingdom, the permanent members of the UN Security Council, which was proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, can be helpful and even necessary in light of the changing international situation, experts told Sputnik.

On Thursday, Speaking at the fifth edition of the World Holocaust Forum in Jerusalem, Putin proposed to hold a meeting of the heads of state of the UN Security Council's permanent members this year and said that Moscow intended, without delay, to send the appropriate letters to each country's leader.

Following the president's proposal, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Friday that Moscow would send messages to the leaders of the Big Five with specific details on the essence of Putin's initiative in the first half of next week. He added that the five leaders must rise above disagreements in order to find ways for detente in the world and address the current challenges facing humanity.

REACTION TO PUTIN'S PROPOSAL TO HOLD P5 SUMMIT

The idea of holding such a meeting to discuss global issues was welcomed by the United Nations that advocates for friendly relations among all member states and hails efforts to encourage discussions among the five permanent members, UN spokesperson Farhan Haq told Sputnik on Thursday.

China has also voiced its support for Putin's proposal to hold the P5 summit as, according to the leadership, these countries had a special responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. A spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Hua Chunying, pointed out that the meeting was considered to be important amid "rising instability and uncertainty in the international landscape and emerging regional hotspot issues," which challenged multilateralism and the role of the UN.

"I believe that is necessary - in such a very particular moment like the one we are going through, marked by changing international dynamics - that the permanent members of the Security Council meet each other," Tiberio Graziani, the chairman of Vision and Global Trends, International Institute for Global Analyses, told Sputnik.

Though the chairman expressed doubts regarding the results of the meeting, he pointed out that there were pressing issues for the permanent members to discuss, including the Libyan crisis and issues related to power shifts between the various nations.

Another expert, Wyn Grant, a professor of international politics at Warwick University, told Sputnik that the meeting could be helpful "if it is approached in a spirit of constructive dialogue without too many preconditions."

"There is clearly a wide range of issues that could be discussed, but creating a focused agenda will be important, in particular, identifying issues where substantive progress can be made," he added.

According to the professor, summits in a suitable atmosphere can complement rather than disrupt discussions within the UN Security Council, which are featured by "a tendency to adhere to predetermined positions for public consumption."

SUMMIT OF BIG FIVE IN LIGHT OF 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF WORLD WAR II

This year, the world marks the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II and the founding of the United Nations as a symbol of multilateralism and preserving post-war order. With this regard, meetings between the five permanent members of the UN Security Council focusing on the international situation and major international issues to strengthen their coordination and cooperation are crucial for protecting the authority of the UN and the Security Council and maintaining global and regional peace and stability.

"As I understand it, the meeting would be held in the context of the 75th anniversary of the Second World War. It is perhaps important to remind the allied powers of their collaboration to defeat fascism, while I understand that Germany has also been invited," professor Grant told Sputnik.

P5 SUMMIT TO REFORM UN SECURITY COUNCIL

The UN Security Council, which is considered to be the core mechanism of international collective security, has five permanent members � China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States � all of which have veto power, as well as 10 non-permanent members. However, politicians from a number of countries have repeatedly called for the institution to be reformed in order to better reflect the current balance of power in the world. Though the need to reshape the UN Security Council was first voiced in 1993, a consensus on the matter has not been reached so far.

"I hope that during the summit there will be discussions or at least the beginning of discussion devoted to the need of a self-reform by the Council itself," Graziani told Sputnik.

According to the chairman, the council's current mechanism is not sufficient to respond quickly to the numerous ongoing conflicts across the world and poses a risk of an intensification of these conflicts on a global scale.

"The Council, however, in its P5 format or enlarged, needs to be reformed, as it has not succeeded so far in limiting the intensity of the conflicts," he concluded.

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“Panic” in Israel as the ICC Takes “Momentous Step” in the Right Direction

Justice at Last?

by Ramzy Baroud / January 7th, 2020  Dissident Voice

GET THE POINT 

By FRITZ POINTER    Earth Federation News & Views 

WORLD LAW or WORLD WAR

San Francisco, January 1, 2020 -- Young people, everywhere around the world, must be shown that there are solutions for the bleak future many of them foresee of endless war.  One solution is a more effective United Nations capable of settling conflicts between nations by judicial means rather than war. When California and Texas have a dispute they don't go to war, they go to Court or they go to Congress.  

Young people, globally, overwhelmed by student debt must be made aware of the over $800 billion being spent annually for armaments and the military by nations of the world.  Young people, worldwide, should be aware of the 1.7 trillion the US has budgeted, over the next 30 years, on nuclear weapons modernization. Euphemistically labeled a nuclear “Life Extension Program” it should more aptly be labeled a “Life Extinction Program.”  

Amoral, extremely egocentric madmen?

I imagine that there are psychopathic, amoral, extremely egocentric madmen, who giggle and gloat with glee, held spellbound by the notion that they can destroy all life on planet earth.  To these so-called scientists, it’s some sort of ultimate scientific superiority, a zero-sum-game. That is, having the means of, literally, destroying, annihilating, and extinguishing the future.  And, there is, of course, obscene and vulgar pride in this capacity. Young people, globally, must demand abolishing all nuclear weapons.

It’s hard to believe that President Obama’s 2009 Prague speech, where he declared “America’s commitment to the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons,” was just ten years ago. But it was a lie.

Young people need to know this

It is time for a change.  It is time to settle conflicts between nations in the same way as disputes within nations – not by war, but through law.  If the peoples of the world can abolish slavery, and polio, and can land on the moon, we can leave war behind us.  An alternative system can be created, but only if supported by laws defining prohibited international conduct by nations or individuals, and institutions capable of enforcing them.  Young people need to know this: That the United Nations lacks the authority to enforce the Law.  At the global level there is no sheriff in town.  Leaders of nations responsible for world crimes know they are above the law. 

In order to overcome the war syndrome and the continued ability of autocrats to commit crimes against other human beings in many parts of the world, whether American, Russian, Asian, European, Latin, African, Arab, or Israeli:  (I) The United Nations must be transformed into an effective global government appropriate to the needs of the world community of the 21^st Century and the Third Millennium (C.E.).  (II) Viable democracy must be promoted in countries where it is lacking. These goals may be achieved through a participatory democratic world federation, a "new UN" by means of a revised or new Charter such as seen in the World Constitution & Parliament Association's Constitution for the Federation of Earth (aka, Earth Constitution).  

Oppressors, whether from Europe, Asia, Africa, South or North America, who commit crimes against humanity must be held personally accountable, and U.N. peace-enforcing or peace-making forces must have the authority, the personnel, and other means necessary to apprehend them and restore peace. The International Criminal Court must be empowered to try such criminals under codified laws. 

In The Anatomy of Peace, Emery Reves says that for human beings to become responsible members of a civilized society, they need methods more effective than prayer, sermons and ritual. Reves observed that “...history demonstrates indisputably that there is only one method to make man accept moral principles and standards of social conduct. That method is:  LAW.”

As we are a “Nation of Laws” we must become a “World of Laws.”

Fritz Pointer is a retired professor of English and African American Studies.  He is the Vice President of Democratic World Federalists (www.dwfed.org). He has published numerous scholarly and creative works and articles such as “African Oral Epic Poetry: Praising the Deeds of a Mythic Hero” (2013).  The older brother of the internationally known singing group, The Pointer Sisters, he has co-authored a soon to be released book “Fairytale: the Pointer Sisters’ Family History.”  Prof. Pointer’s main interests include combating racism, advancing human rights, ending war, eliminating nuclear weapons, and nonviolent solutions to global problems.

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July 5, 2019 Urgent Call for UN Charter Review: THE SAN FRANCISCO PROMISE Will San Francisco lead the way for UN Charter Review? The following proposed Resolution has gone out to the SF Board of Supervisors.  In view of the U.S. government's dim-witted insistence on a militaristic foreign policy, and the inability of the United Nations to prevent these endless wars and nuclear threats, it is time to evaluate what's wrong that renders the UN unable to do its primary job?   This in part means giving the United Nations the tools it needs to deal with war mongering nations, and to put an end to the nuclear nightmare which the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists warns is upon us.  Charter review opens the door to the Constitution for the Federation of Earth (aka "Earth Constitution").  It is in the wings ready to go, a gift to a suffering humanity waiting to be embraced.   The nuclear arms race is a reality.  Russia and China are aware of the Pentagon's nuclear "modernization" program which the Livermore Laboratory terms a Life Extension Program and which we call a Life Extinction Program.  There are chicken hawks in Congress and in the Trump regime who would not hesitate to use tactical nuclear weapons even in a conventional military conflict, and who support a nuclear "first strike" as an active option. The public and  politicians are unaware that there is a better way, but it requires us to transform the United Nations Charter.  It must be fixed or replaced.       When Texas and California are in conflict, they don't go to war, they go to the courts or to Congress.  When Russia and the U.S. have a conflict, we don't want them to go to war, we want them to go to a world court or to a World Parliament and peacefully resolve their differences.   That's the essence of the world federalist vision, and the key to a "new UN."   -- Dr. Roger Kotila, Prof. Fritz Pointer (Democratic World Federalists) San Francisco Board of Supervisors RESOLUTION "UPHOLDING THE SAN FRANCISCO PROMISE"  Appeal for United Nations Charter Review    Whereas an out of control nuclear arms race threatens the world including our beloved San Francisco, and the policy of nuclear deterrence can no longer be trusted;   Whereas in our own neighborhood the Livermore Laboratory is an active part of the Pentagon's aggressive nuclear weapons Life Extinction Program;   Whereas perpetual wars, future superweapons, and climate change also threaten the very existence of human life on this planet;       Whereas the United Nations, although it has done much good,  has been frustrated in its ability to adequately deal with these dangers due to known, critical flaws in the design of the UN's Charter;   Whereas the public is largely unaware that there is a potentially viable solution to these crises;    Whereas the UN has failed to review the Charter despite a legal requirement and promise to do so when the Charter was originally adopted in San Francisco in 1945, and despite the obvious urgency to identify the flaws in the Charter so that they can be fixed;      Whereas  the UN Charter under Article 109-3 legally promises a charter review conference, yet this has not yet happened in 75 years;    THEREFORE, in honor of the UN's 75th anniversary in 2020 we call for the UN General Assembly to UPHOLD THE SAN FRANCISCO PROMISE by co-sponsoring with the City and County of San Francisco and our partner NGO's a  Preparatory UN Charter Review Summit to be held in San Francisco.   SAN FRANCISCO PREPARATORY UN CHARTER REVIEW SUMMIT   POTENTIAL SPONSORS:   1.  San Francisco Board of Supervisors 2. Democratic World Federalists, San Francisco (Initiator) 3. Center for UN Constitutional Research, Brussels 4. World Constitution & Parliament Association, Radford, VA 5. Campaign for UN Parliamentary Assembly (Germany, Europe) 6. Citizens' Watch by Tri-Valley Cares (Livermore, CA) 7.  to be announced...   *********                                 *****************                       **********   OUR RESOLUTION's explanatory notes to the SF Board of Supervisors (if needed):   This Resolution originates from Democratic World Federalists (DWF)* based in San Francisco, in consultation with the Center for United Nations Constitutional Research (CUNCR) in Brussels, and the World Constitution & Parliament Association (WCPA), Radford, VA.      DEMOCRATIC WORLD FEDERALISTS is a UN NGO.  DWF is a primarily volunteer nonprofit, nonpartisan educational and think tank organization.  Our history goes back to 1983 as part of the World Federalist Association.  In 2004 we became independent as Democratic World Federalists.  We helped sponsor the SF Hearings of the U.S. Commission on Improving the Effectiveness of the United Nations (1993), and the World Congress of the World Federalist Movement (1995).  Over the years we have sponsored talks on various topics related to world peace, human rights, the environment, and more, and publish articles related to the world federalist vision.   Some world federalists include Einstein, Freud, Walter Cronkite, Martin Luther King, Jr., Indira Gandhi, John F. Kennedy, Bishop Desmond Tutu, Dr. Lucile Green,  Jimmy Carter, Mikhail Gorbachev, the Dalai Lama, Bertrand Russel, and many others.   *DWF officers:  Dr. Roger Kotila, President  (415) 328-2341                               Prof. Fritz Pointer, Vice President  (415) 279-9282   *****                          *****                    *****                *****               *****               **** (OPTIONAL) BACKGROUND BRIEFING   San Francisco Board of Supervisors RESOLUTION "UPHOLDING THE SAN FRANCISCO PROMISE"  Appeal for United Nations Charter Review   Background briefing: Why the UN's 75th anniversary celebration in San Francisco in June, 2020 should be more than a "celebration" at a fancy hotel with a speaker from the UN.   We ask the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to take a leadership role to help launch a new strategy to eliminate the danger of a nuclear nightmare, as well as a better means to end wars and cope with climate change.   The Trump administration degrades the UN rather than giving it the tools it needs to do its primary job to protect the world community from wars, nuclear annihilation, and climate change.   A "new strategy" means thinking and acting "outside the box" with the UN.  We can see that traditional approaches to world peace and security such as Mayors for Peace (to which San Francisco is a member), the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), Beyond Nuclear, Nuclear Zero, Reaching Critical Will, and others are doing their best -- but continue to operate from the old geopolitical paradigm which aims for international treaty agreements... despite the unfortunate fact that treaties are essentially built on quicksand -- broken at the whim of a President or some dictator as seen for example when the U.S. dismissively quit the Paris Climate Treaty and Obama's Iran agreement.          San Francisco and the world community urgently need a world organization that can be effective.  The present UN system of 196 separate nation-states are like the Confederate States of America -- the Confederacy failed as the 13 colonies were in growing conflict.  Their solution?  The Articles of Confederation were dropped in favor of forming a federal government -- the U.S. Constitution.   The Constitution for the Federation of Earth is ready to go, and like the U.S. Constitution, can provide a model for a new UN Charter,one given the tools it needs so that the UN can end "the scourge of war" and eliminate the danger of a nuclear nightmare.

June 11, 2019  Dr. Edward Lozansky is unusually well-qualified to assess the risk of nuclear war.  He is a physicist with high level contacts with nuclear scientists from both the U.S. and Russia.  Like world federalist activists, he is an advocate for diplomacy over militarism and war; he knows that all it takes is one mistake and the nuclear nightmare will be upon us.  What to do?  I recommend a special Global Peace Summit to be attended by the designated leaders of Russia, the U.S., the European Union, China, India, Latin America, Africa, and the United Nations...the Summit to be designed and conducted not by traditional diplomats, but by an international team of psychologists.   - Roger Kotila, Ph.D., Psychologist, Earth Federation activist.
 

Are We Sleepwalking Into Nuclear Disaster?

By Edward Lozansky  February 26, 2019

If anyone needed proof that former Sen. Sam Nunn, Georgia Democrat, and former Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz were right when they recently wrote in Politico that the U.S. and Russia are sleepwalking toward nuclear disaster, it came last week during Vladimir Putin’s annual address to the Russian parliament.

Mr. Putin warned Washington against deploying new missiles in Europe after the collapse of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty, saying Moscow would install its own weapons targeting not only European missile installations but “decision-making centers” in the United States as well. He said that Russia’s reaction to any deployment would be resolute and that U.S. policymakers should calculate the risks before taking any such steps.

Washington and NATO condemned these threats as “unacceptable” and in turn called on Russia to focus on “returning to compliance” with the INF treaty.

However, Ted Postol of MIT presented a more balanced opinion in The New York Times, saying that the Russians have some valid reasons to accuse U.S. of non-compliance as well. This began 10 years back, when the Obama administration started deploying the “Aegis ashore” defense system in Europe, supposedly to shoot down Iranian missiles. Mr. Postol argued that those systems actually would be useless as defense against ballistic missiles but are capable of firing offensive U.S. cruise missiles. Because these Aegis systems are located in Eastern Europe and close to Russia, those offensive capabilities are rightly worrying Moscow.

Without going into technical details, one obvious point made by Messrs. Nunn and Moniz is that when we have the crisis of this magnitude “re-engagement with Russia is too important to wait for the Mueller probe to end. That means it’s time for Congress to take the lead.”

That is easier said than done since in this highly divided and partisan Congress one can hardly find more than two or three members who would listen to these smart gentlemen. Republicans and Democrats disagree on practically every issue except when they vote to condemn Russia and introduce yet more punitive measures, including a “sanctions bill from hell,” whatever that means.

Moreover, when anyone who dares to say that there is an urgent need for the resumption of U.S.-Russia dialogue is called a Putin stooge even Messrs. Nunn and Moniz, perhaps in the hopes of avoiding such label, took care to blame Moscow for aggression.

Still, in the current atmosphere of hatred those few American “dissidents” who dare to continue expressing their belief that without such dialogue we are moving to the brink deserve credit. One such individual is the distinguished history professor from NYU and Princeton Stephen F. Cohen, despite undergoing continuous attacks in the media and even from an academia which in the not too distant past was in the anti-war mood but now turns against one of their own because of what he says in his book “War with Russia.”

According to Mr. Cohen, this new Cold War was instigated in Washington, not in Moscow and is more dangerous, and more fraught with the peril of a hot war. He calls for a new detente and sees both Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin as potential partners. He criticizes “mainstream media malpractice” in their coverage and commentary on Russia, Mr. Putin, Mr. Trump, Russiagate, and many foreign policy issues.

Mr. Cohen reminds us of the Soviet dissident and nuclear physicist Andrei Sakharov, who accused his government and the Soviet media (compare today’s CNN and MSNBC) for their malpractice and called for dialogue with the United States.

Accepting the bitter reality that Congress with its dismal approval rating is not ready to listen to Messrs. Nunn, Moniz and Cohen, it is left for American people to follow the example of Soviet dissidents to speak out clearly and defiantly against the march toward a nuclear holocaust.

In 2016, Mr. Trump was elected on the pledge to concentrate on domestic problems, extricate the country from the endless wars and end America’s role as the “world policemen.” Unfortunately, so far he has not delivered, but as 2020 approaches, his base needs reassurance that these pledges are not dead.

The reality is belatedly sinking into sober minds that we live in a world where America, despite its economic and military might, can no longer be a hegemon and dictate the rules to the rest of the world. Whether U.S. policymakers like it or not, multipolarity is a reality. The question is whether they are willing to risk extinction of the U.S., and the rest of mankind, in a futile bid to hold onto a “unipolar moment” that has passed, and which brought Americans nothing but debt and danger while it lasted.

A good start would be a trilateral summit of the leaders of U.S., Russia and China — or better yet, a quartet that includes India — to start work on parameters of a new, constructive international consensus. Everything depends on Mr. Trump, because the other troika members have already met and they would definitely accept his invitation. Such a move by Mr. Trump could not only turn around the sleepwalk toward nuclear war but would help solidify his 2020 win by reminding us why he was elected in the first place.

⦁ Edward Lozansky is president of the American University in Moscow.  Dr. Lozansky has granted permission to publish this article which first appeared in The Washington Times. 

Copyright © 2019 The Washington Times, LLC

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