by Marcia Merry Baker (EIRNS) — Oct. 27, 2024
There is currently an escalation of both nuclear war danger, and of censorship against any forces opposing the war drive. These threats are worsening, even as the BRICS process grows and provides leadership in a dramatically positive direction for a future for humanity. The BRICS is now formally 22 nations—nine permanent member states, and thirteen “partner nations.
What may be the critical factor at this moment in history, is the action by citizens everywhere to tilt the balance in the direction for mankind, by any and all action—both anti-war expressions, and dialogue and thought for what the new global economic and security architecture should be. This was the theme of very important international gatherings, centered in New York City over this past weekend. On Saturday, Oct. 26, the Jose Vega & Diane Sare Peace Fund’s historic, indoor rally and concert, “Build a Peace Chorus Against the Ghouls of War.” Besides the event attendees in the hall, thousands watched internationally, including by co-streaming, and archive viewing. One report-back, from a program in South America, found that 37,000 views had been registered, by this evening.
Today, a further dialogue took place in New York City, including among many of the same speakers and others from yesterday, hosted by Scott Ritter, former UN weapons inspector, U.S. Marine, and world leader to stop nuclear war, and his effort “Operation DAWN,” to “Save Democracy, Save America, Save the World, in November.” The first panel of the event focused on the war threat.
Moderator Scott Ritter posed a key discussion question: If you had a brief elevator ride with the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, what would you say? Responses converged on challenging such American leaders, to face it: they are either allowing the acceleration to nuclear war, or they must act to stop it. We must confront such people with the consequences of their decision.
Today Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated a warning he has made before in recent months, most recently on Sept. 25 addressing his Security Council Standing Conference on Nuclear Deterrence. Today, when asked by journalist Pavel Zarubin, if the West has paid attention to Putin’s warning against Ukraine striking deep into Russian territory, because this means a direct conflict between Russia and NATO, Putin answered. “I hope they heard. Because, of course, we will have to make some decisions for ourselves, too. The point is not whether they will allow someone to use this weapon against Russia…. Ukrainian forces cannot use this weapon independently. Only NATO specialists can do this, because to do this, they need space reconnaissance, which Ukraine does not have…. Therefore, what is happening now is being committed by the hands of NATO officers. The only question is whether they will allow themselves to carry out strikes deep into Russian territory or not. That is the question.”
In Southwest Asia, the situation is horrendous. On Monday, Oct. 28, the UN Security Council will meet in special session, on Israel’s Oct. 26 attack on Iran. Iran made the request for the meeting yesterday, backed by China and Algeria, which often speaks for the Arab Group at the UN. Today, the President of Algeria Abdelmadjid Tebboune went to Cairo and met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have continued to pound Gaza and southern Lebanon, in northern Gaza so-called “safe zones are death zones.” In Lebanon, the IDF has struck Sidon, the historic coastal city, with many dead and wounded. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today gloated over IDF strikes against Iran made yesterday morning, saying that the IDF hit “the head of the octopus,” and “Those who strike us, we will strike.”
It is of some note that Israel’s strike came within a day after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken left the region, including his 11th visit to Israel since Oct. 7, 2023. He visited Israel first Oct. 21, then junketed to Saudi Arabia and elsewhere, speaking about a ceasefire, a “ramp-off” and so on, all the while that Netanyahu was preparing to strike Iran.
When Blinken went to London for Oct. 25 meetings with representatives of Lebanon, Jordan and the U.A.E., Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi told Blinken outright that there is “ethnic cleansing taking place, and that has got to stop.”
We are all called upon to act. See the full Oct. 26, three-hour event, video-archived: “Build a Peace Chorus Against the Ghouls of War.” The transcripts of all the speeches were in the briefing for Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024.