Note From The President
March 2023
Is Ukraine the Vietnam Domino Theory of the 21st century?
As one who lived thru the Vietnam War, 1959-1975, I still shudder at the waste of life and land in Vietnam for 16 years.
Why did the US spend $168 billion (1 trillion today) to get a couple of million innocents killed in Vietnam, including over 58,000 US troops? The Domino Theory.
No, not the game, tho the US does treat the world like one big war game. It refers to the post WWII US theory that no country can choose or simply become communist because then every other country in the region will fall into communism like cascading dominos, dooming the US. There was and is no truth to that cockamamie theory whatsoever. But it allowed the US war party to initiate regime change or outright invasion all over the world to maintain US global exceptionalism and fuel our now nearly trillion dollar military budget.
With Vietnam in the loss column and the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, the Domino Theory went poof like a Chinese weather balloon over the Carolinas.
But Uncle Sam was not happy about losing his Domino Theory to dictate nations’ choice of government. He spent 8 years beginning in 2014, with his support of a coup to oust pro Russian Ukrainian President Yanukovych, to establish a new Domino Theory, this time in Europe. Can’t have a pro Russian guy running Ukraine because then other European countries might align with Russia to obtain cheap energy and other US made resources from nearby Russi. Doesn’t matter US Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) is 4 times higher. We need the revenue.
US provocations led to an illegal Russian invasion with specifically limited aims: First: No NATO expansion in Ukraine with nukes right up to Russia’s border. Second: independence for Russian leaning Ukrainians in Ukraine Donbas being slaughtered by their government after the US backed coup. 10,000 to 15,000 so far.
Once started, the US should have supported negotiations that could have ended it within the first 2 months. But that would have allowed Russia back into the European political economy, something unacceptable to US dominance in Europe. Enter the 21st century version of the Domino Theory, this one directed at Russia, the puny remnant of the old Soviet Union. The false US narrative proclaimed unless we totally defeat Russia in the Donbas, they’ll gobble up the rest of Ukraine and then start nibbling at the rest of Europe.
The entire US mainstream media has wolfed down this new Domino Theory like a Domino’s pizza. But those of us peaceniks who pushed back against last century’s Domino Theory, find ourselves, 45 years on, having to push back again. See below on how to join a local peace movement that won’t be silent till our government consigns this century’s Domino Theory to the dustbin of failed foreign policy war games
Walt Zlotow
Questions and comments regarding this note are welcome and appreciated. Send to wsfpc.peace@gmail.com.
Educational Forum via Zoom, March 21st, 7:00 PM CST
Topic: To be Determined
Join West Suburban Peace Coalition Educational Forum via Zoom on Tuesday, March 21, from 7:00 to 8:00 PM (Chicago time)
Speaker: To be named later
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89524510057?pwd=TDNDZXRJYmExL2lvZzRRV1F4WHJZZz09
Contact Walt Zlotow, zlotow@hotmail.com for further information
Peace Essay Contest returns for 11th year
The West Suburban Peace Coalition (WSPC) announces its 2023 Peace Essay Contest with $1,000 to be awarded for the best essay on how best to foster peace in a nation and world involved in perpetual warfare. WSPC sponsors the contest annually as a core activity to rekindle the peace movement in Chicago’s western suburbs and beyond. There are no restrictions regarding the age of contestants or their country of residence.
To enter the contest and receive contest rules:
Send an email by April 1, 2023, with “Peace Essay Request” in the subject box, to contest coordinator Walt Zlotow at zlotow@hotmail.com. Include your name, mailing address, email address, phone number, and age (if younger than 18). Include a short statement of your interest in entering the contest. Your acceptance as a contestant will be acknowledged in an email that contains your assigned four-digit essay number.
For further information, contact: Walt Zlotow at (630) 442-3045; zlotow@hotmail.com
WSPC Legislative Workshop
WSPC Board Member Carol Urban holds our monthly Legislative Workshop to discuss current events and issues, and includes prayer and meditation as participants seek spiritual nourishment in their efforts to promote peace. Anyone interested may attend. There is no Workshop in December. The next Legislative Workshop will be held on Wednesday, March 1 at 11am via Zoom.
Contact Carol at urbanc9@comcast.net for further information.
WSPC 2022 Membership Dues Schedule
Individual $15 per year
Organization $30 per year
Send check payable to “WSPC” to WSPC, 340 Greenfield, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
Dues and additional donations are tax deductible.
Peace, if not now….when?
WSPC is a non-profit peace organization based in Chicago’s western suburbs. WSPC promotes peace through public witness, peace education, an annual peace essay contest and lobbying for peaceful legislative initiatives and a sane foreign policy.
West Suburban Peace Coalition
340 Greenfield Ave
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
(630) 442-3045
wsfpc.peace@gmail.com
faithpeace.org
West Suburban Peace Coalition 