Nuclear war edges closer
Democratic candidate for Congress Becca Balint makes clear in debate that she cannot be relied upon to oppose allowing Ukraine into NATO
Thirty House progressives signed onto a letter calling for diplomacy—then they recanted and withdrew their letter. Their revocation left them indistinguishable from the war hawks dominating both parties in Washington.
The massive cost of the war had already smashed any hope for millions of Americans, whether homeless, deep in student debt, lacking medical insurance, or increasingly gouged by sky-rocketing prices—and profiteering—for gas, food, and rent. The administration’s war for NATO expansion in Ukraine contrasted sharply with its dawdling approach to climate.
Diplomacy had been on its way to success in April, according to an article in Foreign Affairs by a pair of experts at the National Security Council and the Brookings Institution:
According to multiple former senior U.S. officials we spoke with, in April 2022, Russian and Ukrainian negotiators appeared to have tentatively agreed on the outlines of a negotiated interim settlement: Russia would withdraw to its position on February 23, when it controlled part of the Donbas region and all of Crimea, and in exchange, Ukraine would promise not to seek NATO membership and instead receive security guarantees from a number of countries.
But US and UK leaders aborted that deal, hoping to use the war “to see Russia weakened,” in the words of US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on April 25.
So now, with diplomacy off the table, nuclear catastrophe remains on the table as the war with Russia escalates.
A new escalation is coming
An additional $50 billion spending package of aid for Ukraine is now on offer in Congress.
More than this, the elite US troops of the 101st Airborne (nicknamed the “Screaming Eagles”) are now positioned in Romania, just 3 miles from the Ukraine border, and “practicing for war with Russia.” Commanders told CBS News that they are “fully prepared to cross the border into Ukraine.”
If US troops cross that border, they will, of course, have massive air support, likely including forward-based F-35 jets. US personnel and aircraft crossing that border is one of the pen-ultimate steps of US escalation toward the “nuclear Armaggedon” that President Biden threatened, especially as Politico reported that the “U.S. speeds up plans to store upgraded nukes in Europe.”
The “upgraded nukes” are the B61-12 tactical nuclear bombs that forward-based F-35 jets are now certified to carry. Little imagination is needed to consider the pretexts under which those forward-based F-35 jets might be called upon to deliver those nukes to targets where Russians are located. The fact that the stealth F-35 is the Pentagon’s choice delivery vehicle for the upgraded nuclear bombs makes every F-35 base in the world, including the F-35 base in Vermont, an essential target for Russian and Chinese nuclear planners to hit before those jets take off for their forward basing deployment.
A war crime right here in Vermont
Tens of thousands of Vermonters are in the target zone of Russian nuclear missiles aimed at the twenty F-35 nuclear-bomb delivery vehicles that are stationed here. As the Vermont Air National Guard illegally trains with F-35 jets from the runway in the densely populated Chamberlin School neighborhood of the City of S. Burlington, Vermont political and military leaders commit a war crime for which there is no possible excuse: intentionally using a city full of civilians as a human shield for F-35 jets.
The Governor is responsible
Governor Phil Scott is the one responsible for ordering the training from an airport in such a blatantly illegal location, amidst densely populated cities (US Constitution, art. 1 sec. 8 cl. 16 and 32 USC 501). Even as the US continues to escalate its war with Russia, however, not one establishment leader has broken ranks to call on the governor to order removal of those jets from any populated area. Even though “distinction,” or separation of military forces from populated areas, is mandated by the military’s own regulations. And even though human shielding violates those same regulations and US law.
Collaborators—the Governor is not doing this alone
The governor’s F-35 criminal enterprise can continue only with the cooperation of the state’s legislative leaders, including Becca Balint, the President of the Vermont Senate, and Jill Krowinski, the Speaker of the Vermont House. By refusing to conduct investigation, hold hearings, and demand answers about compliance with military regulations from the governor and Guard commanders, these legislative mis-leaders fail in their obligation to uphold the law and check and balance executive branch abuse.
Nor has Vermont’s print and broadcast news media done credit to themselves. Instead, they conceal the Department of Defense and Air Force regulations from their readers. If reported, and if military and political leaders are questioned by reporters, those officials might consider complying with their own regulations. If they comply, the human shielding those regulations prohibit might finally stop. Such collaborating news media grant governor, commanders, and legislative leaders impunity to abuse cities full of Vermonters.
The public says no to escalating war
The near-unanimous congressional support for war with Russia contrasts sharply with recent polling showing that the war is deeply unpopular: 57% of likely voters strongly or somewhat support the US pursuing diplomatic negotiations as soon as possible to end the war, even if it requires Ukraine to make compromises with Russia. The same poll shows 58% are opposed to continued US aid to Ukraine if the war is driving higher gas prices and higher cost of goods. It also shows 64% oppose the US continuing with current levels of aid if it would result in the US sending American troops to fight in Ukraine.
Crisis escalating
A worldwide humanitarian food and energy crisis is coming sharply into view this winter as both factions of Ukrainians, those living in the east and in the west, as well as Americans and Russians waste money or life and limb in a foolish war over NATO expansion. A NATO expansion that no American needs and that no Russian leader will allow.
NATO expansion has become an issue in a Vermont election
The very issue of NATO expansion became an issue in Vermont’s Congressional election as candidate Liam Madden raised the question during an October 11 debate with State Senator Becca Balint.
Liam Madden is the former Marine Corps Sergeant who, after returning from 7 months of service in Iraq, and while still on active duty in 2007, co‑led a drive that allowed 2000 active‑duty soldiers, airmen, sailors, and marines to speak out against that war. They used a Petition for Redress that they all signed that said:
As a patriotic American proud to serve the nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to support the prompt withdrawal of all American military forces and bases from Iraq. Staying in Iraq will not work and is not worth the price. It is time for U.S. troops to come home.
Soon after leaving the Marines, Madden was elected Chair of Iraq Veterans Against the War, an organization he helped found.
By contrast, Becca Balint has neither military experience nor anti-war credential. In the debate, Balint first ducked Madden’s question, which was, “would you vote for a resolution supporting the admission of Ukraine into NATO?” She said, “we need to go into Congress with an understanding that we have to do deep deep learning and understand the issue from many different perspectives.”
Liam Madden pressed on,
I would agree with you that we both need to be open to do deep learning on a number of things but I don't need to do too much deep learning to know that allowing Ukraine to join NATO would trigger an immediate hostile war with Russia that could escalate to nuclear war. So that's kind of already given into public knowledge.
Balint then suddenly found herself with sufficient “deep learning” so she could line up with the prevailing narrative of both pro-war parties in Washington: “We’re already in a situation where Russia has invaded a sovereign nation and is already saber rattling with nuclear arms,” she said.
Becca Balint thus acknowledged that she cannot be relied upon to firmly oppose allowing Ukraine into NATO—and the inherent allowance NATO membership would provide for the US to move its nuclear weapons right up to Russia’s borders. If Becca Balint wins this election, do not be surprised if she votes for more war funding and more escalation.
By contrast, her opponent, Liam Madden’s remarkable record, both in war and in anti-war, provides an inspiring beacon. He entered this election and deftly won the Republican primary for Congress, snatching the nomination from two right wing opponents even while openly saying he was no Republican and would never support that party. Just by running, Madden shook up the Vermont Republicans.
And now, in the debate, he asked one question that got Becca Balint to expose her unwavering and uncritical support for the war and NATO expansion.
Pretend progressives, like Balint, whose loyalty is primarily to the Democratic Party, its wars, and its F-35 jets, are losing credibility. Whatever the outcome of this election, the public is increasingly aware that something much better is needed. They are looking hard for new leaders and new methods.
People like Liam Madden are stepping forward calling for abolition of the monied-class dominated two-party system that serves only the 1% and puts all the rest of us at severe risk. People like him are gaining confidence. And even a bit of notice, as progressive Democrats disgrace themselves by recanting even a call for diplomacy.
Write or call your public servants and demand an immediate halt to F-35 training in cities.
Governor Phil Scott 802-828-3333 Chief of Staff <Jason.Gibbs@vermont.gov>
Vermont National Guard's Complaint Line: 802-660-5379 (Note: the Vermont Guard told a reporter that it received over 1400 noise complaints. But the Guard won’t release what people said).
Submit your report & complaint to the active online F-35 Fall 2021-Summer 2022 Report & Complaint Form: https://tinyurl.com/5d89ckj9
See all the graphs and in-your-own words statements on the F-35 Spring-Summer 2021 Report & Complaint Form (513 responses): https://tinyurl.com/3svacfvx.
See links to the graphs and in-your-own words statements on all four versions of the F-35 Report & Complaint Form since Spring 2020, with a total of 1670 responses from 658 different people plus 77 more so far on the form that will remain active through summer 2022.
Senator Patrick Leahy 800-642-3193 Chief of Staff <john_tracy@leahy.senate.gov>
Senator Bernie Sanders 800-339-9834 <Senator@sanders.senate.gov>
Congressman Peter Welch 888-605-7270 Chief of Staff <patrick.satalin@mail.house.gov>
Burlington City Council <citycouncil@burlingtonvt.gov>
Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger <mayor@burlingtonvt.gov>
Winooski Mayor Kristine Lott <klott@winooskivt.org>
S. Burlington City Council Chair Helen Riehle <hriehle@sburl.com>
Williston Selectboard Chair Terry Macaig <macaig@msn.com>
VT Senate President Becca Balint <bbalint@leg.state.vt.us>
VT House Speaker Jill Krowinski <jkrowinski@leg.state.vt.us>
States Attorney Sarah George <Sarah.fair.george@gmail.com>
Vermont’s Federal Prosecutor <usavt.contactus1@usdoj.gov>
Adjutant General Brig Gen Gregory C Knight <gregory.c.knight.mil@mail.mil>
Major J Scott Detweiler <john.s.detweiler.mil@mail.mil>
Wing Commander Col David Shevchik david.w.shevchik@mail.mil
Vermont National Guard Inspector General Lt. Col. Edward J Soychak <edward.soychak@us.af.mil>
US Air Force Inspector General Lt. Col. Pamela D. Koppelmann <pamela.d.koppelmann.mil@mail.mil>
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall <Frank.Kendall@us.af.mil>