John V. Walsh

John V. Walsh writes about issues of war, peace, empire, and health care for Antiwar.com, Consortium News, DissidentVoice.org, The Unz Review, and other outlets. Now living in the East Bay, he was until recently Professor of Physiology and Cellular Neuroscience at a Massachusetts Medical School. John V. Walsh can be reached at john.endwar@gmail.com

The Democratic Party, Now the Leading Party of War

Last May a remarkable column by Stephen Kinzer appeared in the Boston Globe. It was headlined: "Republicans Return To Their Roots As The Antiwar Party." More significantly, the subheading ran: "Since the Vietnam era, Americans have come to expect antiwar rhetoric from liberal Democrats. Cancel that." It began: "With Americans now engulfed in passion for … Continue reading “The Democratic Party, Now the Leading Party of War”

New York Times Repudiates Drive for ‘Decisive Military Victory’ in Ukraine, Calls for Peace Negotiations

A week ago we noted that a May 11 New York Times news article, documented that all was not going well for the US in Ukraine and that a companion opinion piece hinted that a shift in direction might be in order. Now on May 19, "THE EDITORIAL BOARD," the full Magisterium of the Times, … Continue reading “New York Times Repudiates Drive for ‘Decisive Military Victory’ in Ukraine, Calls for Peace Negotiations”

NY Times Shifts Pro-War Narrative, Documents Failure of US in Ukraine

The New York Times has a job to do – and it has done that job spectacularly well over the past few months. The Times is a leader, in the opinion of this writer, the leader in spelling out the US narrative on the war in Ukraine, a tale designed to keep up morale, give … Continue reading “NY Times Shifts Pro-War Narrative, Documents Failure of US in Ukraine”

On Ukraine, the World Majority Sides With Russia Over US

2014 saw two pivotal events that led to the current conflict in Ukraine. The first, familiar to all, was the coup in Ukraine in which a democratically elected government was overthrown at the direction of the United States and with the assistance of neo-Nazi elements which Ukraine has long harbored. Shortly thereafter the first shots … Continue reading “On Ukraine, the World Majority Sides With Russia Over US”

Head To Your Local Gas Station or Supermarket To End the US Proxy War in Ukraine

"Harris Tells Americans They Will Have to Pay More for Gas To Punish Russia," proclaimed the New York Times headline recently. So spoke no less an authority on economics than the Vice President of the United States. Harris was on a visit to Poland to reassure a nervous NATO member and to egg on the … Continue reading “Head To Your Local Gas Station or Supermarket To End the US Proxy War in Ukraine”

An Antidote to the ‘Split’ in the US Peace Movement: Anti-Interventionism

Massachusetts Peace Action, a venerable part of the US Peace Movement, has been around since the 1980s and its predecessors date back to the 1950s. Its voice is heeded and it represents most of the shared opinions of the liberal and progressive US peace movement. A recent piece by its Assistant Director, Brian Garvey, provides … Continue reading “An Antidote to the ‘Split’ in the US Peace Movement: Anti-Interventionism”

WWII Redux: The Endpoint of US Policy, from Ukraine to Taiwan

"This is not going to be a war of Ukraine and Russia. This is going to be a European war, a full-fledged war." So spoke Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky just days after berating the US for beating the drums of war. It is not hard to imagine how Zelensky’s words must have fallen on those … Continue reading “WWII Redux: The Endpoint of US Policy, from Ukraine to Taiwan”

Cover-Up of US Nuclear Sub Collision in South China Sea

"When elephants fight, it is the grass that gets trampled." So warned Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte in his address to the UN General Assembly on September 22, 2020. He was referring to the consequences for East Asia of a conflict between the US and China. Fast forward to October 2, 2021, about one year later, … Continue reading “Cover-Up of US Nuclear Sub Collision in South China Sea”

Biden Exits Afghanistan, Heads in the Wrong Direction

On August 31, Joe Biden wisely accepted the inevitable and announced the final departure of all open military presence in Afghanistan. Perhaps, the most important part of the speech had to do with the future, and here Biden was unequivocal: "And here is the critical thing to understand: The world is changing. We’re engaged in … Continue reading “Biden Exits Afghanistan, Heads in the Wrong Direction”

Anti-Chinese Racism Sets Stage for New McCarthyism

More than a dozen young visiting scholars from China had their visas abruptly terminated in a letter from administration of the University of North Texas (UNT), Denton, on August 26, in a letter dated …August 26! The letter informed the students that they could return to campus from their lodgings to pick up belongings, but … Continue reading “Anti-Chinese Racism Sets Stage for New McCarthyism”