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Rolla Peace News

January 14, 2020
Dear Friends:

Note from webperson: If you are having trouble reading this, it is posted at

http://tomsager.org/Peaceletters/peaceletter011420.html

          In this newsletter is:

1. NOON VIGIL FOR PEACE: THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2019
2. THE MISFIT MATHEMATICIAN (Tom's column, http://tomsager.org)
          We Dodged a Bullet — But Just Barely

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1. NOON VIGIL FOR PEACE: THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2019

We vigil for peace in front of the Rolla Post Office, THIS THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, FROM NOON TO 1:00 PM (and most subsequent Thursdays until Peace is established). Please join us again this Thursday in saying NO WAR AGAINST IRAN. The temperature is predicted to be in the 50s. If you do not feel comfortable standing with us in front of the Post Office, please consider driving by and showing your support for our message by honking your horn and flashing a peace sign.

2. THE MISFIT MATHEMATICIAN (Tom's column, http://tomsager.org)

We Dodged a Bullet — But Just Barely

Last week, when I wrote my column, I felt there was at least a 50-50 chance that I would not be here to write my column this week and you might not be here to read it. I think we came very close to World War III last week.

Fortunately Iran limited its retaliation for the assassination of General Suleimani to firing a few symbolic missiles at Iraqi military bases that house US troops and contractors; and the United States limited its retaliation for the symbolic missile attack to imposing further sanctions on Iran and making further threats.

The situation remains tense and could degenerate into a serious shooting war at any time.

Iraq has asked the United States to remove all US troops from Iraqi soil. The United States has refused and threatened to sanction Iraq.

After Donald Trump threatened to attack 52 sites in Iran, including cultural sites, Iran, in the fog of War, mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian civilian airliner, killing all 176 on board. This is reminiscent of 1988 when the United States shot down an Iranian civilian aircraft killing 290.

Meanwhile, here in Rolla, seven of us held vigil for Peace on Earth and No War with Iran. Nationwide thousands demonstrated at hundreds of sites for No War with Iran.

Here are some short articles I wish to share with you:

In contrast to the unintentional downing of Ukrainian airlines flight 752, Brett Wilkins discusses the downing of Iranian flight 655 in Iranian airspace by the United States killing 290 and the downing of Cubana flight 455 by US supported anti-Castro Cuban terrorists killing 73.

Juan Cole discusses former US ally, Iranian General Qassem Suleimani and his relationship with the United States.

Cathy Breen, who travels to Iraq regularly with Voices for Creative Non-Violence, talks about her Iraqi friends.

US Catholic Bishop Thomas Gumbleton exhorts all Catholics to refuse to kill and refuse cooperation with US wars.

As Australia continues to burn, Copernicus Programme declared December 2019 tied for the warmest December on record and 2019 the second warmest year on record.

And while the Earth burns, the United States, China and Russia vie with each other to develop virtually unstoppable hypersonic missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons — a matter of “National Pride” says the American Association for the Advancement of Science in large headlines.

I hope to be back next week, inshaAllah.

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Rolla Peace News is distributed by email once a week on Tuesday evenings (except on rare occasions) and is posted on the web at http://tomsager.org (click on Grassroots Rolla: at the top of rightmost column).

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Wage peace,

Helen
helenm (at) fidnet.com

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