Freedom, Indiana – Author Andrew Horning is the Libertarian Party of Indiana’s candidate for Indiana’s US Senate seat in 2024.  He will be speaking at the Fort Wayne Farmer’s Market, Saturday, September 28 after 12:30pm, and will be available to discuss this press release at 1pm.

First, the disclaimers:

I’ve a smidge of Jewish DNA, but that’s not why I believe Israel is a wonderful country in spite of institutionalized racism.  Many of my close family members, including my daughter, have made trips to the Holy Land.  I personally enjoyed working with two Israel-based medical software companies.  I want Israel to succeed as a nation in health, peace, prosperity and freedom such as we’re supposed to have here.  Furthermore, whether Netanyahu is a hero, or a corrupt monster, or both, is not my concern. 

My concern is that almost all of our elected politicians do whatever AIPAC, over a dozen other pro-Israel groups and Netanyahu want, at a very high cost to both of our nations, and more importantly, to the people therein.  Our money and combined actions have trained and armed a growing global body of anger toward Israel that will not end well.  Not for Israel, and not for the nation we should be concerned about…our own.

At least Trump openly admitted he works for Israel, in the form of his major donors, Miriam and Sheldon Edelson.  “I’d always give them something for Israel,” he said; and “I gave them the Golan Heights, and they never even asked for it.”  That was after he asked of David Friedman, “Give me a quick lesson on the Golan Heights; like five minutes or less.” 

Indiana’s federal politicians are as at least as overt in their devotion to the other nation, but less candid about the process and people involved. 

I don’t believe that the close to 90% of AIPAC donations that go to Democrats means that Republicans are cheap to buy.  I think Republicans tend to be religious, and their Whack-a-Mole response to every group that seems to threaten Israel is buoyed by good intentions.

But you know which road is paved in good intentions.  Western nations’ Middle East interventions have been self-destructive and catastrophic through the past 111 years.  I suggest we dust off and apply a principle best articulated 223 years ago: “Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations—entangling alliances with none.”

That may just forestall WWIII, save two great nations, and offer World Peace as a nice side benefit.

Liberty or Bust!
Andy Horning

GAVEL GAMUT

By Jim Redwine

www.jamesmredwine.com

(Week of 30 September 2024)

MUTUAL MAYHEM

The BBC reports Russia has threatened to respond with nuclear weapons against any country that attacks Russia with conventional weapons if that country is supported by a country with nuclear weapon capacity. In other words, if Ukraine sends missiles supplied by America, Great Britain or France into the heart of Russia, Russia may counter-attack with nuclear arms. This would be a change from the “no first nuclear strike” policy as adhered to by most nuclear-powered countries.

Russia is warning Ukraine and its main sponsor, the United States, that the nearly three-year long war between Ukraine and Russia is nearing a critical mass. Russia is not amused by what it expected to be a cakewalk turning into a catastrophe thanks to our massive military and diplomatic support. Russia’s message is clear; however, its threat may be more of the clanging brass variety since “mutually assured destruction” is not just a talking point. The devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki almost eighty years ago by atomic bombs still brings pause to most rational people. Especially since nuclear weapons can produce far greater destruction and result in much greater radioactive fallout that might last for many years over a wider area than atomic bombs.

Of course, if a country believed its best hope to survive an attack was nuclear retaliation, even if it meant its own possible extinction, nuclear war might be its Faustian Choice. History is replete with irrational decisions made by people who have chanced almost certain self-destruction if they can wreak “revenge” on those who would destroy them. The United States should acknowledge the possibility that Russia, or other countries such as Israel or Iran or North Korea, might see mutual, or even the whole earth, destruction preferable to just its own if it feels such a threat.

Our world appears to be on the cusp of expanded wars in several regions and America is deeply involved in at least two, Ukraine versus Russia and Israel versus Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, the West Bank and Iran. Russia says the nuclear option is a possibility and Israel appears ready to take that same path. The United States is not immune from collateral belligerent fallout if nuclear war is stumbled into by other countries.

World War I began with one assassination and World War II began gradually over several years of small incursions by one country, Hitler’s Germany. World War III is not an impossibility for America no matter how strong and virtuous we see ourselves. We think our international entanglements are well-founded and in the world’s best interests. Of course, Russia, Iran, China, Taiwan, Israel and several other contestants think the same thing. Countries are made up of people and people usually see themselves as more sinned against than sinning. It may be past time for us to look inward before our outward actions bring the opposite from what we have convinced ourselves we are championing.

For more Gavel Gamut articles go to www.jamesmredwine.com

Weekly Death Report August 26 to September 1, 2024

Attorney General Todd Rokita seeks execution date for convicted killer of Beech Grove cop

Attorney General Todd Rokita is asking the Indiana Supreme Court to set an execution date for the convicted murderer who fatally shot Beech Grove Police Officer William Toney on Sept. 29, 2000.

“Most Hoosiers and I expect justice without delay, especially when someone murders a police officer, one of the many, many brave men and women we thank and respect daily,” Attorney General Rokita said. “This convicted cop killer has been on death row far too long — 22 years — and it’s past time for him to pay his debt to society.”

Attorney General Rokita filed a formal motion today asking the Supreme Court to set a date for the execution of Benjamin Ritchie.

For several years, the State of Indiana paused executions due to the Indiana Department of Correction’s difficulty obtaining the drug pentobarbital, which is used to carry out executions. That issue has been resolved.

On Sept. 11, the Indiana Supreme Court set an execution date of Dec. 18 for another convicted murderer, Joseph Corcoran, after Attorney General Rokita filed a motion asking the court to set a date. Corcoran killed four people.

Attached is Attorney General Rokita’s latest motion to the Supreme Court.