EDITORIAL

The World’s ‘Pre-War’ Phase
Will Not Last Long

May 19—There is no doubt that the world is now in a “pre-war” phase, in danger of all-out warfare and nuclear annihilation, unless brought back from the brink. How long will the “pre-war” phase last?

The most dangerous, though not the only, crisis zones involve the madness deployed against Russia via Ukraine, the goading of China in the Pacific, and the genocidal actions of Netanyahu’s Israel against Palestine. These conflicts come directly from the deadly cultural and leadership degradation in the West.

At the same time, the world’s positive dynamic, seen in the newly-affirmed Russia-China collaboration, is the growing leadership of the anti-colonialist, pro-development Global Majority. The imperative for us all is to stop the war and economic breakdown insanity.

The peace-through-development intervention by the Schiller Institute and collaborating networks, especially the International Peace Coalition (IPC), are critical to win out against the world war danger and genocide. Bringing about the shared vision and active dialogue over all elements of development—as embodied in Lyndon LaRouche’s Oasis Plan—creates the context for seemingly impossible “political” solutions to otherwise apparently hopeless perpetual grievances. This universal peace principle is embodied in shared benefits from water and power systems, plentiful food for all, disease prevention and cure, cultural respect and advancement.

Already, specifics from the expert panelists at the April 13 “Oasis Plan” international conference of the Schiller Institute are being discussed throughout networks, ranging from water experts in Türkiye, a leading center for hydraulic management systems, to ministerial level policy and nuclear power experts in Southern Africa. The EIR Daily Alert at EIR.news is furthering the immediate engagement of such international networks.

Today at the demonstration in Washington, D.C., in commemoration of the 1948 Nakba, and for ending the genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, a huge Schiller Institute banner proclaimed, “Peace through Development: Build LaRouche’s Oasis Plan.” The beautiful map on the banner illustrates the elements required—water conveyance, desalination, nuclear power, transportation, and new cities. Thousands demonstrated in London today, and rallies and protests have been taking place worldwide all week.

In contrast and opposition, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is going this weekend to Israel to speak with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to, in effect, ask for delimiting the Israel Defense Forces genocide on Gaza, just a little bit. Sullivan will say: Try to conduct precision genocide, not at-large genocide.

Sullivan is in Saudi Arabia today, prior to going to Israel tomorrow. The trip is the pitiful response of the Biden Administration to President Biden’s warning of the last few weeks, that Israel should make no mass attack on Rafah, or the U.S. will respond. In fact, the IDF attack against Rafah is well underway.

There are fierce IDF bombardments on Rafah in the south, on the Jabalia refugee camp to the north, and elsewhere at many other points in the Gaza Strip. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled Rafah in desperation and want, but have nowhere safe to go. The official death count is 35,400. On the West Bank, the IDF conducted an airstrike on a target in the city of Jenin.

In Ukraine, the latest talk is focused on how and when to further empower the Kyiv regime to strike inside Russia, and to station NATO troop forces directly inside Ukraine, under whatever flimsy pretext. This came up in and around the May 16 meeting of NATO member military leaders in Brussels. What about the U.S. agreeing to Kyiv’s request to send in troops for close-up training of Ukrainian soldiers? U.S. Chief of Staff Chairman Gen. Charles Q. Brown didn’t exactly say no. He said, “We’ll get there eventually, over time,” to reporters aboard the plane en route to the May 16 NATO meeting.

Cheerleading from the sidelines, former NATO General Secretary Anders Fogh Rasmussen told CNN that any restrictions on Ukraine using Western weapons anywhere they choose, meaning inside Russia, must be lifted. “Ukraine must win, not just survive.”

What does the U.S. have to offer besides weapons and warfare? Optional drugs, optional gender and other “rights,” all except the sovereign right of a nation to enculture its population as it determines is best. Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights Uzra Zeya is setting off for a Central Asia tour May 19–23 to promote what she calls “values.” Meantime, the U.S. State Department, on May 17, International LGBTQI+ Day, issued a “worldwide caution” for all U.S. citizens traveling, because they may encounter terrorism, and they must, in particular, “be aware of the increased potential for foreign terrorist organization-inspired violence against LGBTQI+ persons and events.”

On the side of humanity, follow-on announcements are coming from the May 16–17 meetings of the Russian and Chinese Presidents, and the May 16–21 China-Russia Expo in Harbin. For example, exports of soybeans, already underway from eastern Siberia to China, will be stepped up as fast as possible.

The voice of every person and nation, sounding out for peace through development, will make all the difference, and needs to be heard now. Make the “Oasis Plan” the battle cry for humanity. There is no time to waste.