James M. Redwine

United Nations

A Way Forward

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Israel and Iran have been at odds since 1967. The United States and Iran have been at odds since 1979. Israel and Iran used to be allies and trading partners as did Iran and America. There are countless reasons for the current state of belligerence between Israel and Iran and Iran and the U.S.A. These grievances could be delineated, explained and sometimes justified. Such an analysis, if done objectively, might help lead to a return to equanimity and better lives for the citizens of all three nations and, perhaps, other countries that are now receiving collateral damage from the aggression of America, Israel and Iran.

On the other hand, such an analysis requires virtually global input and greater wisdom than is likely to arise from one newspaper column. However, what might be of value are ideas addressed to the quagmire status of the current conflict. There are innumerable players in this Greek tragedy and an attempt to list each and their roles most likely would not advance a resolution. It might be of more utility to concentrate on the process and procedure rather than personalities and protestations.

One useful model could be general negotiation or mediation. The first issue is to find knowledgeable and unbiased moderator(s) or mediator(s) acceptable to all three combatants. This person or entity should not be Christian, Jewish, Muslim, American, Israeli or Persian. He/she or they should not have any personal stake, other than as a citizen of the world, in the on-going war. The moderator might be an experienced diplomat affiliated with the United Nations or the Hague. The expenses for the negotiations should be born equally by America, Israel and Iran, each of whom should sign an agreement to participate voluntarily in a series of conferences at a particular location, say, the Hague in the Netherlands. The mediation agreement should contain stipulations of confidentiality, respectful exchanges of positions and assurances to abide by any freely arrived at resolutions.

Of course, nothing may be resolved by this suggested format, but, as most judges know, almost every case gets settled (more than 95%) without a trial (armed conflict). Most humans appreciate the advantages of peace over war: life, health, economic benefits and long-term friendly relations with one’s neighbors. But even if the U.S., Iran and Israel are not better off after reasonable and good faith interchanges, they almost certainly will not be worse off.

The current war will eventually end. It would be to the earth’s advantage for it to end sooner, rather than later and with less bloodshed rather than an Armageddon.

You can also follow us on Facebook at “Jim Peg Redwine” or Substack “@gavelgamut”

Up Stairs, Down Stairs

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Donald Trump will be forever associated with escalators. Much of the world, at least the part I am part of, had paid little attention to The Donald until he and Melania descended those moving stairs at Trump Tower in New York City, New York on June 16, 2015. Then there was the non-moving escalator at the United Nations building September 23, 2025. President Trump demanded an investigation.

President Trump spoke to the assembled countries of the world that day. He began his lecture with:

“I’m really good at this stuff. Your countries are going to hell.”

Perhaps he has information about the world from some higher source the rest of us are not privy to. Next, he criticized the United Nations; he alleged the U.N. sent strongly worded letters but took no action. Then he dismissed the recognition of Palestine by 157 of the world’s countries while he ordered the United States to stand with currently Zionistic Israel, and formerly Nazi Germany and formerly Fascist Italy and Japan in refusing to demand human rights for Palestinians.

I can relate to how The Donald felt about the mal-functioning escalator system at the U.N. It is a common human frailty to ascribe our personal problems to others. In Trump’s case, the United Nations organization did an almost immediate investigation and determined Trump’s difficulties were caused by members of his own staff abetted by U.N. funding deficiencies due to Trump Administration policies.

It is not that most of us never fall victim to feelings that the world revolves around us and that misfortunes are intentional blows from an evil or uncaring universe. Narcissism, to some degree, is just part of being human. But for most people, the assumptions are normally that snafus are not personal but coincidental.

I have concluded that most of my misfortunes are not due to fortune but to my own errant decisions or just dumb luck. I believe most of humanity eventually comes to similar realizations. As for The Donald, his narcissism is just part of his character. However, the fact remains he did make a successful descent down that escalator in 2015 and is now in a position where untested aspersions cast upon others can be dangerous. We can only hope for more introspection.

Another Empty Chair

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As President Trump and Secretary of State Pompeo negotiate with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his lead negotiator Kim Yong Chol over a possible summit, the 5.7 million Americans who served during the Korean War (1950-1953) continue to pass away. We have already lost about two thirds of them and on May 23, 2018 we lost another, Harold Lee Cox.

Harold and his brother-in-law Gene McCoy served in Korea at the same time. In September 2005 I wrote the following Gavel Gamut column about their service:

AN UNKNOWN VICTORY

You name the WAR:

Two countries are created from one by the greatest military power in the world and are monitored by the United Nations;

One country led by a ruthless dictator invades the other in spite of the United Nations warnings not to;

The Secretary General of the United Nations declares, “This is a war against the United Nations.”;

A United States President leads a coalition of world leaders to unite to drive the invaders out and re-establish the status quo;

An American general was placed in charge of the United Nations forces;

While many countries offered some help, the American military provided more than half of a million personnel in the war;

The aggressors were driven out of and liberty was restored to the invaded country; and

The mission for which Americans fought and died was accomplished.

If you said The Gulf War of 1990-1991, that is understandable.  Almost all Americans supported that war and recognized that victory.  However, I am talking about the Korean War of 1950-1953.  It too was a great victory for American and United Nations interests and helped prevent World War III.  We owe a huge debt to our Korean War veterans.

Two of those heroes (they just hate to be called that but, hey, it’s my column and facts are facts) are Posey County natives and brothers-in-law Harold Cox and Gene McCoy.

Harold fought with the U.S. Army’s 25th Division which suffered many casualties and bore much of the fighting in Korea.  Harold was an infantry rifleman and was the jeep driver for his company commander.

Gene was a combat engineer with the Army’s 84th Engineers Battalion and, also, served as a courier/mail deliverer.

Harold was on the frontlines and Gene was building wooden bridges about 1000 yards behind those lines.  Gene says Harold had it a lot rougher than Gene.

Both suffered the 20 below zero cold, the stifling heat and humidity, the loneliness, home sickness and fear in what those not there called a “police action.”

Harold said one of his worst memories, outside of dodging enemy mortar rounds for a solid year of combat, was the stench of the human waste the impoverished Koreans would save all winter and fertilize their rice paddies with in the spring.  Gene, also, mentioned that nauseating smell and the mud and flooding caused by the lack of vegetation due to constant shelling.

When Gene first arrived in Korea they put his outfit on a train which stopped frequently.  Each time it stopped the young soldiers were given a few rounds of ammunition and ordered out to guard the train from sabotage.  Gene said this initiation to Korea was more than a little unsettling.

Harold told me that the traffic signs in the war were a bit more to the point than those back home.  On one particularly dangerous stretch of road a sign advised:

                        “Get your ____ in gear and

                          drive like ____!  The NK

                          can see you.”

Harold paid attention.

Harold and Gene came home and re-started their lives.  Harold served as Mt. Vernon’s Water Superintendent for several years in the 1980’s and 1990’s.  Gene served as a Mt. Vernon City Councilman and the Posey County Recorder.  Gene is currently Posey  County’s Veterans Affairs Officer.  They both raised families and went on publicly as if there had been no Korean War.  However, privately what General Douglas MacArthur called “the strange, mournful mutter of the battlefield” never left their consciousness.

Of course, there was a Korean War and it helped save you and me from another world war.  It was a largely unappreciated “mission accomplished.”  Thank you Harold and Gene and all your fellow Korean War veterans.

It is only human to question the value of any military endeavor. But when one considers that our Korean War veterans of sixty-five years ago encouraged today’s world leaders to sit at a negotiating table rather than send more soldiers into new battles we owe our veterans the honor of saying thank you as we say goodbye.