Washington, D.C. – As the global community grapples with the increasingly volatile state of U.S.-Russia relations, a group of high-level American experts and peace advocates gathered at the National Press Club on June 12 to sound the alarm—not only on the imminent threat of global war, but also on the suppression of voices working to prevent it.
Hosted by the Schiller Institute, the event brought together a distinguished panel of former military and intelligence officials, alongside international policy advocates, to challenge the current trajectory of NATO’s policies and the escalating military confrontation with Russia.
Among the speakers was Scott Ritter, former U.N. weapons inspector and Marine Corps intelligence officer, who became the center of controversy after being barred by the U.S. State Department from traveling to Russia to attend the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). His passport was seized at the airport, effectively silencing a citizen whose only weapon was his voice—a voice of warning against the consequences of the ongoing geopolitical brinkmanship.
Despite this, Ritter addressed the SPIEF virtually via Zoom, underscoring the significance of dialogue and diplomacy at a time when the risk of nuclear confrontation has returned to global headlines.
“Preventing a citizen from participating in a major international forum is not only a violation of constitutional rights,” said Ritter, “it is a symptom of a government that fears dissent more than disaster.”
The panel warned of a chilling parallel: just as attempts have allegedly been made to blind Russia’s early-warning systems—such as the May 22 drone attack on a critical radar installation in Armavir—efforts are also underway to silence the intellectual and moral “early-warning systems” within Western societies.
Col. (ret.) Richard H. Black, former head of the U.S. Army’s Criminal Law Division and former Virginia State Senator, emphasized the legal and ethical ramifications of the current military posture toward Russia.
“This isn’t just posturing anymore. When you take out early-warning systems, you’re toying with a nuclear hair-trigger,” said Black. “And when you muzzle informed critics, you’re removing the safety mechanisms in your own policy debate.”
Joining them was Ray McGovern, a former CIA analyst and co-founder of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS), who highlighted the crucial role dissenting voices have historically played in averting conflict. He lamented that many of these voices are now under threat, not from foreign adversaries, but from their own government.
Helga Zepp-LaRouche, founder of the Schiller Institute, called for a revival of true diplomacy rooted in mutual respect and global cooperation. She criticized Western arrogance for dismissing Russia’s security concerns as mere bluster.
“To call these warnings a bluff is not only dangerously naïve—it is criminally irresponsible,” Zepp-LaRouche said. “We need more dialogue, not more suppression.”
The forum provided simultaneous interpretation into German, French, and Spanish, underscoring the global relevance of the discussion. Media representatives and participants from across continents joined via Zoom, reflecting the growing international concern over the apparent breakdown in East-West relations.
As the panel concluded, a common theme echoed throughout the room: the world stands at a crossroads. One path leads to escalation, confrontation, and possibly nuclear disaster. The other offers a chance—still slim, but real—for diplomacy, understanding, and peace.
But for that second path to remain viable, said the panelists, the voices of reason must be heard. And for that to happen, governments must stop silencing their own citizens—not with bullets, but with border guards and passport seizures.#
