Robert Pickus (October 31, 1923 – January 22, 2016) was a prominent figure in Quaker, pacifist, and peace movements.
[1][2] Born in Sioux City, Iowa, he attended the University of Chicago, where he was a research assistant to Mortimer Adler for the Great Books of the Western World program.
In the mid-1960s Pickus caused controversy by attacking "radical pacifists and leftists" in the anti-Vietnam war movement, whom he accused of being "naively one-sided in their criticism of American foreign policy".
[5][4] In a 2001 interview, Pickus argued that in "the current political climate, war is essential for justice to prevail".
[6] He said that the World Without War Council supported actions such as the bombing of Taliban radio systems, provided civilians were given advance warning.