Policy
Saturday’s attacks on Israel raised new questions about replenishing aid to war-torn Ukraine after months of tumultuous infighting among Republicans.
Iran’s unprecedented wave of strikes against Israel has sparked new urgency in Congress for additional military aid to the Jewish state, as various Republican factions take advantage of the development to deepen their arguments on Ukraine .
The aid granted to Ukraine this week now seems far from possible.
“We are way too limited, (with) the number of weapons systems that we need, that Ukraine needs, that Taiwan needs, that Israel needs. And we can’t do all of those things at once,” Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday.
“When you are too overwhelmed, you have to concentrate and rebuild your own country,” he continued. “Can we fight all these conflicts at the same time? No.”
Vance argued that the United States should encourage Ukraine “to adopt a defensive posture” against the Russian invasion of its lands and to focus more on Israel.
In contrast, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky seized on Iran’s brutal attack, calling it a “wake-up call” to the West.
“It is essential that the US Congress makes the necessary decisions to strengthen America’s allies at this critical time,” Zelensky argued.
A chorus of foreign policy luminaries within the Republican Party echoed this sentiment.
“These rockets and drones are being purchased by Russia and are killing Ukrainians every day. What happened in Israel last night happens in Ukraine every night,” lamented the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Mike McCaul (Republican of Texas), on Sunday during the CBS show “Face the Nation.”
“The electricity network is currently under threat. If the power grid in Ukraine completely fails, we will no longer have time on our side.”
McCaul noted that while “it’s a decision by the president” as to when the House will consider a bill on foreign aid to Ukraine, his “preference is this week.”
“Iran, Russia and China have engaged in an unholy alliance to undermine and destabilize the United States, Israel and the free world,” said Representative Mike Lawler (R-NY). said after Iran attack.
“We must act decisively: Congress must provide aid to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan. »
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) stressed that time is running out for Ukraine, amid multiple battlefield setbacks to repel Russian invaders.
“Everyone is on this side and understands that we are at a critical point. Russia is starting to gain ground, Ukraine is starting to lose the ability to defend itself,” Turner told NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
“The United States must step up and provide Ukraine with the weapons it needs, and I think we will see overwhelming support for this initiative in the House this week.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has been coy about the exact timeline he is following on considering an aid package for Ukraine, but said Sunday that “we Let’s send our package.”
The speaker specifically said he was considering bundling some of that aid as a loan and tapping seized Russian assets to finance arms.
Last February, the Senate adopted an additional program of 95 billion dollars, including 14 billion for Israel and 60 billion for Ukraine. Johnson refused to take this into consideration.
Democrats asked him to do so.
“We didn’t need any reminders about what’s going on in Ukraine,” White House national security spokesman Kirby told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday. “But last night certainly significantly highlighted the threat that Israel faces in a very, very difficult neighborhood. »
“We’re just looking for leadership from the president’s office: to have it debated, to have it voted on so that not only can Israel get additional resources and defend itself – which it clearly needs – but so can Ukraine. TO DO. » he said, referring to the supplement.
Senator John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania), who has emerged as one of the most prominent defenders of Israel in the Democratic Party, echoed this assertion.
“We are all engaged in the same fight and we must all stand alongside all these democracies. Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan as well,” Fetterman said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
“It’s a shame if we don’t provide this help.”
President Joe Biden had asked Congress to restore aid to Ukraine in August last year, but the House of Representatives dragged its feet, mired in Republican Party infighting.
Republicans had sought to push the Biden administration to make concessions on the border in exchange for aid to Ukraine. However, the Republican Party later cut a $118 billion supplemental budget that included both foreign aid and enhanced border security provisions.
Some still want the border to be settled in exchange for Ukrainian aid.
“I am ready to help Ukraine. I want us to take care of the southern border, too,” Rubio said on “State of the Union.” “I hope these two things can happen together.”
Looming over all this is the specter of a Johnson mutiny, just as his predecessor Kevin McCarthy did last September.
Firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene led the charge in threatening to introduce a motion to vacate or oust the chair. She met with Johnson last week and refused to rule out pulling the trigger on that motion afterward.
“How much money do American taxpayers have to pay now after this weekend’s Iranian activities (sic)? How much money will Zelensky get because, obviously, Ukraine comes first? Greene grumbled. on X.
Some Democrats have indicated they might throw him a lifeline this time if his ouster hinges on aid to Ukraine, although the amount is not entirely clear.
Former President Donald Trump also largely offered some words of support for Johnson during their meeting at Mar-a-Lago last Friday, although not specifically on Ukraine.
News Source : nypost.com
Gn world
