Ukraine's hopes of NATO entry dashed over its persistent corruption



Ukraine has been jockeying for a spot in NATO since it gained independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991 and has good reason to believe it has a shot. After all, NATO allies agreed at the 2008 Bucharest Summit that the country would one day become a member of the military alliance.

Despite early eagerness, Ukraine pursued a non-alignment policy from 2010 to 2014; however, it jettisoned this approach around the time of Russia's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula. In 2017, the Ukrainian parliament — which has not had elections since 2019 — adopted legislation recommitting the pursuit of membership in NATO.

A senior official in the U.S. State Department recently told the Telegraph that NATO will soon inform Ukraine ahead of the alliance's annual summit next week that it remains too corrupt to enter the alliance.

"We have to step back and applaud everything that Ukraine has done in the name of reforms over the last two-plus years," the official told the British paper. "As they continue to make those reforms, we want to commend them, we want to talk about additional steps that need to be taken, particularly in the area of anti-corruption. It is a priority for many of us around the table."

This is hardly the first time the alliance has thrown cold water on Ukraine's dreams of membership over its struggles with corruption.

The NATO heads of state issued a statement at the outset of the 2023 Vilnius summit indicating that "Ukraine's future is in NATO" but that the country still had to make progress on "interoperability" as well as on democratic reforms.

President Joe Biden said at the time that it was "premature" to begin onboarding Ukraine into the alliance. Biden noted not only that its entry would put the U.S. into a direct conflict with Russia, but that there were still "other qualifications that need to be met, including democratization."

While a catch-all term, "democratization" is frequently used as a euphemism for corruption reform.

In 2012, Ernst & Young ranked Ukraine in the top three of the most corrupt countries in its 12th Global Fraud Survey. Transparency International rated it the most corrupt country in Europe after Russia and ranked it 130th among 180 countries in its 2017 Corruption Perceptions Index.

'Ukraine's defenses against corruption have to be just as strong as its military defenses.'

The country has, however, showed some signs of improvement, such that it now ranks 104th on the Corruption Perceptions Index, with a score of 36. By way of comparison, America's score is 69, with 100 signaling perfection.

Nevertheless, high-profile corruption cases keep making the news.

For example, earlier this year, employees from a Ukrainian weapons firm were outed for conspiring with defense ministry officials to embezzle roughly $40 million that was supposed to buy 100,000 mortar shells for the war effort, reported the Associated Press.

In May, the BBC reported that a member of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's party was charged with embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Such incidents are hardly exceptional and, according to Ukrainians, are commonplace.

The United States Agency for International Development conducted a nationwide poll in Ukraine last year and found that 94% of respondents still considered corruption to be pervasive, with a plurality suggesting that corruption has actually worsened since the beginning of the war.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently painted a clear picture for Ukraine, underscoring its need to take the "difficult steps" to strengthen and consolidate its democracy.

"That means not just passing reforms, but making sure they are implemented. It means rooting out the scourge of corruption — once and for all," said Blinken. "Ukraine's defenses against corruption have to be just as strong as its military defenses. An independent judiciary; a free press; a vibrant, inclusive civil society; free and fair elections; independent, empowered anti-corruption investigators, prosecutors, and judges."

The White House has detailed the specific reforms it wants to see executed in Kiev.

Despite the Biden administration's encouragement and recommendations, the Telegraph indicated the U.S. government has been fighting British and European efforts to formalize an "irreversible" path toward NATO membership for Ukraine.

This would be consistent in light of Biden's suggestion to Time magazine in an interview published last month that he was "not prepared to support the NATOization of Ukraine."

Rather than an irreversible path, the State Department official told the Telegraph Zelenskyy is going to promised a "well-lit bridge" to NATO membership.

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The critical alliance: Why Israel matters to America



Israel has now launched the ground war against Hamas in Gaza. The mission from the start has been justified retribution — obliterating terrorists for brutal attacks against the most defenseless in Israel.

Sadly, a resurgence of anti-Semitism has flooded the world anew, most notably here in the United States. Across college campuses and in our larger cities, we have anti-Israel protests. The rise of Marxist influence in America bears much of the blame for the intolerance we are seeing against one of our oldest allies. Therefore, it becomes increasingly necessary to promote the importance of this critical alliance of Israel and the United States.

In an increasingly interconnected world, America’s international relationships hold significant importance. The relationship between the United States and Israel is more than a mere geopolitical partnership; it is a deep-rooted alliance based on shared values, mutual interests, and strategic collaboration that carries immense significance for America’s global standing and security.

We share a common commitment to democratic principles, freedom, and human rights. Both nations were founded on the belief in the rule of law, individual freedoms, and the rights of citizens to choose their leaders. In a world where these principles are sometimes challenged, the United States and Israel stand as beacons of democracy. Supporting Israel reinforces the message that a representative government and freedom are not just American ideals but universal values worth preserving.

Israel has positioned itself to be a strategic security partner of the United States. From the early days of the Cold War to the present-day global challenges, Israel has consistently proven to be a reliable partner in advancing U.S. strategic interests. Israel’s military and intelligence capabilities are among the most advanced in the world. The close cooperation between the two nations enhances America's ability to address common threats, including terrorism and nuclear proliferation.

Israel's location in a hostile region makes it a valuable ally, providing the United States with a strategic foothold in the Middle East. Israel has a wealth of experience in dealing with terrorism and intelligence-gathering, making it an invaluable partner in the global fight against terror. The strong counterterrorism cooperation between the two nations contributes to the safety of American citizens. The corporate press would have us believe that Israel is reliant on the United States, but both countries share intelligence and technologies to keep our enemies at bay.

It is no secret that the United States and Israel have a robust history of technological cooperation. Israeli innovation has yielded advancements that benefit not only the people of Israel but also Americans and the rest of the world. Collaborative research and development efforts foster economic growth in both countries, strengthening their respective industries.

Israel’s expertise in border security and emergency response strategies is a valuable resource for the United States. Learning from Israel's experiences in protecting its citizens and critical infrastructure has improved America's preparedness for acts of God and acts of terrorism.

President Harry S. Truman, against the advice of his own State Department, was the first world leader to acknowledge the birth of the new Jewish state on May 14, 1948. Since that day, there have been friendship and mutual respect between the two nations. Though Israel was only formed in the aftermath of the Holocaust, the Jewish people have occupied the land for thousands of years. Americans have known this by historical and biblical accounts — until recently, as those on the left have sought to erase history, molding the narrative toward extremism and hate to accomplish their mission of chaos. The result is an uneducated generation that refuses to accept the importance of the alliance between our two countries.

Why should Americans care about the well-being of Israel? The answer lies in the shared values and history that bind the two nations. Supporting Israel is not only an act of strategic prudence but also a reflection of America's commitment to security in the region — a stable Middle East ensures a stable America. Any threat to Israel’s existence has far-reaching implications for the entire region and, by extension, for the United States.

The relationship between the United States and Israel is more than a geopolitical alliance; it is a partnership rooted in shared values, strength, and freedom. Moreover, America has been blessed beyond measure because of our commitment to and care for the Jewish state. Israel is the only nation with a promise from the Almighty: “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:3, KJV).

America must remain steadfast in our commitment to Israel, but doing so also requires us to be painfully aware of where we are in our country. When our own people do not understand the importance of our strategic and critical alliance with Israel, we’ve not only failed the Jewish people — we’ve failed the next generation of Americans.

Mom's adoption application denied due to her Christian faith, lawsuit alleges



Alliance Defending Freedom recently announced that it filed a lawsuit against Oregon state officials on behalf of a single mother whose adoption application was denied, allegedly because of her Christian faith.

Jessica Bates, a mother of five who applied to adopt a sibling pair from foster care last year, had her application denied by the Oregon Department of Human Services.

According to state policy, those seeking to adopt must agree to "respect, accept, and support … the sexual orientation, gender identity, [and] gender expression" of any child.

Adoptive parents would be required to "use a child's preferred pronouns, take a child to affirming events like Pride parades, or sign the child up for dangerous pharmaceutical interventions like puberty blockers and hormone shots—no matter a child's age, no matter whether a child actually desires these things, and no matter how deeply these requirements violate the caregiver's religious convictions," the complaint stated.

ADF senior counsel Jonathan Scruggs said the state's policy "amounts to an ideological litmus test."

"People who hold secular or 'progressive' views on sexual orientation and gender identity are eligible to participate in child welfare programs, while people of faith with religiously informed views are disqualified because they don't agree with the state's orthodoxy," Scruggs added.

Bates explained to ODHS that she would "happily love and accept any child, but she cannot say or do something that goes against her Christian faith," ADF said.

According to the lawsuit, the state forced Bates to either abandon her Christian values or have her adoption application denied.

ODHS rejected Bates' application for failing to meet its "adoption home standards."

"Oregon's policy makes a sweeping claim that all persons who hold certain religious beliefs—beliefs held by millions of Americans from diverse religious faiths—are categorically unfit to care for children," said ADF legal counsel Johannes Widmalm-Delphonse. "That's simply not true. Oregon is putting its political agenda above the needs of countless children who would be happy to grow up in a loving, Christian home like Jessica's. We urge the court to remind the state of its constitutional and moral obligations and reaffirm Jessica's First Amendment right to live out her faith without being penalized by the government."

In January 2017, Jessica Bates and her husband, David Bates, were involved in a car crash. Jessica sustained a concussion, broken bones, and a partially collapsed lung, while David passed away at the scene of the accident. After hearing a Christian broadcast about a man who had adopted a child, Jessica was inspired to adopt a sibling pair under the age of 10 from foster care.

According to the suit, at the end of the fiscal year 2022, there were roughly 8,000 children who had spent at least one day in the state's foster care system.

The Oregon Department of Human Services did not respond to a request for comment, the Daily Caller News Foundation reported.

\u201cRead the press release: https://t.co/Oq4XsQTyUq\u201d
— Alliance Defending Freedom (@Alliance Defending Freedom) 1680549392

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Student told she couldn't wear ‘Jesus Loves Me’ mask wins religious freedom battle against school district



An 11-year-old student who was told that she could not wear a face mask that read “Jesus Loves Me” reached a settlement last week in a two-year religious freedom lawsuit against a Mississippi school district, the Daily Signal reported.

In 2020, Simpson County School District in Mississippi required students to wear face masks to class.

Lydia Booth, who was nine years old at the time, frequently wore a mask with the words “Jesus Loves Me” on it without issue. In the fall of 2020, Lydia was told by a teacher that she was no longer allowed to wear the mask.

Lydia’s mother, Jennifer Booth, told the Daily Signal that she assumed the teacher was having a bad day and sent her daughter back to school with the mask.

Booth explained that she received a call from the principal informing her that Lydia would have to wear a different mask, claiming that it was against policy “to have religious symbols or gestures on her mask.”

According to Booth, no such rule existed in the school’s handbook. After contacting district officials, she was sent a copy of the COVID-19 policy prohibiting religious symbols and words on masks. However, Booth discovered that the district’s policy had been updated to include the language less than an hour before it was emailed to her.

The district’s updated policy stated that students could not wear masks containing “political, religious, sexual or inappropriate symbols, gestures or statements that may be offensive, disruptive or deemed distractive to the school environment.”

In November 2020, Booth partnered with the legal organization Alliance Defending Freedom to file a lawsuit against the district on behalf of her daughter.

Booth explained, “This year is the mask; next year is the T-shirt. Eventually, you can’t say Jesus’ name in school.”

“Public schools have no business discriminating against a 9-year-old for her religious expression,” said Alliance Defending Freedom legal counsel Michael Ross. “Other students within the school district have freely worn masks with the logos of local sports teams or even the words ‘Black Lives Matter.’ Lydia deserves and will now have an equal opportunity to peacefully express her beliefs.”

On Wednesday, ADF announced that Simpson County School District agreed to rescind its restrictions on “political” and “religious” content on masks. As part of the settlement, Booth and ADF dropped the lawsuit.

“No student should be singled out for peacefully expressing her religious beliefs,” stated ADF senior counsel Tyson Langhofer. “Today’s students will be tomorrow’s legislators, judges, educators, and voters. That’s why it’s so important that public schools demonstrate the First Amendment values they are supposed to be teaching to students.”

Simpson County School District did not reply to a request for comment, the Daily Signal reported.

\u201cWhy would a school district want to silence a little girl\u2019s witness for Christ?\n\nRead Lydia Booth\u2019s story in the latest edition of Faith & Justice magazine here: https://t.co/G9XVLDSjMe\u201d
— Alliance Defending Freedom (@Alliance Defending Freedom) 1614995161

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