The Best Way To ‘Stand With Ukraine’ Is To Push For Compromise
Victory is unlikely for either Ukraine or Russia, and the current path toward endless war will only bring further destruction to both.Victory is unlikely for either Ukraine or Russia, and the current path toward endless war will only bring further destruction to both.Dan Crenshaw shows no mercy after State Dept. official abruptly resigns over America's 'blind support' for Israel
A veteran State Department employee abruptly resigned this week over the United States government's "expanded and expedited" transfer of military arms to Israel for its war against Hamas.
Josh Paul worked in the State Department's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs for over 11 years focusing weapons transfers. But he resigned his position on Wednesday because he believes continuing to facilitate weapons transfers to Israel is a moral bridge too far.
In a resignation letter, Paul accused the U.S. government of "blind support for one side," which he claimed resulted in decisions that are "shortsighted, destructive, unjust, and contradictory to the very values we publicly espouse." He suggested that Israel is guilty of "collective punishment," "ethnic cleansing," "occupation," and "apartheid."
After resigning, Paul spoke with the New York Times. In that interview, he explained that his consternation is related to his belief that Israel is guilty of human rights violations.
The Times reported:
In an interview, Mr. Paul said that Israel’s cutting off of water, food, medical care and electricity to Gaza, a territory of two million people, should prompt protections in a number of longstanding federal laws intended to keep American weapons out of the hands of human rights violators. But those legal guardrails are failing, he said.
However, Paul does not mention — either in his resignation letter or media interviews — that Egypt helps Israel enforce the blockade of the Gaza Strip. The Arab world, moreover, does little, if anything, to help Palestinian civilians.
In response to Paul's resignation, Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) swiftly condemned Paul.
"Don't let the door hit you on your way out," he advised. "Our government has no place for Hamas sympathizers."
— (@)
The State Department addressed Paul's criticism at a press briefing on Thursday by reiterating the government's support for Israel.
"I would say, with respect to this specific criticism that has been aired, we have made very clear that we strongly support Israel’s right to defend itself," department spokesman Matt Miller said. "We are going to continue providing the security assistance that they need to defend themself. We think they have a right — not only a right, but an obligation — to defend themselves."
The State Department otherwise declined to comment on the personnel matter.
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Top Biden official grilled by CNN anchor over 'accounting error' that will send billions more to Ukraine
CNN anchor Jake Tapper expressed skepticism Sunday over an "accounting error" at the Pentagon that will result in more taxpayer-financed military aid going to Ukraine.
What is the background?
Last week, it was revealed that an accounting error led the Pentagon to overestimate the value of military materials that had been sent to Ukraine.
"In some cases, ‘replacement cost’ rather than ‘net book value’ was used, therefore overestimating the value of the equipment drawn down from U.S. stocks," a Pentagon spokesperson said.
According to the Wall Street Journal, this means the Pentagon had "inadvertently used a higher value for at least some of the weaponry the Pentagon sent to Ukraine, using valuations for new equipment instead of the older gear pulled out of U.S. stockpiles."
The error — worth at least $3 billion — means Biden can send even more aid to Ukraine. That figure, according to Reuters, could actually increase as the full scope of the error is realized.
What did Sullivan say?
CNN host Jake Tapper asked national security adviser Jake Sullivan about the alleged mistake on "State of the Union," commenting, "That's a hell of an accounting error."
In response, Sullivan emphasized that the Biden administration is not wasting money and American taxpayers should be "confident" in the administration's ability to spend their hard-earned dollars.
"I just want to make clear, that is not money that went out the door and disappeared. That is not a waste of that $3 billion," Sullivan began.
"It is simply a tally of how much military equipment we have given them," he explained. "Once you make that adjustment, it turns out we have an additional $3 billion that we can spend to provide even more weapons to Ukraine.
"In the end, though, the Pentagon discovered the error, the Pentagon corrected the error, and Ukraine will get what it needs, and the American taxpayer will be able to be confident that this money is being spent effectively and appropriately," he said.
\u201cJake Sullivan on the Pentagon's $3 billion "accounting error" over Ukraine aid: "That is not money that went out the door and disappeared. That is not a waste of that $3 billion."\u201d— RNC Research (@RNC Research) 1684675584
Sullivan painted the error as innocent. But questions still loom over the timing of the Pentagon's disclosure, concerns Sullivan failed to address.
The Wall Street Journal reported that an audit of Pentagon finances discovered the accounting error in March — two months before the Pentagon admitted to its mistake. The question, then, is why did the Biden administration wait to admit the error?
Perhaps the timing of the disclosure is related to President Joe Biden's meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Japan at the G7 Summit. The two met on Sunday, where Biden reaffirmed his government's support of Ukraine through — that's right — nearly $400 million in additional aid.
The accounting error, therefore, allows the Biden administration to send even more aid to Ukraine without congressional approval.
The U.S. has sent Ukraine more than $40 billion in military aid since the war began last year.
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Jacquelyn Martin/AFP/Getty Images
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