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Biden administration sidesteps Congress again for emergency arms sale to Israel
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Leroy N. Soetoro
Jan 3, 2024, 2:21:45 PMJan 3
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https://news.yahoo.com/biden-administration-sidesteps-congress-again-
055525751.html#
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration has bypassed Congress for the second
time this month to provide an emergency arms sale to Israel amid its war
with Hamas.
The sale of $147.5 million in equipment such as fuzes, chargers and
primers is intended to help the functionality of the U.S. ally's previous
purchase of nearly 14,000 rounds of 155mm shells in early December.
“Given the urgency of Israel’s defensive needs, the secretary notified
Congress that he had exercised his delegated authority to determine an
emergency existed necessitating the immediate approval of the transfer,” a
State Department spokesperson said.
“The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital
to U.S. national interests to ensure Israel is able to defend itself
against the threats it faces. This proposed sale is consistent with those
objectives,” the spokesperson added.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which is part of the Pentagon,
notified Congress of the sale on Friday after Secretary of State Antony
Blinken approved it. The agency said the sale would not negatively impact
U.S. defense readiness, and 155mm shells would be drawn from army stock.
The move comes as Israel faces increasing scrutiny over its military
tactics and a civilian death toll that has surpassed 21,000 in Gaza,
according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
Josh Paul, a former official in the State Department's arms control bureau
who resigned in protest after the war started, said the second sale would
enable Israel to continue operations that have led to Palestinian civilian
deaths.
“This is shameful, craven, and should frankly turn the stomach of any
decent human being,” Paul wrote on LinkedIn.
“By the arms provided in today’s arms transfer, more children will die,"
he added.
The move comes just weeks after the Biden administration bypassed the
traditional congressional approval process to push through a $106 million
emergency arms sale of about 14,000 tank shells to Israel.
The White House is separately seeking a $106 billion supplemental funding
bill, which would include about $61 billion in aid for Ukraine and about
$14 billion in aid to Israel, as well as funding for U.S. border
operations. However, the bill stalled in Congress when Republicans vowed
to block it unless the administration tightens U.S. border and immigration
policies.
President Joe Biden has recently faced low approval ratings over the
Israel-Hamas war. An NBC News poll from November showed that 34% of all
registered voters approved of his handling of the war that began Oct. 7.
The president has frequently called U.S. support for Israel "ironclad,"
though administration officials have privately admonished the Israeli
government to avoid civilian casualties.
Earlier this month, Biden said during a campaign reception that Israel is
"starting to lose that support by the indiscriminate bombing that takes
place," marking a shift in public rhetoric. At the same time, Biden's
tougher rhetoric has not been matched with actions that could alter
Israel’s military tactics in ways that spare more civilian lives.
The war was sparked by a Hamas attack on Oct. 7 that killed about 1,200
people in Israel. More than 100 hostages are still being held in Gaza.
--
We live in a time where intelligent people are being silenced so that
stupid people won't be offended.
Durham Report: The FBI has an integrity problem. It has none.
No collusion - Special Counsel Robert Swan Mueller III, March 2019.
Officially made Nancy Pelosi a two-time impeachment loser.
Thank you for cleaning up the disaster of the 2008-2017 Obama / Biden
fiasco, President Trump.
Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the
The World According To Garp. Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood
queer liberal democrat donors.
President Trump boosted the economy, reduced illegal invasions, appointed
dozens of judges and three SCOTUS justices.
055525751.html#
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration has bypassed Congress for the second
time this month to provide an emergency arms sale to Israel amid its war
with Hamas.
The sale of $147.5 million in equipment such as fuzes, chargers and
primers is intended to help the functionality of the U.S. ally's previous
purchase of nearly 14,000 rounds of 155mm shells in early December.
“Given the urgency of Israel’s defensive needs, the secretary notified
Congress that he had exercised his delegated authority to determine an
emergency existed necessitating the immediate approval of the transfer,” a
State Department spokesperson said.
“The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital
to U.S. national interests to ensure Israel is able to defend itself
against the threats it faces. This proposed sale is consistent with those
objectives,” the spokesperson added.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which is part of the Pentagon,
notified Congress of the sale on Friday after Secretary of State Antony
Blinken approved it. The agency said the sale would not negatively impact
U.S. defense readiness, and 155mm shells would be drawn from army stock.
The move comes as Israel faces increasing scrutiny over its military
tactics and a civilian death toll that has surpassed 21,000 in Gaza,
according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
Josh Paul, a former official in the State Department's arms control bureau
who resigned in protest after the war started, said the second sale would
enable Israel to continue operations that have led to Palestinian civilian
deaths.
“This is shameful, craven, and should frankly turn the stomach of any
decent human being,” Paul wrote on LinkedIn.
“By the arms provided in today’s arms transfer, more children will die,"
he added.
The move comes just weeks after the Biden administration bypassed the
traditional congressional approval process to push through a $106 million
emergency arms sale of about 14,000 tank shells to Israel.
The White House is separately seeking a $106 billion supplemental funding
bill, which would include about $61 billion in aid for Ukraine and about
$14 billion in aid to Israel, as well as funding for U.S. border
operations. However, the bill stalled in Congress when Republicans vowed
to block it unless the administration tightens U.S. border and immigration
policies.
President Joe Biden has recently faced low approval ratings over the
Israel-Hamas war. An NBC News poll from November showed that 34% of all
registered voters approved of his handling of the war that began Oct. 7.
The president has frequently called U.S. support for Israel "ironclad,"
though administration officials have privately admonished the Israeli
government to avoid civilian casualties.
Earlier this month, Biden said during a campaign reception that Israel is
"starting to lose that support by the indiscriminate bombing that takes
place," marking a shift in public rhetoric. At the same time, Biden's
tougher rhetoric has not been matched with actions that could alter
Israel’s military tactics in ways that spare more civilian lives.
The war was sparked by a Hamas attack on Oct. 7 that killed about 1,200
people in Israel. More than 100 hostages are still being held in Gaza.
--
We live in a time where intelligent people are being silenced so that
stupid people won't be offended.
Durham Report: The FBI has an integrity problem. It has none.
No collusion - Special Counsel Robert Swan Mueller III, March 2019.
Officially made Nancy Pelosi a two-time impeachment loser.
Thank you for cleaning up the disaster of the 2008-2017 Obama / Biden
fiasco, President Trump.
Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the
The World According To Garp. Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood
queer liberal democrat donors.
President Trump boosted the economy, reduced illegal invasions, appointed
dozens of judges and three SCOTUS justices.
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