Reuters reported Saturday night that the House of Representatives passed a $95 billion package providing security assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. Ukraine received $60.84 billion off the top, followed by $26 billion for Israel, and $8.12 billion for the Indo-Pacific, which is a euphemism for Taiwan.
The $26 billion “for Israel” includes a lot of expenditure that isn’t for Israel at all, such as $9.1 billion for humanitarian needs in Gaza. Another $2.4 billion goes to replenish US military units in the region, including the Navy that’s been fighting Houthis in the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. Of the remaining $14.5 billion, $4 billion will pay to replenish Israel’s ground-to-missile defense systems, and the rest, about $10.5 billion will replenish the munitions and pay for new weapons.
It means that the entire sum, $26 million, will remain in the US and go to the military-industrial complex. War means jobs.
A DAY IN GAZA A NIGHT IN THE UKRAINE
Senator J. D. Vance (R-Oh) suggested a week ago that “This $60 billion is a fraction of what it would take to turn the tide in Ukraine’s favor. But this is not just a matter of dollars. Fundamentally, we lack the capacity to manufacture the amount of weapons Ukraine needs us to supply to win the war.”
In other words, according to Vance, with all the money in the world, the maximum capacity of US manufacturing will only provide around 30% of Ukraine’s military needs, and US manufacturing also has to take care of the needs of Israel and Taiwan.
In any event, contrary to most headlines, this is first and foremost an aid bill for Ukraine, where, as Vance put it, “The average Ukrainian soldier is roughly 43 years old, and many soldiers have already served two years at the front.” And “in March alone, Russia reportedly launched over 3,000 guided aerial bombs, 600 drones, and 400 missiles at Ukraine. To fend off these attacks, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, and others have indicated they need thousands of Patriot interceptors per year. The problem is this: The United States only manufactures 550 per year.”
In that context, at least $1 billion worth of parts and ammunition to Israel might be delivered using the US military assets in its Qatar base, according to a Wall Street Journal report last week, easing the US manufacturing burden. This would be the largest single weapons transfer since Octiber7.
And yet, the streets of American and European cities are not packed with protesters demanding a ceasefire in Ukraine, nor is the Biden administration pursuing one, after an estimated 800,000 Ukrainians have perished.
President Joe Biden welcomed the House vote, saying “it comes at a moment of grave urgency, with Israel facing unprecedented attacks from Iran, and Ukraine under continued bombardment from Russia.”
The difference is Ukraine will never be able to stop Russia, while Israel is capable of inflicting debilitating damage on Iran. The House vote was passed by 366-58, with 37 Democrats and 21 Republicans voting against.
IT’S ABOUT BIPARTISANSHIP, STUPID
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said Saturday night, “The Senate now stands ready to take the next step. A few moments ago, Democrats and Republicans locked in an agreement enabling the Senate to finish work on the supplemental with the first vote on Tuesday afternoon.”
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) said the House “finally advanced this essential investment in the strength of our alliances and partnerships, the credibility of our commitments, and the capacity of our own armed forces to defend America and deter aggression.”
The Republican Jewish Coalition applauded the members of both parties “who found a way to work together to produce results, strengthening the security of the United States and our essential security partners around the world,” adding, “We are particularly grateful and appreciative for the courageous and principled leadership of Speaker Johnson, who put it all on the line to do what’s right for America and our allies.”
Indeed, Speaker Johnson (R-La) was unquestionably the hero of Saturday night’s vote, collaborating with Democrats against the crazies in both parties – the Squad on the left and the crazies like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga) on the right.
Greene attacked Jonson after the vote, suggesting Speaker Johnson “betrayed” America, and threatening to unseat him. So far, the Democrats have been supporting Johnson against the Republicans who are pledging to unseat him, in recognition of Johnson’s commitment to economic stability, agreeing to raise the US debt ceiling whenever necessary.
And so, the bipartisanship that was lost eight and ten years ago is back, at least for a while, and sane members of Congress are able to rule this rowdy institution.
