Israel/Hamas and The Ukraine Conflict
The two major foreign policy issues at this time, are in Israel and Ukraine.
The Israel and Hamas War has been at the forefront of our foreign policy since the initial attack in October 2023. The senseless massacre of innocent Israelis has been followed by a military action that has gone beyond what many believe is necessary, harming and/or killing thousands.
I have held the position of a ceasefire and a hostage release since the beginning. The Biden administration has been vocal and pressuring, with little change by the Israeli President, Netanyahu. We know that while Netanyahu is prosecuting the war, his nation cannot take action against him for what he has been investigated for.
The military aid supplied to Israel may be our only lever of control, and should be carefully weighed with our longtime ally. I am certain that there are complexities that the public is unaware of, including the possibility of regional attacks on Israel, were we to reduce aid. The USA has committed to defending Israel, no matter what else transpires with arms. With that being said, the killing of innocent Palestinians must stop.
And it is not lost on me, that Hamas could call an end to the hostilities, as well.
My opponent has accepted contributions from the the pro-Netanyahu Political Action Committee and has approved of the continued bombing and lethal force supplied to Israel against the women and children of Gaza, rather than a strategy of surgical strikes to prevent some level of harm.
Lastly, the previous administration's foreign policy had some bearing on the events in this Middle East crisis. The decision to extricate the USA from the Iranian Nuclear Agreement, severed communications and surveillance of Iran. The move of Israel's capital to Jerusalem, angered many in the region. The assassination of the Iranian General Suleiman, added a threat from Iran to the USA. And the Abraham Accords, created a divide between Iran and other Arab nations, that could have also sparked the Hamas attack, sponsored by Iran.
And in the Ukraine, we all have compassion for the unnecessary tragedy and loss of life taking place there. Though the responsibility for the entirety of this war lays squarely on Putin and Russia, the former president is also culpable:
- For de-stabilizing and attempting to weaken NATO,
- For ending the 'Open Skies' treaty with Russia,
- For attempting to extort Ukraine and delaying 350 million in congressionally approved military aid,
- For dismissing our Ukrainian ambassador over the same scheme in which he was withholding the military aid,
- For siding with Putin against USA intelligence agencies regarding Russia's attempts to impact our election process,
- For disrespecting the FBI on the presence of Russian diplomats in the Oval Office,
- For weakening our global authority through his actions on the Iranian Nuclear Deal and the Paris Climate Accord,
- For refusing to share his interpreter's notes after a private meeting with Putin,
- For removing all forces from Syria, allowing Russia to command the region, leaving the Kurd's abandoned,
- For failing to address the bounty that Putin had placed on our troops in Afghanistan,
- For mishandling the pandemic and keeping information on the virus to himself that he learned from China, that led to more than a million fellow Americans dying from Covid-19,
- And portraying the United States as less willing to be a global community supporter and defender, turning away from the role as a global leader.
I stand with the Ukrainian people, as they stand for democracy and freedom.
Supporting the Ukrainians is about defending the rights of a free people, and supporting international law.
Republicans in the House are not supporting Ukrainian funding and some have been cited as repeating Russian talking points. Nick Langworthy voted against Ukraine funding.