Legislation drafted by Congress is sometimes compared to cooking sausages. It’s best to avoid examining the dreadful mess that is the process’s mechanics behind the scenes. However, the analogy is not true. Yes, preparing sausages may be unsightly. But the finished dish is generally really tasty and attractive. On the other hand, the laws that come out of the US Congress are frequently just as unattractive and unappealing as the legislative process that produced them.
Ukraine’s strategic importance
For a while now, Ukraine has not actually been winning the fight. Even last year, when Ukrainian troops were effectively repelling Russian invaders, they were losing a great deal of soldiers. Russia started to advance westward as Ukraine’s military supplies started to run low, posing a danger to major population centers like Kharkiv in the northeast. A Russian counteroffensive in the late spring or early summer may completely overwhelm Ukrainian forces, which was causing tremendous alarm due to Russia’s greater pool of recruits and a five-to-one artillery superiority (more in some locations along the line of fire). Further to the west, Ukraine was unable to fully protect its major population centers and vital infrastructure. Only 18 missiles and 39 drones were intercepted by Ukraine during Russia’s April 11 missile and drone onslaught against the Trypilska power facility near Kyiv. Its interceptors had run out. The facility was destroyed by the last of the Russian weapons.
Israel-Ukraine relations
$61 billion in aid is provided by the US military package, but the great majority of the money, 80 percent, does not reach Ukraine. Instead, it makes it possible for the US military-industrial complex to finance continuing Pentagon activities like training Ukrainian soldiers and restock the supply chain that is headed to Kyiv. The weapons will take several weeks to arrive at their intended location; but, in the meanwhile, the Pentagon is transferring some of its current stockpiles from its locations in Poland and Germany. Russia is attempting to maintain its edge in the interim. However, the Biden administration is encouraging yet another act of ethnic cleansing through the same measure, in addition to ignoring it. In order to “help ensure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself against the very real threats it faces from Iran, as well as Iran’s proxy groups,” $26 billion is included in the military aid package that the president signed.
US-Israel relations
This is a blatant fabrication about the military assistance that Israel receives. First off, following a series of conflicts with the US earlier in the year, Iran had previously called for moderation on its “proxy groups.” Then, in early April, Israel killed senior Iranian military figures in Syria, starting a new round of escalation. The Biden administration continues to think that it can influence the Israeli government by providing military assistance. Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, is keen to show otherwise. Following the approval of the assistance package, he said that preparations to assault the southern city of Rafah were still on track and started further airstrikes against Palestinians in Gaza, killing primarily women and children.
Impact of regional dynamics
By promoting this cease-fire proposal, the Biden administration hopes to demonstrate that it is paying attention to both domestic and international critics of US policy, particularly those in the Global South, as well as the opposition in Congress, voters in swing states, and college protests. The most recent information that the International Criminal Court is about to issue arrest warrants for high-ranking Israeli officials including Netanyahu for their acts in Gaza must also be considered by the administration. However, the assistance package for Israel implies that everything will carry on as usual. The Israeli military’s actions were not a requirement for receiving any of that military assistance.
Challenges to coherence
To be sure, China has become more forceful recently, but the Biden administration isn’t doing anything to mend fences with Beijing. Under the cover of international non-recognition, Taiwan may thrive as long as Beijing and Washington get along. Hence, cooperative initiatives with China may have been a more viable investment for this money and serve as a longer-term deterrent against conflict.
In conclusion, Ultimately, the Republicans gathered a motley assortment of measures against China (forbidding TikTok), Russia (allowing the use of frozen assets), and Iran (more sanctions) in the fourth basket of the bill. How long before the US realizes that these kinds of punitive actions really serve to bring enemies closer together? Let’s isolate the one nation that has invaded a neighboring democracy, by all means. To further isolate Russia, however, the US should be far more strategic in its approach to courting China and Iran.
