Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, arrived in Washington Wednesday to receive a $45 Billion Christmas present. It was packed in a bag of $1.7 Trillion in U.S. government expenditures
Zelensky’s visit to Washington was the first foreign trip of the Ukrainian president since the Russian invasion nearly ten months back. Half a world from the battlefield, Zelensky arrived in Washington wearing his green military fatigues and combat boots, a perfect representation of the self-righteous melodrama which has defined Ukraine and its supporters since the start of the conflict. Zelensky is an actor, comedian and writer. He can say the lines, do the bits and put on a show. This has not changed. This brief trip featured a meeting between President Joe Biden and a press conference at White House.
Biden and Zelensky met and announced that Ukraine would receive $1.85 Billion worth of military equipment. This includes both direct transfers to Ukraine… and contracts to supply ammunition to Ukraine in the months ahead.
The president stated that the package would include a Patriot missile batteries, “Critically.” This marked a significant escalation of the Biden administration’s support for Ukraine. The U.S. had been reluctant giving Ukraine a Patriot missile systems because it would require U.S. operators or intense training. The president stated that the U.S. would train Ukrainian forces to operate in the ongoing effort to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense. However, he did not give any details about whether the training will take place in Ukraine, the U.S. or another country. The U.S. is now very close to admitting that it has ground operators in Ukraine with the announcement of its Patriot missile system. This is something it almost certainly already knows.
Zelensky was assured by Biden that the “American people are with you every stage of your journey.” This might be a literal meaning. The president said, “And we will remain as long as it takes.” Afghanistan was not the end of the forever war on liberal democracy. It only changed the fronts.
Zelensky then made his way to Capitol Hill. He addressed a joint session as Congress considered a $1.7 trillion Omnibus Package that would provide $45 billion in economic and military aid for Ukraine.
Negotiations between the Senate leaderships of both parties resulted in the $1.7 trillion Omnibus. It allocates $858 million for military spending and $772 billion to domestic programs until the end of the current fiscal. Senate Democrats had to secure enough Republican support in order to avoid the filibuster. Because of Republican concerns about government spending, Democrats had to agree to spending increases on domestic programs like education and health care. They also agreed to more Covid-19 emergency funding and a debt cap increase before the deadline next year.
If Congress approves the Omnibus package, the total U.S. commitment for Ukraine will exceed $100 billion in the last ten month. The $45 billion negotiated in Congress is, like the NDAA negotiations recently completed, more aid to Ukraine than the White House requested. The White House still requested $37.7 billion.
Zelensky’s address was the ultimate whipping device. Pelosi asked members of Congress who stayed home due to Zoom hearings and proxy voting to show their faces. Regime journalists searched for members who did not applaud Zelensky and posted their photos on social media in an attempt to shame them into voting for the Omnibus and Ukraine aid. This whole production was designed to win the sympathy of weak members. Ukrainian blood is yours if you can’t support $1.7 trillion of government spending. There was not much discussion about how the Ukrainian aid or the omnibus will actually benefit the lives of ordinary Americans.
Zelensky was not afraid to follow the pressure campaign of the Congressional leadership. Your money is not for charity. The Ukrainian president stated that it was an investment in global security and democracy, which he would manage in the most responsible manner. However, Fox News’ Tucker Carlson stated Wednesday night: “Really? What are the returns?” The military-industrial complex can be heard almost yelling, “high.”
The U.S. does not have a clear interest in the conflict and its aid to Ukraine is charity. It would be wise for Zelensky to keep this in mind. Without U.S. taxpayer money, Zelensky’s whole government would go bankrupt. He offered a halfhearted thank you, made more demands, while our politicians stood and applauded with glazed faces.
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Thank you, sir. Can I have another? What is wrong with us? What is wrong with our leaders
However, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell stated that he is “pretty proud” of the fact that, with a Democratic president and Democratic House, he was able to pass this Omnibus spending bill. It essentially covers all of his priorities. The uniparty is at work.
However, a small number of Republican lawmakers don’t believe McConnell is going the right way. They are concerned about more than the $1.7 trillion price tag and the $45 billion price tag to Ukraine. The entire process is being questioned by these Republicans.
The legislation, which covers 4,155 pages and is a joint effort by the Republican and Democratic leadership, was dropped in the middle of the night by both parties. The bill’s text was published at 1:30 AM on Tuesday. Immediately, legislators not directly involved in the negotiations began to search for the details. To avoid a government shutdown, Congress must approve the legislation before Friday midnight. This is in spite of the continuing resolution giving Congress until December 23rd to negotiate and pass the $1.7 billion package.
Even more ridiculous is the idea of moving forward with an enormous omnibus, negotiated behind closed doors and with only days for lawmakers to review it or risk a shutdown. The appropriations debate could be rescheduled for next year with a continuing resolution. Republicans could then have used their slim House majority to get more concessions from Democrats.
The Republican leadership is not committed to principled losership. They have codified gay marriage and passed the current Omnibus in a lame duck session. They win Democrat-controlled governments victory after victory, and expect Republican voters cheer, because they were able, McConnell stated, to negotiate marginal cuts to domestic programs, and to secure additional defense funding for the blob’s future and current wars of choice.
McConnell is allowed to have a few feigned concerns about his party, such as whether it’s adequately supporting troops, fear over government debt, or the possibility of a shutdown. Democrats love McConnell’s willingness to allow them to do this. Republicans are content with liberal priorities.
The bipartisan Omnibus does more than just maintain Ukraine’s borders. It also includes $410 million for Jordan and Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia and Tunisia. The Omnibus also prohibits funds being allocated to Customs and Border Patrol for “acquisition, maintenance, or extension of border security technology and capabilities.”
A tweet thread by Republican North Carolina Rep. Dan Bishop states that another $1.4 billion has been allocated to America’s membership in international organizations such as the United Nations.
The Omnibus also features prominently diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), initiatives. $26 million is allocated to the House of Representatives’ Office of Diversity and Inclusion. $524.4 million will be allocated to the National Institutes of Health for a DEI subdivision and “structural racism”. According to its website, the Equity Institute hosts training sessions that promote “more equitable, diverse and inclusive, antiracist and accessible learning and professional environments.” It has been allocated $477,000 to further develop its antiracism curriculum. It also confirms its commitment to keeping DEI America’s main cultural export, supporting gender equity programs for Pakistani women and an additional $200 million for a gender equality fund.
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Title X funding is $286 million, which includes Planned Parenthood. There are also at least $575 millions for “family planning,” i.e., abortion in areas where biodiversity is threatened by population growth.
The EPA receives more than $10 billion and environmental justice gets $108 millions. The FBI receives more than $11billion and $375m for a new headquarters. Nearly $2 billion is awarded to the ATF. ATF receives nearly $2 billion in funding.
The Omnibus, worth $1.7 trillion, is filled with more pork than a shop. McConnell, Zelensky and Pelosi will be feasting on the fine Christmas ham on your dime.
