Cantor: House Committees Must ‘Punish’ Russia

Insists Ukraine and Iran Both Reasons to Move Against Them

In a statement issued today, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R – VA) urged Congress to explore ways to “punish” Russia for its opposition to US policy, including overt military support for Ukraine, whose interim government is mobilizing for war.

And while Cantor of course started with the dispute over the Crimean Peninsula, his grudge against Russia centered more on the nation’s foiling of other US wars and hostility, particularly against Syria and Iran.

Cantor’s statement made it a point to complain that Russia had blocked several anti-Iran sanctions measures as well as “watering down” other resolutions on Iran.

He concluded that Russia couldn’t be trusted on any arms limitation treaties and that the US needs to “put long-term pressure on their economy.” His comments lack specifics, but center on the bellicose measures other hawks have also pushed.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.