Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL) said Wednesday that the “vast majority” of Republicans favor sending aid to Ukraine amid questions of how a GOP-controlled House will approach the issue.
Waltz, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, made the comments to The Hill and also made the baseless claim that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to invade NATO countries.
“I think the vast majority of the conference realizes that we either pay now or pay later, that Russian President Vladimir Putin fully intends, if he takes Ukraine, to move on to NATO-allied countries like the Baltics, and Poland and Finland,” he said.
Waltz said that the main Republican concern is the lack of oversight. “The issue is, and this is where members are raising concern, is we have no oversight of where this aid is going and exactly how it’s being used,” he said.
Waltz’s comments came after House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) suggested that if the House is majority Republican after the mid-term elections, Ukraine aid may be more difficult to pass. McCarthy said, “I think people are gonna be sitting in a recession and they’re not going to write a blank check to Ukraine,” McCarthy said.
Spending billions on the war in Ukraine has had strong bipartisan support, but 57 House Republicans voted against the $40 billion Ukraine aid bill that was passed in May, and more GOP members are said to be questioning the policy.
Republican leadership is still strongly in favor of arming Ukraine, and Congress is working hard behind the scenes to ensure that the aid spigot keeps flowing. If Republicans win in November, the Biden administration could push Congress to pass legislation for Ukraine aid that will cover an entire year during the lame-duck period. So far, the US has authorized over $67 billion to spend on the war, more than Russia’s entire military budget for 2021.
Waltz also believed we shouldn’t leave Afghanistan, that Islamism can only be fought militarily and for multiple generations. He’s a life-long military officer; sees no alternatives to confrontation. IMO, the US should be developing deep understanding of other nations’ histories and ideologies and a strong ability to negotiate and try for win/win strategies. Colin Powell said the US army is good for two things: killing people and breaking things.
Waltz should resign his seat seeing how he cares about Ukraine so much and go there. I would hope his replacement would put America first and be focused on fixing our problems instead of causing more like Waltz wants to do. To hell with him.
He should take Alexander Vindman with him to Ukraine.
That is a superb idea along with his equally sorry brother.
“I think people are gonna be sitting in a recession and they’re not going to write a blank check to Ukraine,” McCarthy said.”
Unless the House Republican numbers grows to block that kind of spending (highly unlikely), McCarthy is just blowing smoke up peoples behind.
This is why I cannot vote for either party in November. Both sides think that they work for the people of Ukraine and not for the American citizens who pay taxes in America.
Just like the insane European politicians who support Ukraine to the detriment of their citizens.
When America is in recession and Europeans have cold showers, cold homes, and cold food we will see if these Kleptocrat politicians are allowed to remain in power.
“Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL) favor sending aid to Ukraine amid questions of how a GOP-controlled House will approach the issue.”
This guy Waltz just outed himself as a full blown fascist Nazi!
“I think the vast majority of the conference realizes that we either pay now or pay later, that Russian President Vladimir Putin fully intends, if he takes Ukraine, to move on to NATO-allied countries like the Baltics, and Poland and Finland,” he said.
And somehow Russia, will do this with a military budget that is equal to the “aid” we have sent to Ukraine. Maybe this guy should give Vlad a call to see how he does it on just FRACTION of our own bloated budget. I also assume he doesn’t read other headlines. The one he parroted about Putin’s craving to “move on” to other countries after he “takes Ukraine” is just one of many. The others include Russia losing miserably while their troops are deserting en masse and their economy is in tatters. How does Putin do it????
How does Putin do it?
The same way Russia won the 2016 election for Trump by spending $125,000 in face book ads. This while $1 billion (1,000,000,000) was spent by the Democrats for Hillary in that election.
Putin must be superhuman or something.
Waltz is the House Rep version of the late Senator McCain.
I hope Waltz gets beat in November.
Yup, They are mostly Neo-Cons. But we hope for the best.
Conservatism in the Republican Party is a minority, when it comes to foreign policy.