It's time. Way past time, actually.
For the good-for-almost-nothing House Republicans to show that they're not completely useless by finally getting off their GOP butts and passing the Senate bill that has much needed aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan this coming week.
A lot of damage already has been done. Ukraine is running out of artillery shells, ammunition, air defense missiles, and other essential military gear needed to fend off the Russian invasion of their country.
All because of Republicans.
The GOP used to be the party that stood up to Russia and wanted the United States to defend liberty wherever it was threatened. But under the incompetent leadership of Donald Trump, many Republicans have become spokespeople for Putin and his authoritarianism.
Hopefully yesterday's attack by Iran on Israel will spur the House of Representatives to pass an aid package that supports Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.
After all, Iran has been supplying drones to Russia, and perhaps other weaponry, that are used to attack Ukraine. About 300 Iranian drones and missiles were fired from Iran into Israel. Almost all were destroyed without causing any damage, thanks to Israel's Iron Dome air defense system and the American military in the Middle East.
That's good news. But Ukraine has been battling Iranian drones for many months. It's disgusting that House Republicans have failed to approve the military aid package that would go a long way toward protecting people in Ukraine from the Iranian drones.
Ukraine actually is more deserving of military aid from the United States than Israel is. For one thing, Israel appears to be guilty of war crimes in its fight against Hamas. Over 30,00o people have been killed in Gaza by Israel, an estimated two-thirds women and children.
Also, Israel provoked yesterday's attack by Iran when it struck an Iranian consulate building in Syria, killing several top leaders of the Revolutionary Guard. It's against the rule of war to attack embassies and consulates.
Iran retaliated. But with advance warning and in a fashion designed to make it easier for the Iranian drones and missiles to be shot down. As a Politico story says, Iran's attack seemed designed to fail. It was a message to Israel more than a serious military retaliation.
Yet there are reports that some right-wing ministers of Netanyahu's cabinet want to use Iran's attack as an excuse to destroy Iran's oil refineries, ports, nuclear research facilities, and such. This is how major wars start: a provocation is retaliated against; then there's retaliation for the retaliation; followed by retaliation for the retaliation for the retaliation.
And so it goes, a war born from unthinking desires for revenge. President Biden is absolutely correct when he tells Israel, don't do something you'll regret.
In the case of Israel, doing nothing right now is better than doing something. Iran doesn't want a war with Israel. The United States doesn't want a war with Iran. And if Israeli officials are smart, they'll take Biden's advice: stop and think.
What worries me is that Netanyahu clearly wants Trump to beat Biden this November. So he might start a wider war in the Middle East to reduce Biden's chance of winning another term as president. Oil prices would spike, causing gasoline to cost more. The United States might even be drawn into an Israel-Iran war, which would be unpopular with Americans.
Support for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan is popular, though. Way more popular than war.
This is why the House would be wise to pass an aid package for those countries ASAP. Voters will look kindly at those who vote to support Ukraine against Russian aggression, Israel against Hamas/Iran aggression, and Taiwan against Chinese aggression -- no matter if they have a D or R after their name.
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