Bipartisan Senate Votes to Block Transparency on Ukraine Funding
U.S. Senate voted down, by a 68-26 vote, an amendment for a special inspector general to track how American tax dollars are spent by the Ukrainian oligarch
Earlier this week, a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators showed how little they care about the American taxpayers being duped into funding the evil Ukrainian oligarch regime.
On Tuesday, the Senate voted 68-26 against an amendment introduced by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) to create a special inspector general to track the more than $113 billion that has been sent to the murderous Ukrainian oligarch Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to Anti War. The amendment was introduced as part of a bill to repeal an Authorizations for the Use of Military Force in Iraq.
The special inspector general would have been similar to one that was created for the Afghanistan reconstruction, a position filled by John Sopko since 2012.
Regarding the need for such an inspector in Ukraine, Sopko said:
“I’m not super optimistic that we are going to learn our lesson. I’ve been in Washington since 1982 and learning lessons is not in our DNA in the United States, unfortunately.”
“There is an understandable desire amid a crisis to focus on getting money out the door and to worry about oversight later, but too often that creates more problems than it solves. Given the ongoing conflict and the unprecedented volume of weapons being transferred to Ukraine, the risk that some equipment ends up on the black market or in the wrong hands is likely unavoidable.”
“We’re spending a heck of a lot of money in that country, and any time you spend that much money in any country, you’re bound to get wastage. You’re bound to get corrupt elements of not only the Ukrainian or the host government, but also of US government contractors or other third party contractors to try to steal the money. There’s just so much money going in, and it’s hard to keep track of.”
As for the failed amendment, the Republicans were evenly split with 23 voting for the amendment and 23 against it, according to the roll call. The Democrats nearly voted in unison, Sens. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Jon Tester (D-MT) the only defectors voting for transparency. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) also voted for the amendment.
The amendment would have passed by a 49-45 vote, with 6 Senators who did not vote, had all Republicans voted for transparency.
Here’s the list of Republican Senators who don’t want us to know how our tax dollars are being spent:
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), John Boozman (R-AR), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Mike Crapo (R-ID), James Risch (R-ID), Todd Young (R-IN), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Kennedy (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), James Lankford (R-OK), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Mike Rounds (R-SD), John Thune (R-SD), John Cornyn (R-TX), Mitt Romney (R-UT) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV).
Of course, it should be noted that every tax dollar being sent to Ukraine is being done unconstitutionally and that it is being given to a corrupt, evil oligarch. Still, such a vote shows how little the warmongers in the Senate care about the American people. They don’t even want to put on a show to act as if transparency matters.
And it should also be noted that most of the Republicans who did vote for the amendment are also warmongers. I mean, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) voted for it. Need I say more.
Hawley himself loves war. He just doesn’t like this one. His target is China. As Anti War has reported, Hawley wants to give billions of our dollars to Taiwan unconstitutionally. As Anti War reported:
“Hawley is a China hawk and wants the US to start giving Taiwan billions in military aid each year. He has voted against Ukraine aid packages and NATO expansion because he thinks the US should be focusing more on building up in the Asia Pacific to confront China instead of Russia.”
And what are our tax dollars going towards? As I recently wrote, our money is going to help Zelenskyy target civilians:
Ron Unz reported that “America and its allies had already provided Ukraine with an astonishing $120 billion in military equipment and money, a figure far larger than Russia’s entire defense budget, with further massive outlays still to come.”
That’s right. We’re sending more money and weapons than Russia’s defense budget. And guess what. The Ukrainians are losing.
The Ukrainians are losing so badly that even the mainstream media is being forced to report it, according to Moon of Alabama.
“The quality of Ukraine’s military force, once considered a substantial advantage over Russia, has been degraded by a year of casualties that have taken many of the most experienced fighters off the battlefield, leading some Ukrainian officials to question Kyiv’s readiness to mount a much-anticipated spring offensive.”
“U.S. and European officials have estimated that as many as 120,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or wounded since the start of Russia's invasion early last year, compared with about 200,000 on the Russian side, which has a much larger military and roughly triple the population from which to draw conscripts. Ukraine keeps its running casualty numbers secret, even from its staunchest Western supporters.”
“Statistics aside, an influx of inexperienced draftees, brought in to plug the losses, has changed the profile of the Ukrainian force, which is also suffering from basic shortages of ammunition, including artillery shells and mortar bombs, according to military personnel in the field.”
The Kyiv Independent, a pro-Ukraine propaganda outlet, even acknowledged it by speaking to Ukrainian soldiers.
Volodymyr, a soldier, said:
“When they drive us to Bakhmut, I already know I’m being sent to death…. (The Russians) keep firing at us, but we don’t have artillery – so we have nothing to attack them back with. I don’t know if I will return or not. We are just getting killed.”
Mykola, a staff sergeant, said:
“The situation is now very difficult because they have already felt the taste (of victory in Bakhmut). And now they know that there is only a little bit left.”
Of course, some of this chatter could simply be to convince the West to send even more to the oligarch. But that’s really not necessary. The West has committed a never ending stream of “support” to the oligarch. Chris Menahan wrote for Information Liberation:
“I’ve seen speculation that this type of talk is to get the US/NATO to send more weapons and resources but both have been sending everything they can get their hands on for the past year while the media was busy putting out thousands of articles claiming the war was going splendidly for Ukraine.”
The oligarch himself, Zelenskyy, is even worrying that they might have to start talking a peace deal if Ukraine loses Bakhmut. Zelenskyy said:
“Our society will feel tired. Our society will push me to have compromise with them.”
“The United States has deep concerns that China might try to position itself as a peacemaker in the war in Ukraine by promoting a ceasefire, White House's national security spokesman John Kirby said on Friday.”
That’s right. As we watch the horrors of war, the U.S. Military Industrial Complex and its media puppets are warning about the horrors of peace. Caitlin Johnstone wrote:
“Their job is to abnormalize peace and normalize war, which means our job as healthy human beings is to do the exact opposite. We must help everyone understand the horrors of war and the unfathomable nightmares that can be unleashed by reckless brinkmanship, and help people to understand that peace is what’s healthy and to imagine a future where it is the norm.”
But maybe the powers that be don’t really care if Ukraine wins or loses. Maybe they don’t care about the innocent lives lost in their monstrous wars. Afterall, whether they’re warring or rebuilding, they’ll profit.
The World Bank is estimating a cost of $411 billion going to Ukraine over the next decade to rebuild. And, it will again be us taxpayers in America funding it. Anti War reported:
“American investment firms and banks are looking to cash in on the reconstruction project. Bankers from JP Morgan Chase visited Ukraine in February and signed a memorandum of understanding with President Volodymyr Zelensky and agreed to help raise private capital for a new fund for Ukraine’s reconstruction.”
“In January, Zelensky addressed the US National Association of State Chambers and said American corporations would find “big business” in rebuilding Ukraine. ‘Everyone can become a big business by working with Ukraine. In all sectors — from weapons and defense to construction, from communications to agriculture, from transport to IT, from banks to medicine,’ he said.”
It’s a big circus and the script is right out of George Orwell, writes Philip Giraldi.
For some reason, both U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Attorney General Merrick Garland traveled to Ukraine to meet with their oligarch. Can someone please explain what those two have to do with foreign policy?
Giraldi wrote:
“In defense of her grand mission, Yellen penned an op-ed for the always compliant New York Times explaining the importance of Ukraine to the United States. She wrote how in Ukraine ‘…Russia’s barbaric attacks continue — but Kyiv stands strong and free. Ukraine’s heroic resistance is the direct product of the courage and resilience of Ukraine’s military, leadership and people. But President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Ukrainians would be the first to admit that they can’t do this alone — and that international support is crucial to sustaining their resistance. I’m in Kyiv to reaffirm our unwavering support of the Ukrainian people. Mr. Putin is counting on our global coalition’s resolve to wane, which he thinks will give him the upper hand in the war. But he is wrong. As President Biden said here last week, America will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes… Ukrainians are fighting for their lives on the front lines of the free world. Today, and every day, they deserve America’s unyielding support.’
“The Yellen op-ed drones on with a lie so large that it is astonishing that the New York Times would even print it: ‘When confronted with scenes of brutality and oppression, Americans have always been quick to stand up and do the right thing. Our strength as a nation comes from our commitment to our ideals — and our capacity to see in others the same desires that animated our own struggles for freedom and justice.’ But then she tops that with assurances from ‘President Zelensky, [who] has pledged to use these funds in the ‘most responsible way.’ We welcome this commitment, as well as his longstanding agenda to strengthen good governance in Ukraine.’ Huh?”
“And here is Yellen’s version of ‘Why We Fight!’: ‘Our support is motivated, first and foremost, by a moral duty to come to the aid of a people under attack. We also know that, as President Zelensky has said, our assistance is not charity. It’s an investment in ‘global security and democracy.’ Let’s look at the strategic impact of our support for Ukraine so far. Mr. Putin’s war poses a direct threat to European security, as well as to the laws and values that underpin the rules-based international system.’”
“So, Americans have a ‘moral duty’ apparently up to and including sending their sons and daughters to die supporting Ukraine. And ah yes, it’s all about the ‘free’ world, democracy and the notorious rules based international system!...”
“Garland laid it on thick, as was expected from someone responsible for prosecuting the rest of the world when it steps out of line. He told his hosts that ‘Just over twelve months ago, invading Russian forces began committing atrocities at the largest scale in any armed conflict since the Second World War. We are here today in Ukraine to speak clearly, and with one voice: the perpetrators of those crimes will not get away with them. In addition to our work in partnership with Ukraine and the international community, the United States has also opened criminal investigations into war crimes in Ukraine that may violate US law.’ He concluded by throwing out the complete bullshit party line much beloved by Joe Biden and Tony Blinken, that ‘The United States recognizes that what happens here in Ukraine will have a direct impact on the strength of our own democracy.’”
“So here we are, two top level officials from the Biden regime sneak into Kiev to give an arch crook money and unlimited moral support, together with a pledge that more cash is on the way as are arms and war crimes tribunals await those nasty Russians. And guess what? It is all packaged as being good for America! This sounds like a song that was sung previously in places like Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan and it was a tissue of lies then just as it is now. Yellen ought to have stayed home to tend to the banking system and should be giving the billions of dollars earmarked for Zelensky back to the American people. If Garland wants to investigate anyone it should be the Pentagon, the intelligence agencies, and Congress. And yes, his own FBI! And don’t forget how the Bidens and Clintons became multi-millionaires! And then there is the destruction of Nord Stream. Funny how every time one turns over a rock in and around the US government something really smelly surfaces.”
Yeah, it is one big clown show. The problem is, it’s just not funny