“Trump Signs Order Exempting Russia From Sanctions Law.”
“The order does not explain why waiving the sanctions is in the interests of the United States or what rationale Mr. Trump is providing to Congress for the waivers.”
“Trump’s latest surrender to Putin again betrays our Ukrainian partners and defies clear congressional intent of legislation designed to punish Russia for its illegal war of aggression.”
“Mr. Trump ‘is feeding the Russian war machine,’” declared Oleksandr Merezhko, chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament’s foreign affairs committee.
“The move to exempt Russia from the new sanctions came days after Ukraine said that a Pentagon-funded satellite internet program used by the Ukrainian military had been throttled without warning, disrupting military operations and fueling concerns that Washington was tightening the screws on Kyiv even as it eased them on Moscow.”
“Ukraine’s future will shape European security for decades. Keeping intelligence and Starlink services available, producing weapons together and investing in Ukrainian industry is hardly too much to ask of Washington, given what America stands to gain.”
“If Western companies are slow to invest, Ukraine may turn to Chinese firms to rebuild its telecommunications networks and factories. Ukrainian arms producers may also seek buyers outside NATO. And as Ukraine produces more of its own weapons, Washington will have less leverage to influence these decisions.”
These are just a few excerpts from today’s Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. Taken together, they raise a deeply troubling question: Why is the president of the United States pursuing policies that appear to benefit Russia, the aggressor, while undermining Ukraine, the country fighting for its survival and for the security of our European allies?
Trump’s actions appear to provide what can fairly be described in ordinary language as “aid and comfort” to Putin’s war machine. Why? What conceivable American national interest is served by weakening Ukraine’s defenses while relieving economic pressure on Russia?
And where is the outrage from MAGA Republicans? Why the silence as America’s strategic interests are compromised, our allies are undermined and our adversaries stand to benefit?
If the United States were a corporation, its mission would be to protect its shareholders, the American people, advance their interests, safeguard its assets and maintain the confidence of its partners. Imagine a CEO who repeatedly undermined the company’s mission, alienated its most important partners, strengthened its competitors and appointed executives whose performance raised serious questions about their competence, judgment and was accepting gratuities and side bar business deals from other companies? Imagine, further, a board of directors that watched these developments and failed to exercise its oversight responsibilities. Such conduct would trigger an immediate examination of the CEO’s performance and the board’s failure to hold management accountable.
That is precisely the accountability Americans should demand from their government.
In a democracy, the American people are the shareholders. Congress has the responsibility to exercise oversight, uphold the law and hold the executive accountable. When those entrusted with that responsibility fail to act, the ultimate authority rests with the shareholders themselves. The shareholders have the power to change the board and demand accountability from management.
It’s time for the America’s shareholders to exercise their rights. VOTE!
VOTE!!!
RESIST!!! & EDUCATE!!!
Leave a Reply