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WASHINGTON: The brand new prime Republican on the Home Intelligence Committee referred to as Wednesday on President Joe Bidens administration to ramp up navy and intelligence help for Ukraine.
I consider that the administration ought to be actively arming Ukraine so it could defend itself, Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio mentioned in an interview. They need to defend themselves. They need to be given each alternative to take action.
Washington has dedicated greater than $2 billion in navy help to Ukraine since 2014, when Russia seized Crimea and backed an insurgency within the japanese area generally known as Donbas. In December, Congress elevated safety help to Ukraine to $300 million for 2022, with at the very least $75 million particularly designated for weapons.
Russia now has troops massed close to Ukraine, elevating fears within the West that it’s getting ready a brand new invasion because it pushes its demand that Ukraine by no means be allowed to hitch NATO. The Biden administration has rejected Russias demand and is predicted to offer further navy help to Ukraine within the coming weeks.
Republicans and a few Democrats have pushed Biden to maneuver extra rapidly to offer Ukraine with deadly help. Some lawmakers additionally need the U.S. to impose sanctions on Russia earlier than any potential invasion.
U.S. and Russian diplomats are holding a number of conferences this week in Europe aimed toward resolving the disaster.
Turner replaces Rep. Devin Nunes, a California Republican who left Congress to grow to be the top of former President Donald Trumps new social media firm. When Nunes was chairman, the committee started a contentious investigation into Russian interference within the 2016 presidential election.
After California Rep. Adam Schiff took over as chairman, the committee led the inquiry into Trump’s first impeachment over allegations he abused his energy by pushing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to research Biden whereas holding up navy help to Kyiv. Nunes grew to become considered one of Trumps staunchest defenders.
These investigations forged a nationwide glare on the usually secretive Intelligence Committee and strained what members mentioned was a quiet bipartisanship behind closed doorways on many different points.
Not solely do we have to return our focus to our exterior adversaries and nationwide safety, we have to make sure that that info is utilized in a approach that helps us make higher choices in Congress,” Turner mentioned.
The committee will stay within the highlight if the GOP wins again the Home this fall. Republican chief Kevin McCarthy has already vowed in addition Schiff and fellow Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell from the panel. Turner mentioned Wednesday that any choice on committee membership could be McCarthys sole choice.
Turners name for extra forceful U.S. motion overseas places him at odds with some Republicans who take a extra isolationist method. In a extensively shared November interview, Turner argued with Fox Information host Tucker Carlson after Carlson questioned why the U.S. ought to assist Ukraine and urged troops as an alternative be despatched to the U.S.-Mexico border to cease immigrants getting into the nation illegally.
Apparently you want a little bit training on Ukraine, Turner informed the host.
On Wednesday, Turner mentioned he needs the committee to do extra to tell People about what he referred to as near-peer adversaries like China and Russia.
One of many the reason why Russia may go into Ukraine is as a result of they see the US as weak, he mentioned. When the US is weak … its not simply that the US itself is in danger. Our allies are in danger, which after all inevitably places us in danger.
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