Dear All,
This is a huge slap of "criticism, lack of trust, and major embarrassment" to President Barack H. Obama's feckless leadership abilities, even after being in office for almost 6 years, as the US Congress has voted unanimously to “take” the reins of power away from the president and his administration. This is a great sign of support, encouragement, and hope for the Citizens of the Ukraine, its neighbors, and the European community. Predictably, the days of President Obama single handedly controlling America’s foreign policy are beginning to come to an end. Soon, we should begin seeing the congress doing the same on many other policies of great importance to America; both domestic and foreign.
If the president can't or refuses do his job, then the US Congress will!
Ronald L. Kirkish
US Congress passes Russia sanctions, arms for Ukraine
2014-12-14 11:15
Photo Credit: CRIS BOURONCLE / AFP
United States - The US Congress on
Saturday unanimously approved fresh economic sanctions against Russia and
lethal weapons for Kiev, defying President Barack Obama and hardening American
lawmakers' response to a Kremlin-backed insurgency in Ukraine.
Identical texts of the Ukraine Freedom Support Act
passed both the Senate and House of Representatives on Thursday, but because of
a technical issue it returned to the Senate where it passed by unanimous
consent moments before the chamber adjourned late Saturday night.
It is now up to Obama to either sign or veto the
measure.
The White House said Thursday it was "looking at it."
On Saturday, one day ahead of a meeting between
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry,
Moscow warned that "undoubtedly, we will not be able to leave this without
a response."
The legislation authorizes -- but does not legally
require -- Obama to provide lethal and non-lethal military aid to Ukraine,
including anti-tank weapons, ammunition and troop-operated surveillance drones.
Washington backs Ukraine in its conflict with Russia,
but Obama has yet to approve the bulk of an arms request by Kiev.
"The hesitant US response to Russia's continued
invasion of Ukraine threatens to escalate this conflict even further, warned
bill coauthor Senator Bob Corker.
Congressional passage heaps political pressure on
Obama.
On Thursday he signaled he was against unilaterally
putting the economic squeeze on Moscow, saying it would be
"counterproductive" for Washington to "get out ahead of Europe
further" on sanctions.
In November, the Pentagon delivered the first of 20
anti-mortar radar systems to Ukraine.
The current legislation authorizes $350 million
worth of weapons, defense equipment and training for Ukraine over three years.
Lawmakers dropped a key provision in the original
bill that would have taken the rare step of giving major non-NATO ally status
to Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova.
Senate aides said the provision was removed at the
11th hour in order to ensure final passage.
The measure hits Russia's defense and energy
sectors, punishing companies like state defense import-export company
Rosoboronexport.
It requires Obama to impose conditional sanctions on
the defense sector should Russian state-controlled firms sell or transfer
military equipment to Syria, or to entities in Ukraine, Georgia or Moldova
without the consent of the governments in those nations.
The rule is aimed at helping stem the flow of
weapons from Russia across the border into eastern Ukraine, where Washington
and Kiev accuse Moscow of fomenting separatist unrest.
It also gives Obama authority to penalize Russian
gas giant Gazprom if it is found to be withholding significant natural gas
supplies from NATO states, or Ukraine, Georgia, or Moldova.
mlm/wat
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