‘Let’s Give The Ukrainians What They Want And Need,’ Top Intelligence Democrat Says
Rep Himes backs sending cluster bombs to the battlefield
The United States should be funneling even more weapons and other military gear to Ukraine, according to the top Democrat on the House Select Committee on Intelligence.
His views come as the Biden administration is considering a move to send so-called “cluster munitions” to Ukraine in its ongoing fight to repulse brutal Russian invaders.
Although President Biden has led an astounding coalition of Western nations to rally to Ukraine's side, he and his administration have also been criticized for sometimes slow-walking decisions to send more-advanced to the war effort.
At issue presently is whether to send cluster munitions to Ukraine. Such weapons are air-dropped or ground-launched explosive munitions which release or eject smaller submunitions. Commonly, this is a cluster bomb that ejects explosive bomblets that are designed to kill personnel and destroy vehicles.
“From moment one, my view has been let’s give the Ukrainians what they want and need. And you know, frankly I wish that the United States and that the administration had moved faster on providing more weaponry,” said Rep Jim Himes, of Connecticut, ranking Democrat on the House intelligence panel. “We finally got around to aircraft, we finally got around to longer range missiles, patriots, etc. But there’s something untenable about being comfortable in North America while thousands of Ukrainians are dying every single week, and we’re saying, ‘Yeah, we’re not sure you need what you say you need.’
“So I think we should give the Ukrainians what it is that they are asking for. We shouldn’t second-guess them,” Himes added. “And I think that compared to a year ago, the notion that Vladimir Putin – that our fear that escalation may be responded to by Vladimir Putin, by more escalation — first of all he’s lost the ability to escalate because he’s lost so much of his military.
“Secondly, I think the Chinese have been very clear with Vladimir Putin what happens in the event that he uses a tactical nuclear weapon,” Himes said. “So I, again, continue to feel that we should provide the Ukrainians with what it is that they think they need.”
Please support our work…
Also, please subscribe…