State Department bypasses Congress to send thousands of munitions to Israel

[BumRushDaShow]

Last edited Sat Dec 9, 2023, 04:55 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: CNN Politics

Updated 2:00 PM EST, Sat December 9, 2023


CNN — The US State Department transmitted an emergency declaration to lawmakers late Friday night for the sale of thousands of munitions to Israel, the agency announced, bypassing the standard 20-day period that congressional committees are typically afforded to review such a sale.

The declaration followed a request by the State Department earlier in the week for Congress to approve the sale of 45,000 shells to Israel for its Merkava tanks. A source with direct knowledge of the matter told CNN that the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which have oversight over military sales, had been under “pressure” from the State Department to approve the request quickly amid Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.

The committees typically have 20 days to review foreign military sales, allowing lawmakers to raise questions about a transaction and delay it if needed. But late Friday night, the State Department transmitted an emergency declaration to the committees for over 13,000 of the tank shells, worth about $106 million, for immediate delivery to Israel, the source said Saturday. “Effective immediately, the items can be transferred,” the source said. “No further information, details or assurances were provided.”

The administration’s move to transfer some of the munitions comes as the US is under growing domestic and international pressure to support a ceasefire in Gaza and place conditions on some of the weapons it is providing to Israel.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/08/politics/state-department-congress-tank-munitions-sale/index.html

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Article updated.

Original article/headline -

US State Department to bypass congressional review period to send thousands of munitions to Israel

Updated 11:19 AM EST, Sat December 9, 2023


CNN — The US State Department transmitted an emergency declaration to lawmakers late Friday night for the sale of thousands of munitions to Israel, bypassing the standard 20-day period that congressional committees are typically afforded to review such a sale, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told CNN.

The declaration followed a request by the State Department earlier in the week for Congress to approve the sale of 45,000 shells to Israel for its Merkava tanks. The source added that the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which have oversight over military sales, had been under “pressure” from the State Department to approve the request quickly amid Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.

The committees typically have 20 days to review foreign military sales, allowing lawmakers to raise questions about a transaction and delay it if needed. But late Friday night, the State Department transmitted an emergency declaration to the committees for over 13,000 of the tank shells, worth about $106 million, for immediate delivery to Israel, the source said Saturday. “Effective immediately, the items can be transferred,” the source said. “No further information, details or assurances were provided.”

The administration’s move to transfer some of the munitions comes as the US is under growing domestic and international pressure to support a ceasefire in Gaza and place conditions on some of the weapons it is providing to Israel. A State Department spokesperson confirmed to CNN on Saturday that Secretary of State Antony Blinken notified Congress on Friday “that he had exercised his delegated authority to determine an emergency existed necessitating the immediate approval of the transfer” of the tank munitions.

[Marthe48]

1. putin and his henchmen love this

n/t

[Lonestarblue]

2. I really do not support continuing to arm Israel when they are killing many innocents to get a few Hamas fighters.

I did not support the Vietnam War or the Iraq War, and only reluctantly supported the war needed to capture or kill bin Laden. I wanted the US out of Afghanistan as soon as possible after that happened. By continuing to supply Israel, the US risks prolonging the war because even when they are no longer finding Hamas, I believe Netanyahu and his hard-right ministers will continue the war because they want every Palestinian gone from Gaza. They will then do the same in the West Bank. International condemnation has no impact on Netanyahu.

[Bayard]

4. Agree on all points

You can't call for a cease fire, and then send them more fire.

Will they do the same for Ukraine?

[patphil]

7. That was my first thought.

I didn't think Israel needed more weapons or munitions right now. What they really need is a new leader.

[Mr. Sparkle]

3. There is no emergency, the emergency is for Israel not for the US.

Let congress do its job.

[moniss]

5. That's an awfully big number of shells

for such a small area. Between the aerial bombardment, naval bombardment and this you could easily reduce all of Gaza to dust several times over. This supply may be about more than just Gaza and may well be about coming plans for Lebanon and the West Bank.

[drray23]

8. indeed. It was reported that we also had send them about 100 bunker buster bombs earlier.

Imagine if Israel uses that in Gaza. For all intent and purposes, it would be equivalent to a nuclear bomb minus the radiation. I would not put it past Netanyahu to decide to go for it and totally level Gaza.

[Sal_NV]

9. For all intent and purposes, it would be equivalent to a nuclear bomb minus the radiation

That is not true at all, I've seen with my own 2 eyes what bunker buster bombs do and its nowhere near anything resembling a nuclear detonation.
A bunker buster bomb is designed to penetrate hardened under ground facilities before detonating, there is no widespread damage like you would get from a nuclear bomb, the blast is mostly contained to the underground facility.

[Marcus IM]

19. Mostly is a weasel word.

[Sal_NV]

20. You want to tell me how that's akin to a nuclear detonation?

As I said, I've seen with my own 2 eyes what a bunker buster bomb damage is and it isn't anything even close to a nuke going off.

[Marcus IM]

22. No. That wasn't my comment.

You (bold = mine) --> "A bunker buster bomb is designed to penetrate hardened under ground facilities before detonating, there is no widespread damage like you would get from a nuclear bomb, the blast is mostly contained to the underground facility."

Then I responded --> "Mostly is a weasel word."

With a vid that demonstrates my point.

Have a great day.

[Sal_NV]

23. The member I was responding to said it was comparable to a nuclear bomb without the radiation,

how is this in in any way comparable to a nuke detonating?

[Marcus IM]

24. I was responding to your comment. I made that completely clear.

Clearly, I wasn't comparing it to a nuke. OK?

[Sal_NV]

25. Ok.

[drray23]

6. This is is mistake on several fronts.

First, now more than ever, there needs to be a review of what kind of support we give to Israel given how they are currently conducting the war. Second, if this is indeed something that can be done by the US state department, then this begs the question: Why do we not do it for Ukraine too?

Third, it's politically damaging given the increasing number of voters that are getting uncomfortable with the unconditional US support for the right-wing Israeli government bend on leveling all of Gaza to escape accounting for years of mismanagement and malpractice.

The IDF is not even trying to save the hostages. They are willing to flood the tunnels guaranteeing that these hostages will die.

Most of North Gaza is unhabitable now and will be for years to come. South Gaza is now being methodically destroyed as well. Hamas operatives are being killed at the rate of 1 for 5 or so. Israel said they believe they have killed 2500 to 3000 Hamas fighters so far. If there is 25000-30000 Hamas as it is often quoted, then is Israel willing to kill 100,000 to 150,000 civilians? Thats the way it's going with the current strategy they are using.

Instead, send them more patriot missiles, small arms ammo, etc. so that they can defend themselves against Hamas attacks, don't send them bunker buster bombs, heavy artillery shells and the like until they have a reasonable plan that does not involve mass destruction.

[LeftInTX]

10. Why??? Tired of this double speak...

"Too many civilians are dying"...

"Here are more arms".....

[Hermit-The-Prog]

11. What about Ukraine?

[machoneman]

13. Yes, why not emergency send them more stuff?

[progree]

16. A Ukrainian soldier says he stopped shelling small Russian units because he is running out of US-made artillery ammo

Business Insider, 12/9/23 (no paywall)

The 31-year-old mortar gunner said that he and his comrades from the 47th Mechanized Brigade "had ten times more ammunition over the summer." per the newspaper.

"American rounds come in batches of almost identical weights, which makes it easier to correct fire, with very few duds. Now we have shells from all over the world with different qualities, and we only get 15 for three days. Last week, we got a batch full of duds," said the soldier. The lack of shells, Fizruk said, has hampered his unit's control over the northern flank of Avdviivka in eastern Ukraine and their ability to shoot at Russian troops.

And Western supplies are now at the "bottom of the barrel," Admiral Rob Bauer of the Netherlands, who chairs NATO's Military Committee, said at a Warsaw Security Forum meeting in October.

The issue has been compounded by Republicans in Congress, who are threatening to withhold crucial aid to Ukraine, including ammunition ...

Newly committed aid to Ukraine reached a "new low" between August and October, with a 90% drop compared to the same period in 2022, according to a report compiled by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.

More: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/a-ukrainian-soldier-says-he-stopped-shelling-small-russian-units-because-he-is-running-out-of-us-made-artillery-ammo/ar-AA1leYHc

This reminds me of the Flnland - USSR Winter War of 1939-1940. Basically the Finns gave up when they ran out of ammo, at least according to some PBS documentary I saw many years ago.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

17. They should never, ever have that problem! We need to bypass Russiapublicans

Putin has to be stopped; he won't stop unless and until forced to do so.

[nwliberalkiwi]

12. Blood

We all have blood on our hands!!!

[Sal_NV]

15. Welcome to DU.

[Oneironaut]

18. Wonder how many of those will be killing civilians?

[mahina]

21. What of Ukraine?

[Grasswire2]

27. If we can do this for Israel, why not use the same process for Ukraine?

Just bypass Republicans in Congress.

Do it.

[bluestarone]

28. ABSOLUTELY!!

100% in your corner! I hope this can happen for UKRAINE as well.

[ColinC]

26. Gross

[Aussie105]

29. "The sale of 45,000 shells to Israel for its Merkava tanks."

That will help, I'm sure!

Better idea:
Tell the Israelis to back off.
Do a flyover and drop 45,000 food packages and water on Gaza. Every hour during daylight, day on day.

The US can choose to help kill Palestinians or help save lives.