Cassie Sipe
May 29, 2024
In late April, Congress passed a $95 billion aid package, escalating tensions in war-torn regions, serving the elite and illustrating how elected officials prioritize the ruling class over the American people. The new law included $61 billion for Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel, $8 billion for the Indo-Pacific region/Taiwan, a TikTok ban, The REPO Act (seizing Russian assets in the U.S.), and the renewal of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).
Rhetoric about the NATO-Russia proxy war in Ukraine took on a deranged character, with Congress members flying Ukrainian flags and proclaiming, "The Ukraine border is our border." These statements highlight Congress's Warhawk role in the Military-Industrial-Congressional Complex.
Donald Trump's abrupt reversal on Ukraine aid is noteworthy given his prior opposition. At the last minute, he supported House Speaker Mike Johnson's efforts, despite the bill's lack of funding for the US border, a key issue for Republican holdouts. Trump's support was instrumental in its passage, cementing his role as another US warmonger.
Both parties align on Ukraine, with plans to seize Russian assets and give them to Ukraine as stipulated in the aid bill. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently announced these plans, which experts warn could harm the economy by prompting other countries to divest from US debt, triggering a chain reaction.
Congress is also attempting to suppress dissent regarding criticism of Israel. Moves such as the “Anti-Semitism Awareness Act” (labeling criticism of Israel as anti-Semitism), the government shutdown bill, moves to impeach Biden (for pausing weapons shipments to Israel), and threats against the ICC exemplify this trend toward fascism.
Attacks On Freedoms
Congress's TikTok ban could end the platform in the US by 2025. Ironically, former State Department officials are embedded within TikTok’s management. The Revolution Report's posts are censored on TikTok more than on other social media platforms.
Senator Maria Cantwell argued that 150 million Americans should be barred from TikTok due to its supposed anti-Ukraine bias, while others accused TikTok of fostering anti-Israel sentiment, as Israel continues the genocide of Palestinians. Senator Romney and Anthony Blinken expressed shock that Israel is losing the information war due to platforms like TikTok, which offer information free from mainstream media control.
The renewal of warrantless spying under FISA has ignited concern from civil liberties advocates who warn of its systematic abuse and erosion of privacy rights. The bill grants expansive surveillance powers to intelligence agencies, compelling businesses to spy on consumers.
In an interview last year, Mike Johnson opposed FISA expansion, and grilled FBI Director Christopher Wray on spying abuses. However, Johnson has since reversed his stance, enabling the NSA and FBI to spy on Americans.
Israel Lobby
The “Anti-Semitism Awareness Act” attacks First Amendment protections. Representative Mike Lawler introduced a bill targeting supposed incidents of “antisemitism” on college campuses, likely referring to protests against the US-funded genocide of Palestinians.
Certain Bible verses and Jewish-led student protests would be punishable by the Department of Education as Congress aims to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's absurd definition of “antisemitism” to enforce its draconian law.
The powerful Israel lobby pushed hard for the renewal of FISA spying, fueling suspicions that FISA is being weaponized by foreign interests against American dissident voices, particularly student protests.
Mike Johnson has received substantial financial support from AIPAC, totaling $524,000. He reportedly received $95,000 following the passage of a $14.5 billion Israel aid package, raising concerns of conflicts of interest and foreign meddling in Congress.
Representative Max Miller recently drafted an amendment to extend American veteran health care programs to dual Israeli-American citizens serving in the IDF, effectively treating Israeli soldiers the same as US soldiers by granting them the same benefits and protections.
The ICC And US Imperialism
Last year, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan met with donors in London before issuing Putin’s arrest warrant. In March 2023, the US applauded the ICC's arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for evacuating children from a war zone with their parents' consent.
Now, the US is preparing sanctions against the ICC, in retaliation due to the ICC charging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with war crimes related to the Genocide in Gaza. Unlike the UN-dependent ICJ, the ICC relies on donors for funding.
The US has a history of threatening and revoking funding for NGOs when its demands aren't met. Critics have raised concerns about the ICC's partiality, citing potential conflicts of interest due to its increased reliance on Western financial support for its Ukraine investigations, coinciding with a major donor conference in London. Karim Khan's connections to Amal Clooney, who advises both Khan's office and the Ukrainian government on prosecuting Russian officials while liaising with the British Foreign Secretary, further complicate matters.
Khan recently admitted that a high-ranking Western official scolded him, saying, “The ICC is meant for Africa and thugs like Putin, not allies.”
Similarly, the US threatened to halt funding to the UN, should they recognize Palestine statehood. Prior to that the US and multiple Western countries “paused” funding for the UNRWA after Israel made unproven claims of the aid workers being connected to Hamas.
Our Delusional Congress
In a recent interview, Senator Lindsey Graham suggested Israel consider using nuclear weapons against its enemies, comparing it to the US bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He may need to review a map showing Gaza's (within occupied Palestine) proximity to Israel.
Senator Tim Scott, seemingly auditioning for Trump's VP role, condemned the spread of "antisemitism" on college campuses as a "cancer." He went on to suggest congress redirect funding from universities with anti-genocide protests to Christian-Zionist institutions like Liberty University.
Such statements reflect JD Vance’s “Encampments or Endowments Act,” which would defund colleges hosting protests. Similarly, the “No Flights for Terrorists Act” would place pro-Palestine student protesters on "No-Fly Lists" and defund universities with such protests.
Republicans, mirroring the Trump-Ukraine impeachment saga, moved to impeach President Biden for symbolically “pausing” a single shipment of weapons to Israel, likely to stop hemorrhaging Democratic voters. After consultations with Prime Minister Netanyahu, Mike Johnson cited Biden's pause (in response to Israel’s attack on Rafah) as evidence of his supposed "lack of support" for Israel.
Republicans are doubling down by threatening to defund the government. Despite their move to impeach Biden, they drafted the “Israel Security Assistance Support Act,” targeting Defense and State Departments unless Biden agrees to unconditionally supply Israel with all requested weapons.
What Is To Be Done?
Recent legislation shows that Americans' money will continue to fund foreign aid, surveillance, and endless wars, benefiting special interests on behalf of the ruling class.This comes as they continue to infringe on freedoms, damage the economy, and expand conflicts, bringing the world ever closer to WW3.