The craven sideshows that are taking over U.S. foreign policy

On Jan. 10, the Senate passed a bipartisan package of foreign assistance for Ukraine, for both Israel and for Palestinians, and for Taiwan.

Since then, there has been a steady drumbeat of voices explaining ad nauseam why this package is so desperately needed, particularly for the Ukrainians, and why it is in America’s interests to support this aid.

Dan Coats, the former Director of National Intelligence under Donald Trump is the latest, but literally millions of words have been churned out arguing why this aid package must be passed. The arguments cover the gamut from cold-blooded strategic interests, economic interests, America’s leadership role in the world, and moral reasons.

All are valid. The U.S. made a commitment to support Ukraine and assembled a coalition to do just that. It must hold true to that commitment. Too much is at stake.

However, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson will not bring it to the floor for a vote. If he did, it would pass with a comfortable majority. Why not?

First, because Donald Trump is opposed. Financial Times columnist Ed Luce notes this is not old-fashioned isolationism. This is very much a pro-Russian stance.

Trump has claimed that he would end the Ukraine war in 24 hours, essentially by having Ukraine cede 20% of its territory and Crimea to the Russians in exchange for a ceasefire. Yeah, right. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people would agree to that in a second. Let’s get serious.

Second, because Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has filed a motion to vacate and threatened to bring down Johnson’s speakership if he allows the bill a floor vote. Theoretically, Johnson could cut a deal with the Democrats to save his speakership, but that would make his position more fraught.

In recent days we have heard both Rep. Taylor Greene and Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville making arguments against Ukraine aid that could have been written in the Kremlin. Indeed, they may have been. Republican Rep. Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has warned in recent days that misinformation in favor of Russian interests had found a foothold among his fellow Republicans. Very sophisticated Russian propagandists have been very busy and they are hitting their mark.

Do we understand how very dangerous this is?

The argument that “we need to secure the border first before considering Ukraine aid” rings exceedingly hollow. Speaker Johnson killed a border security bill because Donald Trump told him to.

There are also attempts to muddy the fundamental question before the House with talk of loans versus grants (even though most of the money stays in the U.S. in the pockets of arms manufacturers) and other distractions.

There is a way forward and it is called a discharge petition. If 218 members of the House sign a petition to bring the aid package to the floor they can force a vote. As of April 10, there were 193 signatures on that petition.

Some Democrats on the left have not signed because they want conditions placed on the aid that would go to Israel. Many more Republicans, who support the measure, are afraid to sign because they fear they would become targets in an election year.

This is shameful. When Marjorie Taylor Greene came to the House in 2021, her House colleagues saw her as a grandstanding sideshow. Is she now dictating the foreign policy of the United States?

The majority that understands the desperate importance of Ukraine aid must do the right thing. Sign the petition. Get this measure on the floor. Pass it.

• Keith Peterson, of Lake Barrington, served 29 years as a press and cultural officer for the United States Information Agency and Department of State. His new book “American Dreams: The Story of the Cyprus Fulbright Commission” is available from Amazon.com.