The publication is reproduced in full below:
PEACE BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE
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HON. PAUL A. GOSAR
of arizona
in the house of representatives
Friday, August 12, 2022
Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, it is an obvious fact that the conflict in Ukraine has led to an inordinate amount of human suffering. As much as global elites insincerely bemoan the death and devastation, their tinkering and meddling in Eastern Europe--treating countries with long, complicated histories almost as pieces on a chess board--has done nothing to bring about peace.
With the American working class suffering from crippling inflation and still reeling from unconstitutional and abusive lockdowns, sending billions of dollars to a country 6,000 miles away takes ``out-of-
touch'' to a new level. Could what happened in Afghanistan--billions of dollars-worth of defense equipment squandered and left in the hands of our enemies--occur again in Ukraine? Two large French artillery units have already been captured by the Russians. Is that a foretaste of another Afghanistan-like debacle?
Politically correct politicians on both sides of the aisle are constantly preaching about the need to send more arms, more aid, more support to Ukraine. One word that is noticeably absent is the word
``peace.'' Instead of constant finger pointing, world leaders should be doing all in their power to facilitate negotiations and make reasoned arguments for why peace benefits both countries.
The problem with peace is that the Biden administration would no longer have a distraction to their horrific domestic crises--ridiculous inflation, a tepid housing market, a weak supply chain, an invasion of criminal illegal aliens, failing public schools, and a deadly drug epidemic, to name a few.
The obstinacy implicit in this conflict--Putin's insistence on Donbas and Zelensky's determination to oppose him--highlights the error of attempting to intrude in foreign affairs not connected to American security. An amendment I offered to the National Defense Authorization Act requires the Biden administration to explain their objectives that would justify involvement in a country thousands of miles away. It was ignored.
America's military strength has served as a deterrent to hostile foreign powers over its history. However, aid to Ukraine has depleted military stockpiles. A quarter of Stinger missiles and a third of Javelins have been sent to Ukraine. An expert from the Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates that it could take 32 months to restock the Javelins. And that was when the U.S. had only spent $2.6 billion total. Now, the tally isup to $63 billion. Imagine how strong our military would be if that money was invested here at home.
The United States is weaker as a result of interference in Eastern Europe. Russia is depleted. Ukraine is devastated. Sending money to Ukraine extends and fuels war. Can peace be obtained through diplomatic means? Maybe. But U.S. military involvement has only worsened the conflict.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 135(1), Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 135(2)
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