
© AP / Alex BrandonFILE PHOTO. A US Air Force serviceman checks pallets of 155mm shells bound for Ukraine.
A resolution calling for an audit of US military and economic aid to Ukraine has been narrowly defeated in the House of Representatives. The measure, spearheaded by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and backed by multiple fellow legislators, was rejected by 26 votes to 22 before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday.
The proposed audit had been strongly opposed by House Democrats, who argued that such oversight activities would have sent a wrong signal to Ukraine, which has been strongly supported by Washington in its ongoing conflict with Russia.
"This is not the time for us to be divided. We've held together with NATO, and the EU, and our allies. Let's not fall into this trap," the top Democrat on the committee, Representative Gregory W. Meeks (NY), said during the debate.
Republicans rejected such arguments, however, insisting that
the measure was about transparency and accountability for Americans, rather than about sending any messages to Kiev. Greene also
claimed that House Democrats were "blinded by hate" for her and were making Ukrainian oversight a purely political issue.
Comment: Of course lawmakers don't want the aid sent to Ukraine scrutinized. Any close oversight would inevitably lead to the Ukraine gravy train coming to a screeching halt: