Global Courant
Democratic presidential nominee Robert Kennedy Jr. has called on President Biden to stop “the unceasing escalation” between the United States and Russia after giving his administration the go-ahead to send controversial weapons known as cluster munitions to Ukraine.
“Last year, WH Press Secretary Jen Psaki called the use of cluster bombs a ‘war crime.’ Now President Biden plans to send them to Ukraine. Stop the relentless escalation! It’s time for peace,” Kennedy wrote in a tweet.
“Biden was also against cluster bombs in 1982, when he opposed selling them to Israel,” added Kennedy, who entered the White House race in April. separate tweet. “What happened to his conscience?”
‘TERRIBLE MISTAKE’: TOP DEMOCRAT BLOWS BIDEN’S DECISION TO SEND CONTROVERSIAL CLUSTER BOMBS UKRAINE
Kennedy’s comments come after the Biden administration announced this week that its latest aid package to Ukraine would include cluster munitions, which are bombs that deliver smaller explosives over a wide area when detonated. Cluster bombs have been banned by more than 100 countries because they are known to kill or maim civilians. In many cases, dud submunitions fall to the ground without detonating, only to later explode unexpectedly, even years after being dropped.
Both Russia and Ukraine have used cluster munitions since Moscow’s first attack in February 2022. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan acknowledged on Friday that cluster munitions pose a risk to civilians, but said the danger to their lives would be greater if Kiev did. not have enough weapons to repel the Russian troops. The “dud rate” for ammunition the Pentagon sends to Ukraine is below 3%.
Democratic presidential nominee Robert Kennedy Jr. called on President Biden on Saturday to stop “the unceasing escalation” between the United States and Russia. (Sean Rayford, Jamie McCarthy via Getty Images)
In February 2022, then-White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, while answering questions from the press, claimed that Russia’s use of cluster bombs could amount to a “war crime”.
“There are reports of illegal cluster bombs and vacuum bombs being used by the Russians. If that is true, what is this government’s next step? And is there a red line for how much violence against civilians will be tolerated in this illegal way? and possibly a war crime,” a reporter asked.
“It is – it would be. I have no confirmation of that. We’ve seen the reports. If that were true, it might be a war crime.” Psaki responded at the time.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in February 2022 that Russia’s use of cluster bombs in its war with Ukraine could amount to a “war crime”. (Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images)
In a Washington Post report published Friday, the outlet recalled Biden’s “convoluted history” on the cluster munitions issue and highlighted how Biden has turned the issue over time in relation to Israel’s use of the weapons.
Biden’s decision to send cluster bombs to Ukraine also raised concerns among some House Democrats, including Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., and Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif.
“The Biden administration’s decision to transfer cluster munitions to Ukraine is unnecessary and a terrible mistake,” McCollum, the leading Democrat on the House appropriations subcommittee, said in a statement. “The legacy of cluster bombs is misery, death and expensive cleanup generations after their use. The US pays tens of millions of dollars annually to remove Vietnam-era cluster munitions in Laos as these war remnants continue to kill and maim civilians.”
“As a strong supporter of the Biden administration’s policy in Ukraine, I must express in the strongest possible terms my absolute opposition to the US handover of cluster munitions,” she added. “These weapons must be removed from our stocks, not dumped in Ukraine.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, and US President Joe Biden shake hands at a rally in Kiev, Ukraine, on Feb. 20, 2023. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Service via AP)
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Lee, another Democrat who serves on the House Appropriations Committee, said she was “alarmed” that Biden was “considering sending cluster bombs to Ukraine.”
“Cluster bombs work by spreading small ‘bombs’ over a wide area. Many of these bombs fail to explode – but remain a threat to civilians for decades,” Lee said on Twitter.
“The Ukrainian people are engaged in a just struggle for their rights, freedom and humanity. The US and Ukraine do not have to stoop to Putin’s level,” she added in another tweet.
Kennedy is considered a contender in his race against incumbent Biden, who has overwhelming support from the Democratic Party. In many polls, however, Kennedy is receiving double-digit support among likely Democratic voters.
Elizabeth Elkind of Fox News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
