While Republicans often resort to attacking the patriotism of Democrats, it turns out in action it’s actually Republicans whose patriotism is at issue in a rather frightening and appalling manner.
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President Trump and Republicans are pretending Russia didn’t attack the U.S. during the 2016 election and isn’t continuing to attack it right now, Democrats are trying their best as the minority party to protect the country.
Thursday, House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01), and 21 other original co-sponsors introduced the Fostering Unity Against Russian Aggression Act of 2017.
“It is time for Congress to lead on this issue, especially given President Trump’s unwillingness take the danger seriously. This bill adopts an intelligent and proactive approach to strengthening allied and partner defenses, increasing deterrence, and boosting our cohesion while requiring measures to reduce the risk of miscalculation and accidental nuclear war,†said Ranking Member Smith.
A summary of the bill:
The Russian Federation has pursued a deliberate campaign to undermine democracies around the world and weaken U.S. alliances and partnerships. The United States government has not developed a comprehensive response to this danger, including efforts to enhance military deterrence, respond to aggression, and punish Russian violations of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, while acting responsibly to reduce the risk of miscalculation and accidental nuclear war. The Fostering Unity Against Russian Aggression Act of 2017 would lay the groundwork for such a response.
• Comprehensive Strategy to Counter Russia:
o Requires the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a comprehensive
Russia strategy, which would align U.S. and allied efforts to deter and respond, if necessary, to Russian aggression.
• Reaffirming Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty
• Conventional Weapons in Europe:
o Mandates a plan to boost stocks and pre-positioning of forward-deployed
conventional precision-strike munitions in order to increase conventional deterrence against Russia.
• Reducing Risks of Miscalculation and Nuclear War:
o Supports the U.S. interest in strategic stability by requiring parallel planning to
reduce the risks of miscalculation and unintended consequences that could precipitate a nuclear war.
• Imposing Sanctions for INF Noncompliance:
o Requires a plan to impose sanctions on Russia to punish its violations of the
Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.
• Forward Presence of Forces in Europe:
o Mandates an assessment of the impacts, logistical requirements, strategic need,
and cost of stationing additional permanent forces in Europe.
• Training for Forces in Europe:
o Mandates an assessment of training ranges and facilities in Europe, any capability
gaps and requirements for improvements in those facilities, and training requirements for additional permanent or rotational forces in Europe.
• Countering Russian Military Modernization:
o Mandates plans to counter Russia’s military capabilities, including unmanned
systems, electronic warfare, and long-range precision strike capabilities, as well as a plan to accelerate programs to improve U.S. military operability in GPS- denied environments.
• Countering Unconventional Warfare:
o Mandates delivery of a whole-of-government strategy to counter Russian
unconventional warfare efforts, as required by Section 1097 of the FY 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (Pub. L. No. 114-92).
• Countering Russian Propaganda:
o Strengthens efforts to counter Russia propaganda aimed at undermining U.S. and
allied national security by prioritizing funding for the NATO Strategic Communications Center of Excellence, recognizing the Russian Information Group established by EUCOM, and encouraging greater leveraging of the U.S. Global Engagement Center.
• Strengthening Cyber Cooperation:
o Strengthens cyber cooperation with NATO partners and regional allies by
emphasizing bilateral training, and prioritizing funding and collaboration with the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence.
• Maritime Response:
o Requires an assessment of Naval efforts as a component of the comprehensive
Russia strategy, and highlights the need for increased availability of fast-attack submarines as noted in the 2016 Force Structure Assessment (2016).
“Russia’s aggressive actions make clear the need for a comprehensive U.S. deterrence strategy. By passing this bill, Congress can forcefully reaffirm America’s commitment to the NATO alliance and jumpstart needed improvements to our own and our allies’ readiness to counter unconventional modes of aggression, including propaganda and cyberattacks,†said Shea-Porte.
If anyone had asked me even a year ago if I thought Republicans would ignore an attack on the U.S. by Russia, I never would have said yes.
But it’s come to this. The minority party is fighting to protect the country they swore to serve, while Republicans whistle Dixie to focus on leaks, reporters doing their jobs, and how they can most quickly take healthcare away from millions of Americans while undermining a huge sector in our economy.
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