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ICYMI: Rep. Bucshon Op-Ed Advocates U.S. Must Continue Supporting Ukraine and Israel

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-IN-08) along with Senator Todd Young (R-IN) penned an op-ed in the Indy Star promoting Congress’ continued support for both Ukraine and Israel. In the piece, Dr. Bucshon and Senator Young argue the United States must provide security and stability in Europe and the Middle East or else much larger and costlier conflicts will arise.

Excerpts from the op-ed can be found below, or you can read the full op-ed here in the Indy Star.

“Bad actors who bully their neighbors, redraw borders unilaterally and topple democracies resemble a contagion that grows and spreads. Unchecked, their aggression emboldens other foes of freedom and triggers ever more destabilizing conflicts, evidenced by the recent Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel. 

If American power and will recede as dangers grow in Europe and the Middle East, rogue nations will fill the vacuum. Isolationists on the right and left may wish to look away, but, as Eisenhower knew, America can’t dodge the consequences.

This is the foundational reason for America’s support of Israel against Hamas and support of Ukraine in its fight against Russia, and why that support must continue.

Another common argument against assisting Ukraine is that it diverts money needed to secure the broken southern border. Stopping the flood of immigrants illegally entering America is largely a matter of resolve, not a lack of available resources. The cause of the crisis at our border does not rest in Ukraine but rather the White House.  

We can simultaneously support Ukraine and better secure our border. The Biden Administration simply has no interest in doing the latter, and given our divided government, Republicans currently do not possess the leverage to force substantial policy changes. The catastrophe at the border is of President Biden’s making. Ending it requires a reversal of President Biden’s lax and ineffective border policies, not deserting Ukraine.  

If Congress ends America’s support for Ukraine, it would exponentially increase the likelihood of a larger war in Europe, which would require American boots on the ground and complicate our ability to assist Israel with its fight against Hamas. Our withdrawal would be welcome news in Moscow, where Putin plots a new Russian empire, and in Beijing, where Xi eyes Taiwan.” 

Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. represents Indiana’s 8th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives and is a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

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