Whose Obstructing Ukraine, Harry?

“As we begin debate on this aid and sanctions package, I also hope that Republicans who stopped action on this legislation prior to the break have considered how their obstruction affects United States’ national security as well as the people of Ukraine,” says Reid. “Since a few Republicans blocked these important sanctions last work period, Russian lawmakers voted to annex Crimea and Russian forces have taken over Ukrainian military bases.”

Reid’s charge comes despite widespread support among Republicans and Democrats in Congress for providing Ukraine with much-needed economic assistance and hitting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s government with sanctions. Meanwhile, Senate aides note the House passed different legislation, meaning the Senate bill could not have become law before recess anyhow.

He adds, “It’s impossible to know whether events would have unfolded differently if the United States had responded to Russian aggression with a strong, unified voice. When a few extremist Republicans blocked action on this robust bill reported with strong, bipartisan support by the Foreign Relations Committee, it sent a dangerous message to Russian leaders.”

His comments came just a few hours before senators voted 78 to 17 to proceed with debate on a $1 billion aid package to the new Ukrainian government. All the votes in opposition came from Republicans, most of who are concerned that the package includes changes to how the U.S. provides money for the International Monetary Fund.

Reid announced the only way to provide Ukraine with economic assistance quickly was to remove the IMF provision from a Senate aid package, which he did. However, it doesn’t stop Russia from collecting around $3 million off the top from the U.S. aid package because of a previous agreement between Ukraine and Russia made in late December 2013.

If anything, Reid should be blaming the Obama Administration for the invasion of the Crimea. Remember the February 7th leaked conversation between Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland and U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt?

In that tapped telephone call Nuland is quoted, “…fuck the EU.”

Furthermore in the same call, Nuland and Pyatt discussed who they wanted to promote and prevent from entering the Ukrainian government, which is evidence the U.S. government had been meddling in Ukrainian internal affairs before the take-over. They also talked about getting the United Nations involved in the Ukrainian mess.

Reid’s partisan attacks and lies are getting old and worn out — jus’ like his hold on the Senate.