Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed Wednesday the Pentagon has « paused » one weapons shipment to Israel, but claimed the US had not made a « final decision » on the materiel.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed Wednesday the Pentagon has “paused” one weapons shipment to Israel, but claimed the US had not made a “final decision” on the materiel, angering – and baffling – Senate Republicans.
“We did pause as we re-evaluated some of the security assistance that we’re providing,” Austin told members of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense during a hearing that was repeatedly interrupted by anti-Israel protesters.
“As we have assessed the situation,” Austin went on, “we paused one shipment of high-payload munitions.”
The Pentagon leader said the administration halted the delivery of precision bombs in response to Israel’s offensive targeting Rafah, Hamas’ last stronghold in the Gaza Strip.
The news was poorly received by Republicans on the subcommittee, including Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC).
“If we stop weapons necessary to destroy the enemies of the state of Israel at a time of great peril, we will pay a price,” he said. “This is obscene; it is absurd. Give Israel what they need to fight the war they can’t afford to lose – this is Hiroshima and Nagasaki on steroids.”
“It was not the Israelis that started this conflict,” agreed Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). “And I’m very concerned that we not try to micromanage Israel’s right to defend itself against a terrorist group backed by Iran.”Fumbling for words
Austin’s admission came after a series of Biden lackeys – from White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre to deputy Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh – for days refused to confirm or deny media reports that the aid had been stopped.
But after copping to pausing the shipment, the defense secretary backpedaled, cautioning the committee that the administration had not yet made an official determination whether or when Israel would receive the package.
