PRESIDENT JOE Biden used the State of the Union speech to wake up Americans to the challenges against democracy abroad and at home.
Biden
delivered a fiery speech at the U.S. Capitol, calling on Congress to pass
legislation that will funnel weapons and ammunition to Ukraine as it battles
against Russia's illegal invasion of the country.
Biden
said the times are perilous, with democracy facing attacks from Russian
President Vladimir Putin and from Americans who espouse violence instead of
votes.
He
said that not since the American Civil War has the U.S. faced such a moment.
"My purpose tonight is to both wake up this Congress and alert the
American people that this is no ordinary moment either," the president
said.
"Overseas,
Putin of Russia is on the march, invading Ukraine and sowing chaos throughout
Europe and beyond," he said. "If anybody in this room thinks Putin
will stop at Ukraine, I assure you he will not."
Biden
reiterated that Ukraine is not asking for U.S. troops to defend the nation, but
tools so Ukrainian service members can repel the invaders. "There are no
American soldiers at war in Ukraine," the president said. "And I am
determined to keep it that way. But now assistance for Ukraine is being blocked
by those who want us to walk away from our leadership in the world."
The
president also highlighted the role of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
in maintaining peace between great powers since the end of World War II. This
year marks 75 years since the signing of the Washington Treaty establishing
NATO, and the defensive alliance continues to grow.
During
the State of the Union speech, Biden noted that Finland joined the alliance
last year, and "…and Sweden officially joined NATO…” Both nations joined
NATO after Russia invaded Ukraine.
"I
say this to Congress: We must stand up to Putin," Biden said. "Send
me the Bipartisan National Security Bill. History is watching. If the United
States walks away now, it will put Ukraine at risk. Europe at risk. The free
world at risk, emboldening others who wish to do us harm. My message to President Putin is simple: We will
not walk away. We will not bow down. I will not bow down."
Biden
also addressed the situation in Gaza more than five months after Hamas launched
raids into Israel that killed more than 1,400 people and resulted in Hamas
holding hostages in Gaza. "We've been working nonstop to establish an
immediate cease-fire that would last for at least six weeks," he
said.
Biden
said more than 30,000 people have been killed in Gaza, and he is working to
ensure that aid gets to the civilian population. "I'm directing the U.S.
military to lead an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier in the
Mediterranean on the Gaza coast that can receive large ships carrying food,
water, medicine and temporary shelters," he said. "No U.S. boots will
be on the ground. This temporary pier would enable a massive increase in the
amount of humanitarian assistance getting into Gaza every day."
The
pier would complement ongoing efforts to get food and medical supplies into the
embattled region via road and via airdrop missions.
The
president called on Israeli leaders to do their parts in this situation.
"Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a
bargaining chip; protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a
priority," he said. (Jim
Garamone)
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