As the U.S. Congress continues negotiations on approving the stalled border security deal and military aid package for key allies, U.S. President Joe Biden can act today – with or without Congress – to make Russia pay in some measure for its heinous crimes against Ukraine. The U.S. State Department should, without delay, designate the Russian Federation as a state sponsor of terrorism (SST), officially classifying Russia among its closest global allies: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria.
The case for Russia’s designation is clear. In the days surrounding New Year’s alone, Russia fired 500 missiles and drones over primarily civilian targets in Ukraine, killing dozens and injuring hundreds more. The indiscriminate bombardments hit schools, shopping malls, kindergartens, and hospitals (including a maternity ward in the city of Dnipro), as well as critical infrastructure like gas and power lines, which have no military value and are off-limits under the international laws of war. Some of these missiles were delivered from North Korea, in violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions that Russia itself supported but now has gravely violated.
Gee, you wouldn’t be talking about Ken Buck, would you? Dude literally sent an email to all of us in his district saying how he was going to shut down Planned Parenthood for their “reselling of baby parts” – a full month after the congressional hearing where it was discovered there was no actual proof of any misdeeds and everyone repeating the lie were just trying to spread rumors to get them shut down.