CONGRESS GRILLS AUSTIN OVER ISRAEL’S IRRESPONSIBLE USE OF U.S. WEAPONS
March 1, 2024U.S. Secrtetary of Defense Lloyd Austin was visibly uneasy as he was grilled by various members of Congress after being hauled in to answer questions during a congressional hearing on the situation in Gaza following the tragic “”Flour Massacre”” that left around 1150 hungry civilians killed and injured yesterday.
The most powerful questioning came from the Representative for California, Ro Khanna who hammered the Secretary with question after question: “Mr. Secretary about how many Palestinian women and children have been killed by Israel since October 7?”
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin: “It’s over 25,000.”
The most confronting questions raised were around the unlawfulness of the USA to continue to supply military weapons to Israel who continued to defy U.S. rules for the use of weapons which must comply with international law, but which Israel was unquestionably flouting.
Upon finishing his testimony, Austin was met with protestors chanting “”Secretary of genocide, blood on your hands, resign.””
Watch the exchange.
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English Script:
Ro Khanna: Mr. Secretary, about how many Palestinian women and children have been killed by Israel since October 7th?
Lloyd Austin: It’s over 25,000.
Ro Khanna: Mr. Secretary, last week, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights warns that any transfer of weapon or ammunition to Israel violates international law. About how many precision guided munitions has the United States given Israel since the beginning of the war?
Lloyd Austin: I don’t have that number at my fingertips, but we have…
Ro Khanna: Mr. Secretary, it’s about 21,000 precision guided munitions to Israel since the start of the war. Secretary Austin, last week you spoke to Defense Minister Gallant and you said clearly there needs to be a plan to ensure the safety and support of those sheltering in Rafah before any military operations proceed. National Security Adviser Sullivan has said he has not seen any plan yet. John Kirby said it would be a disaster to invade Rafah. If Netanyahu defies the United States and invades Rafah, will you commit today that you will halt any future military sales to Israel?
Lloyd Austin: Obviously, sir, that’s a presidential decision. But, you know, we expect that…and by the way, I spoke to Minister Galant last night, and I expect that when we provide munitions to allies and partners, that they’ll use them in a responsible way.
Ro Khanna: But would you make a commitment that they defy what we’re saying and they violate international law, by the way, which is opposed to national security Memorandum 18 and National Security Memorandum 20, that if they don’t do what we’re saying, that we would halt those arms sales or transfers.
Lloyd Austin: Again, the decision to halt the provision of security assistance would not be mine. It would be…
Ro Khanna: What would you recommend?
Lloyd Austin: Well, I certainly…again, I really do expect that that they utilize the weapons that we provide them in a responsible way. And then if they don’t…
Ro Khanna: I just want to…for time purposes, it seems to me if they’re defying what you’re telling them, what Kirby is telling them, what Sullivan is telling them, that wouldn’t be responsible. Cindy McCain, the head the World Food Program, has said that the Palestinian children are starving. Extremist settlers, Tom Ridge, Israel’s finance minister, stopped American flour, which our taxpayers paid for, to get into Gaza. If Israel again ever stops American paid aid from getting into Gaza, will you commit to not sending future armed cells?
Lloyd Austin: Again, that’s not my decision. I would, number one, do what I’ve been doing and engage the leadership and encourage them to ensure that humanitarian assistance is getting…
Ro Khanna: Mr. Secretary, I would just say, one more question that you…We need some consequences is when another country is defying you, defying the national security adviser, defying the president, defying national security Memorandum 20. There has to be some consequence. And then I was surprised, John Kirby said, that Israel is taking more precautions than the U.S. military would to protect civilian life. Mr. Austin, Secretary Austin, isn’t that statement inaccurate, given Israel has used hundreds of £22,000 dumb bombs when there were no place for civilians to go? Would the U.S. government ever target terrorists with £2,000 bombs in a densely populated area?
Lloyd Austin: Well, we I mean, it depends on the situation. And again…
Ro Khanna: But would we? have we done that? use 45% of bombs that are unguided or a £2,000 bomb? I mean, do you really think that the Israeli military is taking more precautions than the United States military would?
Lloyd Austin: I think, just based upon the results in terms of the significant loss of life, more should be done…
Protestors: Secretary of genocide! Baby Killer! Blood on your hands!
