The last few weeks have provided glaring examples of what ought not happen in the American political milieu. In one particular scene a legal neophyte, owing his political career to his father and ethically challenged Republican Congressman from the 1st Congressional district of Florida, member of the House Judiciary Committee Matthew Louis Gaetz questioned the Attorney General of the United States Merrick Garland. Besides futile attempts at showing Garland’s misfeasance as AG, Gaetz gave a long winded soliloquy on ethics in legal prosecutions. Gaetz was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2008, ran for Congress in 2010 and prevailed. Thus he has had two years of legal practice. In 2021 he was suspended by the Florida Bar for nonpayment of dues. Garland, a former Federal Judge who was once a nominee for the Supreme Court of the United States was scarcely able to get a word in. Gaetz just kept on going. This was an intellectual satire. Congressman Gaetz certainly had nothing to lose except respect from his colleagues. That ship had sailed long ago.
In another episode another face of the Republican Party today Marjorie Taylor Greene questioned Dr. Anthony Fauci, the highly respected former director of the Centre for Disease Control regarding his work during the COVID pandemic. MTG as she is known not only refused to address Dr. Fauci as a doctor, but specifically called him Mr. Fauci and stated that she does not call him doctor because he is not a doctor. (I suppose I was particularly offended because Dr. Fauci went to the same high school in New York as I did, but years apart) Dr. Fauci is an internationally recognized medical doctor with a recognized history of work in AIDS and COVID19. His medical degree is from Cornell University. I hesitate to compare educational backgrounds or work product between the two antagonists. MTG was reprimanded even by members of her own party, but so what, she remains the closest ally of the Republican presidential candidate.
And so a lack of decorum and shameless behavior have become a staple in the Republican led lower House of the Congress in America. More importantly, however, are global events and the lack of moral equivalence in the world today. The world is upside down.
The lesser of two egregious examples is the International Criminal Court Prosecutor’s indictment of Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu and his Defense Minister as war criminals for their strategy in Gaza and the open warrant against Vladimir Putin and his female accomplice in child kidnapping. Please note the distinction. The Israelis are defending their country and their people while the others are pursuing aggression which was initiated by them with no moral parameters despite the fact that it is not only condoned but actually “blessed” by a church of Stalin’s criminal creation.
I am not ignoring the plight of the Palestinian people and international intervention is necessary to at the very least feed the Palestinian children. Still there are salient issues and international intervention or mediation needs to take place. Politics as usual is not appropriate here. Israel is America’s ally. So is Egypt, except that Egypt is not a good faith ally because its is run by a thug and refuses to assist tangibly in the struggle by refusing to accept Palestinian refugees. Yet no one seeks to reprimand Egypt and American aid to Egypt continues. There is a diplomatic solution.
The Russia-Ukraine war is very different. It is a blatant conflict between aggressor and victim, exacerbated by the facts that the aggressor is genocidal and, if not stopped, may move on. The message here is that there is no diplomatic solution. Just one look at the old Bolsheviks, either Putin or Lavrov should make that very clear. Ukraine is sacrificing lives. The West is supplying arms. Please do not tell Ukraine how those arms may be used!
It brings me back to Congressman Matthew Gaetz advising AG Merrick Garland on the law. Gaetz advising Attorney General Merrick Garland on the law is akin to the West advising Ukraine on the war. The West does not even know the terrain. Ukraine is fighting for its existence. And, so, there is yet another example of moral equivalence because Ukrainian people, not only soldiers, yes even children and women are dying. Ukrainians are forced to leave their homes. Their homes have been scorched. Please do not tell them how to defend themselves. Frankly, America’s war strategy over the last 50 years from Vietnam to Afghanistan has been dismal. Ukraine must do better. For Ukrainians this is not yet another foreign war.
June 6, 2024 Askold Lozynskyj