Editorial: N.C. representatives in Washington must reject Trump's talk of abandoning NATO allies
Monday, Feb. 12, 2024 -- To what degree do Republicans stand for the United States' integrity as a signer of the NATO alliance treaty, our nation's critical role in support of sovereignty in Europe and back our allies -- or are subservient to the whims and dictates of Donald Trump?
Posted — UpdatedCBC Editorial: Monday, Feb. 12, 2024; #8907
Dictator Vladimir Putin and Russia would be encouraged to “do what ever the hell they want” to nations in Europe, Donald Trump declared Saturday. The defense of our nation, the freedom and safety of European NATO treaty allies to the contrary.
Some Republicans – a group still including North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis – claim to want to stand up to Putin’s deadly aggression in Ukraine. But former president is doubling down on his dangerous position.
The critical question isn’t a single vote on a single aid package. They must decide if it is more than a pyrrhic exercise. To what degree do these Republicans – like Tillis – stand for the United States’ integrity as a signer of the NATO alliance treaty, our nation’s critical role in support of sovereignty in Europe and back our allies -- or are subservient to the whims and dictates of Donald Trump?
Just a few days ago, Tillis backed Trump’s efforts to scuttle a bipartisan foreign aid-border security deal that he’d actually helped craft, for the sake of politics. Now, as Tillis works on this latest bipartisan aid bill for Ukraine, Trump is doing all he can to scuttle it.
It is dangerous rhetoric that is putting the globe on edge. “Encouraging invasions of our closest allies by murderous regimes is appalling and unhinged – and it endangers American national security, global stability, and our economy at home.” said President Joe Biden’s spokesperson, in response to Trump’s speech.
It is whether members of Congress – particularly those who represent North Carolina -- believe the sovereignty of national borders as the United States pledged to fight for when it established the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) after World War II is a promise to be kept.
Is their allegiance to the Constitution, the people of the nation, or to Donald Trump – who declares it is he who decides who does or does not get protected. Should our nation be led by those who put personal best interest ahead of the nation’s? There’s a word for that.
Even if this latest bill to aid Ukraine moves out of the Senate, it faces, at best, an uncertain fate in the House of Representatives, where current House Speaker Mike Johnson and a vast block of GOP representatives are solidly behind whatever Trump demands.
North Carolinians expect elected representatives -- Tillis, along with North Carolina’s other Senator Ted Budd and members of the House of Representatives – to support our treaties, our NATO alliance – and should publicly repudiate Trump’s dangerous position in direct and certain terms.
Where do you stand: Making sure our nation keeps its treaty to defend our NATO allies and global security -- or reflexively acquiesce to Donald Trump and his appeasement of the likes of Russia’s Putin?
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