Rep. Gaetz: 'We Are Sleepwalking into a War,' 'Regime Change in Russia' is the Goal

(CNS News) — House Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) criticized lawmakers who voted on Wednesday to send $40 billion in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, explaining that they are engaging in a proxy war to bring about regime change in Russia, and are unwilling to hold a vote on authorizing the use of military force. “We are sleepwalking into a war, and the American people are left in the dark,” said Gaetz. 

Speaking on the House floor on May 11, Gaetz said, “Just a year ago, we lost a war against goat herders waving rifles [in Afghanistan]. Now we’re rushing to fight a nation that has 6,000 nuclear warheads. Representatives now recklessly assert that we are at war. Congressman [Seth] Moulton [D-Mass.] said last week, ‘We’re not just at war to support the Ukrainians, we’re fundamentally at war — although somewhat through a proxy — with Russia.’”

Just a year ago, we lost a war against goat herders waving rifles. Members of Congress are now recklessly asserting that we are at war with Russia.

If we are at war, then why not vote on an AUMF?

We are sleepwalking into a war, and the American people are left in the dark. pic.twitter.com/vN3xHT0JZ6

— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) May 11, 2022

“How exactly is this supposed to end?” he asked. “It’s as if the administration is probing [Vladimir] Putin’s nuclear redline. A game of chicken between nuclear powers is insane.”

“Last night, this House approved $40 billion for Ukraine as American families go without baby formula,” said Gaetz.  “To put that in context, Biden’s budget calls for $15.3 billion for Customs and Border Patrol. So, apparently Ukraine is twice as important as our homeland. Two weeks ago — we voted on the ‘Ukraine Lend-Lease Act.’ I was one of just 10 Representatives to vote ‘no.’”

“If we are at war, like Congressman Moulton says, then why not vote on an authorization to use military force?” said Gaetz. “Or are we just going to operate in Ukraine like we have in Yemen and throughout the world—forever undeclared wars?”

“I suspect many in this body won’t want a vote or a debate, because regime change in Russia is their actual objective, not defending Ukraine,” said the Florida congressman. “To achieve this goal, they’re willing to send billions to Kyiv that will line the pockets of corrupt officials just like we did in Afghanistan. We are sleep walking into a war, and the American people are left in the dark.”

On Tuesday, Gaetz joined with 56 other House Republicans in voting no on the $40 billion package for Ukraine. 

In late March, President Joe Biden said of Russian President Vladimir Putin, “For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power.”

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) tweeted, “Is there a Brutus in Russia? Is there a more successful Colonel Stauffenberg in the Russian military? The only way this ends is for somebody in Russia to take this guy [Putin] out. You would be doing your country — and the world — a great service.”

Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) said in April, “We are in a very dangerous moment where it is important that, in a bipartisan and measured way, we in Congress and the administration come to a common position about when we are willing to go the next step and to send not just arms but troops to the aid in defense of Ukraine.”

Coons later backtracked on that remarks, claiming he was ” not calling for U.S. troops to go into the war in Ukraine.” 

On May 1, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said, “America stands with Ukraine. We stand with Ukraine until victory is won…. Our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done.”

Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) told the Ukrainians, “The United States of America is in this to win.”

Conservative writer and former presidential candidate Pat Buchanan recently discussed how U.S. intelligence personnel are assisting the Ukrainians in targeting and killing Russian generals and bombing Russian targets — facts that were confirmed by the New York Times.

“By bragging publicly that we helped engineer the killing of Russian generals and the sinking of the cruiser Moskva, we taunt Russian President Vladimir Putin,” said Buchanan. “We provoke him into retaliating in kind against us, thereby raising the possibility of a wider U.S.-Russia war that could escalate into World War III.”

“Moreover, U.S. boasting like this plays right into Putin’s narrative that Russia is facing and fighting in Ukraine a U.S.-led alliance that is out to crush Russia,” Buchanan added. 

Buchanan also quoted Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as saying that the U.S. weapons shipments to Ukraine constitute “NATO … going to war with Russia through a proxy and arming that proxy.”

The $40 billion aid package to Ukraine is now under consideration in the Senate, where it is expected to pass. 

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