Rolling Back Prohibitions Would Surrender Leverage in Securing Turkey’s Release of Pastor Andrew Brunson, Preventing Turkey’s Purchase of Russian S-400 Anti-Aircraft Missiles
WASHINGTON – The Armenian National Committee of American, In Defense of Christians and the Hellenic American Leadership Council expressed sharp disappointment Friday over the Trump Administration’s newly revealed opposition to Congressional restrictions upon the sale of advanced F-35 aircraft to Turkey.
The Trump Administration relayed its position in a letter from Mick Mulvaney, Director of the Office of the Management and the Budget, to Senator Richard Shelby, the Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations. In his letter, Director Mulvaney wrote:
The Administration opposes section 7046(d)(3) of the [Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations] bill that restricts the use of funding for the transfer of F-35 aircraft to Turkey. Turkey is an important NATO ally, and has been an international participant with the F-35 program since 2002. The Administration shares the Congress’s concerns over recent Turkish actions but opposes language that preemptively restricts its ability to work with Turkey to address those concerns.
ANCA, IDC and HALC categorically reject the Administration’s position:
“President Trump’s opposition to the bipartisan consensus around common-sense restrictions on the reckless transfer of F-35 aircraft to Turkey dramatically reduces American leverage, undercutting our ability to secure either Turkey’s release of Pastor Andrew Brunson or to prevent Turkey’s purchase of Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missiles.
Sadly, by taking this short-sighted stand, President Trump is signaling weakness, seriously undermining America’s negotiating position toward Erdogan’s Turkey.
We encourage Congressional leaders to move quickly to enact statutory restrictions on F-35 and other advanced weapons sales/transfers to Turkey, and, more broadly, to undertake a long over-due policy review of U.S. relations with the increasingly hostile Turkish regime.”
Where is the Jewish opposition on this sale?
BEFORE ANYBODY SAYS ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THE REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION, DO NOT FORGET OBAMA’S, HILLARY CLINTON’S, NANCY PELOSI’S AND SAMANTHA POWER’S
LIES
LIES
LIES
LIES
ABOUT PROMISING TO RECOGNIZE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE!
THE ARMENIANS HAD ALL THEIR PRO-ARMENIAN WASHINGTON PEOPLE ALL LINED UP. IT DIDN’T HAPPEN THEN SO KEEP YOUR DEMOCRAT, PROGRESSIVE, LIBERAL MOUTHS SHUT!
Ameh.
Trump is business person he does not care what else , he does not think with these fighther planes innicent people will die. he want the bottom is $$$$$$$$ . Shame USA has president like him. Also ISREAL, TURKEY and USA trimple evil dictator presidents have no law and order. Fasist.
IT IS NOT PRESIDENT TRUMP! IT IS THE UNITED STATES DEFENSE COMPANIES AND THEIR CONTRACTS!!!! THEY DON’T WANT TO LOSE BILLIONS $$$$$$ OF SALE TO TURKEY SO THEY PUT PRESSURE ON WASHINGTON!!!! THE FUNNY THING IS THAT TURKEY USES THE $$$$$$ THAT THE UNITED STATES GIVES IT TO BUY AMERICAN WEAPONS!!!
There are few former Turkish contractors working in Trump admiration. These Ex-workers knowingly or unknowingly sympathize with Turks. Defense secretary should be fired NOW.
President Trump starts disappointing the Americans that believed in his words of America first and a strong America., it can’t be America first if he dips US’ credibility in the mud and by negotiating with Turkey from point of weakness, the world is watching.