State Dept. official resigns over US military aid to 'Israel'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
19 Oct 2023 08:25
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The official cites "shortsighted decisions" made by Biden's administration as the reason for his resignation.

A US C-17 sits at the Nevatim Air Base, on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023 (AP/Lolita Baldor)

A US State Department official responsible for facilitating arms transfers to major American allies stepped down from his position on Wednesday, The Huffington Post on Wednesday.

The official, Josh Paul, cited "shortsighted decisions" made by the Biden administration as the reason for his resignation, which forced him to make an ethical compromise he found unbearable.

In a LinkedIn post justifying his decision, Paul wrote, "In my 11 years I have made more moral compromises than I can recall, each heavily, but each with my promise to myself in mind, and intact."

"I am leaving today because I believe that in our current course with regards to the continued — indeed, expanded and expedited — provision of lethal arms to Israel — I have reached the end of that bargain," he added.

"I cannot work in support of a set of major policy decisions, including rushing more arms to one side of the conflict, that I believe to be shortsighted, destructive, unjust, and contradictory to the very values that we publicly espouse," the resignation post read.

Paul was employed in the State Department's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, as indicated in his statement and LinkedIn profile.

This department is responsible for handling defense partnerships with US allies and supervising the export of weapons and military equipment.

Since the beginning of the brutal Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, the Biden administration has rushed to reiterate Washington's "unwavering" support for the bloodthirsty Israeli entity.

Following the start of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood that the Palestinian Resistance launched against continuous Israeli occupation violations, the White House has moved quickly to affirm US backing for "Israel", vowing "rock solid" support and warning other parties to stay out of the confrontation.

US President Joe Biden said Wednesday he would ask Congress this week for "unprecedented" aid for the Israeli occupation, which is expected to be part of a $100 billion package that includes Ukraine support.

Last week, the Pentagon moved the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and its accompanying warships to the eastern Mediterranean, in a show of support to the Israeli occupation. A couple of days ago, US officials indicated that another carrier, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, and its strike group needed another two weeks to arrive at the Mediterranean Sea.