In a rare Oval Office address, President Joe Biden called on Americans Thursday to stand behind Israel and Ukraine, making the case that providing military and economic aid to the countries is in the interest of global stability and national security.
The 15-minute speech marked his second Oval Office address. It shifted between the two global conflicts, attempting to connect the dots for Americans following wars half a world away.
“Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common: They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy, completely annihilate it,” Biden said.
He called the wars a national security imperative for the American people and a critical moment for the future of American leadership and democracies worldwide.
“American leadership is what holds the world together,” he said. “American alliances are what keep us in America safe. American values are what make us a partner nation you want to work with. To put all that at risk – we walk away from Ukraine, we turn our backs on Israel – it’s just not worth it.”
Biden, who reiterated that he would not send American troops overseas to fight, said Ukraine was looking for help. “For the weapons, munitions, the capacity, the capability of pushing invading Russian forces off their land and the air defense system to shoot down Russian missiles before they destroy Ukrainian cities,” he said.
The White House requested just over $100 billion from Congress following the address to deliver aid and resources to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and the U.S. border with Mexico. Since Russia’s invasion, the White House and Congress have provided more than $75 billion in funding to Kyiv, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
In City Paper news today:
CP COVER: Will King Street get a bike lane? Charleston residents have to play the waiting game for a long-contested bike lane on King Street, as the city council continues to delay action on its community of stakeholders to come up with a new recommendation for the corridor.
CP NEWS: Hope Center looks ahead, celebrates new building. The city of Charleston’s Hope Center, an organization helping those who are chronically homeless or at risk of homelessness, opened on Meeting Street in 2022, and held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new location, expected to open spring 2024.
CP OPINION: Elect Burgess for N. Charleston mayor. “Municipal government, in fact, thrives when it effectively provides great local services, such as public safety, garbage collection and filling potholes. Failure to pay attention to what citizens want can be dangerous for those elected to represent them. Burgess gets that.”
CP CARTOON:
In other recent news:
Charleston School of Law seeks non-profit status. Charleston School of Law filed an application with the American Bar Association seeking acquiescence in the conversion from for-profit to not-for-profit status to robust fundraising, which can lead to increased support for student scholarships and a campaign for a new building on the Charleston peninsula.
Former employees file lawsuit against closed Charleston school. Former employees of the now-closed Charleston Advancement Academy High School are suing the school for breach of contract after it was ordered to shut down.
Other Johns Island road projects slowly progress. While the Mark Clark Extension project on Johns Island remains uncertain, other Johns Island road projects estimated to cost hundreds of millions continue to slowly move forward.
Charleston matriarch, disabled rights activists Dougherty dies at 94. Louise Ravenel Dougherty was a longtime Charlestonian who fought for the rights of physically and mentally disabled people. She died Oct. 15 at age 94.
Park Circle opens Charleston area’s first arcade bar. Pinky and Clyde’s opened in Park Circle for residents to bask in 1980s nostalgia with 17 classic arcade games, two modern pinball machines, custom tokens and drinks.
- To get dozens of South Carolina news stories every business day, contact the folks at SC Clips.
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