49 Democrats REBEL against Biden by voting against plan to send cluster bombs to Ukraine

Nearly 50 Democrats denounced President Biden’s plan to send cluster munitions to Ukraine by voting for an amendment by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to ban the practice.

The amendment, which was supported by 49 Democrats and 98 Republicans, ultimately failed to make it into the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), but proved that opposition — and support — for the indiscriminate bombings transcends party lines.

The Democrats included Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, NY, Maxwell Frost, Fla., Cori Bush, Mo., Greg Casar, Texas, Pramila Jayapal, Washington, and Jamaal Bowman, NY

Biden has said it was a “difficult” decision to offer the bombs to Ukraine in its fight against Russia, but said it was “necessary” for them to win the war.

Ukraine received its first shipment of cluster bombs on Thursday, promising to use them only to dislodge enemy soldiers. The bombs were part of an $800 million US security package

U.S. law prohibits shipments of cluster munitions that contain more than one percent “dud” — or fail to explode more than one percent of the time. Such bombs that do not detonate immediately can create land mines and later detonate upon contact with civilians.

Cluster munitions (pictured) have been banned in more than 100 countries after they ratified the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which was adopted in Dublin, Ireland, in May 2008

The US has decided to send controversial cluster munitions to Ukraine in support of the counter-offensive against Russian forces

But National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed that President Biden had signed a waiver authorizing the transfer of such weapons with a higher percentage of duds — but said the percentage would be “no higher than 2.5 percent.”

Cluster munitions explode, scattering a series of smaller bombs over a wide area, often killing civilians. More than 120 countries have signed a 15-year-old treaty banning their use, but Ukraine and Russia have both deployed them — and Ukraine’s stockpiles of ammunition of all types are dwindling.

The House passed bills 219 to 210 on defense spending to set up a showdown in the Senate over the amendments that, among other things, prohibit consideration of military enlistment to consider diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI).

The NDAA sets policy for the Department of Defense for the year and is mostly routine and widely supported by both sides.

Republicans included several amendments on social issues as part of their effort to get rid of the “woke” policy in the military.

Four Democrats voted for the bill — Representatives Don Davis, NC, Jared Golden, Maine, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Washington, and Representative Gabriel Vazquez, NM. Four Republicans — Ken Buck, Andy Biggs, Eli Crane, and Thomas Massive — voted against.

An amendment from Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, to ban the Pentagon from helping pay for travel for abortion services has passed the House. So was a ban that would prohibit military health care from paying for gender reassignment surgeries.

An amendment to ban diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) considerations in military recruiting passed, but an amendment to ban all DEI training in the military failed.

Some far-right amendments — one by Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., to ban funding for diversity, justice, and inclusion (DEI) training, two by Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., to ban sending cluster munitions into Ukraine and to remove $300 million in aid for the country from the bill, and one from Rep. Bob Good to allow Pentagon facilities to keep the names of Confederate generals – were turned down.

The cluster bomb amendment received support from 49 Democrats and 98 Republicans in a rebuke of President Biden’s plan to send them to aid Ukraine in its war against Russia.

Still, most right-wing members of the conference voted in favor of the bill. The Freedom Caucus and those aligned with it have been a wild card for Chairman Kevin McCarthy’s battle of votes over the legislation to pass.

The original, unaltered NDAA had gone from the armed forces in a wide two-way show: 58-1. Democrats attacked Republicans for politicizing the bill during the amendment process.

But the bill included a 5.2 percent pay increase for military personnel — so four Democrats from moderate districts voted in favor.

Republicans in Congress passed a defense bill restricting access to abortion for troops and limiting transgender care for military personnel

The spending bill will likely be watered down in the Democrat-led Senate — making way for more House Democrats — and fewer House Republicans — to vote in favor of the final bill.

The Freedom Caucus and Gaetz, who “respects” the caucus but is not in it, celebrated their heavy influence on the amendments that made it into the bill.

“We have gradually shifted the center of gravity of the Republican Conference to the right,” said Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., at a press conference.

The bill includes default funding for military preparedness and funding to help the Pentagon integrate further cybersecurity measures and AI initiatives – as well as a number of measures to combat China – to thwart its espionage activities and bolster Taiwan’s defense needs.