{"id":1768644,"date":"2022-12-09T06:09:05","date_gmt":"2022-12-09T11:09:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1768644"},"modified":"2022-12-09T06:48:50","modified_gmt":"2022-12-09T11:48:50","slug":"dems-desire-to-track-money-sent-to-ukraine-is-russian-propaganda","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dems-desire-to-track-money-sent-to-ukraine-is-russian-propaganda\/","title":{"rendered":"Dems: Desire to Track Money Sent to Ukraine Is Russian Propaganda"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdems-desire-to-track-money-sent-to-ukraine-is-russian-propaganda%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1768644&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/2022.12.08-04.41-thepoliticalinsider-639213c02729c.jpg\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\" alt=\"image\"   style=\"display:none\"><\/div>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">One of the main promises made by Republicans was that they would make sure there would be greater oversight and accountability regarding aid sent to Ukraine. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">While most Americans still support our continued assistance to Ukraine, a desire to make sure that taxpayer dollars are going to the right people and weapons are ending up in the right hands is something most agree on universally.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">However, there was one Democrat in particular at the Reagan National Defense Forum that had some strong words about how he felt about the push for greater oversight, particularly in the form of an audit on aid provided. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Funny, while audits are never fun, I was always told that if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear in an audit.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">But I suppose this individual\u2019s visceral response to an audit on Ukraine aid may be more rooted in the knowledge that our government is massively incompetent.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Rep. Adam Smith Says Calls for Ukraine Aid Oversight are \u2018Russian Propaganda\u2019<br \/>Smith says concerns for greater oversight make him &#8216;crazy&#8217;<br \/>by Dave DeCamp<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DecampDave?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@DecampDave<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Ukraine?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Ukraine<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Russia?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Russia<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/NATO?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#NATO<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/UkraineRussianWar?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#UkraineRussianWar<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/RussiaUkraineWar?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#RussiaUkraineWar<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/uITPvV2Kfc\">https:\/\/t.co\/uITPvV2Kfc<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/zKy1xtd7G6\">pic.twitter.com\/zKy1xtd7G6<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Antiwar.com (@Antiwarcom) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Antiwarcom\/status\/1599473245065203712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 4, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">You Drive Me Crazy<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The topic of Ukraine aid oversight and audits came up this past weekend at the Reagan National Defense Forum. <\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"subscribe\" class=\"email-signup inarticle\">\n<h4>Support Conservative Voices!<\/h4>\n<h5><strong>Sign up to receive the latest<\/strong> political news, insight, and commentary delivered directly to your inbox.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">House Armed Service Chair, Democrat Adam Smith, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.federaltimes.com\/management\/budget\/2022\/12\/05\/ukraine-transparency-push-shouldnt-derail-funding-hasc-chair-says\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">said<\/a> that when people claim that the money sent isn\u2019t receiving proper oversight, it \u201cmakes me a little crazy.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED: <a href=\"https:\/\/thepoliticalinsider.com\/maga-rep-marjorie-taylor-greene-demands-answers-on-73000-gotaways-at-the-border-in-november\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MAGA Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene Demands Answers on 73,000 \u2018Gotaways\u2019 at the Border in November<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The fact that this lawmaker can\u2019t understand why the American people might lack trust in our government\u2019s ability to make sure that money and assets are ending up in the right hands just over a year after the embarrassing Afghanistan withdrawal drives <em>me<\/em> a little crazy. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Representative Smith breaks his feelings down into <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2022\/12\/03\/armed-services-chair-ukraine-aid-oversight-00072062\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">two points<\/a>:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cNumber one, the focus on that is part of Russian propaganda, all these stories about how the money isn\u2019t being spent wisely.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">And his second point is:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cSecond, Ukraine is spending the money really well. That\u2019s why they\u2019re winning.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Well, in that case, we shouldn\u2019t want to know details about where our money and assets are explicitly going? Our government is telling us it\u2019s okay and that the Ukrainians are winning.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It\u2019s not as if they have ever performed this same song and dance. But wait for a second; I remember hearing this not long ago when it came to Afghanistan and Iraq.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>And for people with a longer memory than a goldfish, it was just a few weeks ago that the Pentagon admitted \u2013 again \u2013 that they can\u2019t account for $2.1 <em>trillion<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re supposed to believe they can lose\u00a0<em>trillions<\/em> of dollars in\u00a0<em>our own government<\/em> but that they can totally account for all money sent to one of the most corrupt nations on earth?\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Just how stupid do they think we are?<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Audit Ukraine!<\/p>\n<p>The American people deserve to know where every penny has gone because it\u2019s the American people who worked hard to earn the money in the first place.<\/p>\n<p>Audit Ukraine!<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@RepMTG) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RepMTG\/status\/1599847447785709568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 5, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A Learning Curve<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">I\u2019m at the point that it is almost comical how our government doesn\u2019t seem to get that they have done nothing to build confidence in the American taxpayer that any of these bloated bureaucrats can handle the business of governing. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">As I just mentioned, this year marks the fifth year in a row that the Pentagon <a href=\"https:\/\/taskandpurpose.com\/news\/pentagon-balance-budget-audit-teachable-moment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">failed<\/a> its audit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED: <a href=\"https:\/\/thepoliticalinsider.com\/gop-promises-oversight-and-transparency-while-still-cutting-checks-to-ukraine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GOP Promises Oversight and Transparency While Still Cutting Checks to Ukraine<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">That\u2019s right; the federal entity that gets the most significant amount of funding can\u2019t pass an audit. And not as in they are missing a few printers or laptops, or the books are off by a few bucks here or there.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Pentagon has no clue about the location of 60% of its assets. This year\u2019s response is easily the best yet; apparently, they are using the Ukraine situation as a teachable moment.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The IRS is warning Americans that this tax season they must report payments on Venmo, PayPal &#038; Zelle of over $600.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile\u2026<\/p>\n<p>The Pentagon just failed its FIFTH audit in a row, as they were unable to account for 61% of their $3.5 trillion in assets. $800 billion annual budget.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Stephen Geiger (@Stephen_Geiger) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Stephen_Geiger\/status\/1597995546165547009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 30, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A teachable moment for what? How to lose weapon systems and cash? Ukraine could teach a masterclass in both, given its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stimson.org\/2022\/a-us-plan-to-prevent-arms-diversion-in-ukraine-is-welcome-but-just-the-first-step\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">history with weapons laundering<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Recently it was discovered that the Biden administration has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/biden-admin-scrambles-track-20b-ukraine-aid-house-republicans-warn-audits\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">only inspected<\/a> 10% of the 22,000 weapons worth roughly $20 billion that have been sent to Ukraine. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">So, yeah, Mr. Smith, you\u2019re right; who are we to question our government\u2019s ability to do its jobs and know where the stuff that our taxes paid for is going?<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Russia, Russia, Russia<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The left is intent on shutting down legitimate arguments or debates by countering with name-calling and grouping. Don\u2019t question how or where our aid is going in Ukraine, because if you do, <em>you support Russia<\/em>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED: <a href=\"https:\/\/thepoliticalinsider.com\/pentagon-admits-it-cant-account-for-2-trillion-again\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pentagon Admits It Can\u2019t Account for $2 Trillion \u2013 AGAIN<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">One of the foremost champions of Ukraine oversight is Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who I have no doubt was Congressman Smith\u2019s primary target with his comments. I get it; MTG does seem like the type to drive people crazy since she\u2019s not one to back down.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">She <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/marjorie-taylor-greene-dismisses-ukraine-audit-criticism-1764836\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">bit back<\/a> at the Congressman, stating:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cSo it\u2019s Russian propaganda to demand transparency of where the American taxpayer\u2019s hard earned dollars are spent?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">So it\u2019s Russian propaganda to demand transparency of where the American taxpayer\u2019s hard earned dollars are spent?<\/p>\n<p>Hahaha, who is Adam Smith anyways? <\/p>\n<p>Nobody\u2019s buying the Russia Russia, Russia, Russia propaganda crap anymore. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/GKWAbdYzd3\">https:\/\/t.co\/GKWAbdYzd3<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@RepMTG) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RepMTG\/status\/1599913250325516291?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 5, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Yup, of course, it is. I\u2019ve even been labeled a Russian propagandist for writing about people who want greater oversight.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Ms. Greene\u2019s audit proposal <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-11512267\/Republicans-Marjorie-Taylor-Greenes-proposal-audit-67-3B-aid-sent-Ukraine-Biden.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">failed this week<\/a> in the House Foreign Affairs Committee 26-22, with the Democrats saying that passing her proposal would signal that we don\u2019t support Ukraine. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">My response is that if Ukraine can\u2019t comprehend that we can want to help them but also make sure our \u2018help\u2019 is being used for its intended purpose, they may need to look elsewhere for their aid.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It Doesn\u2019t Really Matter<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Unfortunately, even if an audit proposal goes through next year when Republicans take over the House, I fear it won\u2019t make a difference. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Pentagon and State Department aren\u2019t well known for their cooperation with audits and inspections, as seen with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/foreign\/state-dept-refuses-audit-1-billion-spent-taliban-afghanistan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">post-Afghanistan reviews<\/a> that still haven\u2019t provided many answers other than our government and military leaders failed miserably.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Senior Adviser with the Center for Strategic and International Studies Mark Cancian makes a great <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wqln.org\/2022-12-02\/the-u-s-aims-to-ensure-that-the-aid-to-ukraine-goes-where-its-supposed-to-go\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">point<\/a>:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cI think it\u2019s reasonable to expect a high level of oversight and accountability. You have to keep in mind that most of the U.S. government can\u2019t pass an audit.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Is our government unable to pass an audit due to incompetence or negligence, or is it built into the system to necessitate a narrative we\u2019ve all gotten used to accepting? I imagine it\u2019s all three.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">And while Democrats like Adam Smith are going nuts over the insane idea of greater Ukraine aid oversight, his counterparts are champing at the bit to track my small business transactions for a few hundred bucks in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/news\/venmo-paypal-zelle-must-report-600-transactions-irs-rcna11260\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Venmo<\/a>; they balk at the idea of monitoring over $60 billion that could turn into over $100 billion to Ukraine.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Regrettably, some of my congressional colleagues are more concerned about tracking that $600 Venmo payment you made than tracking $60,000,000,000 of your money they sent to Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RepThomasMassie\/status\/1599914578485252096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 5, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Glad I\u2019m getting more government scrutiny than in a country known for illicit arms trafficking.<\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Now is the time to support and share the sources you trust.<\/strong><br \/>The Political Insider ranks #3 on <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.feedspot.com\/political_blogs\/\">Feedspot\u2019s<\/a> \u201c100 Best Political Blogs and Websites.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One of the main promises made by Republicans was that they would make sure there would be greater oversight and accountability regarding aid sent to Ukraine. While<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1768647,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[547],"tags":[5458,3933,6992,4755,4488,3819,3965,4319,6991],"class_list":["post-1768644","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-bongino-report","tag-bongino","tag-dems","tag-desire","tag-money","tag-propaganda","tag-report","tag-russian","tag-track","tag-ukraine"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1768644","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1768644"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1768644\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1768647"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1768644"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1768644"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1768644"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}