{"id":2332514,"date":"2024-08-28T12:19:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-28T16:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-launched-doomed-gaza-pier-mission-despite-concerns-from-usaid-officials-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-08-28T12:24:10","modified_gmt":"2024-08-28T16:24:10","slug":"biden-launched-doomed-gaza-pier-mission-despite-concerns-from-usaid-officials-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-launched-doomed-gaza-pier-mission-despite-concerns-from-usaid-officials-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Biden launched doomed Gaza pier mission despite concerns from USAID officials &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"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\">28<\/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%2Fbiden-launched-doomed-gaza-pier-mission-despite-concerns-from-usaid-officials-washington-examiner%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=2332514&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--><p>President Joe Biden authorized the construction of a temporary pier in the Mediterranean\u2064 to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/israel-war-code-pink-occupies-senate-democrat-offices-demanding-gaza-ceasefire\/\" title=\"Code Pink occupies Senate Democrat offices, demanding Gaza ceasefire in Israel war.\">facilitate humanitarian aid delivery<\/a> to Gaza,\u2063 despite concerns from USAID officials. The initiative, announced during Biden&#8217;s State of the \u2062Union address, aimed to enhance aid flow\u2064 to Palestinian civilians. However, USAID staff raised doubts,\u2063 arguing that land crossings \u2063were more effective for aid transport. <\/p>\n<p>According to a recent inspector general&#8217;s report, the pier\u200b operated \u200dfor only about 20 days between mid-May and\u2062 mid-July\u2062 and was hampered by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pope-francis-multilateralism-must-not-be-stifled-by-nationalistic-demands\/\" title=\"Pope Francis: Multilateralism Must Not Be Stifled by \u2018Nationalistic Demands\u2019\">adverse weather conditions<\/a>, which often exceeded operational limits. \u200bWhile the U.S. aimed to\u2064 provide food for 500,000 people per month, the mission only \u200bmanaged \u2064to deliver enough for approximately 450,000 for one month. Ultimately, after \u200c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/for-the-record-jayne-zirkle-is-a-maga-warrior-and-takes-no-shit-from-low-iq-security-personnel-i-saw-it-first-hand-she-fought-some-bitches-to-record-bannon-clips\/\" title=\"Jayne Zirkle is a staunch MAGA supporter who fearlessly stands her ground, even against security staff. I witnessed her determination firsthand as she persisted to capture footage of Bannon\">facing security challenges<\/a> and the ineffectiveness of the pier amidst <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/julia-letlow-wins-special-election-for-late-husbands-congressional-seat\/\" title=\"Julia Letlow Wins Special Election For Late Husband\u2019s Congressional Seat\">rough seas<\/a>, the decision was made to dismantle the structure. The Biden administration justified the pier&#8217;s mission in light of urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Biden launched doomed Gaza pier mission despite concerns from USAID officials<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1733989\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/joe-biden\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Joe Biden<\/a> ordered the U.S. military to build a temporary pier in the Mediterranean Sea to provide another way to get humanitarian aid into <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gaza\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Gaza<\/a>, despite concerns expressed by some U.S. Agency for International Development staffers, according to a report from the group&rsquo;s inspector general.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Biden announced his decision to order the construction of the pier in his State of the Union address in March to increase the amount of humanitarian aid that was getting into Gaza and into the hands of Palestinian civilians in need. But, he made that decision despite USAID staff members expressing &ldquo;concerns&rdquo; that doing so would &ldquo;detract from the Agency&rsquo;s advocacy for opening land crossings, which were seen as more efficient and proven methods of transporting aid into Gaza,&rdquo; according to the new <a href=\"https:\/\/oig.usaid.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/2024-08\/OIG%20Final%20Report%20-%20JLOTS%20Maritime%20Corridor%20Evaluation.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>report<\/a> released this week.<\/p>\n<p>Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, told reporters in June that &ldquo;it is well established and very well known that the land crossings offer the highest capacity for delivery of aid to the people. The temporary pier is additive in this nature, although, as I&rsquo;ve pointed out, it is certainly important.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The United States aimed to get enough food through the pier to feed 500,000 people per month for three months, but due to various factors, they were only able to deliver enough food to feed about 450,000 people for one month. The mission was only expected to last three months due to the conditions of the Mediterranean Sea, but rough seas and high winds began earlier than expected.<\/p>\n<p>The pier was only operational for about 20 days between mid-May and mid-July. It was initially damaged during inclement weather requiring days of repair, and then the military decided it would be better off deconstructing it and bringing it ashore to avoid damage during bad weather.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;From the start, rough weather posed a major challenge to the success of JLOTS operations.<br \/>DoD guidance on the temporary pier stated its usage was weather-dependent and that it could<br \/>not operate in conditions beyond what is known as sea state 3, or short and moderate waves,&rdquo; according to the report. &ldquo;However, the Mediterranean Sea is often at sea state 4 with significant winds and waves.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>There were also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/twitter-deletes-president-trumps-tweets-threatens-permanent-suspension\/\" title=\"Twitter deletes President Trump\u2019s tweets, threatens permanent suspension\">security concerns<\/a> from the World Food Programme, which was responsible for the distribution of aid, about deconflicting its movements with Israeli forces to avoid getting caught in the crossfire. The partnership ended in July.<\/p>\n<p>The administration defended its decision to pursue the pier mission given the dire needs of Palestinians in Gaza affected by the war. Ninety-six percent of the population in Gaza faces severe food insecurity and is at a high risk of famine, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ipcinfo.org\/fileadmin\/user_upload\/ipcinfo\/docs\/IPC_Gaza_Strip_Acute_Food_Insecurity_MaySept2024_Special_Snapshot.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Integrated Food Security Phase Classification\">Integrated Food Security Phase Classification<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The bottom line is that given how dire the humanitarian situation in Gaza is, the United States has left no stone unturned in our efforts to get more aid in, and the pier played a key role at a critical time in advancing that goal,&rdquo; National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/article\/2024\/aug\/28\/joe-biden-us-gaza-aid-pier-usaid-concerns-israel-war-palestine\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Biden lamented in July that he has been &ldquo;disappointed that some of the things that I put forward have not succeeded as well &mdash; like the port we attached from Cyprus,&rdquo; adding, &ldquo;I was hopeful that would be more successful.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1733989\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1733989\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>President Joe Biden initiated a temporary pier project in the Mediterranean Sea to facilitate humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza, despite reservations from certain officials at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), as reported by the agency&#8217;s inspector general. In his State of the Union address in March, Biden announced this initiative to enhance aid distribution to Palestinian civilians in need. However, USAID staff had raised concerns that this approach might undermine efforts to open land crossings, which were viewed as more effective and reliable for transporting aid into Gaza.<\/p>\n<p>Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, noted in June that land crossings are known for their high capacity for delivering assistance and described the temporary pier as a supplementary option that is still important. The goal was to provide enough food through the pier to sustain 500,000 people per month over three months; however, various challenges limited deliveries to enough food for approximately 450,000 people for just one month.<\/p>\n<p>The mission was intended to last three months but faced early disruptions due to rough seas and high winds. The pier operated only about 20 days between mid-May and mid-July before being damaged by bad weather and ultimately deconstructed by military officials who deemed it safer onshore during adverse conditions.<\/p>\n<p>The report highlighted that inclement weather significantly hindered operations from the outset; Department of Defense guidelines indicated that usage of the temporary pier depended on favorable weather conditions not exceeding sea state 3\u2014characterized by short and moderate waves\u2014while conditions often reached sea state 4 with substantial winds and waves.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, there were security issues raised by the World Food Programme regarding coordination with Israeli forces during aid distribution efforts. This partnership concluded in July amid ongoing challenges.<\/p>\n<p>Despite these setbacks, the administration defended its decision based on urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza where an overwhelming majority faces severe food insecurity and famine risks according to assessments from Integrated Food Security Phase Classification reports. National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett emphasized that every effort was made by the United States to increase aid access during this critical time.<\/p>\n<p>In July, Biden expressed disappointment over some initiatives not achieving their intended success\u2014including plans related to Cyprus&#8217;s port\u2014stating he had hoped they would be more effective<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2671,"featured_media":2332515,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/AP24137703490828-1024x684.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[3620,4551,20083,16381,32076],"class_list":["post-2332514","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-biden","tag-foreign-policy","tag-gaza","tag-usaid","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/AP24137703490828-1024x684.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2332514","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\/2671"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2332514"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2332514\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2332515"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2332514"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2332514"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2332514"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}