Gaetz partners with Democrat to stop transfer of cluster bombs to Ukraine

WASHINGTON, D.C. (FLV) – Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., expressed how he is partnering with Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., to introduce an amendment that would stop the transfer of cluster bombs in the National Defense Authorization Act.

“Democrats used to call the use of cluster bombs a war crime,” Gaetz said on his podcast, Firebrand. “And that war crime is now an American export.”

The $886 billion National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2024 has passed both the House and Senate Armed Services committees and is expected to be debated on the house floor after it is considered by the Rules committee.

Jacobs introduced an amendment that would prevent the United States from providing cluster munitions to Ukraine for the war efforts.

“Sending Custer munitions is going to increase civilian casualties,” Jacobs said on an interview with BBC News. “It’s going to erode allied unity. 23 of our NATO allies have signed onto the convention against cluster munitions.”

Jacobs also stated that sending these weapons to Eastern Europe would make it “harder” for the U.S. to “call out Russia and other peoples’ use of cluster munitions.”

“We have an opportunity, with bipartisanship, to stand against the warmongering Bidens,” Gaetz said. “These cluster bombs will not end the war in Ukraine.”

The Florida lawmaker said that countries where cluster bombs have been used, such as Laos, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Yemen and Syria, “have not lead to peace and cease fire.” Instead, he said they have lead to the “bloodiest, longest, and most inhumane wars.”

“Children will be left without limbs and parents because of this decision by Joe Biden, if we do not work together in a bipartisan fashion to stop it,” he said.