Rep. Gaetz’ Resolution Would Make Biden
Disclose Number of US Troops in Ukraine
Dave DeCamp / Antiwar.com
(April 17, 2023) — Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) on Monday introduced a resolution that would require President Biden to disclose the number of US troops inside Ukraine and share all documents outlining US military assistance for Kyiv with the House.
If the resolution is passed, it would require President Biden and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to share the requested information within 14 days. The introduction comes after one of the documents allegedly leaked by Airman Jack Teixeira confirmed that US special operations forces are in Ukraine.
“The Biden Administration and other allied countries have been misleading the world on the state of the war in Ukraine. There must be total transparency from this administration to the American people when they are gambling war with a nuclear adversary by having special forces operating in Ukraine,” Gaetz said in a statement.
According to the document, 97 NATO special operations soldiers in Ukraine, including 14 Americans. The leak confirmed an October 2022 report from The Intercept that said US special operations forces were deployed to Ukraine after Russia’s invasion.
Leaked document reveals US special operations forces are in Ukraine
The Intercept report did not say what the American special operators were doing inside Ukraine but said it was part of a broad covert operation that includes CIA personnel who are also on the ground.
The leaked document said there is a total of 29 Defense Department personnel inside Ukraine, including the special operations forces. The total also includes members of the Marine Security Guard Security Augmentation Unit (MSAU), who are typically deployed for embassy security.
The total also includes the defense attaché and members of the Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC). The Pentagon said in October 2022 that personnel under the defense attaché and ODC based at the US embassy in Kyiv are conducting “onsite” weapons inspections inside Ukraine.
Congressional Resolution Would Force Biden to
Reveal Facts on US Troops Deployed in Ukraine
Rep. Matt Gaetz; Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC (April 17, 2023) — Today, US Congressman Matt Gaetz (FL-01) introduced a Privileged Resolution of Inquiry, forcing President Joe Biden to transmit to the House of Representatives copies of any and all documents outlining plans for military assistance to Ukraine.
Additionally, the resolution directs Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to disclose the number of United States Armed Forces, including special operators, deployed to Ukraine without Congressional authority.
In order to comply with the resolution, the President and Secretary of Defense must send the requested documents to the House of Representatives within 14 days of its adoption.
Last week, a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman shed light on US involvement in Ukraine by allegedly leaking classified documents on an online server. A document, dated from March 2023, reveals the US military had 14 members of special forces deployed in Ukraine. In a February 2023 House Armed Services hearing on “Oversight of US Military Support to Ukraine,”
Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Dr. Colin Kahl similarly told Rep. Gaetz that there are “a couple dozen” Department of Defense personnel at the US Embassy in Ukraine. While the leaked classified documents did not state their reason for deployment, the Privileged Resolution of Inquiry would require Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to transmit all documents regarding US troop deployments in Ukraine to Congress.
“The Biden Administration and other allied countries have been misleading the world on the state of the war in Ukraine. There must be total transparency from this administration to the American people when they are gambling war with a nuclear adversary by having special forces operating in Ukraine.
“I represent a congressional district with the highest concentration of active-duty military personnel. I come from a community where the protection of this type of classified information that was leaked can be life or death for family members and my constituents.
“My Privileged Resolution of Inquiry will better inform the Congress and the country on the true state of our military’s involvement in the war,” said Congressman Gaetz.
Full text of Congressman Gaetz’s Privileged Resolution of Inquiry can be found HERE. Additionally, exclusive coverage of the resolution by Breitbart News can be found HERE.
Posted in accordance with Title 17, Section 107, US Code, for noncommercial, educational purposes.
