Top House Republican: War In Ukraine Would Be Over If Biden Gave Them The Weapons They Needed

In an interview on Sunday, Rep. Michael McCaul (R. Texas), who is the chairman of House Foreign Affairs Committee suggested that Russia’s war against Ukraine would be over by the time President Joe Biden gave the Ukrainians the weapons and ammunition they needed.

McCaul made these comments during an interview with Martha Raddatz from ABC News. “This Week.”

“I was at the Munich Security Conference, met with a lot of the high-ranking military officials, including our supreme allied commander. They’re all in favor of us putting not only F-16s in but longer-range artillery, to take out the Iranian drones in Crimea,” McCaul spoke. “In fact, the word I kept hearing was, ‘We need to put everything we have into there.’ I know the administration says, ‘as long as it takes.’ I think, with the right weapons, it shouldn’t take so long. And, quite frankly, Martha, this whole thing is taking too long, and it really didn’t have to happen this way.”

McCaul stated that the Biden administration’s “slow-walk and slow-pace” In delivering weapons the Ukraine was “precisely what Putin wants.”

“I think, with enough pressure from Congress on both sides of the aisle, we can get into Ukraine what they really need to win this fight,” He concluded. “Otherwise, what are we doing in Ukraine?”

McCaul stated that Republicans are leading audits to show where weapons are going, because they want to make sure that resources given to Ukraine are used for their intended purpose.

MARTHA RADDATZ, ABC NEWS HOST : Congressman McCaul joins the show now. It’s great to meet you.

We were all in Ukraine this week. You met President Zelenskyy. You stated that there is increasing momentum in Ukraine towards long-range missiles, and F-16s. You heard President Biden’s words. You heard Jake Sullivan speak. It doesn’t appear that way.

REP. MICHAEL MCCAUL (R) TEXAS – That’s very unfortunate. I met many of the top-ranking military officers, including the supreme allied commander, while I was at Munich Security Conference. They all support us putting F-16s in, as well as longer-range artillery, in order to defeat the Iranian drones in Crimea.

Actually, I kept hearing the same word: “We need to put everything we have into there.” I believe the administration. “as long as it takes.” With the right tools, it shouldn’t take that long, I believe. It’s taking Martha too long.

RADDATZ: But — but you heard Jake Sullivan say, “Look, our military is looking at the ground. What they need right now is tanks. What they need is infantry.” What makes you believe F-16s could make a difference in your life?

MCCAUL is because it can travel throughout the country at great speed. It can hit all targets. It can defend the country.

RADDATZ can also be shot down. There are many air defenses, especially near the border.

MCCAUL: It — it could. And, you know, but the fact is, if we don’t give them — if they don’t get the momentum right now, with the Russian offensive coming into country right now, they have a window of time with the counteroffensive.

That’s why it’s important — when I talked to these top military officers, give them everything they — that you can now so they can win this thing. When we give them what they — what they can really use and ask for, they win. It drags out when we slow down and slow down this thing. This is exactly what Putin wants.

RADDATZ: What could you do, at this point, as chair — at this point, legislatively? Is there anything you can do?

MCCAUL : We can write into our Appropriations Bills prioritizing weapon system. We intend to do this. Martha, it was also a bipartisan delegation that went to Munich. My delegation in — in Ukraine all agreed with Zelenskyy that the ATACMS and the F-16s were appropriate right now.

General Milley was a subject I discussed last night. It is not off the agenda. With enough pressure from Congress, both on the left and right, I believe we can make Ukraine do what is necessary to win this battle. And if we don’t, what will we do in Ukraine?

RADDATZ: And — and even if they don’t want them now, do you think they should start training?

MCCAUL: Please, for the love of God. It takes between three and six months to train. This must be done now.

Yes, I get it. We need to consider the budget. It’s true that the Abrams tanks won’t be in service for another year, as you have heard.

I have met the Ukrainians that are being trained on the Leopard tanks by the Poles. These tanks will enter in two weeks, as the offensive is taking place. Two weeks. It’s going be quite a while.

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