Sen. Van Hollen SOUNDS OFF: Abolish ICE, Gaza Genocide, Fighting Schumer
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Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Senator Van Hollen was prescient in opposing the Iraq War, predicting it would strengthen Iran and unleash sectarian forces.
- ❖He views the US response to the Gaza conflict as a 'clear double standard' and 'ethnic cleansing,' with 'overwhelming evidence' pointing to genocide, damaging US credibility.
- ❖Van Hollen advocates for withholding funding from ICE until dramatic reforms are implemented, criticizing its 'lawless' operations under the Trump administration.
- ❖He criticizes Democratic leadership, including Senator Schumer, for being slow to recognize the danger of the Trump administration and for intervening in Democratic primaries.
- ❖Van Hollen supports progressive economic policies, including Medicare for All, tax reform favoring hard work, incentivizing employee ownership, and regulating tech/AI companies.
Insights
1Prescient Opposition to the Iraq War and its Consequences
As a newly elected Congressman in 2003, Van Hollen accurately predicted the negative outcomes of the Iraq invasion, including the unleashing of sectarian forces, prolonged American military presence, and the unintended strengthening of Iran, which had been a mortal enemy of Saddam Hussein.
Van Hollen recounts giving a speech on the House floor and at the University of Maryland in early 2003, detailing why the US should not invade Iraq and what would happen if it did. He states, 'the biggest beneficiary from the US going into Iraq was Iran.'
2Critique of US Foreign Policy Hypocrisy and Erosion of Moral Authority
Van Hollen argues that the US has consistently demonstrated hypocrisy in its foreign policy, citing examples like supporting Saddam Hussein while condemning his chemical weapons use, and the Biden administration's failure to enforce US laws regarding humanitarian aid in Gaza. He believes this undermines America's 'power of example' globally.
He recalls discovering US chemical companies lobbied against sanctions on Saddam Hussein after his chemical attacks on Kurds (). He states the Biden administration 'did great damage to our credibility around the world' by not enforcing US law regarding aid to Gaza (). He also references US actions in Pakistan, where the State Department allegedly pressured for Imran Khan's removal ().
3Gaza Conflict as 'Ethnic Cleansing' and Potential Genocide
Van Hollen describes the situation in Gaza as 'ethnic cleansing' and states that 'the overwhelming evidence points to the fact that this is a genocide,' while clarifying he has not made an independent legal conclusion. He criticizes the Biden administration for not using its leverage to stop the killing and ensure humanitarian aid delivery.
He explicitly states, 'I call what's happening in the West Bank slow motion ethnic cleansing' () and 'the overwhelming evidence points to the fact that this is a a genocide' in Gaza (). He notes the Biden administration 'bobbed and weaved' on enforcing US law regarding aid () and 'did not use the levers of power that they have' ().
4Advocacy for Dramatic ICE Reform and Withholding Funding
Van Hollen supports 'abolishing Trump's ICE' and refuses to vote for any funding for DHS without significant reforms to the agency. He acknowledges a necessary function for an agency to address violent undocumented criminals but views the current ICE as a 'rogue agency' with a problematic culture.
He states, 'I will not vote for one more penny... for the Trump ICE operation' () and 'I don't really care what you call it, but that the the function... needs to be maintained' for violent criminals (). He describes ICE's culture under Trump as 'a rogue agency' ().
5Critique of Democratic Party Leadership and Call for Accountability
Van Hollen expresses frustration with Democratic leadership, including Senator Schumer, for being slow to recognize the threat of the Trump administration, for caving in past shutdown fights, and for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) interfering in primary elections.
He mentions the 'Fight Club' group of senators who 'expressed frustration not not only about... the direction the caucus taken but also with respect to how the Democratic senatorial campaign committee has gotten involved in some of the Democratic primaries' (). He specifically cites the DSCC weighing in on behalf of candidates in Maine and Michigan ().
Lessons
- Advocate for consistent US foreign policy that prioritizes human rights and rule of law over military intervention, ensuring the 'power of example' is upheld.
- Demand accountability from political leaders, particularly regarding their stances on international conflicts and adherence to US and international law.
- Support legislative efforts to reform agencies like ICE, pushing for transparency, due process, and an end to 'lawless' operations, potentially by withholding funding until reforms are enacted.
Quotes
"When you go in and break stuff, you really need to know what's going to happen next. It's easy to go in and break stuff. It's building stuff back that's really hard. And nation building is something that is I think we've learned the hard way that we should not be uh engaged in."
"The biggest beneficiary from the US going into Iraq was Iran."
"I believe in the power of America's example in addition to the power of our military. And I think it's really important that we recognize, especially in a moment like we're in right now... that that has really benefited us over time and we're throwing away the power of our example, standing up for for principles overseas."
"I think the overwhelming evidence points to the fact that this is a a genocide."
"I will not vote for one more penny... One more dollar uh for the Trump ICE operation."
Q&A
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