Ted Cruz statement on situation in Ukraine

[AlbertJNocke]

Cruz Statement on the Ongoing Violence and Civic Unrest in Ukraine

January 23, 2014 | (202) 228-7561

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, released the following statement regarding the ongoing violence and civic unrest in Ukraine:

"Over the past few days, at least three members of the political opposition have been either shot or beaten to death by forces under the control of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych for protesting his new restrictions on the freedoms of speech and assembly that had previously been guaranteed by their country's constitution.

"The tragic loss of life in Kiev is a further demonstration that Yanukovych has abandoned the democratic principles on which that constitution is founded. Deplorable violence against the peaceful protests of Yanukovych’s unilateral decision to reject a popular trade agreement with the European Union and instead embrace closer ties with Vladimir Putin’s Russia has already occurred on November 30, December 1 and December 11, 2013. Now this grim pattern is repeating itself.

"The United States must not turn a blind eye to the struggle for freedom in a country where we have such a clear strategic interest. Putin’s proposed Eurasian Customs Union, of which Ukraine would be a cornerstone, is a thinly veiled attempt to re-assimilate the territory of "greater Russia" that made up the old Soviet Union. His offer of economic assistance is a first step in binding Ukraine to this new bloc. Given Ukraine’s economic and security significance to both the U.S. and our NATO allies in western Europe it would be a mistake to allow this expansion of Russia’s sphere of interest, especially given the tenacity with which Ukrainians have fought against it in recent months.

"The President and Congress should unite in a coherent and sustained program to support the opposition and encourage Yanukovych to both rescind his restrictions on the rights of the Ukrainian people and renounce violence against those engaged in protest. I was pleased to co-sponsor Senate Resolution 319 introduced by Senator Chris Murphy on December 12, 2013, which includes the important clause: “in the event of further state violence against peaceful protestors, the President and Congress should consider whether to apply targeted sanctions, including visa bans and asset freezes, against individuals responsible for ordering or carrying out the violence.” The Department of State should be commended for implementing visa bans against Ukrainian officials this week. We should follow-up swiftly with targeted economic sanctions as well, including freezing the assets of those responsible for the violence.

"The people of Ukraine should know that the United States stands with them during this difficult time."​

http://www.cruz.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=824


[mod edit: statement originally posted was fake, correct statement is now posted above]

 

[TaftFan]

Just out of curiosity, can you post a link to this?

The reason I ask because neither "US Should Send Troops to Stem Violence and Civic Unrest in Ukraine" nor "and we should drone anyone that stands in our way." appear on his website version.

http://www.cruz.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=824

 

[enhanced_deficit]

What happened to his US led boots on the ground Syria invasion plan?

 

[twomp]

Here is the actual statement from his website:

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, released the following statement regarding the ongoing violence and civic unrest in Ukraine:

"Over the past few days, at least three members of the political opposition have been either shot or beaten to death by forces under the control of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych for protesting his new restrictions on the freedoms of speech and assembly that had previously been guaranteed by their country's constitution.

"The tragic loss of life in Kiev is a further demonstration that Yanukovych has abandoned the democratic principles on which that constitution is founded. Deplorable violence against the peaceful protests of Yanukovych’s unilateral decision to reject a popular trade agreement with the European Union and instead embrace closer ties with Vladimir Putin’s Russia has already occurred on November 30, December 1 and December 11, 2013. Now this grim pattern is repeating itself.

"The United States must not turn a blind eye to the struggle for freedom in a country where we have such a clear strategic interest. Putin’s proposed Eurasian Customs Union, of which Ukraine would be a cornerstone, is a thinly veiled attempt to re-assimilate the territory of "greater Russia" that made up the old Soviet Union. His offer of economic assistance is a first step in binding Ukraine to this new bloc. Given Ukraine’s economic and security significance to both the U.S. and our NATO allies in western Europe it would be a mistake to allow this expansion of Russia’s sphere of interest, especially given the tenacity with which Ukrainians have fought against it in recent months.

"The President and Congress should unite in a coherent and sustained program to support the opposition and encourage Yanukovych to both rescind his restrictions on the rights of the Ukrainian people and renounce violence against those engaged in protest. I was pleased to co-sponsor Senate Resolution 319 introduced by Senator Chris Murphy on December 12, 2013, which includes the important clause: “in the event of further state violence against peaceful protestors, the President and Congress should consider whether to apply targeted sanctions, including visa bans and asset freezes, against individuals responsible for ordering or carrying out the violence.” The Department of State should be commended for implementing visa bans against Ukrainian officials this week. We should follow-up swiftly with targeted economic sanctions as well, including freezing the assets of those responsible for the violence.

"The people of Ukraine should know that the United States stands with them during this difficult time."

http://www.cruz.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=824

 

[AlbertJNocke]

Just out of curiosity, can you post a link to this?

Here ya go
http://www.cruz.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=824

 

[TaftFan]

Here ya go
http://www.cruz.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=824

So can you explain how the additional text ended up on what you posted in the thread but doesn't appear on his website?

 

[Occam's Banana]

Isn't what Cruz is actually saying bad enough, without having to lie about it?

Cruz did NOT say he wants to send American troops to Ukraine.
He said he wants the US to stick its nose where it doesn't belong.

Contra Cruz, we should just mind our own goddam business for a change ...

 

[NorthCarolinaLiberty]

Ted Cruz. LOL.

 

[Brian4Liberty]

Isn't what Cruz is actually saying bad enough, without having to lie about it?

Cruz did NOT say he wants to send American troops to Ukraine.
He said he wants the US to stick its nose where it doesn't belong.

Contra Cruz, we should just mind our own goddam business for a change ...

Cruz is great, except on foreign policy.

 

[Origanalist]

It's been nice knowin' ya Albert. Though I hardly knew you at all......

 

[twomp]

Yes, lets get in between the Russians and Ukraine because we have nothing else to do Ted Cruz.

 

[HOLLYWOOD]

Michael Scheuer, Wherever there's trouble in world, count on the CIA, Mi5, already there.

Ted Cruz can send his entire family lineage on his dime, goes for Mike Rogers, McCain and the rest of the Waring Clown Cart...

We all know too well, the Military and Security Industrial Complexes are looking for the next theater of war to keep their $1+ Trillion jobs program running which reciprocates in huge MIC campaign contributions to the egotisical-selfies holding office.

 

[LibForestPaul]

Maybe the progressive solution to anthropogenic climate change is climate response due to nuclear exchange

 

[twomp]

Cruz is great, except on foreign policy.

Oh that and he wants Obama to go after pot smokers in Colorado because FK the 10th Amendment. But besides that, yah Ted Cruz sure is swell.

 

[AlbertJNocke]

Pretty simple, I copy and pasted an email the cruz press office sent out and I guess there was some additional text?

 

[juleswin]

Pretty simple, I copy and pasted an email the cruz press office sent out and I guess there was some additional text?

Where exactly did you find the email? Which email address did it come from? I mean, even I surprised when I first read it. Cos even Cruz still want to put up the facade that he is more restrained than the like of John McCain with issues of foreign entanglements.

 

[TaftFan]

Pretty simple, I copy and pasted an email the cruz press office sent out and I guess there was some additional text?

I call BS.

Both statements were obviously inserted after the fact. They are ridiculous propositions and do not fit with the rest of the statement.

 

[Origanalist]

I call BS.

Both statements were obviously inserted after the fact. They are ridiculous propositions and do not fit with the rest of the statement.

No way....

 

[Natural Citizen]

Origanalist. Did you know that you have mice on your head? All of this time I thought it was spots. Then I did a double take.

 

[AlbertJNocke]

I call BS.

Both statements were obviously inserted after the fact. They are ridiculous propositions and do not fit with the rest of the statement.

So apparently the person who forwarded it to me added those lines in as a way to mess with me knowing my opposition to military intervention. I should have read it more closely before posting it. Seriously. My apologies everyone, I feel like moron.