National Security Council Archives

Biden admin to announce final Ukraine military aid package worth $1.2B: Report

December 20, 2024
The Biden administration is expected to announce its final Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) package worth $1.2 billion, according to an exclusive report from Reuters on Friday, Dec. 20. The aid will reportedly feature air defense receptors and artillery munitions.

Reuters reports the equipment will come via the USAI program, which means the weapons will come from U.S. defense contractors, not ready-to-go American stockpiles.

The equipment is not on a fast track either, as aid using this method can reportedly take months or even years to reach troops on the battlefield.

The package may be one of the last steps the United States takes to support Ukraine with direct military support before President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated on Jan. 20.

As Straight Arrow News has previously reported, Trump has questioned military aid to Ukraine in the past, and suggested European allies should bear more of the cost in supporting Kyiv militarily.

The incoming president’s stance has sparked concerns about the future of U.S. military funding for Ukraine during his second term.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago, the United States has committed $175 billion to Kyiv, including a little more than $61 billion in security assistance, with half of that amount coming from the USAI program.

When asked about the latest package by Reuters, the U.S. State Department and Pentagon said they were not disclosing any information about the potential package until an official announcement is made.
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Kirby questioned on the president’s involvement in canceled 9/11 plea deal

August 5, 2024

Many questions remain after it was announced last week the U.S. had reached a plea agreement with the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 terror attacks and his co-conspirators that would have them avoid the death penalty, and then that deal was quickly rescinded. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin released a memo Friday, Aug. 2, saying the decision should’ve been his to make.

Now, many Americans want to know how the original plea deal could have even been an option and what the president has to say about it.

White House spokesperson John Kirby was questioned about it during an appearance on “Fox News Sunday.”

“This was a decision made by the Secretary of Defense. It was an independent decision by him, certainly within his authorities, as in the chain of command at the Defense Department,” Kirby said.

A White House National Security Council had previously said President Biden did not play a role in taking the death penalty off the table for the three 9/11 suspects. He also rejected a proposal last year that would also have spared them the death penalty.
José Andrés honors World Central Kitchen aid workers killed in Gaza

April 26, 2024

At a memorial service at the Washington National Cathedral on Thursday, April 25, celebrity chef José Andrés, founder of World Central Kitchen, gave an emotional tribute to seven aid workers killed in a Gaza airstrike by the Israel Defense Forces earlier this month. Israeli military officials acknowledged the airstrike was a mistake and have disciplined those involved.

Andrés has called for a thorough investigation into the incident.

He expressed hope that World Central Kitchen will continue its global humanitarian efforts, honoring the spirit and dedication of the lost aid workers. The service highlighted the personal stories of the workers and their commitment to helping communities in crisis.

“In the worst moments, the best of humanity shows up. Saif, John, Jacob, Zomi, Jim, James and Damian, they were the best of humanity,” Andrés, speaking at the event, said. “Their examples should inspire us to do better, to be better.”

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“Our losses might seem as small in number compared to the almost 200 humanitarian aid workers killed in Gaza,” Andrés added. “The 34,000 Palestinians killed by IDF and the 1,200 Israelis killed by Hamas. But each of these people leave behind loved ones who will always have them in their hearts. When disaster strikes it’s easy to see the dark and never the light. But the reality is this, the light will always shine through.”

President Joe Biden sent a private letter of condolence to José Andrés, who then read it aloud to the families of the deceased aid workers, according to a National Security Council spokesperson. Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, who attended the memorial service, also met privately with the families to offer his condolences, the spokesperson added.
4-hour daily humanitarian pauses in Israeli assault against Hamas

November 9, 2023
The White House announced that Israel has agreed to implement four-hour daily humanitarian pauses in its offensive against Hamas in northern Gaza, starting Thursday Nov. 9. According to John Kirby, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, noted that the Israelis have pledged to announce each four-hour window at least three hours in advance.

Israel is creating a second corridor for civilians to evacuate targeted areas in its military campaign against Hamas. This new route includes a coastal road connecting to the main north-south highway.

As part of a diplomatic effort to secure the release of hostages taken by Hamas and other militant groups during the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, President Biden is advocating for an extended pause.

Biden said that there was “no possibility” of a formal cease-fire at the moment, and he expressed frustration that it had taken so long for Israel to agree to the humanitarian pauses.

Israeli officials estimate 240 hostages, including children and the elderly, remain captive from the attack, which resulted in 1,400 Israeli casualties. U.S. officials believe fewer than 10 Americans are among the captives.

10,818 Palestinians, including more than 4,400 children have been killed, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. In the occupied West Bank, more than 160 Palestinians have been killed in the violence and Israeli raids.

The Israel Defense Forces said Thursday that it has killed about 50 Palestinian militiamen in recent days of fighting in Gaza City.
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Small oil producers undermine OPEC’s crude-cutting efforts to keep prices high

April 10, 2023
The latest crude production cuts from a group of major oil-producing countries led by Saudi Arabia may not hurt as much as previous cuts. That is thanks to what is being described as a burst in supply from other, smaller oil-producing countries.

These countries include:
- Nigeria.
- Kazakhstan.
- Iran.
- Norway.
- Brazil.
- Guyana.
Iran and Nigeria are both members of OPEC+, which announced its own crude production cuts in October 2022.

Nigeria has seen the biggest increase in recent months, producing 350,000 more barrels per day in February 2023 than September 2022. Nigeria, Kazakhstan, Iran, Norway and Brazil have all increased their daily crude production by more than the United States did over the same timeframe.

The increased efforts from these smaller oil producers has helped balance major cuts to crude production from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Since September, Saudi Arabia has lowered daily crude output by 560,000 barrels to about 10.5 million, according to International Energy Agency data from February. Iraq, the UAE and Kuwait have each cut output by more than 100,000 barrels a day, too.

After last October’s OPEC+ cuts were announced, Goldman Sachs bumped its Brent crude forecast for the first quarter of 2023 to $115 per barrel. Instead, the most-active Brent futures averaged $82 per barrel in the quarter, sliding to a closing low of less than $73 per barrel in mid-March.

Despite the efforts, Americans have begun feeling the cuts at the pump. The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.60 Monday, April 10. That’s up 10 cents per gallon since the announcement.

“Look, we don’t think that production cuts are advisable at this moment, given the market uncertainty. And we made that clear. But I tell you, we’re focused on moving ahead here on prices for American consumers, not barrels,” National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby said Monday, April 3. “And I think, as you know, prices at the pump have come down significantly since last year. We’re also just in a different place in the markets than we were last year.”
Pentagon doesn’t want to share evidence of Russian war crimes with ICC

March 10, 2023

The Pentagon is blocking the Biden administration from sharing evidence of Russian war crimes with the International Criminal Court. A New York Times report states the Defense Department is concerned that assisting The Hague will set a precedent of cooperation and lead to the possible prosecution of Americans.

Congress made an exception for this type of cooperation in December. Lawmakers who have been to Ukraine, including Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., assert that America needs to help the court hold war criminals and Vladimir Putin accountable.

“What they have done, and I visited those mass grave sites in Bucha, is absolutely intolerable to the world community. And we need to put that interest above the immediate concerns that may be motivating the Department of Defense to withhold this evidence,” Sen. Blumenthal told Straight Arrow News.

American intelligence agencies have reportedly gathered information about Russian officials deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure and abducting thousands of Ukrainians and forcibly bringing them to Russia.

According to the report, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is objecting to the information sharing and President Biden has yet to make a final decision. Officials involved in the matter said the intelligence agencies and Departments of Justice and State are all in favor of providing the intel.

“I understand the Pentagon’s reluctance to potentially submit evidence and establish a precedent for providing facts that could be damaging to our troops if they were ever brought before a court,” Sen. Blumenthal said. “But I see no realistic possibility that our troops will ever be facing that kind of a court of justice.”

A spokesperson for the National Security Council said the government supports holding Russian war criminals accountable and they are working to expose what the Russian forces are doing.

Biden admin to announce final Ukraine military aid package worth $1.2B: Report

Kirby questioned on the president’s involvement in canceled 9/11 plea deal

José Andrés honors World Central Kitchen aid workers killed in Gaza

4-hour daily humanitarian pauses in Israeli assault against Hamas

Small oil producers undermine OPEC’s crude-cutting efforts to keep prices high

Pentagon doesn’t want to share evidence of Russian war crimes with ICC

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