May 25, 2021

West Issues Statement on Revelation Russians Paid Taliban to Kill American Soldiers

DALLAS—State Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas) on Friday issued the following statement concerning the New York Times’ stunning disclosure that American intelligence has known for months that the Russian Federation was paying bounties to Taliban terrorists who kill American soldiers:

“This information was disclosed to President Trump in March. He has done nothing to punish Moscow for its actions. Instead, the President has gone out of his way to be helpful to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, including making a demand that Russia be allowed back into the G-7. He has even gone so far as unilaterally suggesting that he will remove U.S. troops from Germany, a long held dream of the Russian Federation.

The President's inaction is inexcusable. His cozy relationship with Vladimir Putin is dangerous to our national security. There are families without brothers, sisters, fathers, sons, and mothers because of what the Russians are doing, and President Trump is bent on helping the very people paying to have our troops murdered.

John Cornyn seems comfortable with Donald Trump’s close political, personal, and business ties to Russia. I am not.

America, in fulfilling its leadership role in the world, must unite with our allies in universally condemning this action, and joining together to impose further sanctions on a greater global scale.

If this continues to occur, we must consider whether or not it is in our national interest to act militarily. And, at the risk of starting World War III, we must go the diplomatic route with Intentional sanctions first.”

Press Contacts: Kelvin Bass at 214-467-0123
vince@roycewest.com | 972.876.6175