US President Joe Biden launched a new mission on Thursday (Oct 19) to convince Americans they should spend billions more on supporting Israel and Ukraine in their wars, arguing that only the U.S.'s involvement can prevent global chaos.
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00:00 "In what was only his second ever speech from the Oval Office, U.S. President Joe Biden
00:06 on Thursday made his case to Americans that tens of billions in wartime aid should be
00:11 sent to Israel and Ukraine, while also linking Hamas to Russian President Vladimir Putin."
00:17 "American leadership is what holds the world together.
00:21 American alliance is what keeps us, America, safe.
00:24 Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common.
00:28 They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy, completely annihilate
00:32 it."
00:33 A source familiar with Biden's plan told Reuters he will ask for $100 billion in new
00:38 spending, including $60 billion for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel.
00:43 The remainder will be split between Asia, U.S. border security, and humanitarian aid.
00:49 He spoke from the Oval Office less than 24 hours after returning from a whirlwind trip
00:53 to Israel, meant to show U.S. solidarity after the attack by Hamas around two weeks ago that
00:59 killed 1,400 Israelis.
01:02 Biden acknowledged that Americans were asking why U.S. support matters in these wars.
01:06 He framed his pitch as a necessary cost.
01:09 "To support our critical partners, including Israel and Ukraine, is a smart investment
01:15 that's going to pay dividends for American security for generations.
01:19 Help us keep American troops out of harm's way.
01:22 Help us build a world that is safer, more peaceful, more prosperous for our children
01:26 and grandchildren."
01:27 Hours after the speech, Russia's foreign ministry fired back, saying on Telegram that Biden's
01:32 comment calling the aid request an investment showed Washington benefits from proxy wars
01:38 rather than fighting for ideas.
01:40 Biden's comments come with some urgency.
01:42 Israel is gearing up for a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, and tensions are at a fever
01:47 pitch after a deadly blast at a Gaza hospital.
01:50 Biden said in his speech that Israel was not responsible, as Hamas officials have maintained.
01:57 But as global protests grow over the hospital strike, he urged Israel not to "give in to
02:02 blind rage" and recognized the need to supply humanitarian aid to Palestinians caught in
02:07 the crossfire in Gaza.
02:09 "Yesterday, in discussions with the leaders of Israel and Egypt, I secured an agreement
02:15 for the first shipment of humanitarian assistance from the United Nations to Palestinian civilians
02:20 in Gaza.
02:21 As I said in Israel, as hard as it is, we cannot give up on peace.
02:26 We cannot give up on a two-state solution."
02:29 Biden's spending request comes at a time of political chaos in Washington.
02:33 The Republicans who control the House of Representatives have failed to unite behind a new speaker,
02:38 after ousting Kevin McCarthy from the job early this month.
02:41 The funding measure, which must pass both the Democratic-led U.S. Senate and Republican-controlled
02:46 but currently leaderless House, will test whether Republican lawmakers can be persuaded
02:51 to set aside their opposition and approve the new spending.
02:55 For more UN videos visit: www.un.org/webcast
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