DeSantis Now Sending Drones, Ammo, Weapons, and Bulletpoof Vests to Israel;
The AP Begins Scheming About Arresting Him for Arms Dealing

DeSantis is conducting his own foreign policy.

Someone in America has to.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has sent drones, weapons and ammunition to Israel to support its war against Hamas, a move that bolsters his pro-Israel stance in the battle for the GOP presidential nomination.

It's so sinister for a political figure to act in accord with his constituent's wishes.

At least, it's sinister if a Republican does this. In fairness, we don't see much of it so I can almost understand the surprise.

Meanwhile, Merrick Garland arrests and surveils all of Biden's political enemies and The Hill just applauds.

Jeremy Redfern, a spokesperson for DeSantis’s office, said that the Israeli Consul General in Miami requested Florida send drones, body armor and helmets to Israel for first responders to use. Redfern said that cargo planes carrying the items, which also included hospital and health-care supplies, were contracted by Florida.

He also said the office worked with the Consul General "to help get weapons and ammunition to Israel through private parties." He did not say who these private parties were.

Redfern also did not comment on what kinds of weapons were provided or how many drones and rounds of ammunition were sent to Israel.

DeSantis has been an outspoken supporter of Israel and has vowed that Florida will do as much as it can to aid the nation in its efforts against Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States. He issued an executive order earlier this month authorizing the rescue of Floridians in Israel using chartered flights.

The AP immediately began scheming about what laws it could claim DeSantis should be imprisoned for. Of course.

It's unclear whether DeSantis coordinated shipments of any weapons with the Biden administration. The Commerce Department regulates the shipment abroad of many types of U.S. weapons and technology.

"It is not illegal for the governor of a state to offer a measure of foreign assistance to another country," said John Kirby, a spokesperson for the White House's National Security Council. "There are laws and regulations which govern how the export process is handled and that's all done through Commerce. I couldn't speak with authority today about whether the governor has checked all those boxes or not."

The Commerce Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The export of military equipment would typically require a license or some other authorization from either the Commerce or State Departments, depending on the precise item, said Thomas Krueger, a lawyer at the Akin Gump law firm who specializes in international trade and previously served as the director of strategic trade and nonproliferation at the White House's National Security Council.

"It really all depends on the specifications of the items themselves, to determine what kind of export authorization would be required," Krueger said.

posted by Disinformation Expert Ace at 03:17 PM

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