Sanders vs. the Demons

Perhaps the heirs of Hitler now in power in the United States have never launched as many attacks against a political opponent as those targeting Bernie Sanders, the veteran octogenarian Democratic senator who has fought against all the brutalities of the current administration—particularly its support for Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people.

Time and again, Sanders refutes President Trump’s diatribes against him, billionaire Elon Musk’s mockery of his advanced age, and Marco Rubio’s insults in response to the progressive lawmaker’s attempts to halt the massive and continuous military aid to Tel Aviv.

This issue resurfaced just hours ago when the Senate rejected a proposal by Sanders that would have blocked an $8.8 billion arms sale to Israel planned by the Trump administration.

Sanders’ proposal was split into two votes, both of which failed, with only 15 senators supporting the measure.

According to Microsoft News, 14 Democrats voted alongside Sanders: Richard Durbin (Illinois), Martin Heinrich (New Mexico), Mazie Hirono (Hawaii), Ben Ray Luján (New Mexico), Tim Kaine (Virginia), Andy Kim (New Jersey), Ed Markey (Massachusetts), Jeff Merkley (Oregon), Chris Murphy (Connecticut), Brian Schatz (Hawaii), Tina Smith (Minnesota), Chris Van Hollen (Maryland), Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts), and Peter Welch (Vermont).

Sanders demanded that the U.S. "end our complicity in these atrocities" in Gaza. He also accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of acting "barbarically" by blocking humanitarian aid from reaching Gazans.

Speaking about his joint disapproval resolution in November, Sanders stated that the Israeli government was controlled "not just by right-wing extremists, but by religious fanatics." He also accused Netanyahu of violating international law.

Before the vote, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch (R-Idaho) warned that passing the resolutions would mean senators were "abandoning Israel, our closest ally in the Middle East, at a critical moment for global security."

Israel has long enjoyed bipartisan support in the U.S., but its latest war with Hamas has divided Democrats. Some, like Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, have been staunch defenders of Israel, while others, like Sanders, have been harsh critics.

Amid this debate, Rubio seized the opportunity to sign a declaration expediting the delivery of $4 billion in weapons to Israel, which he claimed had been "wrongly withheld" by Biden.

A Gangster Ex-Senator

In a sharp commentary, fellow journalist and jatiboniquense Francisco "Paquito" Arias Fernández labeled Rubio a "gangster ex-senator," ringleader of the anti-Cuban mafia and coup plots against Bolivia, Honduras, Venezuela, Brazil, and Nicaragua from the Capitol. Crowned by the current Führer as his potential Secretary of State in a second term, Rubio embodies the belligerent and extremist path threatening relations between the empire and the rest of the hemisphere—one that respects neither allies nor civilized peaceful coexistence.

"A protagonist of the worst causes against Our America, an advocate of metropolis-colony relations, empire and 'fifth-class subjects,' he lands like the devil’s envoy in Panama City, Buenos Aires, or San Salvador, whip in hand to blackmail, warn, pressure, subvert, corner, set prices, conspire, lie, and threaten."

"China, Russia, Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua—and other old formulas of deception, like the supposed political will of the U.S. government in the war on terror, drugs, migration, conflicts… and destroying Cuban medical cooperation as a priority—are all part of his intimidation playbook, ready to be pulled out to force kneel before imperial dictates."

Marco Rubio is "an envoy with a dual agenda, pushing a new version of the Monroe Doctrine: 'America for the Americans of the North'—with clubs and tariffs, but no carrots," Arias Fernández concludes.

Translated by Sergio A. Paneque Díaz / CubaSí Translation Staff