US Intel chair defends sounding alarms on Russia’s reported space nukes: ‘Sleepwalking into international crisis’
The head of the House Intelligence Committee on Sunday defended his cryptic statement in Congress last week that led to alarming reports Russia wants to put nuclear weapons in space.
Panel Chairman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) said he first raised concerns about a “serious national security threat” because he was afraid the Biden administration is “sleepwalking into an international crisis.
“We need to make certain that we avert what could be an international crisis,” Turner told NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
“My concern is that this is kind of like the Chinese spy balloon, and the administration is kind of hiding perhaps some inaction,” he said, referring to China’s intelligence-gathering apparatus that was discovered freely traveling over American military sites last year, a major security breach the White House reportedly hoped to keep from the public and even Congress.
“I think they are going to be taking it seriously,” Turner said of US officials and the latest worrisome revelation.
Although Turner did not publicly disclose the specifics of the alleged Russian nuclear-weapon plan to take out Western satellites, he revealed that his panel made information available to Congress about an unspecified “serious national security threat.”
Various leaks that subsequently ensued after his warning paved the way for the Biden administration to publicly confirm Turner’s remarks related to an “anti-satellite capability that Russia is developing.”
That weaponry, which a White House spokesman said is “not an active capability that’s been deployed,” involves a nuclear device that would theoretically be able to disrupt space satellites orbiting the Earth, CNN reported, citing three sources.
Turner declined to confirm or deny specifics about the threat when asked Sunday.
House Intelligence Ranking Member Jim Himes (D-Conn.) expressed some bewilderment over Turner’s decision to say what he did last week and downplayed the threat, which he called “significant” but “not a cause for panic.”
But Turner recounted later meeting with National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, who he said laid out “a plan that hopefully would begin to address this.
“Everyone who’s looked at it uses the same language that I have — that it is a very serious threat,” Turner stressed.
Turner attended the Munich Security Conference in Germany over the weekend where Russia’s war in Ukraine was at the top of the mind for US allies. On Saturday, Ukraine was forced to pull out of the eastern city of Avdiivka, marking one of the Kremlin’s most significant wins on the battlefield in recent months.
That Russian advancement came against the backdrop of political gridlock in Washington over funding for additional weaponry to dispatch to Ukraine, which is set to mark the two-year anniversary of its war against invading Russia on Feb. 24.
“Zelensky, of course, did not blame his current situation or what occurred [Saturday] on the delay that’s occurring,” Turner said, referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. “He did indicate that he’s certainly worried that the delay could cause a gap in weapons getting to the Ukraine.”
Turner blasted Russian President Vladimir Putin as “a murderous thug” and argued that the US must respond to Moscow’s “atrocities” and “war crimes” in Ukraine.
The Ohio Republican further expressed hope that the House of Representatives would eventually pass some kind of funding package for Kyiv, pointing to Speaker Mike Johnson’s commitment to finding a path forward on the issue.
Ukraine has emerged as a political hot potato among House Republicans, who find themselves deeply divided on the topic. Last week, the Senate passed a $95 billion foreign aid package, including funding for Ukraine.
But Johnson doused cold water on its chances of passing the House, citing concerns about the lack of US border-security provisions that many GOPers are demanding in return.
Last week, lawmakers on both sides were rattled by the death of Putin’s top foe, Alexei Navalny, in a remote Russian penal colony. Turner said Navalny’s death should encourage the US to be even more “strong” in funding Ukraine.
Former President Donald Trump has loomed large over congressional deliberations on Ukraine. He has argued that aid should take the form of a loan.
Trump also stoked controversy recently during a rally in Conway, SC, for positing that the US should not protect NATO allies that don’t fulfill the obligation to spend 2% of gross domestic product on defense.
“Donald Trump’s political rallies don’t really translate into Donald Trump’s actual policies,” Turner, who has backed Trump, said. “He actually increased funding for NATO.
“He was the first president to give lethal weapons to Ukraine,” Turner added.
Former President Barack Obama declined to send Ukraine lethal aid out of fear the move would be too provocative. Trump’s administration green-lit that aid.
