Former U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle once commanded a lot of influence in Washington, D.C., especially as Senate majority leader and as an early supporter of U.S. President Barack Obama in 2008.
A lot of Ukrainians have reason to hope that he still has clout, although the 67-year-old South Dakotan left office more than a decade ago and is now CEO of The Daschle Group, a political consultancy in Washington, D.C. He also serves as a co-chair of the National Democratic Institute, which is heavily engaged in strengthening democratic institutions in Ukraine.
After a three-day summer visit to Ukraine, Daschle came out publicly in support of two big priorities for Ukraine:
The first is enticing Obama to visit Ukraine, as his predecessors, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, have done.
The second is supplying Ukraine with $3 billion in military aid, including a mix of lethal and non-lethal weapons, a step thus far opposed by Obama as potentially prompting Russia to escalate its war against Ukraine.
Daschle, who served in the Senate from 1987 to 2005 and as its majority leader from 2001-2003, thinks both ideas – a visit by Obama and arms for Ukraine – are good ones.
U.S President Barack Obama talks with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in the White House on Sept. 18. (AFP)
He outlined his views in a July 20 article in Politico, headlined “Ukraine cannot survive on its own,” commentary seized upon hopefully by Ukrainians lobbying the Obama administration for greater attention and money. Many are disappointed that Obama has “outsourced” the West’s policy towards Russia to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, as the American president focuses on Asia, the Middle East and climate change.
“I think it would be a wonderful opportunity for the United States and this administration to demonstrate strong support for efforts under way in Ukraine,” Daschle said in a telephone interview on Aug. 25.
Daschle said he hasn’t talked to Obama about the issue and is not sure that the president will make the trip before leaving office on Jan. 20, 2017.
“He’s got a lot to think about and very little time to do it,” Daschle said. “I happen to believe that one of those places (Obama should visit) is Ukraine.”
Others in Washington, D.C. who have been pushing for an Obama visit – such as former U.S. assistant secretary of state David J. Kramer – say that the two most likely dates for such a visit would be in November, during the G20 summit in Turkey, or in December, during the World Climate Summit in France. But Kramer said an Obama visit to Ukraine is far from a sure bet.
As for arming Ukraine, Daschle thinks a $3 billion package of lethal and non-lethal assistance, touted by the Atlantic Council and Brookings Institution, is the way to go.
“I think that one could argue that the more Ukraine can successfully defend itself and reform from within, the stronger it will be and the stronger the region will be,” Daschle said.
He also said he favors more non-military U.S. aid to Ukraine, although didn’t specify a figure. The U.S. has given Ukraine $2 billion in loan guarantees with the possibility of another $1 billion by the end of the year. Direct aid is estimated this year at nearly $500 million. But many think that Ukraine’s 45 million people will need more amid a shrinking economy.
He hopes, of course, that NDI can enlarge its program. “The more we can convince our supporters to provide the resources, the more visible we cn be,” Daschle said. “We have a fantastic team. They’ve done extraordinary work and have a great relationship with the Ukrainian leadership.”
U.S President Barack Obama talks with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in the White House on Sept. 18. © AFP
Ukraine, however, cannot match the financial resources that the Kremlin has when it comes to lobbying its interests in Washington, D.C.
Many are critical of Daschle’s ex-colleagues, including former U.S. senators Trent Lott, John Breaux and Don Nickles. A May 15 Bloomberg report headlined “Trent Lott’s firm made a fortune lobbying for the Kremlin,” notes that the former Republican senator “raked in” $300,000 from Kremlin-controlled Gazprombank, which is subject to sanctions for Russia’s war and annexation of Ukraine’s territory Crimea.
Daschele refused to “judge my former colleagues. This is a very legitimate debate. I am not going to criticize those who take a different position.”
But Daschle said that that Ukraine offers the United States one of the best chances in the world “for creating a truly democratic republic” that will flourish with some extra aid and attention.
He said that Ukraine is clearly outgunned and outspent in Washington lobbying.
“When it comes to resources, they don’t have the same capacity as those on the other side,” Daschle said. On the other hand, “there’s a lot more sentiment on the part of American people and American Congress for Ukraine,” he added.
Daschle said he supported U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden’s admonition to Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk on July 13 that greater U.S. support is conditional on Ukraine reducing its corruption and prosecuting lawbreakers.
“I think the vice president was correct in citing our concern about corruption in Ukraine,” Daschle said, noting that the “new leaders in Ukraine” are as concerned about the problem as Biden.
“I do think conditionality is warranted,” Daschle said. “Were Ukraine to go back to its old ways it would be harder for allies like the United States to continue its support.”
