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Miyares Moves to Support Israel

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by

Bob Rayner
in , ,

Jason Miyares

from The Republican Standard

In the wake of the attack on Israel carried out by terrorist organization Hamas last week, Attorney General Jason Miyares is calling upon Virginia law enforcement agencies to help Israelis fight for their lives in a new way.

Fox News obtained copies of a letter distributed to over 100 sheriffs’ offices by the AG’s office, urging them to donate “surplus body armor, protective gear and other tactical equipment” to be collected by his office and sent to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Miyares also noted in the letter that “While I’m aware that some police departments are stretched for resources, many departments have expired equipment that are required to be donated or discarded. If you have excess law enforcement protective equipment, my office will collect them and ship it to the Israel Defense Forces.”

In a tweet, Miyares also summed up the call in the following way:

“Israel is fighting for democracy and human rights in the face of absolute evil, and they need our support.

“That’s why I’m launching an effort to send them expired, surplus body armor and tactical gear.”

Republished with permission from The Republican Standard.

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24 responses to “Miyares Moves to Support Israel”

  1. Dick Hall-Sizemore Avatar
    Dick Hall-Sizemore

    lf the equipment can be used by IDF, even it has expired, why couldn’t it still be used by Virginia law enforcement?

    What a political grandstand! As if surplus equipment from Virginia law enforcement is going to have any impact at all.

    1. LarrytheG Avatar
      LarrytheG

      I’d imagine the IDF gets what they need from the US but perhaps the aid workers might benefit from them.

      1. Dick Hall-Sizemore Avatar
        Dick Hall-Sizemore

        That is not what Miyares says he wants to do with the equipment.

        1. Nathan Avatar
          Nathan

          Miyares said it will be shipped to IDF. They will determine where it is best deployed.

    2. how_it_works Avatar
      how_it_works

      My guess as to why it can’t be used by Virginia law enforcement is “liability”.

      For the same reason that the police replace tires instead of patching them when they get a nail in them.

    3. Nathan Avatar
      Nathan

      “As if surplus equipment from Virginia law enforcement is going to have any impact at all.”

      No impact? I wouldn’t be so sure about that.

      As of Tuesday evening, Marcellus said the momentum to help is growing and that he “secured $11 million worth of new vests and tactical equipment from suppliers at a discount for Israel.”

      So far, nearly 40 counties in Virginia have committed to donating surplus combat gear, and the Virginia State Police are also getting involved.

      Virginia is the first state to start this initiative, but Marcellus said other states will likely follow suit.

      Hat tip to WayneS for the link.

      https://www.nbc12.com/2023/10/18/virginia-is-first-state-collect-surplus-tactical-gear-israel/

    4. Matt Adams Avatar
      Matt Adams

      Because if it is used after it has expired and either an officer or accused is injured or killed they are legally liable. That isn’t true for Israel.

      Considering the 300k reserve forces called up are short on equipment, it would have significant impact. Careful, your political bias is showing again.

      1. Nathan Avatar
        Nathan

        In addition to the 300k reserve forces, about 200,000 former IDF soldiers have also volunteered and need to be equipped to serve.

        Here’s an example:

        Taylor Swift’s Israeli bodyguard heads home to fight in Gaza war

        https://www.timesofisrael.com/taylor-swifts-israeli-bodyguard-heads-home-to-fight-in-gaza-war/

  2. Nancy Naive Avatar
    Nancy Naive

    Will Danny Diggs give up his MRAP? Or, will he need it if Mason steals the election?
    https://wydaily.com/news/local/2014/06/28/ypso-receives-armored-vehicle-from-military/

    1. WayneS Avatar
      WayneS

      As of 2020 he needed a waiver from the Criminal Justice Services Board to use his MRAP. Do you know if his department received one?

      https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title2.2/chapter55.4/section2.2-5515/

  3. WayneS Avatar
    WayneS

    Mr. Miyares is exaggerating when he says he is launching this effort. He was ‘recruited’ by a former hedge fund CEO/farmer from Powhatan County.

    https://www.nbc12.com/2023/10/18/virginia-is-first-state-collect-surplus-tactical-gear-israel/

    1. Nathan Avatar
      Nathan

      Thanks for the link.

      It says that the program will get “…surplus tactical gear from local Virginia law enforcement into the hands of Israeli Defense Forces and civilian first responders in Israel.”

      Many first responders in Israel are volunteers, like the two below in yellow. If Hezbollah attacks from the north, the need for body protection will grow exponentially.

      https://twitter.com/MarinaMedvin/status/1714847625130762425?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1714847625130762425%7Ctwgr%5Ead4d2bc790033bef42987a374999e53c3d8f3092%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitchy.com%2Fsamj%2F2023%2F10%2F19%2Fmarina-melvin-men-in-yellow-vests-n2388728

  4. VaPragamtist Avatar
    VaPragamtist

    I understand supporting IDF. But at the same time, collecting surplus equipment to send overseas when police departments in Virginia are struggling. . .when 599 funding is constantly de-emphasized by the General Assembly. . .just seems off to me.

    But we are talking about an idea from a former hedge fund manager who lives in a central Virginia county with 88% White population and a median household income significantly higher than most counties in the region.

    1. Nancy Naive Avatar
      Nancy Naive

      Not to mention it has to be shipped & received. Better to sell it and send money.

      1. Nathan Avatar
        Nathan

        If there was enough equipment already in Israel, there wouldn’t be efforts to acquire it. Even new equipment (which is also being donated), will need to be shipped.

        1. LarrytheG Avatar
          LarrytheG

          shipping actually reduces what could be donated. It can cost more to ship than to buy new in that region. Who pays to ship the donated materials?

  5. Turbocohen Avatar
    Turbocohen

    As usual its painfully obvious who the Democrats are in this discussion.

  6. Eric the half a troll Avatar
    Eric the half a troll

    Maybe he could send some of that equipment to Ukraine too… no…?

    1. LarrytheG Avatar
      LarrytheG

      One of the issues with these kinds of donations is transportation costs. It can cost as much as the item to ship it long distances. Sometimes the money used for shipping is more useful to buy new equipment nearer to where it is needed than spent on transporting older donated equipment. Needs to think about most-efficient approach for “do gooder” ideas.

      1. Nathan Avatar
        Nathan

        That’s why shipping in bulk makes sense, rather than doing it individually.

        If you read further, you will see that both old and new equipment is being donated.

        With any luck, transportation services might be donated too.

  7. DJRippert Avatar
    DJRippert

    The Commonwealth of Virginia has no business conducting foreign policy.

    If this expired equipment has value it should be sold and the proceeds sent whichever organization (state or local) who originally paid for the equipment.

    In a perfect world, those proceeds would be used to reduce the tax burden on Virginians.

    1. VaPragamtist Avatar
      VaPragamtist

      Good point. Don’t state laws require that any surplus property of value be sold at auction?

  8. Nathan Avatar
    Nathan

    Using surplus gear and equipment deemed to be unfit is very much in keeping with Israel’s history and its struggle to survive efforts to extinguish the Jews and Jewish state. Had they not defended themselves in 1948, the 600,000 Palestinian Jews living on land designated to be the Jewish state would have been wiped out.

    “In 1947, and again on May 14, 1948, the United States had offered de facto recognition of the Israeli Provisional Government, but during the war, the United States maintained an arms embargo against all belligerents.”

    The approximately 600,000 Palestinian Jews were about to fight the combined armed forces of 5 surrounding Arab states who already had trained soldiers and armaments.

    “The goal of the Arabs was initially to block the Partition Resolution and to prevent the establishment of the Jewish state. The Jews, on the other hand, hoped to gain control over the territory allotted to them under the Partition Plan.”

    https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/arab-israeli-war#:~:text=In%201947%2C%20and%20again%20on,arms%20embargo%20against%20all%20belligerents.

  9. killerhertz Avatar
    killerhertz

    We should send them the MRAPs we shipped back here from the GWoT while we are at it.

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