Section 219 Deserves Public Debate

Section 219 is a little-known provision buried inside this year’s National Defense Authorization Act, but its implications extend far beyond a single spending bill. Rather than approving a one-time initiative, Congress is considering making expanded technology cooperation with Israel a permanent part of Defense Department policy. A policy of this magnitude deserves more than a vote. It deserves a public explanation so history records not only what Congress did, but why it did it.