Biden's Gaza Pier Project: A Costly Failure Dragging on U.S. Resources

Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) has criticized President Biden's Gaza humanitarian aid piers, calling them a costly and ineffective operation that has put U.S. service members in harm's way while failing to address the root causes of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The piers, which were initially intended to increase aid deliveries, have encountered numerous obstacles and logistical issues, including damage to infrastructure, security threats, and slow distribution rates.

President Biden's decision to establish temporary piers in the Mediterranean Sea to increase humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip has come under fire from lawmakers who argue that the project has spiraled out of control, costing millions of dollars and putting U.S. service members at risk.

Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) has been a vocal critic of the operation, calling it "unnecessarily putting our people in harm's way" and "costing a lot." Waltz estimates the total cost of the project at over $300 million, citing reports that the initial estimates were doubled, with Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) labeling it a "dangerous effort with marginal benefit."

The escalating costs include ongoing fuel expenses for Navy destroyers assigned to patrol the waters around the piers, as well as the need to repair damage caused by rough sea conditions. Waltz also raises concerns about the opportunity cost of diverting military assets from other potential missions.

However, the main issue, according to Waltz, is that the delivery of aid outside of Gaza does not address the challenges faced once it crosses the border into the territory. He argues that the aid is vulnerable to ransacking and attacks, and that it falls into the hands of Hamas, which controls aid distribution and uses it to support its own operations.

Despite plans to scale up deliveries to 150 truckloads per day, the operation has been hindered by logistical issues, weather disruptions, and security threats. Waltz highlights the difficulties of navigating rough sea conditions and the proximity of the piers to the shore, putting service members within range of potential attacks.

In addition, reports indicate that crowds have looted aid deliveries after the trucks arrive on land, leading to concerns about equitable distribution. Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder has acknowledged that the aid was "not flowing at a rate that any of us are happy with."

Waltz contends that the project was motivated by "purely political reasons," citing the recent backlash against Biden's Middle East policies among Democrats in Michigan. He believes that the administration is attempting to appease the youth vote by signaling a shift in policy towards Israel.

While the defense officials confirmed that three U.S. service members were injured during the mission, the White House has not responded to requests for comment. Waltz's criticism underscores the growing concerns about the effectiveness and sustainability of the Gaza pier project, which has proven to be a costly and resource-intensive undertaking with limited impact on the humanitarian crisis in the region.