Broadside: US Sanctions and MH17

Rep. Joe Kennedy of Mass. discusses tragic downing of plane, crisis at US border and conflict in Gaza

The day after new sanctions were imposed by the U.S., Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down by a surface-to-air missile.

Democratic Congressman Joe Kennedy from Massachusetts joined Jim Braude on Broadside with his thoughts about that and other major national and international issues.

"Thoughts and prayers, obviously, all over the world, are with the victims of the flight. It's a horrendous, horrendous tragedy," said Kennedy. "The question now, is obviously, what happens next? I think we have to let the facts roll out, but certainly, mounting evidence is pointing very clearly to the fact that it was a missile fired by Russian separatists supplied by the Russian military."

Braude asked what can be done if U.S. sanctions are not working.

"The fact is, though, that the United States doesn't do all that much business with Russia, compared to Europe. And if anything, this is a rallying call to try and get our European allies to step up to the plate as well," said Kennedy. "I think the economic sanctions can have a major impact. We've seen this administration slowly escalate those sanctions and try to show that they're going to continue to escalate until Putin follows his words with actions."

Kennedy also discussed the crisis at the U.S. border and the conflict between the Palestinians and Israelis in Gaza.

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