The Shocking F-35 "Supply Chain of Death" Plot Exposed by a U.S. Senator

Yesterday (Wednesday), U.S. Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), who serves as Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, sent a formal letter to FBI Director Kash Patel requesting an immediate investigation into the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) and one of its leaders, Aisha Nizar. Cotton described Nizar's recent public statements as "direct incitement of violence against U.S. national security interests" and a threat to the nation's defense capabilities.

Background on the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM)

PYM is a U.S.-based activist organization focused on Palestinian advocacy, often involved in protests related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Critics, including Cotton, have accused the group of promoting antisemitic rhetoric, supporting terrorist organizations like Hamas, and engaging in activities that endanger U.S. security. The organization has faced scrutiny before; on August 22, 2025, Cotton sent a separate letter to the IRS urging an investigation into PYM's funding sources and potential ties to terrorism, arguing that such connections should disqualify it from receiving tax-exempt donations. PYM has denied these allegations, framing their work as grassroots activism for Palestinian rights.

The Inciting Incident: Nizar's Speech at the People’s Conference for Palestine

The controversy stems from a speech Nizar delivered at the People’s Conference for Palestine, held in Detroit, Michigan, earlier this year (exact date not specified in reports, but video emerged publicly around September 1). In the talk, Nizar discussed the vulnerabilities in the U.S. F-35 fighter jet program's supply chain, which she described as a "supply chain of death" due to its role in supporting Israel's military operations.

Key quotes from Nizar's speech (based on video analysis):

- "70% of the cost of [the] F-35's program actually comes from the supply chain... They need to transport the different components from the F-35 to different locations to assemble them."

- "The F-35 supply chain functions off of this 'just in time' logistics process... which means that [it] delivers the goods right [when needed]."

- "If one specific node of the F-35 supply chain is intervened in, it has a huge impact on our people back home."

- "We need to be surgical. We need to be strategic... Because there are many different points of these supply chains of death that we can intervene in and we must intervene in."

Nizar emphasized the F-35 program's estimated $2 trillion cost and its reliance on a complex, time-sensitive network of suppliers across the U.S. and internationally. She framed disruptions as a strategic way to hinder U.S. military aid to Israel amid the ongoing war with Hamas. The F-35, produced primarily by Lockheed Martin, is a critical asset for the U.S. military and allies, including Israel, with a supply chain involving thousands of components from hundreds of companies.

Nizar has a history of activism; she was arrested and charged in 2024 for her involvement in Gaza-related protests that blocked traffic on San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge.

In his letter, Cotton urged the FBI to "immediately examine Nizar’s actions and take any necessary actions to mitigate the threat," arguing that her calls constitute sabotage against U.S. military assets. He highlighted the F-35 supply chain as "a key to our military’s ability to fight and win wars" and stressed the need to protect it from "all enemies, foreign and domestic."

Cotton also noted that Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) spoke at the same conference and has met with PYM members in the past, though she is not directly implicated in the letter.

The news has sparked significant debate on social media, particularly on X (formerly Twitter). Pro-Israel accounts and conservative users have amplified calls for action:

- One post described PYM as moving "from ‘activists’ to targets of a federal investigation," urging that calls for sabotage warrant "handcuffs."

- Others tagged FBI officials, suggesting Nizar's remarks could violate federal sabotage laws (e.g., 18 U.S.C. § 2155, which punishes obstructing national defense with up to 20 years in prison).

- Some advocated for deportation, with comments like "she deserves a 1-way ticket to Gaza."

On the other side, pro-Palestinian voices, including journalist Max Blumenthal, defended the speech as a "wise strategy for disrupting the wasteful, evil F-35 platform," arguing it's effective activism rather than incitement.

This isn't Cotton's first push against pro-Palestinian groups; he has previously called for investigations into similar activities, such as protesters blocking U.S. military aid shipments. As of now, the FBI has not publicly responded to the letter, and no charges have been filed. The story is developing, with coverage from outlets like Breitbart, Just the News, and Jewish News Syndicate emphasizing national security risks.