Things are tense all over these days, and Capitol Hill is no exception. As House Republicans struggle to settle on a Speaker to replace Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), against the backdrop of war in the Middle East, we see wild scenes unfolding like Rep. George Santos (R-NY) getting into a shouting match with anti-Israel protestors, and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) sheepishly avoiding reporter Hillary Vaughn's pointed questions about whether she supports Israel's right to defend itself in response to reports of Hamas terrorists beheading and burning babies.

One of the reasons for the focus on Tlaib is her abysmal response to the vicious attacks by Hamas in Israel. The statement she issued Sunday following the attacks decried an "apartheid system" and "living under siege," rendering her mention of grief over Israeli lives lost hollow: 

I grieve the Palestinian and Israeli lives lost yesterday, today, and every day. I am determined as ever to fight for a just future where everyone can live in peace, without fear and with true freedom, equal rights, and human dignity. The path to that future must include lifting the blockade, ending the occupation, and dismantling the apartheid system that creates the suffocating, dehumanizing conditions that can lead to resistance. The failure to recognize the violent reality of living under siege, occupation and apartheid makes no one safer. No person, no child anywhere should have to suffer or live in fear of violence. We cannot ignore the humanity in each other. As long as our country provides billions in unconditional funding to support the apartheid government, this heartbreaking cycle of violence will continue.

This, in turn, renewed scrutiny over Tlaib's decision to fly a Palestinian flag outside her office. To be fair, the flag's presence isn't new. But it's drawn renewed criticism in light of the attacks in Israel. 

Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) had an answer for that — and for the "Day of Jihad" called for by former Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal — Friday morning as he attended a House Republican caucus meeting at the Capitol.

As the only member to serve with both the United States Army and the Israel Defense Forces, I will always stand with Israel.

Tlaib’s got her flag. I got my uniform. “Global Day of Rage” my ass. pic.twitter.com/WPWvst17ww

— Rep. Brian Mast (@RepBrianMast) October 13, 2023

As the only member to serve with both the United States Army and the Israel Defense Forces, I will always stand with Israel. Tlaib’s got her flag. I got my uniform. “Global Day of Rage” my ass.

Mast, who's served in Congress since 2017, is a U.S. Army veteran, having served in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. He lost his legs in 2010 after stepping on an IED in Kandahar. 

But, as alluded to in his tweet, that wasn't his only service. In January 2015, Mast volunteered with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

He was stationed that month at a base at Tel Hashomer outside Tel Aviv, where he packed medical kits and moved supplies around, including some heavy lifting.

While Israel was new to him, pulling his weight in a military environment wasn’t. Only two and a half years earlier, Mast was medically retired from the US Army following 12 years of service. During his military career, he earned the the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal for Valor, the Purple Heart Medal, and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal.

 I'm likely biased, but in terms of displaying support, I'd say he wears it better.