The Disastrous War in Ukraine
A blank check of support is often a dangerous thing, especially in war
Remarkably, U.S. aid to Ukraine may soon exceed $100 billion if the Biden administration’s latest ask is approved. And more than a few Americans believe Ukraine merits this vast sum—and more.
They argue the Ukraine war is a necessary one and applaud the Biden administration for taking a firm stance against Russian aggression. They see Putin as a dangerous dictator who seeks to revive a Russian empire at the expense of Europe, and they wholeheartedly approve of U.S. and NATO military aid. They argue Ukraine is winning the war and that, once the war is won, Ukraine should be invited to join NATO. They see NATO as a benign presence and dismiss Russian concerns that NATO expansion is in any way provocative. And they see negotiation with Putin as at best premature and at worst as rewarding Putin for his Hitlerian aggression.
My stance is different. Yes, I denounce Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and hope that he loses, but I’d prefer to see a negotiated settlement. The longer the war lasts, the more people die, Russian and Ukrainian, and the greater the chance of miscalculation followed by escalation, possibly even to nuclear weapons.
I don’t think the U.S. government cares a whit about defending democracy in Ukraine; heck, it barely defends democracy in America. I think the government and specifically the MICC (military-industrial-congressional complex) has several goals:
1. To weaken Russia militarily and economically via what some term a proxy war.
2. To sell more natural gas to Europe (hence the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines).
3. To sell massive amounts of weaponry to Ukraine.
4. To elevate Russia to an “evil empire” once again, ensuring higher Pentagon spending. Notice how there’s been no “peace dividend” in the aftermath of the Afghan War. Indeed, Pentagon budgets have soared since the Russian invasion.
5. To support the narrative of a new cold war against Russia and China, ensuring even more spending on weapons and wars.
6. Finally, as Biden stated openly, the desire to effect regime change in Russia, i.e. the overthrow of Putin by his own people.
Again, I’m no Putin fan, and I truly wish he’d give up and withdraw his forces. But I very much doubt he’ll do that. It seems more likely that both sides, Ukraine and Russia, will continue launching missiles and drones at each other while the war escalates further. Consider recent reports of Ukrainian attacks on Russian barracks in the Crimea even as Russia targets infrastructure in Odesa.
So, while it’s true U.S. and NATO aid will keep Ukraine in the war, it’s also true Ukrainians and Russians will continue to suffer and die in a war that is already escalating in dangerous ways. It all has the makings of a far-reaching disaster, but what we’re encouraged to do is to ask no questions while flying the Ukrainian flag just below our American ones.
A blank check of support is often a dangerous thing, especially in war.
The Disastrous War in Ukraine
Didn't we once upon a time blame Germany's "blank check" to Austria for WW I? The trouble is that Putin is totally justified in putting a real threat threat to the security of his country - and to ethnic Russians living just beyond its western border - above the USA and West's hypocritical and sanctimonious obeisance to international law. That is what this war is about, no matter how much propaganda lipstick is smeared on this pig.
Yeah…: What could POSSIBLY go wrong? Remember: "“This is about supporting the Ukrainians, not fighting the Russians"... :
BIDEN ADMIN WANTS TO BOOST EFFORTS TO TRACK U.S. WEAPONS IN UKRAINE, MAY SEND ANOTHER HANDFUL OF TROOPS [Excerpts] by Courtney Kube and Carol E. Lee 121222
<<< Senior U.S. Officials Stressed That Any New U.S. Troop Presence In Ukraine Would Be Limited And Modest, Most Likely In The Single Digits. >>>
The Defense Department is working to shore up efforts to track weapons provided to Ukraine, according to three senior U.S. officials, including discussing whether to send a small number of additional U.S. troops to Ukraine.
The discussion comes as the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine approaches and the Biden administration contends with the ground war and a new political battlefield at home. The INCOMING REPUBLICAN HOUSE MAJORITY HAS SIGNALED IT WILL BE MORE SKEPTICAL OF A “BLANK CHECK” FOR UKRAINE AND WILL WANT MORE ACCOUNTABILITY ABOUT HOW U.S. WEAPONS ARE DISTRIBUTED AND USED. SOME GOP LAWMAKERS COULD TRY TO BLOCK ECONOMIC AND MILITARY AID — OR LIMIT U.S. TROOP PRESENCE.
The Pentagon has a couple of dozen U.S. troops in Ukraine, including a very small number already assigned to making sure weapons reach their intended recipients. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other military leaders want to enhance the accountability mission and make sure there are experts in country to help Ukraine use critical weapons systems, including air defense and counter-drone systems.
THE OFFICIALS SAID THEY WOULD LIKE TO PICK UP THE PACE OF THE WEAPONS CHECK BEFORE JANUARY, WHEN THERE WILL BE MORE PRESSURE FOR ACCOUNTABILITY FROM HOUSE REPUBLICANS.
The senior U.S. officials stressed that any new troop presence would be limited and modest, most likely in the single digits. In addition to security concerns, they said, sustaining people in Kyiv remains challenging, with finite space and an unreliable supply of essentials like running water and electricity.
The State Department also caps how many U.S. government officials — civilian and military — can live and work in other countries, and that limit is low in Ukraine, officials say. Some could live and work in neighboring countries and travel in for missions if the cap is not raised, the officials said, but an increase could also spark criticism from Republicans and others that the Biden administration is pushing the limits of a pledge not to send U.S. troops to Ukraine.
“THIS IS CLASSIC MISSION CREEP,” a former U.S. official said.
“THAT’S RIDICULOUS,” A U.S. DEFENSE OFFICIAL SAID, EXPLAINING THAT IT IS AN “EXTREMELY LIMITED” ADDITIONAL PRESENCE WITH A “VERY SPECIFIC” MISSION. “THIS IS ABOUT SUPPORTING THE UKRAINIANS, NOT FIGHTING THE RUSSIANS.”
Full article at https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/biden-weighing-send-us-troops-ukraine-track-weapons-rcna61078?mod=djemCapitalJournalDaybreak [EMPHASES added.]