Congress is appropriating more money for Ukraine. Many people on the right think we need to stop all the funding altogether and focus on problems at home. Some don’t want to be involved because of isolationist tendencies. Some don’t want to be involved because they support Russia.
"Much of the money is on a lend-lease basis, which means Ukraine will pay it back. If Ukraine does get absorbed into the European Union, the EU will ultimately wind up helping Ukraine pay us back." Just like Iraq paid us back? That part of an otherwise decent essay's off base, Erick.
You are spot on when you write, "Putin wants to recreate a Russian Empire that works in opposition to our interests and the interests of the West." And to do that, Putin has four specific targets: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, NATO members all. His imperial desires (we often forget that the USSR was essentially the Czarist Russian Empire under new management) will inevitably make it happen. That's where many of the isolationists, voiced every weeknight by Tucker Carlson, are mistaken. They assume that Putin can be reined in diplomatically. He can't. Like many other such people, Putin thinks he can bluster and threaten his way to his goals. Sadly, like all the others, he can't, and will only realize that fact too late to do Russia, and the world, any good.
Where Carlson may well be right is when he alleges that we may have maneuvered Putin into the "special military operation". The fact is that the neocons, having been read out of any influence by Donald Trump, managed to worm themselves into various positions of influence in the Biden Administration. It's never good when the Party of Endless War gets a seat at the table. Their influence on Grandpa Dementia certainly explains why the whole Russia collusion hoax was born. Trump really sought a diplomatic solution in Ukraine, just as he did in the Middle East through the Abraham Accords. The Party of Endless War dislikes anyone who believes that peace should be given a chance. But they now have the ear of our Chauncey Gardner President, and the path to another devastating European war, and maybe a true Third World War, is seemingly set.
A Ukraine economically crippled by the loss of most of its Black Sea shipping capacity due to Putin's annexations is obviously not a tenable solution. Neither is wresting it back by force of arms. Really light handed and evenhanded diplomacy is needed here, but light-handedness and evenhandedness are sadly absent in Washington these days.
We are in a position to decide how to combat Russians. We are not in a position to decide whether to combat Russians. Russia determined that battle decades ago - and it was a long and costly stand-off. We have a strong ally in Ukraine who is standing against a superior force. We can choose to support them in the battle. Or, we can choose to let the battle come to us. Ukraine should have every advanced weapon we can provide and train them to use. Or we can let our children and grandchildren take those weapons into the battle against evil.
Another way to view it is that Russia is committing innumerable atrocities against the people of Ukraine. Are we to sit on the sidelines here as we have done with China and the Uyghurs? Do we stand for the rights of the people? Or have we become to fattened and domesticated to resist tyranny? Are we so content in our wealth and ease that we no longer care about people?
The American Bald Eagle used to stand for freedom. Is she so overfed that she no longer patrols the skies for inhumanities?
I pretty much always trust you, Erick. But I'm going to need more elaboration to convince me that your bullet points in your final paragraph are going to actually turn out to be true. I'm sorry if I'm cynical but it's pretty hard not to be.
I would support funding Ukraine but for the corruption with US leader and Zelenskey. It is full of corruption and you will soon see Zelenskey step down or he will be removed. These things are not what they seem. Just call me crazy. Selah
I respectfully disagree. The other NATO nations are not funding this. We ae sending money to the Ukraine in an undisciplined manner just like Afghanistan. Bought friends (Allies) evaporate when the money dries up.
Government deficit spending is driving inflation! The average American will continue to struggle because we are saving the world.
This is the way I see it. God made us exceptional. I believe that we are the big brother of the countries that need a big brother so we are going to help them, when they need it.
That being said I also believe that the money going to Ukraine doesn't need to get thrown into a slush fund. You do know that some of this money is going into Ukrainian pension plans. all that I ask for is accountability. Bullets, guns, and tanks are fine, but I'm not for propping up someone's. 401K. And I also believe that there isn't anyone in this country that is rooting for Russia, not anyone that belongs here at least.
I agree with supporting Ukraine the way we are. Our issue is do we really have the foreign policy expertise in the Biden White House to understand what the Russians are going to do and develop strategies to put and keep them at a disadvantage. Our leadership failures (militarily and politically) in Afghanistan make me think we do not.
Eric mirrors my view on support for Ukraine. But he missed the fact that American weapons are working well and much of the aid consists of US weapons we intend to replace. When we do replace them, the companies who make them will experience a sales boom as they will be able to sell somewhat out-of-date US weapons that are proven in Ukraine and will outsell competitors around the world. The Congressionally-approved cost of the Ukrainian aid is the historical cost of the weapons we are giving to them. In many cases, the historical cost is irrelevant because we intended to replace them but it is hard to tell how overstated the aid numbers are without going through a line-by-line, weapon by weapon analysis.
"Better to take on Russia this way than directly and if we don’t take on Russia this way, we will take them on that way eventually, probably with China and Iran too."
Understand the point from another perspective - our military is no longer capable to address conflicts on two (let alone 3) fronts. "Battle by Proxy" may be the only avenue possible today.
I agree with you on this one. Peace for Ukraine!
I wish our government would reduce spending in other areas. They spend money like it grows on Trees and don’t seem to care about the taxpayers.
I would like them to cut back on Grants . You don’t continue to spend money you don’t have.
"Much of the money is on a lend-lease basis, which means Ukraine will pay it back. If Ukraine does get absorbed into the European Union, the EU will ultimately wind up helping Ukraine pay us back." Just like Iraq paid us back? That part of an otherwise decent essay's off base, Erick.
You are spot on when you write, "Putin wants to recreate a Russian Empire that works in opposition to our interests and the interests of the West." And to do that, Putin has four specific targets: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, NATO members all. His imperial desires (we often forget that the USSR was essentially the Czarist Russian Empire under new management) will inevitably make it happen. That's where many of the isolationists, voiced every weeknight by Tucker Carlson, are mistaken. They assume that Putin can be reined in diplomatically. He can't. Like many other such people, Putin thinks he can bluster and threaten his way to his goals. Sadly, like all the others, he can't, and will only realize that fact too late to do Russia, and the world, any good.
Where Carlson may well be right is when he alleges that we may have maneuvered Putin into the "special military operation". The fact is that the neocons, having been read out of any influence by Donald Trump, managed to worm themselves into various positions of influence in the Biden Administration. It's never good when the Party of Endless War gets a seat at the table. Their influence on Grandpa Dementia certainly explains why the whole Russia collusion hoax was born. Trump really sought a diplomatic solution in Ukraine, just as he did in the Middle East through the Abraham Accords. The Party of Endless War dislikes anyone who believes that peace should be given a chance. But they now have the ear of our Chauncey Gardner President, and the path to another devastating European war, and maybe a true Third World War, is seemingly set.
A Ukraine economically crippled by the loss of most of its Black Sea shipping capacity due to Putin's annexations is obviously not a tenable solution. Neither is wresting it back by force of arms. Really light handed and evenhanded diplomacy is needed here, but light-handedness and evenhandedness are sadly absent in Washington these days.
You may want to read the Constitution on the appropriation of money. I think Mr. Madison would strongly disagree with you.
We are in a position to decide how to combat Russians. We are not in a position to decide whether to combat Russians. Russia determined that battle decades ago - and it was a long and costly stand-off. We have a strong ally in Ukraine who is standing against a superior force. We can choose to support them in the battle. Or, we can choose to let the battle come to us. Ukraine should have every advanced weapon we can provide and train them to use. Or we can let our children and grandchildren take those weapons into the battle against evil.
Another way to view it is that Russia is committing innumerable atrocities against the people of Ukraine. Are we to sit on the sidelines here as we have done with China and the Uyghurs? Do we stand for the rights of the people? Or have we become to fattened and domesticated to resist tyranny? Are we so content in our wealth and ease that we no longer care about people?
The American Bald Eagle used to stand for freedom. Is she so overfed that she no longer patrols the skies for inhumanities?
I pretty much always trust you, Erick. But I'm going to need more elaboration to convince me that your bullet points in your final paragraph are going to actually turn out to be true. I'm sorry if I'm cynical but it's pretty hard not to be.
I would support funding Ukraine but for the corruption with US leader and Zelenskey. It is full of corruption and you will soon see Zelenskey step down or he will be removed. These things are not what they seem. Just call me crazy. Selah
I respectfully disagree. The other NATO nations are not funding this. We ae sending money to the Ukraine in an undisciplined manner just like Afghanistan. Bought friends (Allies) evaporate when the money dries up.
Government deficit spending is driving inflation! The average American will continue to struggle because we are saving the world.
This is the way I see it. God made us exceptional. I believe that we are the big brother of the countries that need a big brother so we are going to help them, when they need it.
That being said I also believe that the money going to Ukraine doesn't need to get thrown into a slush fund. You do know that some of this money is going into Ukrainian pension plans. all that I ask for is accountability. Bullets, guns, and tanks are fine, but I'm not for propping up someone's. 401K. And I also believe that there isn't anyone in this country that is rooting for Russia, not anyone that belongs here at least.
I guess Erick's become a mouthpiece for the Military/Industrial Complex? 😉
Seriously, I agree as well. Who knows? Maybe China will see how well our weapons actually work and rethink a possible move against Taiwan.
Agree!
Agree!
I agree with supporting Ukraine the way we are. Our issue is do we really have the foreign policy expertise in the Biden White House to understand what the Russians are going to do and develop strategies to put and keep them at a disadvantage. Our leadership failures (militarily and politically) in Afghanistan make me think we do not.
Absolutely agree Eric!
Eric mirrors my view on support for Ukraine. But he missed the fact that American weapons are working well and much of the aid consists of US weapons we intend to replace. When we do replace them, the companies who make them will experience a sales boom as they will be able to sell somewhat out-of-date US weapons that are proven in Ukraine and will outsell competitors around the world. The Congressionally-approved cost of the Ukrainian aid is the historical cost of the weapons we are giving to them. In many cases, the historical cost is irrelevant because we intended to replace them but it is hard to tell how overstated the aid numbers are without going through a line-by-line, weapon by weapon analysis.
"Better to take on Russia this way than directly and if we don’t take on Russia this way, we will take them on that way eventually, probably with China and Iran too."
Understand the point from another perspective - our military is no longer capable to address conflicts on two (let alone 3) fronts. "Battle by Proxy" may be the only avenue possible today.