Posted on 10/14/2022 12:47:21 PM PDT by Yo-Yo
There's no such thing as a free-ish ride.
Elon Musk and SpaceX will no longer be able to fund Starlink internet in the Ukraine, citing a deteriorating relationship with Kyiv.
The company claims it cannot push any more resources to assist the Ukrainian war effort at a rate approaching pro bono status, and has looked to the Pentagon to pick up the tab.
“We are not in a position to further donate terminals to Ukraine, or fund the existing terminals for an indefinite period of time,” SpaceX’s director of government sales wrote in a communique to news media.
On Friday, Musk tweeted that his “operation has cost SpaceX $80 million and will exceed $100 million by the end of the year.”
The Pentagon was notified the month prior to the announcement, citing it would cost nearly $400 million within a 12-month span.
An outside consultant notified the Pentagon that “SpaceX faces terribly difficult decisions here. I do not think they have the financial ability to provide any additional terminals or service as requested by General Zaluzhniy.”
SpaceX has been instrumental in turning the less-developed Ukrainian military’s luck around, helping turn them from an army on its last legs to one capable of pushing the Russians out of their country.
When Musk began looking into ways to push the peace process forward, CNN reported that Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany, Andrij Melnyk, responded with harsh words.
““F*** off is my very diplomatic reply to you @elonmusk,” he replied.
Deteriorating relations between Musk and Kyiv -the latter having become accustomed to getting what they want at the expense of Western democracies and republics- is said to have played a major role in the tech company’s response.
I have no idea. I don’t care about either,
All that money given to Ukraine should be used for our border and to put Mexico on notice.
Yes. Musk is not just putting his satellites back to their former task, is he.
He’s a little further Left than his cartoon illustrations depict.
Exactly. He got a valuable service in place early, demonstrating its value, and as US Congress sent mountains of cash - and the recipients became belligerent - got the system in place such that free service could end.
“FU” is not a nice way to treat someone giving you tens of millions of dollars of lifesaving infrastructure for free. Good timing - value proven, pay up.
Not sure why Elon was giving it away for free anyway. Business means making a profit.
Now Musk has the deadbeats whining... ... because they’re deadbeats. Give Musk some interest in Ukraine aka. Lend-lease and see starlink tap turn back on.
Stop being naughty, cranked.😉
I assume this whole Starlink setup began with some kind of an agreement. Musk might not have thought things would go on for so long, but if he made an open-ended agreement, then he should honor it. It sounds like he is just letting everyone know that it will have to be renegotiated at some point.
US and European, and everyone else’s tech support, without internet service would be about impossible.
He should never have been giving it to them for free.
Did “X-he-X” save the uterus and keep it in the fridge?
@LibsofTikTok
Ukraine told Musk to “F&!^ OFF” So... Elon has “F*&!@D OFF.”
Such a waste of a cute girl.
As I recall, the official response from Ukraine was “f*** off.”
As Tucker Carlson said, who in the hell do these people think they are?
Keep in mind, that was from a DIPLOMAT. Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany, to be precise.
In what universe does someone with such poor impulse control become an ambassador?
He was told to F off by Ukraine. He is just honoring that request.
“The company claims it cannot push any more resources to assist the Ukrainian war effort at a rate approaching pro bono status, and has looked to the Pentagon to pick up the tab.”
For those in Rio Linda: That means us the taxpayers.
Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany did say that regarding Musk’s entry into the fray of warring tactics and/or negotiations. I doubt either Ukraine or Musk originally believed that the Starlink provisions included diplomacy.
Ukraine is getting something and paying nothing, Ukraine can always tell Musk to remove his Starlink. When you are taking something from someone else, it is usually wise to at least show some appreciation and respond politely even if they did not agree with Musk.
I certainly agree that it is usually best to be polite. (We could use a whole lot more of that here on FR lately.)
Still, it is polite to give a gift and then accept it as given. It is not polite to attach strings after the fact.
Advertisement: “Get Starlink Service With Absolutely No Fees!” ;D
[Omitted small print: customers must pay fees and sign contracts to provide personal information after six months—information that may be revealed to terrorist enemies of the free world by drug addicted Libertarians.]
Gotcha 👍
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