Pentagon defends pace of weapon shipments as Ukraine worries it’s too late

Politico ^ | April 4, 2024 | MATT BERG

[MinorityRepublican]

The Pentagon is defending its steady rollout of weapons to Ukraine even as officials in Kyiv say the assistance is coming too slowly — and it might already be too late to help turn the tide of the war in Ukraine’s favor.

On Wednesday, POLITICO detailed criticisms from high-ranking Ukrainian officials, who said they can’t defend the frontlines any longer: “There’s nothing that can help Ukraine now,” one of the officials said.

The West doesn’t have the technology to help Ukraine, and it also hasn’t sent weapons quickly enough, the officials said. While the incoming F-16 fighter jets are welcome, they would’ve been more helpful a year ago, a senior officer said. The planes were originally expected to arrive in Ukraine by the end of 2023, and now they’re supposed to arrive by late spring once pilot training is complete.

The Defense Department also wants the process to be quicker, but is arguing that it’s inching along for good reason.

“While getting F-16s to Ukraine sooner would be ideal, it still needs to be done properly and we believe they will still provide a significant boost to Ukraine’s air power when they become operational,” said Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Charlie Dietz.

[silent majority rising]

China and Russia are watching the US give all its weapons away.

[wildcard_redneck]

The excuses a feckless government turns to when its deindustrialization policy renders it unable to engage in industrial warfare....

[Carriage Hill]

"...it might already be too late to help turn the tide of the war in Ukraine’s favor."

Never happen. It's just a matter of attrition and time, for Soviets Russia to 'win' it.

[MinorityRepublican]

In charge.

[Tench_Coxe]

"Russia’s large number of soldiers also “poses a formidable threat,” Dietz continued, but he argued that advanced Western weapon systems combined with Ukraine’s skilled forces and spirit are helping to level the playing field."

The buried lede. Wunderwaffe only gets you so far.

[MinorityRepublican]

It’s a war of attrition now. Advantage: Russia.

[delta7]

I have heard this before- especially when the Ukies may have had a chance. A handful of F-16’s will have no effect on the war’s outcome, they will go the way of all the other western wonder weapons, Patriots, Strykers, M1’s, Bradley’s, M777’s, Leopards, M113’s,…..like Vlad stated, “ They burn like all the rest”.

The classic definition of Stupid…. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results….Hopium is a powerful drug, and the Russian Derangement Syndrome can be deadly….as we are witnessing.

Such a collassol waste.

[1Old Pro]

Ukraine is losing, so let’s have a contest as to when our government and Zelensky blame us, the U.S. taxpayers. They are already blaming the GOP House.

[mac_truck]

The planes were originally expected to arrive in Ukraine by the end of 2023, and now they’re supposed to arrive by late spring once pilot training is complete.

F-16s won't change the direction of the war for Ukraine, only prolong the agony.

[Gaffer]

Looks like Idi Amin, Emperor-for-Life Da Da

[Tench_Coxe]

Definite resemblance:

[hal ogen]

This absolute DEI/affirmative-action nitwit reminds me of Idi Amin. What a loser.

[nuconvert]

Since the start, Biden has slow-walked military aid to Ukraine. Nothing has changed

[ansel12]

I regret that I never wrote him the letter I wanted to write him.

Amin was such a bizarre character and since he fancied himself a paratroop I figured that I could use his vanity to get him to send me a personal letter and a set of jump wings, which would have made interesting collectibles.

[rxh4n1]

That pic always reminds me of The Mystic Knights of the Sea.

Amos n’ Andy, the lost episode: “Hocus Pocus in Ukraine”. The Kingfish convinces Andy to give his rent money for Ukraine. Hilarity ensues.

[Gaffer]

I love the A&A series but I heard somebody like Bill Cosby who bought up all the rights so they could never be seen again.