Not this crap again....
Posted on 01/30/2015 12:35:40 PM PST by UMCRevMom@aol.com
"Eight former U.S. national security practitioners — the two of us, plus former U.S. representative to NATO Ivo Daalder, former undersecretary of defense Michèle Flournoy, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst, former deputy undersecretary of defense Jan Lodal, former NATO European commander James Stavridis and former U.S. European Command deputy commander Charles Wald — come together issuing following recommendations for immediate action. (releasing Monday report: “Preserving Ukraine’s Independence, Resisting Russian Aggression: What the United States and NATO Must Do.”)
First, White House and Congress must commit serious money to Ukraine’s defense: $1 billion in military assistance this fiscal year, followed by additional $1 billion each in fiscal year 2016 and 2017. Congress should not only authorize assistance, as it did in the Ukraine Freedom Support Act last year, but also appropriate funds.
Second, U.S. government should alter its policy and begin providing lethal assistance to Ukraine. Most of the above funds would go to nonlethal assistance. For example, the Ukrainian army desperately needs counter-battery radars to pinpoint the source of enemy rocket and artillery fire, which cause about 70 percent of Ukrainian casualties.
But the Ukrainians also need some defensive arms, particularly light anti-armor weapons. The antitank missiles in the Ukrainian inventory are more than 20 years old, and a large proportion of them do not work. U.S. anti-armor weapons could fill a crucial gap.
Third, the U.S. government should approach other NATO member states about assisting Ukraine, particularly those countries that operate former Soviet equipment and weapons systems compatible with Ukraine’s hardware. If the United States moves to provide lethal assistance, we believe that some other NATO countries will do so as well.
Time is urgent. Spring arrives in three months in eastern Ukraine, and fighting could then achieve new intensity. We should help the Ukrainians deter that."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Sell??
HOW...
They are broke, and begging the U.S./EU for money.
We “Sell” them anything, you and I are going to be the ones paying for it.
Check with Von Paulus and Manstein.
There is no such thing as "NATO", it's been a mirage for 40 years. There IS such a thing as Germany, but it's certain they don't want a rematch.
And the US?
The US that was afraid to fight Saudi Arabia and Pakistan? That US is going to fight Russia on the Western plains of Eurasia, with the Urals at their back and the Belgians at ours?
Don't be absurd.
Only to a defensible, shorter border, say Manzanillo-Guadalajara-Leon-Tampico. Make a fifty-mile deep exclusion zone and make any Mexicans who want to stay our Croats defending our military frontier.
“I think America needs Ukraine’s help”
I agree, as well as Europe’s.
HOWEVER, the coup government, the Right Sector nutjobs pushing this war, and the Billionaire Oligarch’s behind it do not.
“That’s why to me a split makes the most sense, Western Ukraine can join NATO, the EU, whatever....that might be the best deal they’re going to get.”
The coup all but insured that Ukraine would fracture.
In the end, I think it will be split 3 to 4 ways, with Western Ukraine going to Hungary, the far north to the Poles, “Novorussia”, and then Banderistan isolated in the middle of it all.
I didn’t say anything about fighting, but I did liken the game to chicken. I was just trying to tighten up your analogy. Supporting Putin’s strategic on a freedom loving board is the only absurd thinking in our short dialogue.
Thanks for saving me a visit to Russian Times!
Not our concern. If Europe is concerned, it can spend its blood and treasure on it.
But the Neo-Nazis are okay for Putin to pal around with if they are from Hungary or donating to Golden Dawn. Okay, same old retread arguments.
And search "Putin" and "Fraud" and one gets plenty of hits, Putin isn't legitimate so Russia defenders really can't make a valid claim here.
Arm Ukraine, Israel, Nigeria, wherever it is for a good cause. Islamic nations? Democracy doesn’t work.
As stupid as us going to war in June 1812 because Great Britain had violated U.S. sovereignty implying that our nation was still a colonial entity and subject to them. We had no alternative to war ... neither does Ukraine.
"Illegal" my foot. There was a free election.
But I don't "support Putin's strategy".
I do oppose the strategic stupidity of taking on the Russians in their front yard over a piece of land that belonged to them for 1000 years.
That's not supporting Putin. That's describing reality.
In each case, surrender or accommodation to superior force was an option.
Madison's government believed they could win, and they were right, so it was a wise choice.
You are entitled to your opinion (if it is your opinion) that Ukraine can beat Russia straight up, but it's my opinion that the certain outcome for Ukraine is death and destruction, and, that being so, I have no appetite for cheering them on.
The strong do what they can, the weak do what they must.
Under Obama, The U.S. has become a very poor ally.
UKRAINE had the 3rd largest nuclear weapons in the world behind Russia & U.S.
On 5 December, 1994 Ukraine adhered to the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons by giving up its arsenal of nuclear weapons under the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances.
This treaty was signed by three nuclear powers the Russian Federation, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom which provided security assurances to maintain Ukraine sovereignty by the fact that they were signatories to this agreement.
Where is there security assurance now when Ukraine is in desperate need of war armaments to fight off its Russian invaders?
Not this crap again....
http://www.conflict-news.com/live-feeds/ukraine/
Allegedly a live feed from over there. Really, it looks bad all around.
The website is a bit of a novice as far as quality of stories go but the live feed is okay.
AGREE, but tthat is another issue.
Under Obama, The U.S. has become a very poor ally.
UKRAINE had the 3rd largest nuclear weapons in the world behind Russia & U.S.
On 5 December, 1994 Ukraine adhered to the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons by giving up its arsenal of nuclear weapons under the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances.
This treaty was signed by three nuclear powers the Russian Federation, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom which provided security assurances to maintain Ukraine sovereignty by the fact that they were signatories to this agreement.
Where is there security assurance now when Ukraine is in desperate need of war armaments to fight off its Russian invaders?
“This treaty was signed by three nuclear powers the Russian Federation, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom “
For the last frikken time...
The Budapest Memorandum was a “Memoranda of Understanding”, NOT A TREATY... A document with no power or sway over ANYONE, just a propaganda tool that Clinton needed badly in 1994.
A treaty requires approval by the U.S. Senate. Clinton never offered up any such thing.
What is it about the Ukies that they just incessantly LIE?
Ukraine has to defend its national sovereignty and naturally looks to its allies for support. Especially those that signed the Budapest Memorandums on Security Assurances in 1994.
The words of Patrick Henry seem apropo:
“Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace²but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”
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