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 ...
Until we take care of our own back yard of elected leaders...we can’t offer any real aid to anyone else...the US is not in a position to offer help...economy or military - both have been devastated by this present administration...
** AMERICA NEEDS AMERICA’S HELP **
How about we leave the illegal government of Ukraine alone.
It is not worth WWIII.
Ukraine army has little have no money. They have fewer supplies. Russia had infiltrated their government & military hierarchy during this 10 year planned invasion by Russia.
Ukraine is fighting The Russian military giant with guts and prayer begging help from their allies.
On September 18, 2014, during a joint meeting of both chambers of Congress, President Poroshenko received multiple standing ovations from lawmakers.
Poroshenko called for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory, the closure of the Russian border to other troops and ammunition, and the release of Ukrainian “hostages.” He warned that Russian-backed proxy wars and extremist movements first seen in Crimea must be confined.
Poroshenko added, “If they are not stopped now, they will cross European borders and spread throughout the globe.” He said, “”Blankets and night-vision goggles are important, But one cannot win a war with blankets.”
Obama did condemn Russian aggression, first in Crimea and most recently in eastern Ukraine. But his administration will not respond to calls from Congress to send arms to bolster Ukraine’s armed forces saying “that would not alter the dynamics of power between Kiev and Moscow.”
Obama also told Poroshenko “that he is the right man for the job.” During a meeting in the Oval Office, Obama said “the mere image of him sitting side-by side with Poroshenko would “be worth at least a thousand words, both in English and in Russian.”
And by giving Hitler Poland, we could avoid WWII; at least that’s what they told us.
Hussein only helps our enemies.
Ukraine is trying to join the West. So it will be snubbed by BHO.
Obama will speed up the delivery of the promised MREs and maybe throw in some condoms.
LISTEN UP OBAMA:
FDR said in The 1941 State of the Union:
“I also ask this Congress for authority and for funds sufficient to manufacture additional munitions and war supplies of many kinds, to be turned over to those nations which are now in actual war with aggressor nations.
Our most useful and immediate role is to act as an arsenal for them as well as for ourselves. They do not need man power, but they do need billions of dollars worth of the weapons of defense. The time is near when they will not be able to pay for them all in ready cash. We cannot, and we will not, tell them that they must surrender, merely because of present inability to pay for the weapons which we know they must have.
I do not recommend that we make them a loan of dollars with which to pay for these weapons—a loan to be repaid in dollars.
I recommend that we make it possible for those nations to continue to obtain war materials in the United States, fitting their orders into our own program. Nearly all their materiel would, if the time ever came, be useful for our own defense.”
I think America needs Ukraine’s help.
Ukraine had an elected government. Corrupt and pro-Russian but elected.
Through violence, intimidation and western support - that government was overthrown and an illegal government was put in power. But somehow that is a GOOD THING.
Crimea and eastern Ukraine through violence, intimidation and Russian support - overthrows the new Ukraine government in those areas. But somehow that is a BAD THING.
And idiots like you compare the whole thing to Hitler and that America should somehow get involved. Stupid is as stupid does.
Post of the year!!!!!
Exactly. The tire burners started it, let them deal with their own stupidity.
During the Cold War we supplied anybody and everybody willing to fight the communists. They did as well-those who would oppose us. Cuba, N. Vietnam. Norks, etc. Now? Just not sure about this. The Europeans could step forward with the Carl Gustav. They should be more actively involved.
Ukraine is a tar pit—no one should try to help because they will be bled dry by corruption, Best thing—do nothing.
Test
We need to side with the moose against Russia?
Good tagline
You know, the US government formed in 1776 was technically illegal too. Never mind the fact that the Ukrainian parliament voted to oust their tyrant. Never mind the fact that Novorussia is a Russian fabrication to justify invading the Ukraine, and that a large portion (if not the majority) of these “rebels” are in fact Russian soldiers!
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