it is how aid always worked, same bucket of money, it is just an oversimplification on my part.
if we give money to Ethiopia for famine, we’d expect them to spend that money on our product. so the grain is already on the ground being distributed due to famine, we just send ‘replacement’ grain later.
same with xxxx country in war. we already have our stuff in the conflict zone. by the time the congress decide on aid for xxxx (then to send aid, the war is over).... it just makes accounting easier.
there is always a loophole with aid, thru 3 party firms, typically US firms. getting part of that aid money, back into US firms. hmmm, wouldn’t it be great to run a ‘non-profit’ in a 3rd world country and get rich?
[#6] the bill is a choice between let them keep the weapons for free or make them pay.[#28] if we give money to Ethiopia for famine, we’d expect them to spend that money on our product. so the grain is already on the ground being distributed due to famine, we just send ‘replacement’ grain later.
In the case of Ukraine, we have not given anyone the money. The money has not yet been created. Congress has not passed a package of funding for Ukraine in months and is still squabbling about whether to give them any more money.
[#28] same with xxxx country in war. we already have our stuff in the conflict zone. by the time the congress decide on aid for xxxx (then to send aid, the war is over).... it just makes accounting easier.
I have a very modest knowledge of military accounting. If the comptroller obligates a penny more spending the he has been authorized, he incurs a reportable accounting violation.
Either the weapons are in the possession of the U.S., or they have been given to Ukraine. We can stage it anywhere while in our possession. What takes authorization is to release the weapons from our possession. Release of the weapons without authorization is illegal.
Absent congressional authorization, they do not get the money, they do not get the weapons, and they have nothing to return. If the weapons remain in our possession, the concept of "a choice between let them keep the weapons for free or make them pay," does not arise.