President Biden’s support for the Ukrainian war effort continues to be just enough for Ukraine to survive, but not enough for it to win. For Ukraine, this is like treading water wearing a 25 lb. life preserver. All your energy is required just to stay afloat; nothing is left to swim ashore.

When will the president start listening to his generals — his own military advisers? One can only assume the advice he is acting on is coming from the likes of national security advisor Jake Sullivan, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken or former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice.

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[–] andyburke@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Can someone explain how Biden is supposed to do this?

Republicans are tilting further and further toward Russia and away from Ukraine. Independents don't understand why we should be "spending" millions on another country.

Biden seems to be sending about as much as any current US president could hope to.

[–] SpaceCadet@sopuli.xyz 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Can someone explain how Biden is supposed to do this?

He already has the authority to do this through the lend-lease act for Ukraine.

Republicans are tilting further and further toward Russia and away from Ukraine

So you're saying that Biden should carry out the Republican agenda out of fear for ... the Republicans?

Independents don’t understand why we should be “spending” millions on another country.

Nice attempt at concern trolling.

You are "spending" the equivalent of 3% of your military budget to take out one of your two major adversaries without spilling a drop of American blood. That is a bargain any day of the week. I put spending between quotes by the way, because the bulk of the equipment being sent to Ukraine is not manufactured new nor does it not come from active inventory but from old stocks that would have to be disposed of soon anyway. If "independents" don't understand that, perhaps we shouldn't pay too much attention to what those "independents" think.

But that's all besides the point. The article is not even about the amount of money or equipment, but about certain critical equipment that he has been witholding or been indecisive on against the judgment of military advisors, out of some misplaced fear of provoking Russia. Things like: longer range missiles, cluster munitions for HIMARS, tanks, permission for European partners to send fighter jets, ... We are asking Ukraine to fight in ways the US or NATO would never fight.

This indecisiveness, which isn't exclusive to Biden but to all Western politicians, has direct implications on the battlefield and is costing Ukrainian lives. Western politicians have this holy fear of making a wrong decision, so they tend to draw out the decision making process until they are confident about making the decision. This wait-and-see attitude may work well in peacetime, but in wartime not making a decision is also a decision and it is often the worst decision.

Take for example the issue of Western tanks and IFVs to help Ukraine's counteroffensive. There were already calls for this in late spring 2022. By autumn 2022 the Russian army was in ruins, but Ukraine lacked the means to push their advantage home. In the end, the decision was delayed until February 2023. This delay gave ample opportunity for the Russians to mobilize troops and build extensive fortified lines.

The same thing with the fighter jets, we all knew it would be a difficult and long process and not an immediate fix, but if the pilot and crew training had started a year ago, we would be in a much better position today.