Possible for Ukraine to beat back Russia?

[Soothsayer]

Originally Posted by Botten [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

For just 5% of the US military budget, we’ve disabled 50% of Russia’s military power.

Democrats have loosened Russia’s grip on energy, sent a very loud message to China, restrengthened our foreign policy and influence after trump pissed all over it, destroyed Russian economy, strengthen our relationship with our allies. The defense spending is also going to bring up our economy further.

A bargain of the century while the Republican whine about wanting to setup an OnlyFans site up using the President’s Son’s laptop. Republicans are sick groomers after all.

It's worth noting that a large majority of Republicans still support giving aid to Ukraine, including the senate minority leader. At the end of the day, there are compelling, logical reasons to continue doing so, and Mitch McConnell spelled that out pretty well the other day. Yeah, you've got a handful of those obnoxious Trump wing types like Gaetz that are willing to say or do just about anything for the sake of publicity, but most level-headed Republicans that can actually think logically do support dismantling Russia's military power through aid to Ukraine in the interest of America's broader geopolitical goals.

[Encroaching Death]

Originally Posted by Soothsayer [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

It's worth noting that a large majority of Republicans still support giving aid to Ukraine, including the senate minority leader. At the end of the day, there are compelling, logical reasons to continue doing so, and Mitch McConnell spelled that out pretty well the other day. Yeah, you've got a handful of those obnoxious Trump wing types like Gaetz that are willing to say or do just about anything for the sake of publicity, but most level-headed Republicans that can actually think logically do support dismantling Russia's military power in the interest of America's broader geopolitical goals.

I don't like that we're giving all this money away, but I understand it.

I just want the money audited and accounted for.

If you really cared about the Ukrainian people, you would too.

Right now I bet maybe 1/3rd of the money we're giving is actually going to the war effort.

There's a reason why all those US politicians looked so giddy in the Capitol.

Because they're pocketing a fuckton of that money. Merry Christmas...

[Reiwa]

Originally Posted by nostalgiaquest [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Your sure it’s not because of things like universal healthcare, affordable colleges, paternity and maternity leave, mandatory minimums for paid time off, holiday pay, high minimum wages, working and well funded public transit systems, no for-profit prison systems, no two party system that constantly shits on itself, politicians that aren’t so obviously paid off by mega corporations, universal acceptance of things like climate change, tax money actually being invested in infrastructure, and dare I say it… socialism?

You have the right of it. The people who make those happiness charts mainly rank the countries by how socialist they are.

[MrSparkle001]

Originally Posted by Encroaching Death [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Not wanting to spend massive amounts of money on a war does not equal support for Russia.

Yeah, we have Russia against the ropes geopolitically. We've done it without spilling American blood (mostly).

But still.

A lot of people are just tired of the bullshit.

Can we go 2 fucking seconds without having our fat ignorant noses in some other country's business?

We always have to be fucking with somebody.

You know why those peaceful European countries score so high on the happiness index?

Because they don't fuck with others.

They ride bikes and eat crossant.

I want to ride bike and eat crossant.

There are a lot of conflicts and wars we don't bother with. Myanmar/Burma and anything in Africa come to mind.

This Ukraine - Russia war has global implications, including with NATO which is now stronger than ever and actually growing and with China which has goals similar to Putin's.

We aren't doing this for humanitarian reasons, let's be real about that.

One of those reasons those European countries live in relative safety and comfort is because of how much the U.S. spends on defense. It could have gone the way of East Germany with much of Europe, and if the U.S. adopted an isolationist policy after WW2 those countries not absorbed by the communists would have had to spend all of their own defense and that just isn't possible. It would have been a much different world.

Trump was not wrong in saying other NATO members need to step up and pay for a larger share because the U.S. is shouldering the burden, but we see how that can benefit us and Europe.

Not saying we should stick our noses in everywhere but in this war we needed to.

[Encroaching Death]

Originally Posted by Reiwa [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

You have the right of it. The people who make those happiness charts mainly rank the countries by how socialist they are.

I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that their politicians aren't corrupt, ambitious, power-hungry war mongers who are more focused on toppling other countries' governments than working for their fellow citizens.

I bet it has nothing to do with that.

[Soothsayer]

Originally Posted by Encroaching Death [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I don't like that we're giving all this money away, but I understand it.

I just want the money audited and accounted for.

If you really cared about the Ukrainian people, you would too.

Right now I bet maybe 1/3rd of the money we're giving is actually going to the war effort.

There's a reason why all those US politicians looked so giddy in the Capitol.

Because they're pocketing a fuckton of that money. Merry Christmas...

I mean, the proof is in the pudding. Ukraine has clearly been using assets like HIMARS, M777, a variety of western armored vehicles, and AGM-88 missiles to devastating effect against Russian forces, and the fact that Russia has lost important strategic locations like Izium, Kupiansk, Kherson, and Lyman in recent months is pretty good evidence of that. We constantly see videos of Ukrainians utilizing humvees and other western vehicles, western small arms and body armor, et cetera. As for non-military economic assistance, that's kind of necessary to ensure that the Ukrainian economy doesn't crumble, which would be bad for a variety of reasons.

I don't know of any good evidence that Ukraine is misappropriating aid on a large scale. There's bound to be some level of waste, but that's just to be expected in a situation like this, and you can't individually control what every single soldier, military official, etc. does. I'm all for some sort of accounting process to ensure that stuff we're giving isn't just being wasted or sold off on a large scale, but there's just no evidence that what we're giving is largely going to waste.

[unsunghero]

Originally Posted by Encroaching Death [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I don't like that we're giving all this money away, but I understand it.

I just want the money audited and accounted for.

If you really cared about the Ukrainian people, you would too.

Right now I bet maybe 1/3rd of the money we're giving is actually going to the war effort.

There's a reason why all those US politicians looked so giddy in the Capitol.

Because they're pocketing a fuckton of that money. Merry Christmas...

Just think, at the end of this new 100 years war, Ukraine can finally say “It’s our rubble now”

Gonna win any day now

[Encroaching Death]

Originally Posted by Soothsayer [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I mean, the proof is in the pudding. Ukraine has clearly been using assets like HIMARS, M777, a variety of western armored vehicles, and AGM-88 missiles to devastating effect against Russian forces, and the fact that Russia has lost important strategic locations like Izium, Kupiansk, Kherson, and Lyman in recent months is pretty good evidence of that. We constantly see videos of Ukrainians utilizing humvees and other western vehicles, western small arms and body armor, et cetera. As for non-military economic assistance, that's kind of necessary to ensure that the Ukrainian economy doesn't crumble, which would be bad for a variety of reasons.

I don't know of any good evidence that Ukraine is misappropriating aid on a large scale. There's bound to be some level of waste, but that's just to be expected in a situation like this, and you can't individually control what every single soldier, military official, etc. does. I'm all for some sort of accounting process to ensure that stuff we're giving isn't just being wasted or sold off on a large scale, but there's just no evidence that what we're giving is largely going to waste.

Ukraine currently ranks #2 as most corrupt country in Europe

They've held that honor for years.

But all of a sudden, in the last 6 months, they can be completely trusted.

It's like lending your meth addicted cousin $5000 and him convincing you everything is fine.

[Reiwa]

Originally Posted by Encroaching Death [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that their politicians aren't corrupt, ambitious, power-hungry war mongers who are more focused on toppling other countries' governments than working for their fellow citizens.

I bet it has nothing to do with that.

Corruption is banana republic shit. No.

[Encroaching Death]

Originally Posted by Reiwa [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Corruption is banana republic shit. No.

Hey, look at that. The least corrupt countries in Europe are also the happiest. I must be onto something...