$61 billion dollars for Ukraine

While this does not seem important it very much is. Let’s look at why, first Poland borders Ukraine and they are in NATO. Which means if Ukraine were to fall Russia might attack them which means American soldiers would die and a possible world war would commence. On the flip side that could have gone to problems here in our own communities. Such as fighting drug trafficking and addiction. Affordable housing as well and Ukraine could receive 20 billion instead.

Now that is out of the way let’s talk about what caused this to be so large one Europe never boosted there military complex after the Cold War. Two Ukraine failed the summer offensive of 2023. they took 17km which is terrible especially because of the success of the Kharkiv offensive in the fall of 2022. It was reported that the United States told Ukraine to not fight for towns that were not strategic in anyway. Ukraine claimed they needed to fight for it because of symbolic reasoning. This obviously was a huge mistake in warfare you never waste material fighting for nothing. Some will claim they had to fight. I say that it was a strategically bad move for someone who is outgunned. One thing Ukraine also did wrong early was not utilize the lend lease act of 2022. This is a modern day version of what the US did with the allies particularly England in World War II. That is a wasted opportunity congress almost certainly would have a proved extension if it had been used. This is not free money with this bill, no it would require Ukraine to have paid back all of the money given to them under the lend lease act. Ukraine did not take advantage of this, and it has cost them in my belief. there has been one concern amongst opponents of aid that since Ukraine has had corruption problems, it might not actually get to the battlefield, and the money will go into the pockets of the oligarchs. Some thing that I think would solve this is having an inspector general oversee the funds.

Know that we have some background into this aid package in the war as a whole we can discuss what the future might hold. This really comes down to what happens in the election this year if the American people elect a government that’s going to spend billions of dollars in Ukraine, then the war will continue on, and we will have to see if this turns into a forever war. If a government is elected, that is not willing to do so. Negotiations will start almost immediately, which is why the next six months will be extremely important for Ukraine. Europe is ramping up, their military complex so hopefully much of the burden the US has had to share will go to Europe and America can focus on what we really believe to be the biggest adversary to us which is China. We will leave China for a different post.

Just like the US in the revolution had to prove itself to France to get aid Ukraine will likely have to do so for a government that is skeptical. Therefore, they must hold the line and then advance over the course the next six months before the election happens. this means they cannot go on the Defense. They have to go on offense. The importance of talking about this is about American foreign policy. We can not in ignore foreign policy. Particularly this war because it is in Europe. It is one that deals with Russia and is a democracy being invaded. One of the things that needs to be talked about is the amount of casualties there of been on both sides give or take 1 million people have either died or been injured considering estimates for both sides militaries are 500,000 soldiers killed or injured. $61 billion is a lot of money and there are gonna be people who say it’s not enough they need it to be 120 billion or even to be an unlimited amount. However, these people don’t seem to understand the needs of the American population. While security is important, so is the economy, environment housing, and, quality of life and, health. All of those are important, so the take away from this is quite simple. This money has already been passed. However, we cannot allow there to be an open check in which they just expect us to continue to give them weapons that we don’t even give allies such as the F 22 raptor we need to be secure in case China was ever to attack us or a Ally over in Asia.

Photo credit Reuters