Russian invasion of Ukraine

[Blue Maverick]

Can’t agree with that

Why, have you ever served?

 

[Blue Maverick]

If true this is the US assisting Israel and holding back funds for Ukraine

The

Biden administration approved the transfer of 25 fifth-generation F-35I Adir fighters to

Israel.According to The Washington Post, the United States in recent days has quietly approved another agreement to supply Israel with 2,300 modern aviation munitions.The new weapons packages include over 1,800 2,000-pound MK84 bombs and 500 500-pound MK82 bombs."We continue to support Israel's right to defend itself," a White House spokesman said.

Fuck me that’s a lot of money, give that to the Ukraine it turns the tide of the war!

 

[ChicagoBlue]

Jeeze, I didn't even bother reading all that. You need to wind your neck in a little pal and lay off the abuse.

Then, don’t waste my time commenting.

Sure you have funded the majority of nato, no one said you hadn't. But the truth of the matter is Eurpope needs to do more. The US does what's in its best interests, I've no issue with that, we need to do the same.

Poppycock. We overspend through Europe’s need, not statutory requirement.

This conversation has come about because it looks increasingly likely your country is going to back Trump, and I can only assume from your tone you're 100m % behind him.

You assume 100M% wrong! What on earth…???

When you do that, you will pull out of supporting Ukraine. That's your choice no-one else's.

I hope that never happens.

Therefore the UK and Europe needs to stand on its own two feet.

That’d be a first for quite some time. Given the popularity of the major governments in Europe, that’d be a rabbit out of the hat. Standing up means hard decisions backed by money and a long term vision. Where are you going to find that in an increasingly timid Europe?

 

[ChicagoBlue]

You appear to be conflating defence spending with NATO funding.
The US funds 16.2% of NATO’s costs compared to the UK’s 11.2%. Europe as a whole funds 77% compared to North America’s 23%.
The only time Article 5 was invoked was by the US after 9/11 when NATO allies all came and supported the US.

No, I’m not conflating the two. I’m talking about the required spending of NATO countries to be part of the pact.

As of 2022, there are 30 members of NATO. Those nations include: Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland (which has no standing military), Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States.

Minimum required defense spending by NATO countries​

During the 2014 summit, all NATO members agreed to spend at least 2% of their GDPs on defense by 2025. In 2017, only four nations met the threshold: The United States (3.6%), Greece (2.4%), the United Kingdom (2.1%), and Poland (2.0%). However, by 2021, ten countries were meeting the percentage target.

10 out of 30, with the USA 50% of a much larger GDP ahead of the UK, who were actually doing their fair share.

I’d call that pretty reliable!

 

[ChicagoBlue]

“Ridiculous“ I”m afraid It’s true the USA are on a different path it’s a democracy and if the people vote for Trump then so be it. Biden may secure another term ? we don’t know yet and the aid to Ukraine is held up by people who see the war in Israel as a priority for financial assistance

The USA is not a democracy, it is a republic.

You misunderstand the hold up of Ukraine aid and there is no financial aid, beyond the normal annual assistance, being given to Israel.

The Ukraine funding is being tied up by right wing Republicans because they want a war footing, and funding, on the Southern border of the USA. Democrats made a deal for much of that with Republicans, but Trump told the MAGAts not to agree to it (even though it was a Republican plan the Dems agreed to in order to remove the issue as an election cudgel) because he wants to keep immigration and fear of other as an election issue.

We have to prepare ourselves from the Russian threat that France seem to take seriously I do too, every day the US delay aid to Ukraine brings the prospect of Ukraine falling to Russia closer they are the ones dying every day and we should be preparing our own military for a future of Russia on our doorstep

I agree with this, but it is hopefully a short term issue, and one for which Europe can fill the vacuum.

Putin is a vicious thug and knows no bounds. Ukraine is a massive country on his southern border that gives him unfettered access to the Black Sea and could cut off Western access. And, I don’t think he would stop there. The Baltics are small countries that could be quickly overrun before Europe could even arrange the myriad meetings to try to get the members around one table.

 

[mosssideblue]

Why, have you ever served?

25 years

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

25 years

Yeah, but apart from that quarter century…

 

[mrcunny]

Yeah, but apart from that quarter century…

Catering regiment ive heard...

 

[mosssideblue]

Yeah, but apart from that quarter century…

I did another 25 years in military prime contractors supporting all three legs of the armed forces

 

[ChicagoBlue]

One guy shit over the USA so you decide to shit all over the rest of the UK?

Not cool man. Don't forget where your beloved Blues are, too.

What’s good for the goose isn’t good for the gander?

The USA gets politically shit on every day on here (there’s more than one thread!), yet half of this forum comes over here for their hols and has a great time! Go figure.

Just as if someone over here is shitting on the UK, I point out all the good, I’m quick to point out the selective memory of those who do it to the USA.

And, make no mistake, there’s a metric shitton of problems in both places to keep that conversation going forever!