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War in Ukraine

Discussion in 'Too Hot for Swamp Gas' started by PITBOSS, Jan 21, 2022.

  1. JustaGator

    JustaGator All American

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  2. okeechobee

    okeechobee GC Hall of Fame

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    Man, you're just lost. Rich of you to quote as support Reagan era foreign policy, which ultimately funded Osama Bin Laden's cousins in the Mujahideen. Funding occurred over a 13-year span, not 9. From 1979-1992. Mostly under Reagan, and then Bush Sr.

    The issue being that over that 13-year span you reference, the total aid given to the Mujahideen by the United States was $3 billion. (or roughly $7.5 billion when adjusted for inflation in today dollars) So, not even a billion dollars per year was given to the Mujahideen to fight the Soviets. By comparison, we've given $350 billion to Ukraine in the past 3 years. Quite literally the funding we gave the Mujahideen was a drop in the bucket compared to what we've given Ukraine. And frankly, perhaps you should reconsider my point about tactical ability of the proxy to execute. Look what the Mujahideen was able to do with a tiny fraction of the aid we've given Ukraine. I rest my case.

    For you to understand the insanity of option #1, you should probably gain some proper perspective. That may help. Although, I suspect due to your TDS, it won't change your line of attack.
     
  3. jjgator55

    jjgator55 VIP Member

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    You’re comparing apples and oranges.
     
  4. chemgator

    chemgator GC Hall of Fame

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    At least the people of 1938-39 had the excuse of living in a severe Depression where there wasn't always enough food to go around (Dust Bowl, etc.). People were fighting for $1 a day jobs to risk their lives to build Hoover Dam. They didn't want to have any more people in the soup lines to wait behind and wonder if they were going to starve that day. Trumpers have no excuse.
     
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  5. demosthenes

    demosthenes Premium Member

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    It’s a lot more today due to the type of warfare but it is not $350B.
     
  6. JustaGator

    JustaGator All American

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  7. demosthenes

    demosthenes Premium Member

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    Was it even “spent?” I could be wrong but my understanding is that they apply a value to equipment, even if it antiquated for our needs, and that is counted as part of the aid value, not that we went out and procured newer equipment to backfill outdated equipment.
     
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  8. slayerxing

    slayerxing GC Hall of Fame

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    So much wrong in that post I don't have the time or inclination to correct you.
     
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  9. JustaGator

    JustaGator All American

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  10. JustaGator

    JustaGator All American

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    That's what happens when you gets your facts from a garbage can, like he does.
     
  11. chemgator

    chemgator GC Hall of Fame

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    The Afghan fighters had a huge advantage in the mountains that their country is loaded with, and another advantage in the fact that they were fighting as partisans, blending with the local population. Russia was more limited in the effectiveness of its armor, and relied more heavily on air power, which the Stinger missiles helped neutralize. It's probably a little late to expect Ukraine to build mountains in the areas of the battlefield, don't you think? Ukraine can't really fight as partisans in their terrain because it would be too hard to coordinate their activities and prevent friendly-fire incidents.

    Carter started funding the Mujahideen in 1979 by providing surplus British Lee-Enfield rifles (made for WWI). Modern weapons like the Stinger missiles were provided in the mid- to late-80's. The U.S. economy was not strong enough in the early 80's to go overboard on funding the Mujahideen, and politicians likely didn't think too highly of the Mujahideen's chances even with support.

    Operation Cyclone - Wikipedia

    Another difference between the two wars is the scale of Russian involvement, likely due to the terrain in Afghanistan. The Russians had a maximum of 115,000 troops in Afghanistan during that conflict, while the current fighting with Ukraine involves 620,000 Russian troops. The deaths of Russian troops in Ukraine (about 200k or more) are an order of magnitude greater than in Afghanistan (15k).

    Soviet–Afghan War - Wikipedia

    Furthermore, the rise of Bin Laden and al Qaeda was due to the lack of funding to help Afghanistan recover from the war, not from the war itself. Bush, Sr. made a massive screwup when he failed to support the new Afghan government, which was led by a pro-western engineer who was killed by a journalist at a press conference with a gun concealed in a camera (KGB hardware). Chaos prevailed at that point and the Taliban took over.

    Hopefully, this helps YOU gain some perspective. I rest my case.
     
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  12. demosthenes

    demosthenes Premium Member

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    This is what I am talking about, the Presidential draw down authority where we transferred existing USA assets, some of which were “obsolete”. The question is how to value that equipment that we no longer use. That valuation was included in the aid package numbers.

    Asset valuation. Presidential Drawdown Authority allows the President to provide defense items such as ammunition and missiles from DOD's inventories to respond to foreign crises. In 2023, DOD notified Congress that it had misvalued items given to Ukraine under this authority in FY 2022 and FY 2023 by about $6.2 billion. The law that includes this authority doesn't clearly define "value" as it relates to the authority. Also, DOD doesn't have valuation guidance specific to this authority, so it can't be assured that it will value these items accurately.​
     
  13. homer

    homer GC Hall of Fame

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    How much has the bloviator given Ukraine since he became president?

    He keeps saying we as to when Biden was president.
     
  14. demosthenes

    demosthenes Premium Member

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    He wants Ukraine to pull out of the four oblasts, only one of which Russia controls 100% of it. So his demands are not even that the battle lines are drawn where they stand meaning Ukraine would have to cede additional territory. Oh, and Ukraine can’t join NATO meaning we get to do this all over again in 8 years. F that guy.
     
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  15. G8trGr8t

    G8trGr8t Premium Member

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    DOGE would have counted it as cost savings by not having to pay to store and retire the ammo. then counted it 6 times across different spreadsheets
     
  16. G8trGr8t

    G8trGr8t Premium Member

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    Musk continues to pollute his brand and opens the door to his competitors

    A French competitor to Elon Musk's Starlink saw its shares triple in value as Trump halted aid to Ukraine

    Starlink, owned by Elon Musk's SpaceX, has been a vital internet provider for Ukraine's military, and the loss of its services would be a severe blow to Kyiv's communications and drone operations.

    That's key for Eutelsat, which merged with a UK-based Starlink competitor, OneWeb, in 2023.

    The satellite firm has come to the fore as European leaders say they're bolstering defense spending while raising the possibility that they could seek to fill any gaps in Ukraine's internet access.

    As its share price rose, a spokesperson for the company told Reuters it was discussing with the European Union how it might contribute to Ukraine's internet access.
     
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  17. JustaGator

    JustaGator All American

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  18. uftaipan

    uftaipan GC Hall of Fame

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    Not just that. Ukraine would also have to “disarm” and be “neutral,” meaning when Russia decides the time is right, Russia can just walk into Ukraine without any of the pesky resistance they rudely put up for the last three years.
     
  19. G8trGr8t

    G8trGr8t Premium Member

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    lie there and enjoy it and leave the restraints on the bedframe for when I return.

    Ukraine isn't going to accept that deal as long as they are still breathing and who would blame them.

    will zelensky bring down Putina nd trump?