Today, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced additional security assistance support to meet Ukraine’s critical security and defense needs as part of the surge of security assistance the President directed to put Ukraine in the best possible position. This includes the approval of a Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) package, which has an estimated value of $500 million, to provide Ukraine additional capabilities to meet its most urgent needs, including: missiles for air defense; air-to-ground munitions; and equipment to support Ukraine’s use of F-16s.
The capabilities in this announcement include:
AIM-7, RIM-7, and AIM-9M missiles for air defense;
Air-to-ground munitions;
Support equipment for F-16s;
Armored bridging systems;
Secure communications equipment;
Small arms and ammunition; and
Spare parts, ancillary equipment, services, training, and transportation.
This is the Biden Administration’s seventy-fourth tranche of equipment to be provided from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021. The United States continues to work together with some 50 Allies and partners that Secretary Austin will convene tomorrow as part of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and its associated Capability Coalitions to provide the support Ukraine needs to prevail in its fight against Russian aggression.
Completely agree, but think the boat has already sailed there. Particularly with Trump’s own imperialist rhetoric, diversionary tactics or not.
US being an uncertain defender now, Australia needs to consider how we’d go it alone or strengthen alliances with smaller but more trustworthy friends.
There was a study/paper/something of that ilk released more than 20 years ago which highlighted Australia’s ranking with the US when it came to providing support should war break out in the Pacific Region.
South Korea and Japan sat at the top of the list…Australia was an afterthought…and unlikely to receive much, if any, direct aid from the US.
But our (and their) politicians love a good photo op so still regularly get together and sign near meaningless treaties…not to forget contracts for submarines that will likely never arrive.
We also had a real live example when Australia finally intervened to stop Indonesia’s genocide in East Timor. The US basically told us if it came to shooting, we were on our own.
Nothing new is right. It has been thus for at least 50 years. The strategic importance of Australia to US comes down to one thing, our source of raw materials, something that China recognized and prioritized decades ago. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that those two super powers could even go to war over access to our said raw materials.
It is worse that that. The US (Kissinger of one of his minions) basically gave Djakarta the green light to invade East Timor. IIRC there was a high level meeting between the Indo govt. and the US ambassador, the night before the invasion. The ambassador flew out the next morning. (Allegedly)
I am sure that is correct, but I was talking about the time after E Timor voted for independence and the Indonesians responded by shooting and kidnapping as many as they could. Honest John Howard and Downer wanted to look the other way. (*It was reported that Downer couldn’t come to the press conference because he was eating birthday cake). They finally acceded to the weight of public opinion and sent our defence forces in.
Believe what you like, I firmly believe that Putin would fire off a nuke , and there probably would not be a response from USA or France. Maybe the Poms but I doubt it.
You think Israel would not nuke Iran if they were threatened badly enough.
If the whole idea about having nuclear weapons is just deterrence, then what happens when some mad country leader, and there are a few around unleashes one.
Nobody knows what will actually happen if one does get used by a rogue state, but what absolutely won’t happen is countries sitting by idling and watching it go on
And no, Israel will not nuke Iran, that is ridiculous
