Biden announces he'll send 31 Abrams tanks worth $400m

[rayg]

White House adds to Zelensky's war chest amid fears Putin will go 'ballistic'

The Biden administration is sending an entire battalion of 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, yielding to President Volodymyr Zelensky's push for heavy armor to counter Russia's invasion.

President Joe Biden announced the latest tranche of lethal military aide for Ukraine at the White House, after a complicated diplomatic dance that has Germany announcing its own decision to send 14 of its own tanks to Kiev, with more on the way. The U.S. is providing 500 armored vehicles as part of the package. He called the M1 Abrams tanks 'the most capable tanks in the world' and said they would 'enhance Ukraine's capacity to defend its territory to achieve its strategic objectives.' He also cautioned that the move was 'going to take time' ? a reference to the complex training involved with the weapons system, which he described as 'extremely complex to operate and maintain

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ushome/index.html

[Allen]

They haven't even received them yet and are wanting our jets now. We are doing everything but pulling the triggers for them. They could have prepared better for this. They knew since the break-up of the USSR this day would be coming.

I'm all for helping them but we ARE. We can't fight their war for them.

I've read where the Abrams tanks take a crew of 4 and will take months of training before they can be of use to them.

[rayg]

I said this before, it's a reasonable way to beat Russia with out any loss of allied lives. The allied countries providing the tanks must be able to afford it, other wise they would not do so! By the way, the Russian posters in the comment sections are going nuts over it!

[Allen]

I said this before, it's a reasonable way to beat Russia with out any loss of allied lives. The allied countries providing the tanks must be able to afford it, other wise they would not do so! By the way, the Russian posters in the comment sections are going nuts over it!

But that's not the case for the U.S. Look how reluctant America was on sending the Abrams plus these tanks are way more complex than what the other countries are sending thus the months of extra training time.

Our stock is not being replenished as many think. Budget wise we are living day to day. Our stock piles were built at times of better budgets, and better presidents.

Perhaps if we hadn't given so much armament to our enemy the taliban we would have more to give to a former communist country.

[blackhawknj]

The Russians will quickly capture several, go over them with a fine tooth comb, find the weak points, copy what they can...
I read an article in the WSJ that said there was a lot of cleaning out of the cupboards for Desert Storm.
Neither side mobilized in depth beforehand, I doubt their industries have any "jump" capacity and can quickly switch to military production.

[rayg]

The Russians will quickly capture several, go over them with a fine tooth comb, find the weak points, copy what they can...
I read an article in the WSJ that said there was a lot of cleaning out of the cupboards for Desert Storm.
Neither side mobilized in depth beforehand, I doubt their industries have any "jump" capacity and can quickly switch to military production.

As far as our tanks, I'm sure they already know all the details about them already!

[bruce]

Should'a. Could'a. Would'a. Whatever. The US has not ever at any time been ready for a current war. We've always been less than ready for the last war. Now we are again not ready. Fine. War should not be a routine. No different for Ukraine, etc. People are not interested in spending money for stuff they don't need or want. They will however do it when they have to. Just like the US in WWI and WWII. Ukraine is doing the same thing England did when Germany came calling. And, we are doing the same thing now that we did then ... helping. Hopefully that will be all we have to do. That's about all we would have done then if not for Japan giving FDR cause to declare war in the Pacific ... and Hitler stupidly declaring war on the US as a favor to his axis partner. Putin is stuck in a bear trap called Ukraine. The US and NATO is thankfully not standing aside and pretending they must be neutral. Let Putin and his cabal take a pounding. The cost of beating him and his twits as well as the cost of rebuilding will be much cheaper than having to fiddle around half-fighting the next installment of european stupidity. Sincerely. bruce.

[Allen]

I'm just concerned about our military supplies being weakened too much at a time when China, NK. and Iran are a threat plus giving away our best equipment. That kind of leaves us with no edge.

Times are different now-----we have no president.

[rayg]

I'm just concerned about our military supplies being weakened too much at a time when China, NK. and Iran are a threat plus giving away our best equipment. That kind of leaves us with no edge.

Times are different now-----we have no president.

I'm sure our arms manufacturers and contracts are in full swing now in replacing most of what's being used!

[Allen]

I'm sure our arms manufacturers and contracts are in full swing now in replacing most of what's being used!

How could you think that? Our military is being starved out now.

Lockeed/Martin is ready to produce brand new F-16's for the Ukraine but someone has to pay for them. This is a far worse deal than Poland originally wanted.

[rayg]

Ok what's your solution! As I see it the US is deep into the War effort and to not keeping doing so would weaken us in the worlds eyes so I have to believe the US manufactures will get the approval to produce everything needed! I hope I'm not wrong!

[dryheat]

It was mentioned that the Ukes will get tanks as we build them, none of the ones we currently have on hand. That's what I heard. That makes you stop and wonder a little bit. It sounds like something meant to placate people who are concerned about our supplies.

[Allen]

Ok what's your solution!

I'm all for helping the Ukraine. I've expressed that many times. But, WE ARE. Up till now its been mostly us and the UK helping along with some help from Germany. Poland has accepted most of their refugee's. Poland wanted 26 (+ or -) of our used F-16's. Used, I suppose to get them cheap or free. In return they would give the Ukraine their 24 (+ or -) used SU-25's to the Ukraine. A good move for the Ukraine since no pilot training would be involved, however, this was shot down since it would put us directly into opposition against Russia. Now Zelensky is wanting brand new F-16's expressing no regard as to where this places us against Russia.

As far as I'm concerned the delivery of the tanks from us and other countries puts us into WWIII. This is not a move that will keep the war "over there" and not have to fight the Russians.

What has the Ukraine done to prepare for this?

Since the breakup of the USSR the Ukraine has become the second most corrupt nation in Europe, only behind Russia. They knew this day was coming. Russia poured a lot of money into the Ukraine before the breakup plus there is the Crimea. Putin wants his "stuff" back.

Russia annexed the Crimea in 2014.

Putin claimed the territory as his and built the bridge connecting Russia to the Crimea in 2018.

Meanwhile, the Ukraine remains a corrupt nation and does nothing to better themselves in that regard towards becoming a NATO member.

Any further support from us puts us in the very war we have been trying to avoid in my opinion.

You don't wait till someone is shooting down your front door to be concerned about buying a gun or calling the police. Same difference here.

The way things are following through no nation needs to be concerned about having a military and paying to be a NATO member. All they need do is call Uncle Sam to come bail them out.

We have our own problems here. Many of them that need to be addressed but aren't. We can't take care of the whole worlds problems especially when we can't/don't take care of our own.

It seems like all countries that have welfare end up supporting the whole world as well.

There's no easy answer for your question. As the world continues to overpopulate to the point people are being pushed into responsible countries these type land grabs are going to happen. China is waiting on the sidelines in anticipation to see what opportunity develops for them.

[rayg]

I read what you posted but it didn't provide a solution and there may not be one but I do have to believe that in as much as most US politicians are supporting the war effort for Ukraine, including any necessary monies or budgets to support their effort that any finances will be approved to provide the needs for it! At least that is the only clear thing I see!

[Allen]

I read what you posted but it didn't provide a solution and there may not be one but I do have to believe that in as much as most US politicians are supporting the war effort for Ukraine, including any necessary monies or budgets to support their effort that any finances will be approved to provide the needs for it! At least that is the only clear thing I see!

If I had a solution I wouldn't be a nobody sitting here typing on my computer. I wouldn't even be a president. I would be some kind of world leader.

What if we jump in full force, do the Ukrainians fighting for them, whoop Russia till they give up? How many lives is that going to cost US? With a weakened Russia there is always the possibility China will try to overtake them too and we can't fight (to win) both. Meanwhile we weaken our own defenses by giving away our equipment and our technology.

I feel Russia or someone will always try to claim the Crimea. If the Ukrainians survive the war will just occur again later when Russia re-arms. If the Ukraine could beat and take over enough Russian territory (something I would like to see) would the Ukrainian government resort back to their communist corrupt ways and be nothing more than a Russia with a different name?

There's a time for war and a time for peace: Ecclesiastes 3:8