Tag: Security Assistance

US ‘quietly’ supplied weapons to Ukraine before Russia’s operation started, Blinken says

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)
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The Interview: Antony Blinken Insists He and Biden Made the Right Calls

You made two early strategic decisions on Ukraine. The first, because of that fear of direct conflict, was to restrict Ukraine’s use of American weapons within Russia. The second was to support Ukraine’s military offensive without a parallel diplomatic track to try and end the conflict. How do you look back on those decisions now? So first, if you look at the trajectory of the conflict, because we saw it coming, we were able to make sure that not only were we prepared and allies and partners were prepared, but that Ukraine was prepared. We made sure that well before the Russian aggression happened, starting in September and then again December, we quietly got a lot of weapons to Ukraine to make sure that they had in hand what they needed to defend themselves, things like Stingers, Javelins that were instrumental in preventing Russia from taking Kyiv, from rolling over the country, erasing it from the map, and indeed pushing the Russians back. But I think what’s so important to understand is at different points in time, people get focused on one weapon system or another. Is it an Abrams tank? Is it an F-16? What we’ve had to look at each and every time is not only should we give this to the Ukrainians but do they know how to use it? Can they maintain it? Is it part of a coherent plan? All of those things factored into the decisions we made on what to give them and when to give it.

Related:

TASS: US ‘quietly’ supplied weapons to Ukraine before Russia’s operation started, Blinken says

OSCE Reports Reveal Ukraine Started Shelling The Donbas Nine Days Before Russia’s ‘Special Military Operation’:

Ukraine began artillery strikes against the Donbas republics on February 16th, 2022.
“In other words, Ukraine began shelling the independent republics of Donetsk and Luhansk nine days before Russia announced its ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine.
“While the western corporate media remained completely silent, explosions documented by the OSCE increased from 76 on February 15th, to 316 on February 16th, to 654 on February 17th, and to 1,413 on February 18th.

[02-18-2022] Shelling in Donbass brings Europe to brink of war

Euromaidan 2014 – Orange Revolution – War in Donbass

Why are American hospitals treating wounded Ukrainian soldiers?

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made headlines earlier this week when he visited Ukrainian soldiers in a hospital to thank them for their service and dole out commendations. But there is one aspect of the story that is raising a lot of eyebrows: the hospital where the soldiers are being treated is in New York.

Why are American hospitals treating wounded Ukrainian soldiers?

US preparing to officially designate military takeover in Niger as a coup d’etat after months of delay, officials say

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

The US State Department is preparing to officially designate the military takeover in Niger as a coup d’etat as soon as next week, three US officials told CNN, a decision which could have dramatic implications on the ability of the US to work with a crucial counter-terrorism partner in the region.

US preparing to officially designate military takeover in Niger as a coup d’etat after months of delay, officials say

Previously:

After US Resumes Drone Flights, in Niger, France Withdraws Troops

Niger Coup Leader Brig. Gen. Moussa Salaou Barmou Was Trained By The US Military

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

The Intercept has verified that Brig. Gen. Moussa Salaou Barmou, the head of Niger’s Special Operations Forces and a key figure in the unfolding coup in Niger, received training from the U.S. military. Since 2008, military officers trained by the United States have been involved in 11 coups in West Africa.

Niger Coup Leader Brig. Gen. Moussa Salaou Barmou Was Trained By The US Military

Related:

Army in Niger backs coup as U.S. forces in the country assess situation

Fort Moore (formerly Fort Benning) is home to the former School of the Americas.

U.S. privately asks Ukraine to show it’s open to negotiate with Russia

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)1 Comment

So much propaganda to sift through!?! 🙄

U.S. privately asks Ukraine to show it’s open to negotiate with Russia

The request by American officials is not aimed at pushing Ukraine to the negotiating table, these people said. Rather, they called it a calculated attempt to ensure the government in Kyiv maintains the support of other nations facing constituencies wary of fueling a war for many years to come.

The discussions illustrate how complex the Biden administration’s position on Ukraine has become, as U.S. officials publicly vow to support Kyiv with massive sums of aid “for as long as it takes” while hoping for a resolution to the conflict that over the past eight months has taken a punishing toll on the world economy and triggered fears of nuclear war.

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