Pentagon confirms $35 million in aid still being withheld from Ukraine despite impeachment inquiry

[90DayFinancier 910]

 

The White House's unusual decision to freeze millions in aid to Ukraine in July is central to the impeachment probe

L

SHIRA TARLO

NOVEMBER 20, 2019 6:33PM (UTC)

The White House is still withholding some of the congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine that President Donald Trump froze over the summer, even as impeachment investigators scrutinize whether the commander-in-chief used the funds as leverage to pressure a foreign leader to commit publicly to investigations that would benefit him politically.

More than $35 million of the nearly $400 million in military aid that Trump had halted has not been released to Ukraine, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday, citing Pentagon spending documents it had obtained. Instead, the aid for Ukraine remains in U.S. accounts. The newspaper noted it is unclear why the money has not been released.

https://www.salon.com/2019/11/20/pentagon-confirms-35-million-in-aid-still-being-withheld-from-ukraine-despite-impeachment-inquiry/

 

[Burnt Reynolds 5,058]

If I were Trump I'd release $590k per month of the remaining amount, grabbing my popcorn and hoping these rags run a monthly update on it. Even better if it gets picked up by the MSM. 

[Steeleballz 7,550]

 

  I have no problem in halting military aid to Ukraine. I'm not sure why we are giving them anything anyway. The main issue is the aid can't be conditional on a political favor. 

[Burnt Reynolds 5,058]

1 minute ago, Steeleballz said:

 

  I have no problem in halting military aid to Ukraine. I'm not sure why we are giving them anything anyway. The main issue is the aid can't be conditional on a political favor. 

The conditions Trump talked about related to corruption and the US national interest, along with his ability to functionally perform his duties as Chief Executive. 

 

As for why Ukraine is given military aid, is because there's no reason to believe Russia won't perform another Crimean stunt in Donbass and seize this region too. 

[Steeleballz 7,550]

1 minute ago, Burnt Reynolds said:

The conditions Trump talked about related to corruption and the US national interest, along with his ability to functionally perform his duties as Chief Executive. 

 

As for why Ukraine is given military aid, is because there's no reason to believe Russia won't perform another Crimean stunt in Donbass and seize this region too. 

 

  Ukraine and Russia can work things out themselves. 

 

  Ukraine is not part of NATO. Much of this aid was originally part of a big push to influence Ukraine to join NATO and questionable even at the time. Ukraine chose not to join NATO. Anyone familiar with the region could have predicted that.  As a policy, it is asinine to be asking NATO members to contribute more money to defense of the organization and then giving freebies to other countries that are not part of NATO. 

 

  

[90DayFinancier 910]

2 minutes ago, Steeleballz said:

 

  I have no problem in halting military aid to Ukraine. I'm not sure why we are giving them anything anyway. The main issue is the aid can't be conditional on a political favor. 

I would have agreed with you prior to recent events with Putin, the Crimea annexation, the interference in Ukraine electoral process and the Ukraine citizens desire to stay independent if Russia. There has been no annexation in Europe since WWII. 

 

If it does not involve moving NATO troops into direct conflict, NATO should support the right of these folks to fight. They cannot do it with their own resources. 

 

I view this as a long term play for the powerful in Moscow, they are looking to increase the buffer by absorbing or neutralizing Ukraine, Georgia (I think this is mission accomplished with Belarus). 

 

In contrast.....

 

Other Moscow watchers think that much of chaos coming from this quarter is tied to the eminent collapse of the Russian economy and power structures. We know there is constant infighting , even mob like violence between oligarchs.  A projected long term decline in oil demand will increase the instability with cash flow shrinking.

 

What we are seeing with Ukraine, interference in Western elections, annexation and cyberwarfare is more of a symptom. If you feel the whole thing is going to come apart you might want to stay less interventionist.

 

Rachel Maddows "Blowout" is a fascinating piece of journalism along those lines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Burnt Reynolds 5,058]

19 minutes ago, Steeleballz said:

 

  Ukraine and Russia can work things out themselves. 

 

  Ukraine is not part of NATO. Much of this aid was originally part of a big push to influence Ukraine to join NATO and questionable even at the time. Ukraine chose not to join NATO. Anyone familiar with the region could have predicted that.  As a policy, it is asinine to be asking NATO members to contribute more money to defense of the organization and then giving freebies to other countries that are not part of NATO. 

 

  

1) It's not really free when it benefits the national interest of all NATO nations, especially European ones, which, coincidentally, Trump harped on in that conversation, that they should be contributing more to Ukraine, singling out Germany and France.

 

2) It's also not really free when they're significantly comprised of loans, which need to be paid back. 

 

It's clearly a benefit-for-benefit deal. Not one-sided and "free".

 

Also, my opinion is, honestly, I don't care about Ukraine or Russia. I see their (the US aid-based argument), but their argument also perpetuates corruption, which is why it hasn't changed over the decades of supposedly trying to change it. It's no surprise to me that Hunter Biden clearly got in on a corrupt deal. This perfectly illustrates this, but a lot of US foreign policy behaves in this way.

 

I think that money can be put toward shrinking the US deficit, reducing financial liabilities. Moreover, I think if people in Donbass want to separate, let them decide for themselves how they want to be, and rightfully, if parts of Russia want to leave, let them too. If Caledonia wants to separate from France let them. If Catalonia wants to separate from Spain let them. I see it as authoritarian for larger bodies to decide for people how to govern themselves.

Edited December 7, 2019 by Burnt Reynolds

[Steeleballz 7,550]

1 hour ago, 90DayFinancier said:

I would have agreed with you prior to recent events with Putin, the Crimea annexation, the interference in Ukraine electoral process and the Ukraine citizens desire to stay independent if Russia. There has been no annexation in Europe since WWII. 

 

If it does not involve moving NATO troops into direct conflict, NATO should support the right of these folks to fight. They cannot do it with their own resources. 

 

I view this as a long term play for the powerful in Moscow, they are looking to increase the buffer by absorbing or neutralizing Ukraine, Georgia (I think this is mission accomplished with Belarus). 

 

In contrast.....

 

Other Moscow watchers think that much of chaos coming from this quarter is tied to the eminent collapse of the Russian economy and power structures. We know there is constant infighting , even mob like violence between oligarchs.  A projected long term decline in oil demand will increase the instability with cash flow shrinking.

 

What we are seeing with Ukraine, interference in Western elections, annexation and cyberwarfare is more of a symptom. If you feel the whole thing is going to come apart you might want to stay less interventionist.

 

Rachel Maddows "Blowout" is a fascinating piece of journalism along those lines.

 

 

 

 

    I don't think NATO's mandate is to support Ukraine's right to fight. The argument is if NATO even has a mandate any more, but if anything it is to support the defense of member nations. 

 

    Certainly Ukraine does have a right to fight and defend it's territory, and they probably need support to do that. The question is why the USA needs to be involved in that. It is not consistent with current policy. The current administration has always focused on moving away from interventionist policy. It's one of the reasons why hiring guys like Bolton made no sense in the first place.

 

  At any rate, Ukraine seems to be more interested in ties to Europe than the USA. They should focus on that.

[Nature Boy 2.0 8,370]

2 hours ago, Steeleballz said:

 

  I have no problem in halting military aid to Ukraine. I'm not sure why we are giving them anything anyway. The main issue is the aid can't be conditional on a political favor. 

if it was they wouldn't have it.

[Nature Boy 2.0 8,370]

what I am curious to find out is, why did Putins lap puppet Trump, give money to Putins enemy in the 1st place

[Steeleballz 7,550]

1 minute ago, Nature Boy 2.0 said:

what I am curious to find out is, why did Putins lap puppet Trump, give money to Putins enemy in the 1st place

 

  The US has been funding Ukraine for years. It’s not all about Trump. I think Trump has been fairly consistent in his stated goal of trying to move away from some of these previous foreign policy arrangements..

[90DayFinancier 910]

37 minutes ago, Nature Boy 2.0 said:

what I am curious to find out is, why did Putins lap puppet Trump, give money to Putins enemy in the 1st place

Funding begins with in congress, the president can ask but his job is to execute with the resources given.

 

[Burnt Reynolds 5,058]

2 hours ago, Steeleballz said:

 

  The US has been funding Ukraine for years. It’s not all about Trump. I think Trump has been fairly consistent in his stated goal of trying to move away from some of these previous foreign policy arrangements..

Which is why he gave Ukraine Javelins after years of previous foreign policies merely talking about it. 🤔

 

[Nature Boy 2.0 8,370]

1 hour ago, Burnt Reynolds said:

Which is why he gave Ukraine Javelins after years of previous foreign policies merely talking about it. 🤔

 

But the  XXL MDL has been telling us its a fact he is a Russian operative for 3 years. Why would Putin order him to do such a thing. ? 

[90DayFinancier 910]

1 hour ago, Nature Boy 2.0 said:

But the  XXL MDL has been telling us its a fact he is a Russian operative for 3 years. Why would Putin order him to do such a thing. ? 

He didn't until the whistle blower became public.