The case for and against “Should Congress stop funding the war in Ukraine?”

A little dated now (12 April 2024) – but nonetheless, although the Russia/Ukraine front continues to chew up the lives of the young men of Ukraine and Russia (in a ten to one ratio?) the points made still apply to both sides.

From here:

Should Congress Stop Funding the War in Ukraine? - Open to Debate

“Since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the United States has provided more than $75 billion in aid to Ukraine, which has been directed toward military operations, economic support, and humanitarian assistance.

As the war has gone on, members of Congress have questioned whether we have done enough to help the country and if continuing funding is sustainable.

Those who want to continue funding Ukraine say the U.S. has a moral obligation to support the country in its time of need, it sustains alliances while serving strategic interests, and it demonstrates the United States’s support of democratic values and sovereignty.

Those arguing it’s time to end the funding say that it diverts necessary resources that could go toward domestic and foreign priorities. They also question whether the funds are being used efficiently, whether the war is winnable, and whether providing military aid is genuinely contributing to a path toward peace. “

It was a debate amongst four people – the men were advocating for a cessation; the women thought it was money well spent. I am not suggesting there is any tendency to warmongering by the female sex over the male sex!

This debate was recorded live for an invite-only audience at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City.

Here are the protagonists:

You can read the transcript at your leisure, here is the opening statement from

Thank you, John. Proponents of continued support to Ukraine usually make two arguments.

The first and more ambitious argument is that if we give Ukraine support down the road, uh, Ukraine will be able not only to stymie the Russian offensive, but they will be able to recapture territory that they have lost.

The second less ambitious alternative argument is that if we give continued aid to the Ukrainians, they will not be able to take back territory that they lost, but they will be able to hang on to the territory that they now control, and the end result is that will put ’em in a strong bargaining position.

Both of these arguments are fundamentally wrong. The Ukrainians are doomed, and the principle reason is because of the military balance of power. The fact is that the Russians now have a decisive advantage over the Ukrainers. That advantage is going to increase, not decrease. There’s nothing the West can do to rectify that balance.”

The CFR debate is referenced in this video with one of the other “stop funding a losing war” proponents, Colonel Daniel Davis in this half hour video:

US Army Colonel Reveals How the Ukraine War Will End! (youtube.com)

“Colonel Daniel Davis joins the show again to report the latest from the battlefield of Ukraine. The US Government just sent an additional $61 Billion dollars to Ukraine; however, the majority of that money will stay in the US. We discuss why this war is failing, the supreme advantage Russia has with both men and ammo, and finally we disprove the theory that Putin wants to invade and attack Western Europe.”

All about resources of me, artillery and expertise – Russia has it, Ukraine is learning it.

It occurs to me that Russia should seek the coastline all the way to Odessa at a minimum in any negotiations as it protects its access to sea lanes out of the Black Sea, protects Crimea and grants ownership of the vast offshore il ad gas reserves.

What is not clear is how, if Russia is either successful in capturing the eastern half of Ukraine, or even all of it, how all that has happened is that the border with the hostile NATO nations is simply moved west.

In the video, there is a claim that the Czech Republic has already supplied 350,000 artillery shells to Ukraine ad is seeking another 650,000. Hardly the actions of a country that Russia can treat as “friendly”.

Of note is that half of the 61 billion recently approved aid package to Ukraine will not go to Ukraine at all but will re-stock the ordnance already sent over. Also, the package is only expected to last for 2024 – 6 months. We know that Zelensky wants a ten-year plan of military and economic assistance – which, presumably, is worth a 100 billion a year – or a trillion-dollar commitment.

All the 100’s of billions of dollars spent on overseas wars that make the US appear laughably inadequate and foolish, could instead be spent n rectifying the ills within the US. The homeless, those seeking medical treatment, rebuilding infrastructure, making the streets safer and restoring a functioning border.

Th communist apparatchiks jerking the Biden cadaver’s strings do not want Americas to have a better life. They are nihilistic and seek the overthrow of every institution in the US that does not support totalitarianism. The Constitution and Bill of Rights, the pursuit of happiness whilst enjoying liberty to do whatever we chose, as log as nobody is harmed, and so on.

The Resident’s administration wants a world of excited misery, fear and despair – it’s what lies at the core of their beings. Hatred of humanity.

See what you think.

Onwards!!!

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