Just Asking

Why are we we flooding weapons to a non-NATO Ukraine we’re not going to defend, so Putin can seize them once he takes over?

Also, although not obligated why couldn’t NATO decide to defend Ukraine?

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Author: craigcrawford

Trail Mix Host. Lapsed journalist, author & retired pundit happily promoting nothing but the truth for Social Security checks.

27 thoughts on “Just Asking”

  1. maybe because we made a deal with them when they were no longer under mother’s rule: if they would give up their nukes, in exchange, we would be there to defend them.

    but that was 28 years ago and who keeps promises these days?

  2. Nuclear weapons and Ukraine – Wikipedia

    Prior to 1991, Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union and had Soviet nuclear weapons in its territory.
    On December 1, 1991, Ukraine, the second most powerful republic in the Soviet Union (USSR), voted overwhelmingly for independence, which ended any realistic chance of the Soviet Union staying together even on a limited scale. More than 90% of the electorate expressed their support for Ukraine’s declaration of independence, and they elected the chairman of the parliament, Leonid Kravchuk as the first president of the country. At the meetings in Brest, Belarus on December 8, and in Alma Ata on December 21, the leaders of Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine formally dissolved the Soviet Union and formed the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
    After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Ukraine held about one third of the Soviet nuclear arsenal, the third largest in the world at the time, as well as significant means of its design and production. 130 UR-100N intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) with six warheads each, 46 RT-23 Molodets ICBMs with ten warheads apiece, as well as 33 heavy bombers, totaling approximately 1,700 warheads remained on Ukrainian territory. Formally, these weapons were controlled by the Commonwealth of Independent States. In 1994 Ukraine agreed to destroy the weapons, and to join the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
    […]
    On December 5, 1994 the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Britain and the United States signed a memorandum to provide Ukraine with security assurances in connection with its accession to the NPT as a non-nuclear weapon state. The four parties signed the memorandum, containing a preamble and six paragraphs. The memorandum reads as follows
    [continues with promises made in Budapest Memorandum]
    […]
    France and China also provided Ukraine with assurances similar to the Budapest Memorandum, but with some significant differences. For instance, France’s pledge does not contain the promises laid out in paragraphs 4 and 6 above, to refer any aggression to the UN Security Council, nor to consult in the event of a question regarding the commitments.
    [continues]

  4. for those who prefer ‘toons to tomes as teaching aids

    In 1991, Ukraine had the third largest nuclear arsenal in the world and by 1996, it had completely disarmed. Given the clout that comes with nuclear weapons, why did Ukraine decide to scrap them? To find out watch this short and simple animated history documentary.

     

  5. Why can’t NATO defend Ukraine?  NATO certainly can defend Ukraine, and in my opinion should. The biggest mistake the West could make in this kerfuffle is let Putin seize part or all of Ukraine on the pretext that Ukraine is the aggressor between R & U and to sell his BS that NATO is destabilizing Eastern Europe as by shoring up Eastern European countries against Russian pressure. I think Biden’s talks with Qatar to supply Europe with natural gas has weakened Putin’s hand so he’s showing some inclination to ratchet down his drumbeat about Ukraine. Of course I’m terrible about tying stuff like this together so I may be way off base.

  6. Spotty power outages already.  The weather guy rated this storm as a 7 out of 10, if last year’s storm was a 10.
    Rain, freezing rain, sleet, snow, now more sleet.

  7. Ah, that’s why the big show with with Qatar last week.   Biden is playing chess. A good way to allow Vlad to draw down quietly and save his ugly ass.

  8. Biden gets a win against international terrorists.

    The message that “we will find you” goes for domestic terrorists, too.

    I love POTUS Joe

  10. The answer to all your questions, Mr. Crawford, is “because Russia has a large nuclear arsenal”

  11. Of course Putin loses a nuclear war with the West, but how many Western cities would you prefer to sacrifice to that end? 
     
    If you’re able to ignore all the internet hyperbole about how “evil” Putin is and analyze it from his perspective, it’s not that complicated 

  13. A new name for the “Enemies of the State List”-
     

    A butterfly conservatory is shutting down due to right-wing harassment

     

    The National Butterfly Center filed a lawsuitin 2017 after the Trump administration allegedly began construction of a wall, usingchainsawsto destroy trees and other plant life, on center-owned property without permission. The 100-acre property is home to lush gardens and endangered plant life, as well as numerous nature trails that are the natural habitats of the more than 200 species of butterflies that live there.

     
    https://www.npr.org/2022/02/02/1077692533/national-butterfly-center-harassment
     

     

  15. https://www.texastribune.org/2022/02/03/morgan-luttrell-christian-collins-kevin-brady-texas-congressional-dist/

    “Luttrell is a former Navy SEAL backed by former Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Houston and the top super PAC aligned with House GOP leadership.”

    “Collins, meanwhile, is a young political operative who has the support of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, the campaign arm of the House Freedom Caucus, and some of the most ardent pro-Trump Republicans in the House, like U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene…”

    “[Luttrell] is lining up with the establishment in Washington, and I’m lining up with those who are the tip of the spear,” Collins said in an interview, calling himself the “true pro-Trump conservative” in the primary.”

    “Collins has pledged to join the congressional Freedom Caucus if elected, while Luttrell has not made the same commitment, saying he first wants to get to Washington and survey the landscape.”

    ~Freedom~ Caucus = fascist BS

  17. https://www.newsweek.com/video-shows-trump-rally-goers-texas-booing-rino-governor-greg-abbott-1674372

    “But that didn’t stop some Trump supporters from booing the governor as he was announced as a speaker during the Texas rally. Several attendees could be heard lobbing insults at the governor, including “Abbott sucks” and “You’re a RINO,”

    Greg is to the left of the rest of the Repugz running for guv.

    Beto will be the Dem nominee, and, I’ll vote for him in the general. Do I need to get a Repug ballot for the primary to vote for the least problematic candidate?

    https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/meet-the-candidates-for-texas-governor-2022/

  18. https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/02/opinions/josh-hawley-ukraine-russia-gop-ghitis/index.html

    “…the Ukraine crisis is quickly becoming a litmus test for Trumpist Republicans.“

    “As Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, a Carlson critic on this issue, noted in response to pro-Putin comments by the Fox News host, “Putin is not the only one watching us in Ukraine. (China’s) President Xi (Jinping) is watching us,” as are US allies around the world. Caving to Putin would embolden aggressive autocrats everywhere.“

    Hell has frozen over. I agree with Cornyn. Baby, it’s cold outside.

  20. speaking of freezing over, this part of the country is about to go into extreme power outage.  last time (2009) it happened here in the KY cornbread mafia holy land power plus water was out for 11 days.  gov andy said today in his emergency presser that it’ll be bad, but “not as bad as 2009.”   he’s closed state government offices for today and tomorrow to keep folks off the roads as much as possible, he’s declared an emergency on top of the other emergencies.

    please be advised you may not be hearing from me for a while once the ice covers the trees that drop on the electric lines which will probably break around midnight. 

     Image result for freezing rain cartoon

     

  22. bink,

    a very efficient modern wood stove, heavy woolen blankets, down duvets, thermal long johns and padded parkas. sheep lined all weather uggs

  24. My brother has a pellet stove that puts out heat like crazy. 

    I wonder what the opening ceremony will look like this time?  Another frightening army of synchronized drummers?

  26. https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/03/politics/arizona-bill-reject-election-results-effectively-blocked/index.html

    “A Republican bill that would have overhauled elections in Arizona — including giving the state legislature the power to reject election results -“

    “Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers, a Republican, quietly doomed House Bill 2596 on Tuesday with an unusual parliamentary maneuver.”

    “..,Bowers took the unprecedented step of ordering all 12 House committees to consider the elections bill, virtually ensuring it will never reach the floor.”

    “The bill’s lead sponsor, Republican state Rep. John Fillmore, referred to the move as a “12-committee lynching…”

    A “lynching”? Wow.

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