I was appalled that he was even there (via US plane) demanding yet more fiat funding for a war he could’ve stopped. I was also disgusted that our congress us so ecstatic over this groveling and willing to shovel more funds at it without one mention of diplomacy.
Meanwhile in case you haven’t noticed, the USA has myriad domestic and border problems that sure could use some attention.
I was appalled that he was even there (via US plane) demanding yet more fiat funding for a war he could’ve stopped. I was also disgusted that our congress us so ecstatic over this groveling and willing to shovel more funds at it without one mention of diplomacy.
Meanwhile in case you haven’t noticed, the USA has myriad domestic and border problems that sure could use some attention.
The propriety of the address is indeed a question--as is typical of political theater (which, to be sure, is what that speech was).
However, reading the text of Zelensky's address, one cannot say that he "demanded" more funding. He used the words "thank you" multiple times, which is inconsistent with the tenor of a demand. He did state that Ukraine needed more support, but a statement of need is not a demand. Nor is taking pains to frame the support as an "investment"--that's a technique of persuasion, not demand.
I read the transcript: Zelensky made no demands.
Technically, Ukraine can stop the war--by ceasing to exist.
Still, there is no getting around the reality that the invasion was Putin's choice, not Zelensky's. There was no existential threat to Russia coming from Ukraine; there is an existential threat to Ukraine coming from Russia, as evidenced by the war on Ukrainian soil.
As much as I pray for peace, I am unwilling to ask Ukraine or any nation to obtain that peace on their knees; I would not want that for this country, and I will not ask that of any other.
Technically, Putin can also stop the war, by pulling Russian forces back to Russia proper. Putin can stop the war by stopping the horrific war crime of destroying civilian infrastructure necessary for survival in flagrant violation of the Geneva Conventions which Russia ratified and accepted. Putin chose war; he can choose peace. There is no ethical realm where Putin can be exempted from his culpability in starting this war.
And Zelensky did make mention of diplomacy--a 10 point proposal for negotiations. Granted, there is not a snowball's chance in Hell of that proposal ever being put to use, but to say there was no mention of diplomacy is factually false.
Putin's precondition for diplomacy has always been Ukraine's surrender. That was explicitly stated back in April.
Is it proper that Ukraine get funding for its war effort ahead of securing the southern border? As matter of Constitutional obligation, the answer is unambiguously "No"--the Federal government is Constitutionally obligated to ensure this nation's defense and that unquestionably includes making sure the borders are secure. The Executive Branch has the Constitutional obligation to ensure that the laws of this nation are faithfully executed, and that includes the immigration laws. Neither of those duties are being even somewhat faithfully discharged by the present Congress or the present regime.
Yet the US border is not secured with HIMARS munitions or Javelin missiles. Patriot missiles are not a solution to crime within US cities. JDAMS will not fix this country's broken education systems.
While there is no excuse for either the Congress or the current regime to be so completely derelict in their domestic duties, it is not the case that it is a binary choice of supporting Ukraine or securing the border. The US is enough, and has enough, to help others while helping our own people.
IMO this a massive transfer of US wealth - likely involving money laundering and resale of munitions to nefarious actors - with intent to further destroy the economy of our nation while causing monumental harm to energy infrastructures and the poor Ukrainian people. No amount of sophisticated weaponry and fiat funding will stop Putin, Zelensky, or hapless Biden from playing their designated rolls to continue this conflict into the unforeseeable future. The USA is now a corrupt skeleton of its former self with drastic turmoil on the near horizon. Continued nonstop funding of a deeply corrupt undemocratic regime only hastens the planned for downfall. Yes hope I’m wrong, but unfortunately it’s happening and fast.
Sadly, corruption is always a probability where government is concerned. And it's more than a little likely that at least some of the military aid sent to Ukraine gets redirected.
Yet it's also true that there is a war being fought in Ukraine, bloody and barbaric even by war standards. Putin has made it clear this is a war of conquest.
And that is the choice people have to make: turn away and focus on other things, or help Ukraine defend its sovereignty. With plenty of reasons to inform both sides of the debate.
I was appalled that he was even there (via US plane) demanding yet more fiat funding for a war he could’ve stopped. I was also disgusted that our congress us so ecstatic over this groveling and willing to shovel more funds at it without one mention of diplomacy.
Meanwhile in case you haven’t noticed, the USA has myriad domestic and border problems that sure could use some attention.
The propriety of the address is indeed a question--as is typical of political theater (which, to be sure, is what that speech was).
However, reading the text of Zelensky's address, one cannot say that he "demanded" more funding. He used the words "thank you" multiple times, which is inconsistent with the tenor of a demand. He did state that Ukraine needed more support, but a statement of need is not a demand. Nor is taking pains to frame the support as an "investment"--that's a technique of persuasion, not demand.
I read the transcript: Zelensky made no demands.
Technically, Ukraine can stop the war--by ceasing to exist.
Still, there is no getting around the reality that the invasion was Putin's choice, not Zelensky's. There was no existential threat to Russia coming from Ukraine; there is an existential threat to Ukraine coming from Russia, as evidenced by the war on Ukrainian soil.
As much as I pray for peace, I am unwilling to ask Ukraine or any nation to obtain that peace on their knees; I would not want that for this country, and I will not ask that of any other.
Technically, Putin can also stop the war, by pulling Russian forces back to Russia proper. Putin can stop the war by stopping the horrific war crime of destroying civilian infrastructure necessary for survival in flagrant violation of the Geneva Conventions which Russia ratified and accepted. Putin chose war; he can choose peace. There is no ethical realm where Putin can be exempted from his culpability in starting this war.
And Zelensky did make mention of diplomacy--a 10 point proposal for negotiations. Granted, there is not a snowball's chance in Hell of that proposal ever being put to use, but to say there was no mention of diplomacy is factually false.
Putin's precondition for diplomacy has always been Ukraine's surrender. That was explicitly stated back in April.
https://newsletter.allfactsmatter.us/p/russias-expectations-for-ukraine
The one making demands is Putin, not Zelensky.
Is it proper that Ukraine get funding for its war effort ahead of securing the southern border? As matter of Constitutional obligation, the answer is unambiguously "No"--the Federal government is Constitutionally obligated to ensure this nation's defense and that unquestionably includes making sure the borders are secure. The Executive Branch has the Constitutional obligation to ensure that the laws of this nation are faithfully executed, and that includes the immigration laws. Neither of those duties are being even somewhat faithfully discharged by the present Congress or the present regime.
Yet the US border is not secured with HIMARS munitions or Javelin missiles. Patriot missiles are not a solution to crime within US cities. JDAMS will not fix this country's broken education systems.
While there is no excuse for either the Congress or the current regime to be so completely derelict in their domestic duties, it is not the case that it is a binary choice of supporting Ukraine or securing the border. The US is enough, and has enough, to help others while helping our own people.
IMO this a massive transfer of US wealth - likely involving money laundering and resale of munitions to nefarious actors - with intent to further destroy the economy of our nation while causing monumental harm to energy infrastructures and the poor Ukrainian people. No amount of sophisticated weaponry and fiat funding will stop Putin, Zelensky, or hapless Biden from playing their designated rolls to continue this conflict into the unforeseeable future. The USA is now a corrupt skeleton of its former self with drastic turmoil on the near horizon. Continued nonstop funding of a deeply corrupt undemocratic regime only hastens the planned for downfall. Yes hope I’m wrong, but unfortunately it’s happening and fast.
Sadly, corruption is always a probability where government is concerned. And it's more than a little likely that at least some of the military aid sent to Ukraine gets redirected.
Yet it's also true that there is a war being fought in Ukraine, bloody and barbaric even by war standards. Putin has made it clear this is a war of conquest.
And that is the choice people have to make: turn away and focus on other things, or help Ukraine defend its sovereignty. With plenty of reasons to inform both sides of the debate.