Thank you for posting that link. I agree that we should not provide even one pilot, one combat soldier to Ukraine.
That's on them.
I also agree that our southern border needs to be secured. and that a few billion could be shifted from other programs to do so. If we gutted the EPA, for instance, we could easily save enough to not only clean up the mess down there but put a physical barrier in place and patrol it.
Now, Ukraine: I disagree that this war cannot be won. Add to an impressive list of destroyed materiel the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet (done with a couple of Ukrainian missiles, not one of ours), which resulted in a retaliatory strike against a missile factory in Ukraine, one of the industries in the Donbas region.
Nevertheless, the damage has been done, not only to the Russian Navy, but to Russian pride, as the ship was the Moscow (translated).
Ukrainians continue to fight the invasion of their nation, regardless of the fractional viewpoints held by differing parties, much the same as I would hope Americans would come together to fight against an armed invader in a time of war.
What keeps that sentiment from securing the border now, is the fact that there are laws against and institutional hostility toward American Citizens acting outside of Government approval to secure our border.
The very real possibility is that Americans would show up with their own arms, thermal and night vision devices and do what was necessary to secure the border otherwise, likely in ad hoc paramilitary units. The problem for government is that some laws might get broken in the process, and the firstchild caught in a crossfire between such units and the Cartels would be front page news.
I am not for twisting off and getting in some new war in Asia/East Europe. I am sympathetic toward the idea of providing arms to let the Ukrainians defend themselves. In the case of Taiwan, we have a lot at stake, primarily because of the laws and policies which have made it difficult to manufacture electronics, and especially microchips here. We would do well to remain 'loose' enough to be able to respond to a CHinese takeover attempt there, but frankly, I do not expect much from the current Government because there are just too many backroom, under the table deals and bribes involved. Far too many in our Government are compromised when it comes to China. Stolen Elections aren't just about having power or prestige, there is a lot of money to be made selling America out, and that is what Biden & Co. are doing.
As for the cost, ten, twenty billion (honestly spent to provide weapons or infill NATO allies who are donating older, admittedly somewhat outdated Soviet design systems to Ukraine and not just expenses racked up to rearrange our troops supporting the boundaries of NATO) or spent on intelligence which is actionable for the Ukrainians to use in military operations is not beyond cost efficiency, when you consider the trillions already promised here at home to "rebuild infrastructure" and a bunch of other nebulous goals that will likely end up in campaign coffers and someones' pockets.
Granted, we have a problem with overspending, but this is like that hard decision on where to spend money we don't have, and most of it is being pissed away right here at home on unnecessary and undesirable expenditures and much of that should be diverted to the aims of securing borders or not spent at all.
Now, the idiots in DC are talking about forgiving student loans, monies extended for people to get useless degrees from prestigious institutions to bolster the ranks of the FSA or the "Woke" to the detriment of us all, while those who practiced fiscal responsibility will be punished to get that money. Yes, this has to stop. We need to curb spending, and ideally, at least avoid war when we can (it is expensive).
This Administration has been long in the tongue, flapping its lips antagonistically at Putin, and nothing benefits the Chinese puppet masters more than the thought of some sort of direct conflict between the US and Russia, and with the compromised nature of our Executive and Legislative branches, they might get that, using Russia as a proxy while attacking in their own interests elsewhere. They have already been actively purchasing mineral rights in Africa, and would likely not be hostile to the idea of colonizing parts thereof for the mineral wealth, while their record of human rights abuses is not out of line with the sort of behaviour common to African nations in conflict. Taiwan would be first on their list, most likely.
I can see a scenario where the Korean conflict might be reignited, while Taiwan was invaded, and actions in Africa used to pin down forces there, while Russia was pushed to attack NATO. Whether we wanted it or not, there would indeed be WWIII, and we are not in a position to fight such a conflict because much of our manufacturing is actually carried out in Asia.
If we want to stimulate our own economy, close the border, make it less burdensome to manufacture things here, to mine and utilize our own resources, and put America back to work to have the tax base we will need to drag ourselves out of the debt that continues to be irresponsibly imposed on us by our employees.
But it is high time to quit pissing money away on social programs.
