DeSantis Dismisses Russian Invasion as a "Territorial Dispute"

[wing2000]

....and declares Ukraine is not a US vital national interest.

[DeSantis delivered his foreign policy opinion in response to a questionnaire from Tucker Carlson, the Fox News host]

“While the U.S. has many vital national interests — securing our borders, addressing the crisis of readiness with our military, achieving energy security and independence, and checking the economic, cultural and military power of the Chinese Communist Party — becoming further entangled in a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia is not one of them,”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/03/14/trump-desantis-ukraine/

 

[Yttrium]

I'll just add it to his list of black marks.

Now I need to find out how Nikki Haley feels about the Ukraine situation.

 

[Aldebaran]

....and declares Ukraine is not a US vital national interest.

[DeSantis delivered his foreign policy opinion in response to a questionnaire from Tucker Carlson, the Fox News host]

“While the U.S. has many vital national interests — securing our borders, addressing the crisis of readiness with our military, achieving energy security and independence, and checking the economic, cultural and military power of the Chinese Communist Party — becoming further entangled in a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia is not one of them,”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/03/14/trump-desantis-ukraine/

If not a territorial dispute (Russia attempting to claim Ukraine as it's own territory), then what is it?

DeSantis was certainly correct in stating that the U.S. has national interests of its own that are taking a backseat to Ukraine. If the 100+ Billion dollars spent on Ukraine was used for securing our southern border alone, the issue would be solved.

 

[durangodawood]

If not a territorial dispute (Russia attempting to claim Ukraine as it's own territory), then what is it?
....

Its a war of territorial acquisition.

"Territorial dispute" is the sort of language we use for things like India Pakistan squabbling over Kashmir. Sure theres some sporadic violence between those states - but its not even close to all out war and lets hope that never happens.

"Territorial dispute" is absurdly minimizing language for whats happening in Ukr.

The idea of passively letting Russia reassemble its empire by conquest is disastrous for US and ally interests and for liberty generally.

 

[BPPLEE]

....and declares Ukraine is not a US vital national interest.

[DeSantis delivered his foreign policy opinion in response to a questionnaire from Tucker Carlson, the Fox News host]

“While the U.S. has many vital national interests — securing our borders, addressing the crisis of readiness with our military, achieving energy security and independence, and checking the economic, cultural and military power of the Chinese Communist Party — becoming further entangled in a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia is not one of them,”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/03/14/trump-desantis-ukraine/

He gets my vote

 

[wing2000]

I'll just add it to his list of black marks.

Now I need to find out how Nikki Haley feels about the Ukraine situation.

Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley said the U.S. needs to help Ukraine prevent Russia from taking over. "If Russia wins, there is no reason to believe it will stop at Ukraine. And if Russia wins, then its closest allies, China and Iran, will become more aggressive," she said.

https://www.npr.org/2023/03/14/1163363579/desantis-trump-ukraine-republican-split

+
Haley, who was ambassador to the United Nations under Trump, released her answers to Carlson after Monday night’s broadcast, taking a hard line against Russia.
“The Russian government is a powerful dictatorship that makes no secret of its hatred of America,” Haley wrote. “Unlike other anti-American regimes, it is attempting to brutally expand by force into a neighboring pro-American country.”

 

[wing2000]

DeSantis was certainly correct in stating that the U.S. has national interests of its own that are taking a backseat to Ukraine. If the 100+ Billion dollars spent on Ukraine was used for securing our southern border alone, the issue would be solved.

Just over a year into the war, he US has spent over 30 Billion in military aid to date...not 100+

The latest White House Budget proposal:

The Budget includes nearly $25 billion for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), an increase of almost $800 million over the 2023 enacted level when controlling for border management amounts. The Budget includes funds for CBP to hire an additional 350 Border Patrol Agents, $535 million for border security technology at and between ports of entry, $40 million to combat fentanyl trafficking and disrupt transnational criminal organizations, and funds to hire an additional 460 processing assistants at CBP and ICE.

FACT SHEET: President Biden’s Budget Strengthens Border Security, Enhances Legal Pathways, and Provides Resources to Enforce Our Immigration Laws | The White House

President Biden has taken historic steps to secure our border and rebuild a safe, orderly, and humane immigration system that was gutted by the previous

www.whitehouse.gov

 

[Aldebaran]

Just over a year into the war, he US has spent over 30 Billion in military aid to date...not 100+

The latest White House Budget proposal:

The Budget includes nearly $25 billion for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), an increase of almost $800 million over the 2023 enacted level when controlling for border management amounts. The Budget includes funds for CBP to hire an additional 350 Border Patrol Agents, $535 million for border security technology at and between ports of entry, $40 million to combat fentanyl trafficking and disrupt transnational criminal organizations, and funds to hire an additional 460 processing assistants at CBP and ICE.

FACT SHEET: President Biden’s Budget Strengthens Border Security, Enhances Legal Pathways, and Provides Resources to Enforce Our Immigration Laws | The White House

President Biden has taken historic steps to secure our border and rebuild a safe, orderly, and humane immigration system that was gutted by the previous

www.whitehouse.gov

In May of last year alone, $40 Billion.

Biden signs $40 billion aid package for Ukraine during trip to Asia

President Joe Biden signed legislation to support Ukraine with another $40 billion in U.S. assistance as the Russian invasion approaches its fourth month.

www.cnbc.com

In February of this year alone, $10 Billion.

Biden Administration Unveils $10 Billion Ukraine Aid Package As War Enters 2nd Year

The White House also announced $2 billion in additional military aid for Ukraine.

www.forbes.com

In an article posted Feb. 22nd, 2023, the total was pegged at $75 Billion.
"Since the war began, the Biden administration and the U.S. Congress have directed more than $75 billion in assistance to Ukraine, which includes humanitarian, financial, and military support, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, a German research institute."

Council on Foreign Relations

The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is an independent, nonpartisan member organization, think tank, and publisher.

www.cfr.org

 

[wing2000]

In May of last year alone, $40 Billion.

Biden signs $40 billion aid package for Ukraine during trip to Asia

President Joe Biden signed legislation to support Ukraine with another $40 billion in U.S. assistance as the Russian invasion approaches its fourth month.

www.cnbc.com

In February of this year alone, $10 Billion.

Biden Administration Unveils $10 Billion Ukraine Aid Package As War Enters 2nd Year

The White House also announced $2 billion in additional military aid for Ukraine.

www.forbes.com

In an article posted Feb. 22nd, 2023, the total was pegged at $75 Billion.
"Since the war began, the Biden administration and the U.S. Congress have directed more than $75 billion in assistance to Ukraine, which includes humanitarian, financial, and military support, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, a German research institute."

Council on Foreign Relations

The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is an independent, nonpartisan member organization, think tank, and publisher.

www.cfr.org

I was referring to military aid.
In any case, the point is, we spend nearly the same amount of money for border protection. And more to the point: Both are national priorities and should be funded.

 

[timothyu]

Of course it is a territorial dispute. The bulk of Ukraine is in the best interests of Russia to remain a buffer, not part of the nation. As for the US their prime interest, other than of course selling weaponry, is to make Europe dependant on US fuels. These things are never over moral issues but rather mammon.

 

[durangodawood]

Of course it is a territorial dispute. The bulk of Ukraine is in the best interests of Russia to remain a buffer, not part of the nation. As for the US their prime interest, other than of course selling weaponry, is to make Europe dependant on US fuels. These things are never over moral issues but rather mammon.

I think youre pretty blind if you cant see the moral issues involved. Of course people always want to turn a buck. But the heart of it is about authoritarian empire (re)building.

Calling it a "territorial dispute" is like calling it a "property dispute" when someone tries to steal your catalytic converter and it comes to blows. I mean, yeah technically speaking youre fighting over property.

 

[FireDragon76]

It doesn't surprise me. DeSantis is a political opportunist that is unprincipled.

 

[Trogdor the Burninator]

If the 100+ Billion dollars spent on Ukraine was used for securing our southern border alone, the issue would be solved.

I thought Mexico was paying for that?

 

[Pommer]

I thought Mexico was paying for that?

“BOMB TAX the cartels!”

 

[wing2000]

...and Marco Rubio:

In an interview, Rubio told radio host Hugh Hewitt, “It’s not a territorial dispute in the sense that any more than it would be a territorial dispute if the United States decided that it wanted to invade Canada or take over the Bahamas.”

“This is an invasion,” said Rubio, vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Foreign Relations Committee. “I think we do have an interest” in the conflict. Rubio said it is “a national security issue,” but “not an unlimited national security interest.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/03/14/trump-desantis-ukraine/

 

[Nithavela]

I'll just add it to his list of black marks.

Now I need to find out how Nikki Haley feels about the Ukraine situation.

Nikki Haley dings DeSantis and Trump on US aid to Ukraine as 2024 GOP presidential sweepstakes get underway

Presidential candidate Nikki Haley split with Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump Tuesday by claiming that aiding Ukraine is vital to U.S. interests.

www.foxnews.com

 

[Aldebaran]

Of course it is a territorial dispute. The bulk of Ukraine is in the best interests of Russia to remain a buffer, not part of the nation. As for the US their prime interest, other than of course selling weaponry, is to make Europe dependant on US fuels. These things are never over moral issues but rather mammon.

We aren't even "selling" weaponry. We're just giving it to them for free, assuming there's not some other type of exchange going on we're not being told about.

 

[timothyu]

We aren't even "selling" weaponry. We're just giving it to them for free, assuming there's not some other type of exchange going on we're not being told about.

Ok.. then how about profiting as new is made to replace these charity donations. It all revolves around supply and demand, or the Pentagon might become another museum rather than the business hub of the military-industrial complex that Eisenhower warned about.

 

[Aldebaran]

Ok.. then how about profiting as new is made to replace these charity donations. It all revolves around supply and demand, or the Pentagon might become another museum rather than the business hub of the military-industrial complex that Eisenhower warned about.

Well, the defense contractors you refer to are making profits, but not from Ukraine. The contractors develop and sell the weapons they make to the Pentagon for use by our own military. When biden takes those weapons from our military and donates them to Ukraine's military, there is no additional profit made, unless the Pentagon goes back to those contractors and has them make even more of those same weapons to supply our own military with what had been taken from them and given to Ukraine.

Now, that might be profitable for the defense contractors, but our own military isn't any better equipped if their weapons and equipment are being taken from them and given to the military of a different country. Right now, our own military is under-equipped, even though it's not directly fighting anyone: https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/17/politics/us-weapons-factories-ukraine-ammunition/index.html

Ukraine is burning through ammunition faster than the US and NATO can produce it.​

 

[Say it aint so]

When another nation through aggression invades another sovereign nation it is not a territorial dispute. Specially when Russia and Ukraine signed accords enacting their own sovereignty.