Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met with U.S. lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Tuesday to make a last-ditch plea to keep military support flowing as he battles Russia, but faced a skeptical reception from some Republicans.
Honest question from someone who wants to see Ukraine not be overrun by orcs: Why is the US always the one who has to fund wars? There are some countries in the EU that have given a bit of suport, but the guys who are across the ocean seem to be the ones everyone looks to for money. Aren’t you clever enlightened boys and girls from the European Union able to take care of this?
Every single time there is some conflict the idiots in charge here have to get big hard-ons and start getting involved. And we are told to stay out of it. But now Ukraine needs money and for some reason everyone focuses on the US providing it. Same with Israel, why are we the ones who have to prop them up?
I’d really like to know. Everyone hates the US until they want money or weapons. We aren’t the ones next door to russia, the EU is. And we aren’t anywhere near the middle east, so why are we wasting so much money on israel?
Treaties aside, my issue is that it’s always the US that everyone begs money from in these situations. We get shit on constantly for a bunch of reasons, some valid, but when someone comes along and starts making threats the question is always “What will the US do about this?”
Have you checked how many military bases the USA has in other countries? The USA doesn’t give money for nothing. They have military presence in every timezone/hemisphere.
I have to think our government in the US sees all kinds of strategic, political, and intelligence benefits from having our military spread all over the world. And our money too.
Plus the concept of proxy wars to hurt our enemies without putting ourselves in the line of fire and/or ending the human race.
This is why we’ve got such a large defense budget. Our military strength isn’t just to protect ourselves, it’s so we can also project our influence around the world. It’s like if your neighbor has a bunch of guns, and you hear zombies are headed towards you. If there was ever a time their ridiculous spending had a use, it was now.
I do think though European countries should contribute more. They benefit immensely from American influence around the world, don’t pay a dime towards it, and then criticize the US for spending so much on defense.
Regardless of the EU support not being what it should be, it is in the best interest of the USA to support Ukraine. Russia is a systemic rival and will not stop its aggressive expansion into other countries if they are not stopped in Ukraine. Slightly cynical, but even if Russia wins in the end, dragging this war out by supplying Ukraine also weakens Russia more than the current support weakens the USA.
As a Euro, I am qualified to speak for all of Europe on this. TLDR; Decades of poor preparation.
Macron did talk recently about the USA reliance, which I’m sure a search would turn up. Unfortunately it isn’t a quick thing to solve, so here we are.
I wish we could provide a fraction of what the USA does.
It is the situation we find ourselves in when none of our countries are investing in the military to any significant levels. Other countries are investing what they can afford, but have no where near the GDP of the USA. I remember Poland provided all they could, but had to say that’s all we can do because we have to think about ourselves in case we are next.
I also think that you make most of the weapons in your country, so you are best placed to help.
Long term, I expect the EU to learn nothing from this and the next time someone starts a war it will be the same situation.
Please don’t resent us for the situation, because we don’t like it either.
What everyone else has said. To add on to that, we also update our own military by sending our oldest or outdated equipment. A big reason is that it’s still way better stuff than what Russia has. Russia did the opposite but believed they had up to date equipment, they are paying the price for their corruption.
The thing is, the US is just so fucking big and it also has the biggest military industrial complex by far, so who else should do it? Proportional to GDP, it’s not that much.
Also, in the past, other nations have contributed to America’s wars. Japan paid something like 10 billion USD to the US for the Gulf War in 1991, which I think was around 20% of the total cost.
I didn’t say we are the only ones, i said we are alwsys expected to throw money and equipment at any of the EU’s little scares, while being shit on the rest of the time.
Honest question from someone who wants to see Ukraine not be overrun by orcs: Why is the US always the one who has to fund wars? There are some countries in the EU that have given a bit of suport, but the guys who are across the ocean seem to be the ones everyone looks to for money. Aren’t you clever enlightened boys and girls from the European Union able to take care of this?
Every single time there is some conflict the idiots in charge here have to get big hard-ons and start getting involved. And we are told to stay out of it. But now Ukraine needs money and for some reason everyone focuses on the US providing it. Same with Israel, why are we the ones who have to prop them up?
I’d really like to know. Everyone hates the US until they want money or weapons. We aren’t the ones next door to russia, the EU is. And we aren’t anywhere near the middle east, so why are we wasting so much money on israel?
USA has to respect the nuclear arms treaty… Ukraine was promised protection in return for giving up nuclear weapons.
Is the EU bound by any such treaty?
Treaties aside, my issue is that it’s always the US that everyone begs money from in these situations. We get shit on constantly for a bunch of reasons, some valid, but when someone comes along and starts making threats the question is always “What will the US do about this?”
Have you checked how many military bases the USA has in other countries? The USA doesn’t give money for nothing. They have military presence in every timezone/hemisphere.
The UK is I believe. Russia should be but they’ve clearly ripped that up. It’s the Budapest Memorandums if you want to look more into it.
Removed by mod
I have to think our government in the US sees all kinds of strategic, political, and intelligence benefits from having our military spread all over the world. And our money too.
Plus the concept of proxy wars to hurt our enemies without putting ourselves in the line of fire and/or ending the human race.
This is why we’ve got such a large defense budget. Our military strength isn’t just to protect ourselves, it’s so we can also project our influence around the world. It’s like if your neighbor has a bunch of guns, and you hear zombies are headed towards you. If there was ever a time their ridiculous spending had a use, it was now.
I do think though European countries should contribute more. They benefit immensely from American influence around the world, don’t pay a dime towards it, and then criticize the US for spending so much on defense.
Regardless of the EU support not being what it should be, it is in the best interest of the USA to support Ukraine. Russia is a systemic rival and will not stop its aggressive expansion into other countries if they are not stopped in Ukraine. Slightly cynical, but even if Russia wins in the end, dragging this war out by supplying Ukraine also weakens Russia more than the current support weakens the USA.
As a Euro, I am qualified to speak for all of Europe on this. TLDR; Decades of poor preparation.
Macron did talk recently about the USA reliance, which I’m sure a search would turn up. Unfortunately it isn’t a quick thing to solve, so here we are.
I wish we could provide a fraction of what the USA does.
It is the situation we find ourselves in when none of our countries are investing in the military to any significant levels. Other countries are investing what they can afford, but have no where near the GDP of the USA. I remember Poland provided all they could, but had to say that’s all we can do because we have to think about ourselves in case we are next.
I also think that you make most of the weapons in your country, so you are best placed to help.
Long term, I expect the EU to learn nothing from this and the next time someone starts a war it will be the same situation.
Please don’t resent us for the situation, because we don’t like it either.
Thanks for actually answering the question I asked. Not many have managed that.
Reading it back, I forgot to acknowledge ‘everyone hates america’
I wouldn’t worry about that, where I’m from we hate everyone, even our selves. It’s a form of affection.
If you get the reference; bloody Scott’s, they ruined Scotland!
What everyone else has said. To add on to that, we also update our own military by sending our oldest or outdated equipment. A big reason is that it’s still way better stuff than what Russia has. Russia did the opposite but believed they had up to date equipment, they are paying the price for their corruption.
But it isn’t? Many countries are supporting Ukraine, and there are more ways than shipping weapons there to do it.
Check out https://www.ifw-kiel.de/topics/war-against-ukraine/ukraine-support-tracker/
The thing is, the US is just so fucking big and it also has the biggest military industrial complex by far, so who else should do it? Proportional to GDP, it’s not that much.
Also, in the past, other nations have contributed to America’s wars. Japan paid something like 10 billion USD to the US for the Gulf War in 1991, which I think was around 20% of the total cost.
I didn’t say we are the only ones, i said we are alwsys expected to throw money and equipment at any of the EU’s little scares, while being shit on the rest of the time.
a. money laundering
b. it’s a war by proxy
It’s because the US wants to preserve it’s empire. So they need to project power all over the world.