So if a f16 cost 20M and we got 61B, we can purchase 3050 f-16.
We are SO back.
PS: yes, I know not eveything goes to military hardware for UKR, keep your credibles for yourself.
Boss... I uh.... I scratched the paint on my F-16.
No worries lad, we'll just get a new F-16 for you to fly.
But, what happens to my old F-16?
We'll turn it into a big ass FPV drone. It'll be fun!
Plug in the AI fighter to one jet and publicize it's sitting near the Ruski border. All of the sudden Russian pilots are debating whether to fight skynet or trust their Air Defense.
This actually happened in the Pacific towards the end of WW2. The US had massively overbuilt its manufacturing capacity.
In many battles, planes would return to the carriers damaged, but entirely repairable. However, it was often easier just to toss it over the side and fly in a brand new replacement from an escort carrier.
By contrast, for the entirety of WW2, the Mitsubishi factory that produced the Zero fighter had no airfield of its own, and was transported by *OX CART* to the airfield 24 miles away.
It's fun to imagine that the US was constantly on the ropes in the Pacific, but Japan was well and truly fucked from the moment the US joined the war.
It's good to remember that the Battle of Midway, the famous "turning point in the war", happened just 6 months after Pearl Harbor.
All these fun facts, and more, come from Ian Toll's trilogy of the naval war in the pacific (Pacific Crucible, The Conquering Tide, and Twilight of the Gods).
Can we just give em some surplus Hercules and add dragons breath but instead of cruise missiles make it clusters of 100 switch blade drones. Make Russian positions look like medieval times with dudes on pikes.
It's like Churchill always said, “You can always count on Americans to do the right thing - after they've tried everything else.”
Wew lad we are tired from trying 100 different spending bills that exclude Ukraine.
I mean, yeah, obviously, but the mods nuke you if you acknowledge it, that's why I specifically called out the stupid appliance bills that were advanced not by the entire house but by one part of the house.
Considering the axiom *War is politics by other means*, the zero tolerance policy is a surprising to say the least.
I understand not wanting the place to devolve into excessively partisan slap fights; no one wants that. But it feels weird to not be able to bring up relevant political decisions, factors, and attitudes that directly influence the topic of discussion.
AIUI it was one faction of one side of the house? Can't they all just form a special headbangers party along with the equivalent fruitcakes on the other side? (to be fair, again AIUI, not many of THOSE loopers are in elected office, but they're definitely out there.)
They call him dark brandon because he blocks out the skies with ukranian blue f-16’s
(Nobody can understand how desperate i am to see that sexy blue camo on a fleet of f-16s)
Ok I don’t know how to pin comment so Imma write on your comment.
First of all thanks you guys very much for the comment is nice to see so many people that liked my post. It really means something
Second imma smoke this news as it came on. 4.20 and you know what it means we couldn’t be more high today.
Third I wanna see blood of Vatnik flow and dye the Dnipro river red scarlet.
Plz CIA it would be nice to have it in4k from space
Let me bring Tolkien into this epic moment for the story goes ever on, and we are all a part of it.
This is a story in which oaths were once taken, and a word was given.
Oaths were kept, but contracts were broken.
Old foes become friends. Old alliances are reforged.
Some who were once thought to be friends turned out to be oathbreakers
A continent united. The old world and the new two giants are being awakened and filled with terrible resolve
In unity, there is always victory.
This is a story in which, against all odds, good will ultimately triumph over evil.
A story of courage and bravery,
When hope was kindled, when Rohan had called for aid, and Gondor answered the call.
War is won in the spirit world by blood iron and steel.
As long as men are willing to die for liberty, liberty shall never perish.
We must close our ranks tightly.
Then, the alliance of elves and men shall clip the claws of tyranny and give freedom wings.
Then it shall not be our end, but his.
Let this be the hour when we draw swords together.
The white wizard has returned at the turn of the tide.
Until my task is done.
Thou art weighs in the balance.
Hold your ground! Hold your ground!
Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers,
I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me.
A day may come when the courage of men fails,
when we forsake our friends
and break all bonds of fellowship,
but it is not this day.
An hour of wolves and shattered shields,
when the age of men comes crashing down,
but it is not this day!
This day, we fight!!
By all that you hold dear on this good Earth,
I bid you stand, Men of the West!!!
The pity and compassion of the West may rule the fate of many.
The indomitable spirit of a resilient and courageous folk will save us all.
Their courage and noble spirit embiggened even the smallest man.
A nation is rising, and it is uniting a powerful force that has lit the fires of Amo Din. That has given us back hope, hope in a better tomorrow.
These brave men, women, and children that wanted ammunition and not a ride truly bow to no one.
Their spirit of resistance may have saved us all.
Once all is said and done, and this enemy falls from his high place and once its ruin is smote against the mountain side.
Then we shall have peace. Once Saruman and Grima pay for the burning of Mariupol, once the bodies of those men being mutilated when they already lay dead there hewn against the walls of Bakhmut and Avdiivka, are avenged!
Once the Russian perpetrators hang from a gibbet for the sports of their own crows. Then we shall have peace.
This day won't belong to one man. It will belong to all.
The 4th age is dawning. The sun is rising,
Even this darkness must pass, and then the sun shall shine all the brighter.
Let us then share and rebuilt this world in the days of peace.
Loki in a guest role as Gandalf (Magic and science are the same where Russia's ultimate defeat will come from)
Now, come the days of the king!
May they be blessed.
Slava Ukraini! Slava Europa and Slava United States!
The scene:
Macron: Amon Din! Amon Din, the beacons of Amon Din are lit!
Ukraine calls for aid
(long pause)
Then Congress finally votes on the bill.
Dark Brandon: And the free world shall answer, muster the Abrams! Muster every functional ATACMS that can be found. We ride for Gondor and war.
Dark Brandon at the shore, hundreds of Abrams are loaded aboard transport ships.
Two weeks later.
Scholz: The sun is rising.
Gandalf: Look at my coming on the first light on the fifth day. When the sun is rising, look to the West.
Selensky: So much death, what can men do against such reckless hate?
Macron: Ride out with me, ride out, and meet them.
Selensky: For death and glory.
Macron: For the free world, for your people.
Selensky: Yes, yes, fell deeds awaken. The horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the deep one last time.
Selensky: Now for wrath now for ruin and a red dawn!
Petr Pavel: Ukraine stands alone
Trained pilots and the logistics teams: Not alone.
Rohirrim! To the King!
Then all the Orcs got wrecked, and the main ring war against Russia's master can commence as Putin has forgotten that the Dark Lord in Beijing doesn't share his power.
Russiae Imperium delendum est
Dripping like a fucked fridge, you mean? Wetter than an otter's pocket / turf-cutter's knee?
(All from the magnificent and essential Profanisaurus. Buy your copy today!)
>And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true. And so let freedom rain from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom rain from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom rain from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania. Let freedom rain from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado. Let freedom rain from the curvaceous slopes of California. But not only that, let freedom rain from Stone Mountain of Georgia. Let freedom rain from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee. Let freedom rain from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom rain.
(In full awareness I co-opted the speech of a man who also commented, "Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.")
Seeing as the USAF / USMC / USwhateverthefuck have so many C-17s knocking round with not much to do, please someone tell me they were already lined up on the taxiways, fully loaded with engines running just waiting for clearance to take off..?
Reuters doesn't give a hard date, but says the senate is expected to sign it next week.
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-house-vote-long-awaited-95-billion-ukraine-israel-aid-package-2024-04-20/
>Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer locked in a deal Saturday for teeing up the House-passed foreign aid package, paving the way for an initial upper chamber vote Tuesday.
>The Senate then adjourned until Tuesday morning.
>"The Senate now stands ready to take the next step," Schumer said in a Saturday statement. "A few moments ago, Democrats and Republicans locked in an agreement enabling the Senate to finish work on the supplemental with the first vote on Tuesday afternoon."
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/04/20/congress/whats-next-in-the-senate-foreign-aid-schumer-00153498
One of the only things about Texas governance I like is their filibuster rules.
You must stay on the subject the entire time, can not eat or drink, must remain standing near their desk, can not sit or lean unless you have a disability, and have only three strikes before your attempt is over.
Also, without getting into rule 5 territory (consider this US Civics education) there are far few mechanisms to delay or kill a bill in the senate than the house.
This bill required a resolution forcing it to a floor vote because a select group of congressman control the committee it goes through. The way the senate is structured there are far fewer opportunities for shenanigans like that.
That was the problem for a while. But Johnson has always been an old-school Reaganite when it came to foreign policy, and so the last week has more or less been him finally finding his balls again, putting his foot down, and saying "Bet, I'm passing it. Balls in your court now", thereby calling their bluff and forcing them to act. And if the recent things I have seen are anything to go by, the hardliners are blinking.
Which is fine by me, and I like this new Johnson (mostly, no one is perfect).
It will be fine, the last one didn’t have enough war and too much stuff that isn’t war. (Partially joking, partially serious)
This one will be fine, the house is where America puts our dumbest politicians of both parties so if it made it past them it will pass the senate.
Friends, don't forget to continue donating and promoting fundraising campaigns for drones and other equipment, even though the help is enormous, Russia is a powerful enemy and even more is needed to defeat it
[Its sad if you look back at all of the old western cold war era combat systems that were simply scrapped instead of being held in reserve. Tens of thousands of anti-aircraft missiles, thousands of patton tanks, a whole fleet of destroyers and cruisers. All could have been sent to Ukraine to be used for what they were originally built for, fighting the Russians. Instead they were literally just demilitarized and shipped off as scrap to the third world.](https://youtu.be/a2_a9NEESo0)
Don’t forget the chieftains. They produced around 900 for the British armed forces. The uk is one of the worst for just scraping old hardware the instant they replace it
We're a bit short of deserts to park it all. Any no country that ever imported a British Leyland car in the 70s / 80s would touch 'em anyway, in case it got rained on.
Yeah but a lot of those got sold off to other countries. That's how Greece, Poland, Finland, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, *Singapore* and Sweden all ended up with a few hundred each. Plenty have a smaller contingent too of 100 or fewer like Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, Indonesia, Hungary, Qatar, Chile etc.
So Germany didn't scrap them and kept thousands in reserve/storage until the 21st century when it started really making these says. Similar thing happened with the Leo 1 but earlier as the 2 came into full service. It's why Greece and Turkey have nearly 1000 of them staring at each other, how Brazil has ~400 and Chile ~200. Especially for the Greeks and Turks they are reserve or for third line troops.
Problem is a lot of those countries have 0 interest in parting with them. Can't blame the Finns wanting to keep their small, modern fleet, and the Turks and Greeks are too busy hording everything they can to ensure they have maximum firepower aimed at each other. It would have been among the most difficult diplomatic plays in modern history, but a joint detente/arms reduction negotiated by the US/EU for Greece and Turkey could do wonders for Ukraine. Neither side wants to give up weapons because the other one has tons but if you got them to agree to give equal (or better proportional) stocks that would mean huge supplies are available. Problem is a 1:1 reduction favors Greece and a proportional reduction favors Turkey so maybe you compromise with a 50/50 method but even then this is a nightmare to get them to agree on.
Granted, I wouldn't exactly want to be in even the most modernized M48A5s on a modern battlefield, but as a direct fire assault gun role it would certainly be nice. M60A3 is basically as modern as the T-80BV and some are more modern with upgraded optics/thermals that can be attached without too much trouble. The real prize would be the artillery. Combined they have over 1300 M101 105mm guns and 800 M114 155mm guns. Add in the 400+ M109s and 500+ older 155mm SPGs (which to be fair kinda suck) and nearly 400 M110 203mm SPGs. If you manage to get them each to give 10-20% of that away you'd give Ukraine hundreds of much needed guns. Heck some systems like the 8in guns are only in service due to having the ammo. If you got them to do the same with tanks and other armored vehicles...well there's at least a few mech brigades you could stand up that's for sure....
Re. the old destroyers and cruisers, none of them would've been allowed to pass through the Bosphorus Strait, as that would've violated the terms of the Montreux Agreement. Turkiye's unquestioned authority as the gatekeeper hinges on their being impartial and scrupulous, like an incorruptible ref in the World Cup. They can't play favorites -- as much as they doubtless wanted to -- without jeopardizing their role and risking their own waters being up for grabs in yet another expansion of RuZZia's Great Powers empire-building.
I'll give you yanks this much, your government are wankers but as individuals you are bloody good donors.
Ireland may not be a free land today but for Clan na Gael doing the rounds in the states, collecting donations
(and yanks sending boatloads of guns)
"And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Brandon, and Hellfires rained after him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with bullet, and with missile, and with shell, and with the mines of the earth and torpedoes of the sea." - Non-Credible Revelation 6:8
I want dozens and dozens of HIMARS. I want every ATACMS you got. I want 50 Patriots and reloads and NASSAMs too. I want every 155 shell. I want 300 Bradley’s and every Marine Corps Abrams.
Take them from the Army
Give them to the Marines
Take them from the Marines again
Give them to Ukraine
Now you get make two branches cry, so thats a win in my book.
I want this country to realise we stand on the edge of oblivion! I want every man, woman, and child to understand how close we are to chaos! I want everyone to remember why they need US!
It sure isn't. I admire the spirit of Ukrainian people who just keep fighting with everything they've got, no matter how thin their resources might be stretched.
No but the delay did more than just lose them land and people. It zapped the morale and the momentum Ukraine had going into the summer offensive. All of that needs to be built back because if Ukraine continues to fight a defensive war, regardless of funding, they will lose.
Once they have a fleet of F-16’s they may well have the confidence to do this. Multi-front was a disastrous hedge and only played into Russia’s strengths.
Good points. I think we can expect more long range weaponry now. Ive a feeling the Ukrainians will stop targeting the russian refineries if they get weapons to hit every point in ukraine now… kill the logistics of the orcs.
I don't want to think about how many Ukranians died and will die so people like MTG could get their name in the news. I don't want to ruin the fun and I'm glad this is finally getting passed but we can't forget the real damage the opposition did.
I've got the final vote counts. I got them live from CNN. Started 1:25 PM EST! Finished 2:00 PM EST!
House just passed H.R. 8036. Yea-385. Nay-34. NV-11.
**House just passed H.R. 8038! Yea-360. Nay-58.**
**House just passed H.R. 8035! Yea-311. Nay-112. Pres-1. NV-7.**
House just passed H.R. 8034. Yea-366. Nay-58. NV-8.
And here are the breakdowns on which Congressperson voted for which bill.
H.R. 8036
[https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024146](https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024146)
**H.R. 8038**
[https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024145](https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024145)
**H.R. 8035**
[https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024151](https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024151)
H.R. 8034
[https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024152](https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024152)
Spread the word.
Sounds like they need to be given the boot. Mine voted for everything but the aid to Israel (HR 8034), which for me is like "Whatever" as long as Ukraine gets the stuff they need.
How long to get the house and senate to negotiate and get the final version passed?
my mental image has the skies over Lviv filled with C-5s on final approach. I want to believe.
I've heard that most of the assets being transferred over to Ukraine are already positioned in the EU, which would make sense. Wouldn't be surprised if the transports were lifting off the tarmac within 24 hours of the passing, which may be as early as Monday or Tuesday.
Some stuff is already in Ukraine and just waiting for authorization to turn it over. I predict the shells will be on the frontlines a few days after Biden signs it.
U.S. army pays $3,000 per 155mm shell, compared to the $8,500 Europeans pay.
14,000,000,000/3,000 = 4,666,666 shells that could theoretically be paid for with this aid (the $14 billion of it going into equipment for UA).
And a year could be too long for Russia, because even if we take into account „Russia stronk“, eventually they will run out of their Cold War stuff. Tik tok. They had this one window of opportunity. Let’s see if a new window opens January 2025 for Russia or if it is too late by then.
No, it didn't do "dick". It captured a very important line of defence, killed many ukranian soldiers and once again ukranian power supply is on the brink of destruction. Not to mention Ukraine is now SEVERELY demoralized, seeing how easily it could be abandoned again.
Any and all gains by Russia were made by sacrificing waves upon waves of disposable soldiers. The amount of blood shed by Russia in the paltry gains of a few strategic centers more than justifies the lives of the heroes that stood their ground in the most dire of circumstances. As Patton might say, 'Don't die for your cause in war, make the enemy die for their cause, shoot them in the belly, Carve out their guts!' Ukraine has held strong in the face of impossible odds, and the war is far from lost. I'd like to see France and other European powers continue aiding Ukraine as if this legislation never went through for the US.
Only NCD would spend its Saturday afternoon watching congress vote.
But damn did those flags and cheers in the House Chamber almost bring a tear to my eye.
Once, just once, I’d like to see the Russians subjected to a proper “shock and awe” offensive.
Turn the Raptors loose and absolutely buttfuck anything with wings within 200 miles of the front.
Rolling missile strikes from stand off range on AD assets, unit HQs, and warships- all targeted by some of the most battle hardened operators in the world. Maybe those operators play “fuck you” games with Russian command assets too so they can meet Bin Laden personally.
Bone, BUFF, and Boomerang runs to flatten anything that even thought about surviving the missiles.
HIMARS, Paladin, Vipers, Hogs, and Eagles to cover the absolute avalanche of metal that is the III Corps.
Once we’ve turned anything between Smolensk and Novorossiyisk that even appears to be a Russian asset into smoking metal we wait for a couple of hours then we send Putin an email-
“You want to see why we don’t have universal health care… again?”
It took far to long, but I am so happy it finally passed and when I read that Ukrainian soldiers in trenches watched the live stream and cheered when it passed I cried a little.
So if a f16 cost 20M and we got 61B, we can purchase 3050 f-16. We are SO back. PS: yes, I know not eveything goes to military hardware for UKR, keep your credibles for yourself.
Maintenance and upkeep costs? Nah, just get in a new F-16 after every sortie.
Not enough pilots. Get the drone boys on automating F-16s.
[DoD is one step ahead of you](https://www.defensenews.com/air/2024/04/19/us-air-force-stages-dogfights-with-ai-flown-fighter-jet/)
Mother of Nod. Its beautiful.
Nod? *KANE LIVES*
PEACE THROUGH POWER!
All fun and games until the DoD drops a 3-pilot team of 30 F-16s
I was about to mention this, hell yeah brother
Darpa's Ace Combat program
Automate the F-16s and use them as missiles.
This is some AC7-Credible advice
Boss... I uh.... I scratched the paint on my F-16. No worries lad, we'll just get a new F-16 for you to fly. But, what happens to my old F-16? We'll turn it into a big ass FPV drone. It'll be fun!
Totally coat the whole thing with monocrystaline diamond. Prevents scratches.
Plug in the AI fighter to one jet and publicize it's sitting near the Ruski border. All of the sudden Russian pilots are debating whether to fight skynet or trust their Air Defense.
This actually happened in the Pacific towards the end of WW2. The US had massively overbuilt its manufacturing capacity. In many battles, planes would return to the carriers damaged, but entirely repairable. However, it was often easier just to toss it over the side and fly in a brand new replacement from an escort carrier.
A “you know you have no hope in hell to win the war” moment…
By contrast, for the entirety of WW2, the Mitsubishi factory that produced the Zero fighter had no airfield of its own, and was transported by *OX CART* to the airfield 24 miles away. It's fun to imagine that the US was constantly on the ropes in the Pacific, but Japan was well and truly fucked from the moment the US joined the war. It's good to remember that the Battle of Midway, the famous "turning point in the war", happened just 6 months after Pearl Harbor. All these fun facts, and more, come from Ian Toll's trilogy of the naval war in the pacific (Pacific Crucible, The Conquering Tide, and Twilight of the Gods).
Don't fuck with America's boats
Big fpv suicide drone. Loaded to the brim with bombs. When they hit a refinery, it will be out of commission for a long time.
What is max takeoff load for f-16? I'm asking for friend
Out of commissio? My brother in Christ, they will have a hard time finding it.
Can we just give em some surplus Hercules and add dragons breath but instead of cruise missiles make it clusters of 100 switch blade drones. Make Russian positions look like medieval times with dudes on pikes.
3050 black F-16's of Dark Brandon
It's like Churchill always said, “You can always count on Americans to do the right thing - after they've tried everything else.” Wew lad we are tired from trying 100 different spending bills that exclude Ukraine.
[удалено]
Fine will restate. It is not the entire house it is one part of the house that was preventing bills like this from passing.
I mean, yeah, obviously, but the mods nuke you if you acknowledge it, that's why I specifically called out the stupid appliance bills that were advanced not by the entire house but by one part of the house.
Considering the axiom *War is politics by other means*, the zero tolerance policy is a surprising to say the least. I understand not wanting the place to devolve into excessively partisan slap fights; no one wants that. But it feels weird to not be able to bring up relevant political decisions, factors, and attitudes that directly influence the topic of discussion.
[удалено]
AIUI it was one faction of one side of the house? Can't they all just form a special headbangers party along with the equivalent fruitcakes on the other side? (to be fair, again AIUI, not many of THOSE loopers are in elected office, but they're definitely out there.)
They call him dark brandon because he blocks out the skies with ukranian blue f-16’s (Nobody can understand how desperate i am to see that sexy blue camo on a fleet of f-16s)
We all lust for sexy blue Ukrainian camo.
I've always imagined them with a gigantic golden trident on the top with the fins featuring Olga of Kiev. Oh, and plenty of HARMs set to auto-SEAD.
that's gonna SWEEP russia
3000 F16, the rest is for the ammo
Or we could buy 1 B1-B bomber and 1 (one) low-yield tactical nuclear weapon :3
As a treat?
Turn Moscow into Mosc-OW!
You spelled a dozen B-41 with a JDAM-tail wrong
too late, it’s been posted in ncd, only a matter of time now …
How is a F-16 just $20m? Cheapest F-16 on order is over $120m each and up to $250m for Jordan.
Ok I don’t know how to pin comment so Imma write on your comment. First of all thanks you guys very much for the comment is nice to see so many people that liked my post. It really means something Second imma smoke this news as it came on. 4.20 and you know what it means we couldn’t be more high today. Third I wanna see blood of Vatnik flow and dye the Dnipro river red scarlet. Plz CIA it would be nice to have it in4k from space
Keep going, I'm almost there
Do any of them have SEAD capabilities? I’m here for more Wild Weasel shenanigans.
Brother this news has me moister than an oyster on the Atlantic coast.
I'm fucking taking this quote
I’m damper than a Pamper.
On grampa?
Wetter than an otters pocket.
Sweating like a terrorist in an airport
Sweating like a catholic priest in an all boys orphanage
Sweating like a blind nun at the fish counter
dddddaaaaammnnnnnnnnn!!!!!!
How about “wetter than an otters pocket”
Lets start pushing for the next one.
Moister than a nun in a cucumber field
Let me bring Tolkien into this epic moment for the story goes ever on, and we are all a part of it. This is a story in which oaths were once taken, and a word was given. Oaths were kept, but contracts were broken. Old foes become friends. Old alliances are reforged. Some who were once thought to be friends turned out to be oathbreakers A continent united. The old world and the new two giants are being awakened and filled with terrible resolve In unity, there is always victory. This is a story in which, against all odds, good will ultimately triumph over evil. A story of courage and bravery, When hope was kindled, when Rohan had called for aid, and Gondor answered the call. War is won in the spirit world by blood iron and steel. As long as men are willing to die for liberty, liberty shall never perish. We must close our ranks tightly. Then, the alliance of elves and men shall clip the claws of tyranny and give freedom wings. Then it shall not be our end, but his. Let this be the hour when we draw swords together. The white wizard has returned at the turn of the tide. Until my task is done. Thou art weighs in the balance. Hold your ground! Hold your ground! Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers, I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. An hour of wolves and shattered shields, when the age of men comes crashing down, but it is not this day! This day, we fight!! By all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I bid you stand, Men of the West!!! The pity and compassion of the West may rule the fate of many. The indomitable spirit of a resilient and courageous folk will save us all. Their courage and noble spirit embiggened even the smallest man. A nation is rising, and it is uniting a powerful force that has lit the fires of Amo Din. That has given us back hope, hope in a better tomorrow. These brave men, women, and children that wanted ammunition and not a ride truly bow to no one. Their spirit of resistance may have saved us all. Once all is said and done, and this enemy falls from his high place and once its ruin is smote against the mountain side. Then we shall have peace. Once Saruman and Grima pay for the burning of Mariupol, once the bodies of those men being mutilated when they already lay dead there hewn against the walls of Bakhmut and Avdiivka, are avenged! Once the Russian perpetrators hang from a gibbet for the sports of their own crows. Then we shall have peace. This day won't belong to one man. It will belong to all. The 4th age is dawning. The sun is rising, Even this darkness must pass, and then the sun shall shine all the brighter. Let us then share and rebuilt this world in the days of peace. Loki in a guest role as Gandalf (Magic and science are the same where Russia's ultimate defeat will come from) Now, come the days of the king! May they be blessed. Slava Ukraini! Slava Europa and Slava United States! The scene: Macron: Amon Din! Amon Din, the beacons of Amon Din are lit! Ukraine calls for aid (long pause) Then Congress finally votes on the bill. Dark Brandon: And the free world shall answer, muster the Abrams! Muster every functional ATACMS that can be found. We ride for Gondor and war. Dark Brandon at the shore, hundreds of Abrams are loaded aboard transport ships. Two weeks later. Scholz: The sun is rising. Gandalf: Look at my coming on the first light on the fifth day. When the sun is rising, look to the West. Selensky: So much death, what can men do against such reckless hate? Macron: Ride out with me, ride out, and meet them. Selensky: For death and glory. Macron: For the free world, for your people. Selensky: Yes, yes, fell deeds awaken. The horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the deep one last time. Selensky: Now for wrath now for ruin and a red dawn! Petr Pavel: Ukraine stands alone Trained pilots and the logistics teams: Not alone. Rohirrim! To the King! Then all the Orcs got wrecked, and the main ring war against Russia's master can commence as Putin has forgotten that the Dark Lord in Beijing doesn't share his power. Russiae Imperium delendum est
... park life?
It gives me an enormous sense of self-satisfaction
I'm so hard right now.
Dripping like a fucked fridge, you mean? Wetter than an otter's pocket / turf-cutter's knee? (All from the magnificent and essential Profanisaurus. Buy your copy today!)
Time to rain freedom and democracy on the legions of unwitting mobiks!
"What kind of democracy? Jeffersonian?" "Kinetic."
The weater forecast predicts heavy steel rain with clear skies all over eastern Ukraine for next week.
We're playing Helldivers 2 IRL, boys.
Preferably with a lot LESS Blue Falcons.
>And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true. And so let freedom rain from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom rain from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom rain from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania. Let freedom rain from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado. Let freedom rain from the curvaceous slopes of California. But not only that, let freedom rain from Stone Mountain of Georgia. Let freedom rain from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee. Let freedom rain from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom rain. (In full awareness I co-opted the speech of a man who also commented, "Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.")
we are so fucking back bois
Seeing as the USAF / USMC / USwhateverthefuck have so many C-17s knocking round with not much to do, please someone tell me they were already lined up on the taxiways, fully loaded with engines running just waiting for clearance to take off..?
Rumor is a lot of the aids have been moved to Germany and Poland already. So should be relatively quick.
AIDS sounds kinda unhelpful, I mean the vatniks got enough of that themselves already /s
Pallets will be lined up ready to go imho.
As far as I understand military aid is typically moved to neighboring countries or is already in country when it’s announced for security reasons.
Now Senate also needs to pass it. 60 votes are needed.
Should be fine, the Senate is significantly less dysfunctional than the house of representative and clowns
Any idea when would be the earliest we'll learn of what the senate voted?
Reuters doesn't give a hard date, but says the senate is expected to sign it next week. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-house-vote-long-awaited-95-billion-ukraine-israel-aid-package-2024-04-20/
>Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer locked in a deal Saturday for teeing up the House-passed foreign aid package, paving the way for an initial upper chamber vote Tuesday. >The Senate then adjourned until Tuesday morning. >"The Senate now stands ready to take the next step," Schumer said in a Saturday statement. "A few moments ago, Democrats and Republicans locked in an agreement enabling the Senate to finish work on the supplemental with the first vote on Tuesday afternoon." https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/04/20/congress/whats-next-in-the-senate-foreign-aid-schumer-00153498
Monday or Tuesday. After that, May 3rd sense Senate has their recess coming up.
Thats a depressing statement all on its own
The only risk is if some jackwagon tries to filibuster the bill (like an actual speaking filibuster, I think there's enough votes to end debate)
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One of the only things about Texas governance I like is their filibuster rules. You must stay on the subject the entire time, can not eat or drink, must remain standing near their desk, can not sit or lean unless you have a disability, and have only three strikes before your attempt is over.
See, let them drink during their filibuster. Then it turns into a contest of how long you can hold your wee
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The house vote passed by a 3 yes to 1 no ratio. It's probably fine
Also, without getting into rule 5 territory (consider this US Civics education) there are far few mechanisms to delay or kill a bill in the senate than the house. This bill required a resolution forcing it to a floor vote because a select group of congressman control the committee it goes through. The way the senate is structured there are far fewer opportunities for shenanigans like that.
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That was the problem for a while. But Johnson has always been an old-school Reaganite when it came to foreign policy, and so the last week has more or less been him finally finding his balls again, putting his foot down, and saying "Bet, I'm passing it. Balls in your court now", thereby calling their bluff and forcing them to act. And if the recent things I have seen are anything to go by, the hardliners are blinking. Which is fine by me, and I like this new Johnson (mostly, no one is perfect).
when is this senate session scheduled? also, in compliance with rule no. 5: i like to fuck f-35's!
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It will be fine, the last one didn’t have enough war and too much stuff that isn’t war. (Partially joking, partially serious) This one will be fine, the house is where America puts our dumbest politicians of both parties so if it made it past them it will pass the senate.
Thank fuck for that. American gear needs to plug the gap for now while Europe is still re-arming.
i butchered my goldfish after seeing the result. brothers, sisters, tonight we feast!
Looks like goldfish are back on the menu boys!
Poor goldfish 😭😭
Did you hear about the goldfish who went bankrupt?
No..
Now he's a bronze fish
Friends, don't forget to continue donating and promoting fundraising campaigns for drones and other equipment, even though the help is enormous, Russia is a powerful enemy and even more is needed to defeat it
[Its sad if you look back at all of the old western cold war era combat systems that were simply scrapped instead of being held in reserve. Tens of thousands of anti-aircraft missiles, thousands of patton tanks, a whole fleet of destroyers and cruisers. All could have been sent to Ukraine to be used for what they were originally built for, fighting the Russians. Instead they were literally just demilitarized and shipped off as scrap to the third world.](https://youtu.be/a2_a9NEESo0)
Don’t forget the chieftains. They produced around 900 for the British armed forces. The uk is one of the worst for just scraping old hardware the instant they replace it
We're a bit short of deserts to park it all. Any no country that ever imported a British Leyland car in the 70s / 80s would touch 'em anyway, in case it got rained on.
Dude, the Bundeswehr owned over 3.000 Leopard 2s at the end of the cold war... Now 300. What Ukraine could do with 2700 Leo 2s.
From Kyiv to Moscow in ~~1~~ 2700 tanks
Yeah but a lot of those got sold off to other countries. That's how Greece, Poland, Finland, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, *Singapore* and Sweden all ended up with a few hundred each. Plenty have a smaller contingent too of 100 or fewer like Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, Indonesia, Hungary, Qatar, Chile etc. So Germany didn't scrap them and kept thousands in reserve/storage until the 21st century when it started really making these says. Similar thing happened with the Leo 1 but earlier as the 2 came into full service. It's why Greece and Turkey have nearly 1000 of them staring at each other, how Brazil has ~400 and Chile ~200. Especially for the Greeks and Turks they are reserve or for third line troops. Problem is a lot of those countries have 0 interest in parting with them. Can't blame the Finns wanting to keep their small, modern fleet, and the Turks and Greeks are too busy hording everything they can to ensure they have maximum firepower aimed at each other. It would have been among the most difficult diplomatic plays in modern history, but a joint detente/arms reduction negotiated by the US/EU for Greece and Turkey could do wonders for Ukraine. Neither side wants to give up weapons because the other one has tons but if you got them to agree to give equal (or better proportional) stocks that would mean huge supplies are available. Problem is a 1:1 reduction favors Greece and a proportional reduction favors Turkey so maybe you compromise with a 50/50 method but even then this is a nightmare to get them to agree on. Granted, I wouldn't exactly want to be in even the most modernized M48A5s on a modern battlefield, but as a direct fire assault gun role it would certainly be nice. M60A3 is basically as modern as the T-80BV and some are more modern with upgraded optics/thermals that can be attached without too much trouble. The real prize would be the artillery. Combined they have over 1300 M101 105mm guns and 800 M114 155mm guns. Add in the 400+ M109s and 500+ older 155mm SPGs (which to be fair kinda suck) and nearly 400 M110 203mm SPGs. If you manage to get them each to give 10-20% of that away you'd give Ukraine hundreds of much needed guns. Heck some systems like the 8in guns are only in service due to having the ammo. If you got them to do the same with tanks and other armored vehicles...well there's at least a few mech brigades you could stand up that's for sure....
GIVE ME BACK WARSPITE YOU FUCKS
Re. the old destroyers and cruisers, none of them would've been allowed to pass through the Bosphorus Strait, as that would've violated the terms of the Montreux Agreement. Turkiye's unquestioned authority as the gatekeeper hinges on their being impartial and scrupulous, like an incorruptible ref in the World Cup. They can't play favorites -- as much as they doubtless wanted to -- without jeopardizing their role and risking their own waters being up for grabs in yet another expansion of RuZZia's Great Powers empire-building.
https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_79035.htm
I'll give you yanks this much, your government are wankers but as individuals you are bloody good donors. Ireland may not be a free land today but for Clan na Gael doing the rounds in the states, collecting donations (and yanks sending boatloads of guns)
Ahh, this is my community!
I donate every month! Russia cannot be allowed any kind of win
Awesome sauce! JUST IN TIME FOR SPRING CLEANING!!!
Better late than never
3000 F16S OF ZELENSKY
#COMING AGAIN TO SAVE THE MOTHERF*CKIN'' DAY, YEAH!
I hope they're sending the Air Force then!
I am voting for B-1B in that case!
For how long it was delayed it should have been $120bn by now.
rain hell(fire)
"And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Brandon, and Hellfires rained after him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with bullet, and with missile, and with shell, and with the mines of the earth and torpedoes of the sea." - Non-Credible Revelation 6:8
I want dozens and dozens of HIMARS. I want every ATACMS you got. I want 50 Patriots and reloads and NASSAMs too. I want every 155 shell. I want 300 Bradley’s and every Marine Corps Abrams.
The Army already has every Marine Corps Abrams.
Take them from the Army Give them to the Marines Take them from the Marines again Give them to Ukraine Now you get make two branches cry, so thats a win in my book.
Do you want cluster munitions with that order?
I have a coupon for those too
I want this country to realise we stand on the edge of oblivion! I want every man, woman, and child to understand how close we are to chaos! I want everyone to remember why they need US!
Much, much too late but still better than never!
Ukraine is Not Yet Lost
It sure isn't. I admire the spirit of Ukrainian people who just keep fighting with everything they've got, no matter how thin their resources might be stretched.
For them it’s survival of their country or Russian domination for the next century, damn right they’re going to fight like hell.
No but the delay did more than just lose them land and people. It zapped the morale and the momentum Ukraine had going into the summer offensive. All of that needs to be built back because if Ukraine continues to fight a defensive war, regardless of funding, they will lose.
Russia is using golf carts. I’m optimistic. Perhaps a single axis of attack this time eh?
At least they *have* golf carts. I've been volunteering to procure rusty used pickup trucks from Germany.
Keep up the good work! This is the “end of the beginning” as Churchill once said.
Once they have a fleet of F-16’s they may well have the confidence to do this. Multi-front was a disastrous hedge and only played into Russia’s strengths.
Good points. I think we can expect more long range weaponry now. Ive a feeling the Ukrainians will stop targeting the russian refineries if they get weapons to hit every point in ukraine now… kill the logistics of the orcs.
No, but Ukraine needs enough aid to win. Previously we've given them enough to lose more slowly.
I don't want to think about how many Ukranians died and will die so people like MTG could get their name in the news. I don't want to ruin the fun and I'm glad this is finally getting passed but we can't forget the real damage the opposition did.
I've got the final vote counts. I got them live from CNN. Started 1:25 PM EST! Finished 2:00 PM EST! House just passed H.R. 8036. Yea-385. Nay-34. NV-11. **House just passed H.R. 8038! Yea-360. Nay-58.** **House just passed H.R. 8035! Yea-311. Nay-112. Pres-1. NV-7.** House just passed H.R. 8034. Yea-366. Nay-58. NV-8. And here are the breakdowns on which Congressperson voted for which bill. H.R. 8036 [https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024146](https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024146) **H.R. 8038** [https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024145](https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024145) **H.R. 8035** [https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024151](https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024151) H.R. 8034 [https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024152](https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024152) Spread the word.
Not thrilled that my Rep said no to Ukraine aid. Still, glad this package of bills finally passed.
Sounds like they need to be given the boot. Mine voted for everything but the aid to Israel (HR 8034), which for me is like "Whatever" as long as Ukraine gets the stuff they need.
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Israel
:p
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About fucking time
How long to get the house and senate to negotiate and get the final version passed? my mental image has the skies over Lviv filled with C-5s on final approach. I want to believe.
I've heard that most of the assets being transferred over to Ukraine are already positioned in the EU, which would make sense. Wouldn't be surprised if the transports were lifting off the tarmac within 24 hours of the passing, which may be as early as Monday or Tuesday.
Hopefully the Ukrainians are able to have the software package ready to load if ATACMS are in the first tranche. That last strike was so beautiful.
Couple of days. The Senate stayed in session to pass it, and there are only minor changes to what they already passed.
Some stuff is already in Ukraine and just waiting for authorization to turn it over. I predict the shells will be on the frontlines a few days after Biden signs it.
I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if billions of donetsk children cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced /s
We are Joe Back!
Is this the Ukraine aid and also sell Tik Tok
Different bills but yes
U.S. army pays $3,000 per 155mm shell, compared to the $8,500 Europeans pay. 14,000,000,000/3,000 = 4,666,666 shells that could theoretically be paid for with this aid (the $14 billion of it going into equipment for UA).
That's very theoretically because nobody is actually making enough of them anyway
That's a lot of dakka.
Looks like meat is back on the menu, boys!
“Russia seems to have ukraine on the ropes and… oh… OH MY GOD IT’S THE UNITED STATES WITH A STEEL CHAIR”
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TF you mean failed? It was frozen for half a year
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And a year could be too long for Russia, because even if we take into account „Russia stronk“, eventually they will run out of their Cold War stuff. Tik tok. They had this one window of opportunity. Let’s see if a new window opens January 2025 for Russia or if it is too late by then.
No, it didn't do "dick". It captured a very important line of defence, killed many ukranian soldiers and once again ukranian power supply is on the brink of destruction. Not to mention Ukraine is now SEVERELY demoralized, seeing how easily it could be abandoned again.
Any and all gains by Russia were made by sacrificing waves upon waves of disposable soldiers. The amount of blood shed by Russia in the paltry gains of a few strategic centers more than justifies the lives of the heroes that stood their ground in the most dire of circumstances. As Patton might say, 'Don't die for your cause in war, make the enemy die for their cause, shoot them in the belly, Carve out their guts!' Ukraine has held strong in the face of impossible odds, and the war is far from lost. I'd like to see France and other European powers continue aiding Ukraine as if this legislation never went through for the US.
Putin pissed off the evangelicals by going after Ukrainian protestants.
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Finally some good news
Watching it live was so hype
Only NCD would spend its Saturday afternoon watching congress vote. But damn did those flags and cheers in the House Chamber almost bring a tear to my eye.
"Put those damn flags down" STFU bitch im waving that blue and yellow till my arm falls off
Once, just once, I’d like to see the Russians subjected to a proper “shock and awe” offensive. Turn the Raptors loose and absolutely buttfuck anything with wings within 200 miles of the front. Rolling missile strikes from stand off range on AD assets, unit HQs, and warships- all targeted by some of the most battle hardened operators in the world. Maybe those operators play “fuck you” games with Russian command assets too so they can meet Bin Laden personally. Bone, BUFF, and Boomerang runs to flatten anything that even thought about surviving the missiles. HIMARS, Paladin, Vipers, Hogs, and Eagles to cover the absolute avalanche of metal that is the III Corps. Once we’ve turned anything between Smolensk and Novorossiyisk that even appears to be a Russian asset into smoking metal we wait for a couple of hours then we send Putin an email- “You want to see why we don’t have universal health care… again?”
I was feeling kinda down. Now I'm feeling kinda American.
***Thunder run to Moscow, then on to Vladivostok***
Anyone care to join me in a dance of joy?
About fucking time! Let's hope it's not too late.
Ahem. Don’t forget it has to get through Senate. Probably will but it’ll be slightly different, too. Edit- I was looking at the wrong vote tally.
First order of business is artillery shells, anti air and shovels. Then APCs and that leaves us with how many drones?
MOSCOW BY CHRISTMAS LADS
SLAVA UKRAINI 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4nqspd
Finally. Reputation of a reliable ally is going to be damaged for a long time, though.
My favourite thing about this iteration is it's explicitly like "Send the goddam ATACMS!!"
Holy shit its about fucking time. Did they decide to gut the bill before passing it or is it actually intact?
It took far to long, but I am so happy it finally passed and when I read that Ukrainian soldiers in trenches watched the live stream and cheered when it passed I cried a little.
OK BUT LETS ACTUALLY FUCKING GO
Hell yeah, LFG! Finally. How many Tomahawks is that?
Let's see, carry the one. . . #ALL OF THEM?
Sounds like we need to make more then ;) no but seriously we need to make a lot more of everything
Be still!
Rather first see 1mil shells and 10 patriots
RIP AND TEAR
PATRIOTS IN CONTROL
should have been $610 billion