[Salon] GOP senators urge Biden to aid ‘transfer of aircraft’ to Ukraine, criticize stance on Poland's MiG-29 offer - The Washington Post

[Todd Pierce <tepierce@outlook.com>]

Speaking of “Greater Hawks,” and “Lesser Hawks,” no matter how many wars many Democrats support, and how Hawkish they are, Republicans will always “Out-Hawk” them, while denouncing them as “weak.” Which is not indicative of enthusiasm for Democratic Hawks, and their wars, but to point out we have a bi-partisan “Hawkist” ideology (per my previous email) that we operate from. And until a political cost is exacted for that, we’re condemned to more “Hawkism” and the destruction of what little remains (virtually zero) of a Rule of Law State we profess to be. But as made clear in a recent TAC conference on the “Future of Conservatism,” conservatism = Republican. I like to watch those types of events as each participant generally denounces their fellow conservatives on the panel, even while each may have little worth listening to. Sorry to be down so much on Conservatives, but regardless of what some may say, they lead the way in war enthusiasm, as can be seen here. With Democrats only slightly behind in degree. But measurable nevertheless. And Biden is handing the next elections over to the Republicans anyway, which his provocations of Russia just accelerated as Republicans can then denounce him as “weak” in carrying out the war slightly more prudently than they would, as this shows as well. 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/03/10/senators-ukraine-aircraft/

More than 40 GOP senators urge Biden to aid ‘transfer of aircraft’ to Ukraine

Hannah Knowles8:50 p.m. EST

An MiG-29 jet performs during the Radom Air Show in Poland on Aug. 23, 2015. (Kacper Pempel/Reuters)

More than 40 Republican U.S. senators on Thursday called for President Biden to aid “the transfer of aircraft and air defense systems” to Ukraine after officials quashed Poland’s offer to send fighter jets with American help.

The senators said in a letter that they “strongly disagree” with the Biden administration’s stance on Poland’s proposal, and that the Ukrainian military is in “dire need of more lethal aid” as it fights Russia’s invasion. They urged the president to work with NATO allies on providing those resources — uniting behind a step that U.S. officials worry could pull the Western alliance into war.

American officials have criticized Poland’s proposal to transfer MiG-29 jets through the United States as risking escalation without significantly changing the situation in Ukraine, given that Ukraine’s air force is largely intact. Asked about the senator’s letter Thursday evening, White House spokesperson Sean Savett noted comments from the Pentagon and the U.S. military commander in Europe expressing those views.

The GOP lawmakers’ letter increases pressure on the Biden administration to go further and underscores the party’s support for major actions against the Kremlin. The White House announced a ban on Russian oil and natural gas imports this week with bipartisan support, and Congress passed a multibillion-dollar aid package for Ukraine that would provide military and humanitarian support and help NATO allies.

Talks between top diplomats of Ukraine and Russia on March 10 failed to reach an agreement on a cease-fire, while Mariupol, Ukraine, raced to bury the dead. (Alexa Juliana Ard/The Washington Post)

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“Supporting Ukraine’s fight for freedom against the tyrannical, lawless Russian invasion of Ukraine’s sovereign territory is among the most urgent missions the West has faced in a generation,” begins the senators’ letter, which includes the signature of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky).

“We implore you to direct your Department of Defense to facilitate the transfer of aircraft, air defense systems, and other capabilities by and through our NATO partners immediately,” the senators wrote.

Speaking earlier at a news conference, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) dismissed concerns about provoking Russia and said the United States should fulfill a specific request from Ukraine. “It’s time … for [Putin] to fear what we might do," Romney said, referring to the United States and NATO.

Many nations have responded to Russia’s invasion with sanctions, but they have been unwilling to join Ukraine’s fight with a superpower. The United States is wary of military aid that Russia could interpret as more direct involvement in the war.

The Pentagon on Thursday ruled out sending its Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine, with a senior U.S. defense official saying the system is unfamiliar to Ukrainians and would require U.S. troops on the ground.

Poland blindsided American leaders this week by saying it would give MiG-29 jets to the United States for use in the war. In a statement, Poland said it was ready to deploy the planes to an American military facility in Germany “immediately and free of charge.”

The United States quickly rejected the idea: “We do not believe Poland’s proposal is a tenable one,” Pentagon’s spokesman John Kirby said. He said such jets “departing from a U.S./NATO base in Germany to fly into airspace that is contested with Russia over Ukraine raises serious concerns for the entire NATO alliance.”

Gen. Tod D. Wolters, the commander of U.S. European Command, took a similar view in a statement released Thursday.

“We believe the most effective way to support the Ukrainian military in their fight against Russia is to provide increased amounts of anti-tank weapons and air defense systems, which is on-going with the international community,” Wolters said in the statement.

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Vice President Harris on Thursday met with Polish President Andrzej Duda and sought to downplay the disagreement over the MiG-29 jets, saying the American relationship with Poland and NATO remains strong.

Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said last week that he would work to grant Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s “desperate plea” for planes from countries in Eastern Europe. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wrote a letter Monday, urging quick coordination with Poland to “provide Soviet-era jets to Ukraine.” He said the United States and NATO allies should commit to replacing donated aircraft.

Those comments came before Poland’s proposal that its Russian-made MiG-29 jets be placed “at the disposal of the Government of the United States of America" and go to Ramstein Air Base, an American facility in Germany.

Thursday’s letter from GOP lawmakers sharpens a contrast between their posture on Ukraine and comments last month from former president Donald Trump, who called Putin’s actions in separatist regions of Ukraine “genius” while repeating the Russian president’s claims of sending a “peacekeeper” force.

Speaking more recently to top GOP donors, Trump struck a different tone, rejecting suggestions that he is a “Putin apologist” and mocking Biden for ruling out military engagement with Russia.

John Hudson and Dan Lamothe contributed to this report.