Helping Ukraine is “a relatively modest investment with significant geopolitical returns,” the CIA director wrote.

Western allies must continue providing assistance to Ukraine in its war with Russia this year, or risk a mistake “of historic proportions,” CIA Director William Burns wrote in a column published Tuesday.

Burns laid out his case in a Foreign Affairs column, noting that less than 5 percent of the U.S. defense budget — “a relatively modest investment with significant geopolitical returns” — is all that Washington sends to Kyiv.

If an opportunity for serious negotiations to end the war emerges, he wrote, providing arms to Ukraine will put it in a stronger bargaining position. Ukraine’s military would also be able to continue fending off Russian troops while rebuilding its infrastructure, while Moscow spends massive amounts of money to keep the war going, Burns added.

“For the United States to walk away from the conflict at this crucial moment and cut off support to Ukraine would be an own goal of historic proportions,” Burns wrote, referencing a soccer term for scoring a goal for the rival team by putting the ball into a player’s own net.

    • wahming@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      That money will likely mean the difference between victory and defeat for Ukraine, and all the geopolitical fallout that entails. It is however unlikely to change Israel’s stance on Gaza as long as Netanyahu remains in power.

      • Linkerbaan@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        Netanyahu can’t wage his Genocide without these 15 Billion extra free American taxpayer dollars. Israel is massively hurting financially right now.

        • wahming@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          You realise Israel doesn’t get cash, right? The cash goes into the American military industrial complex. All they get are free weapons, which they can live without for a while.

          • Linkerbaan@lemmy.world
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            9 months ago

            You realize that weapons cost money right?

            Israel cannot finance their iron dome system or F35’s if they aren’t free.

            That would mean that israel would need to pull money from other sectors to finance their genocide.

            Israel is usurping a tremendous portion of the American GDP.

            • wahming@lemmy.world
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              9 months ago

              Again, Netanyahu is not going to back down from this war, because if he does he goes to jail. This is his only ticket to staying out. If he needs to pull money from other sectors, he will (also, you’re overstating the impact on the Israeli economy).

              As compared to Ukraine, where the US’s decision is of critical importance right now.

              • Linkerbaan@lemmy.world
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                9 months ago

                Again, Netanyahu is not going to back down from this war, because if he does he goes to jail.

                Exactly why all aid to them must be stopped. There is absolutely no other way to stop israel’s genocide. When the pockets start hurting they will start acting differently. These people don’t care about Palestinians but they care about money.

                Also, you’re overstating the impact on the Israeli economy

                Worldwide boycots are already hitting israel hard. Their genocide has been going on for such a long time that it is starting to hurt them, along with the Houthis blocking their shipping.

                • wahming@lemmy.world
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                  9 months ago

                  Which part of `this will not stop the genocide’ did you not understand?

                  • Linkerbaan@lemmy.world
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                    9 months ago

                    The part where giving weapons to someone committing genocide is somehow a good idea.

                    If israel didn’t need the weapons why is Biden bypassing congress for them?

    • Kusimulkku@lemm.ee
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      9 months ago

      Are they bundling it so that it’s harder for Republicans to support blocking it?