“Give us the tools, and we’ll get the job done.” British Prime Minister Winston Churchill spoke Following this powerful speech, proposed by US President Franklin Roosevelt, Congress approved the Lend-Lease program. This provided access to UK equipment and US production capacity. This action was essential to prevent the Nazis from advancing.
Often history rhyme..Now Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is doing the same Equipment petition Need to stop Advance of Russian dictatorship.. Now is the time for another lend-lease program to support Ukraine.
Congress is acting in a supportive way, but the details are important. Russia must face military defeat in order to enforce sanctions. The history of sanctions supports the conclusion that, as seen in Iraq, Iran, North Korea, etc., it does not change policies, but rather hurts the economy and makes it much more difficult to do business.
Sanctions must be accompanied by military success.
Zelenskyy demanded weapons and support in line with Churchill’s philosophy. Ukrainian soldiers have proved their courage and courage. There is another step that can be decisive. A-10 aircraft To the Ukrainian Air Force.
This aircraft and its gun system were designed to combat armored attacks in Europe. They have proven effective in desert storm targets in abundant environments. Russian troops currently underway.. They also became friends with infantry on close air support missions.
The US Air Force is preparing a deployment package. The entire transfer to the Ukrainian Air Force may be completed within a few days after parliamentary approval.
Firepower is needed to defeat the onslaught of upcoming armed groups. Ground forces need other weapons, but air power is crucial. The A-10 has proven this capability and was designed for this purpose.
Zelenskyy requested NATO for air support.This request is Rejected by NATO.. This is a good decision as Russia has not attacked NATO.
However, that decision leaves an opportunity for each country to make a decision based on its own moral compass. Many, including the United States, have decided and have already provided the deadly assistance needed to slow Russia’s progress. Although some implications are noteworthy, military analysts agree that the long-term outlook for Ukraine’s survival is not good. It is predicted that the resistance war will continue for decades.
Zelenskyy is right to ask for air power support. The oncoming Jaguar notes of Russian armored forces need to slow down or stop. The United States has the most effective weapons for this role — the US Air Force A-10 aircraft. The service is available because we want to retire most of the fleet 30 years ago. The plane was designed to operate in Europe from an unprepared facility. Pilot retraining is minimal. All you need to do is paint the Ukrainian insignia and deliver the aircraft. This can be done in a few days.
Every day is important to slow down the momentum of the Russian invaders. It’s time to implement the US moral compass and add the A-10 to the list of weapons already planned. While sanctions are advancing, the inability to add defensive capabilities to the current Ukrainian army diminishes the potential impact of sanctions. They are complementary actions.
Everett Piat is a former Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Shipbuilding and Logistics.