President Joe Biden is preparing to sign off on hiring American military contractors to work in Ukraine. If the White House moves forward with the proposal, it will be another significant escalation in the proxy war in Ukraine.
Four unnamed US officials told CNN that Biden is shifting his policy and would soon allow private soldiers from American mercenary firms to aid the fight in Ukraine. The change is expected to take effect sometime later this year.
Initially, the White House sees the contractors fixing American-made advanced military equipment, such as the F-16 fighter jet. The Kremlin says the warplanes, which are set to arrive in Ukraine later this year, present a nuclear threat to Moscow, and vows to eliminate the bases they are stationed at, inside or outside of Ukrainian borders.
Increasing the number of American soldiers, even if retired from official service, on the ground in Ukraine will likely be viewed as another significant provocation by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Tensions between the White House and Kremlin ramped up further over the past month, following Washington and many other NATO countries signing off on Kiev’s use of Western weapons to attack Russia. The pressure hit a high point last week when American-made ATACMS missiles were used in strikes on the Crimean Peninsula that led to the deaths of four Russians, per local officials.
According to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry, the US “has effectively become a party” to the war on Ukraine’s side, adding, “Retaliatory measures will certainly follow.”
That the White House is beginning to offer contracts to mercenary firms is an act of desperation, as Ukraine has been unable to stop the Russian advance. CNN reports that Alexander Vindman, former National Security Council director for European Affairs under President Donald Trump, now director of an organization supporting victory in Ukraine, is one of the lobbyists pushing Biden to allow the Pentagon to pay to send private soldiers to Ukraine. Vindman, who was born in Ukraine, testified against Donald Trump during his first impeachment trial.
Kyle Anzalone is the opinion editor of Antiwar.com, news editor of the Libertarian Institute, and co-host of Conflicts of Interest.
Don't see where it makes a difference. Ukraine has been paying for mercenaries, using the "aid money" they receive, since before the war started; so we have been paying for this for years now. This just eliminates Ukraine as the middle man, and probably ensures that less money is stolen before it can be spent.
BlackwaterXe has probably been complaining that they're having to spend too much in kickbacks, Pentagram contracts likely have lower overhead since our generals mostly stay bought.Agreed
Sign a mercenary contract, sign your death warrant.
One of the few crimes against humanity that I would actually support is assembling all the mercenaries in the world in one spot and dropping a FAB on them. (Even better if you can add all the commodities speculators.)
Would that be a crime actually? Or would it be a crime not to? Here again we might have a case where the moral and the legal domains are in direct opposition to each other.
To translate from politic-speak:
"military contractors" = "mercenary scum"
I wish we care, but we really don't care. Our Politicians are also "mercenary scum."
TERRORISTS
""Biden Will Pay US Military Contractors to Work Inside Ukraine""
right then. remember when Bush sr and Bush jr paid military contractors to work inside Iraq…. i wonder what Clinton was doing…..
""Biden Will Pay US Military Contractors to Work Inside Ukraine""
right then. remember when Bush sr and Bush jr paid military contractors to work inside Iraq…. i wonder what Clinton was doing…..
More cannon fodder is required. The useless people should be sent first. America has plenty of them.
who are the useless people?
Coming from him I'd say the entire LBGT community.
I think it is a great idea to send LGBT with their flags to the battlefield. Then "all the civilized world" will have an opportunity to accuse Russia of homophobia.
There is something about instances of mean spirited animosity toward the alphabet community that make me realize that I am so lucky to feel comfortable with my inner female.
Of course you do. That's what makes you an intolerant prick.
A silly comment from a person without sense of humor.
Whether your comment was supposed to be humor or not, it's not hard to figure out that you are indeed an intolerant prick.
Only cowardly scoundrels are calling other people by nasty names in internet.
And to prove your point you called me a nasty name.
It was a general observation
Sure. I figured you worded it that way for a reason. But you did reply to me, so the insinuation was obvious. At least I have the balls to own up to what I say.
There are pleny of LGBT on every major battlefield. I used to know a gay guy who won the Silver Star as a US Marine on Guadalcanal.
Everyone who knows about the history of German Nazism can confirm that it started in sodomy clubs of veterans of WW I.
I'm not an historian, but neither do I have much confidence in the historical claims of someone who claims that only he knows the real history because everyone else believes a secret Vatican re-write.
Some 50 years ago nobody made a secret of it. I don't think anyone at the time even questioned the fact that the leader of SA (Strumabteilung) Ernst Rohm was the only open homosexual politician in Europe. Origin and history of SA also was well know. There was even a film Cabaret (which later was censored and some parts of it were deleted) where in original version, the men dressed as women made an obscene performance while the concert hall was full of men dressed in SA uniform.
Rohm was well-known as homosexual.
Not sure how you get from him being “the only open homosexual politician in Europe” to your “sodomy club” claim, though.
Can you name any other homosexual top politician in Europe of that time?
In Germany in 1920th homosexual relations became almost legal thanks to SA. After defeat of SA by pro-Hitler SS, everything changed drastically. Several hundred of top SA men were killed, including Rohm. It wasn't just competition between SA and SS. Hitler wanted to have Vatican on his side (at the time, Vatican was categorically against homosexual relations) as well as broader public support of his policy in general.
“Can you name any other homosexual top politician in Europe of that time?”
Not only can I not name any other homosexual top politician of the time, I can’t name any homosexual top politician of the time (Rohm was not a politician, let alone a “top” politician).
The SA had no power to make homosexual relations “almost legal” in the 1920s, because it only held any power at all in 1933 and 1934, between the time of Hitler’s rise and its liquidation.
SA didn't issued laws but it influenced the rules in real life. SA gave protection to some activists in that field who otherwise would have no protection.
"Rohm became the first known homosexual politician." – Wikipedia
Those who's contribution to their country or to humankind is zero or below zero.
Those who use the term "useless people" are usually judgmental assholes who would support genocides, pogroms, work camps and other such human endeavors.
But hey, NA is right with his/her comment above… is Lindsey Graham and his kind any use to humanity? Or are they active opportunists seeking their own gain while pretending to "contribute to their country?"
The real assholes are those who label other people as assholes.
I said "usually" so that does not mean everyone in every context. You could call disabled people "useless" as they may not be able to "contribute."
We have media personalities and influencers here in the west who like to call certain people "useless eaters." for instance, the protestors against the genocide in Gaza are being called useless among many other negative things. Also, many are calling the homeless people "useless."
And as well, they are calling all of the gay community useless, sick, etc. Right wing nut jobs across the world are doing this. This leads to a certain attitude among unintelligent people that anything cruelly done to these people is justified.
I assume you're talking about Biden, Lindsey Graham, and the likes?
When you supplant indigenous people/local combatants with more outside US proxies, how the hell do you get away without declaring war on Russia?
ED, you should write something for us here at antiwar, a good comprehensive piece, might help us to make some peace. We all glean much here, from each other and very much appreciate all you contribute. Provided you have the time to do so, of course.
You know, even Ukraine didn't declare war on Russia.
Vindman is a "Tool",,a real POS!!
Sending American military "contractors" who are paid by the US government into the proxy war against Russia. While maintaining at the same time that the US is not directly engaged in war against Russia.
One more step up the escalation ladder. How many remain before we reach the top?
People who ar that delusional that they believe that the US is not at war with Russia should probably consider a career in journalism.
…….or with the State Department. Perfect fit.
Why this is news…?!
Exactamente!
Sadly, this plan started back in 1991. One may argue this has been in the works since 1945 when the U.S.S.R. steamrolled west after breaking Hilter's army in Stalingrad, Kursk, etc.
They have already been there since 2008 and fully entrenched when they orchestrated the coup in 2014.
In other news, Biden claims the US can't control or exert any influence on Israel…..lol.
"Sadly, this plan started back in 1991" – yes, it is sad that between imperialism and democracy, Americans have chosen imperialism. So, don't be surprised that democracy is shrinking and disappearing.
US contractors have been working inside Ukraine for two years, under CIA contracts. This isn't new — what's new is the WH making it public, and that's the real story.
Two months ago, a retired US Army intelligence officer with connections said on Judge Nap that he estimates some 15,000 American soldiers are in Ukraine in support roles, but not in uniform, and several have been killed.
https://youtu.be/3Vck7jvygos?t=916
What's Betsy Devos' brother's name?
If they go to Ukraine, the will STAY in Ukraine!
Who cares? They're all going to die. Look at the mercs who went them early on. They either died or fled. So will these guys.
Nature's way of eliminating the stupid. That's basically what a military is.
There is no level of depravity the DC leadership will not sink to.
We're already paying for militia groups in Syria who use child soldiers- why not send them to the Ukraine to fight? I'm sure they're less expensive than US mercenaries, especially the kids.