Biden Allows Ukraine to Strike Russia With Long-Range U.S. Missiles

[tonekat]

Source: New York Times

With two months left in office, the president for the first time authorized the Ukrainian military to use the system known as ATACMS to help defend its forces in the Kursk region of Russia.



Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/17/us/politics/biden-ukraine-russia-atacms-missiles.html

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Gift Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/17/us/politics/biden-ukraine-russia-atacms-missiles.html?unlocked_article_code=1.ak4.8Q3l.R223ok_mzwgW&smid=url-share

Good Move. Now dismiss Garland and put someone with teeth in for the last few months of sanity.

[republianmushroom]

1. About damn time. IMO

[niyad]

2. wayyyyyyyy past time!!!

[ColinC]

3. Probably too little too late

But better than nothing I guess

[LymphocyteLover]

29. the piece says that's just their likely first use, not limited to there

[FredGarvin]

4. Only Kursk?

What a joke

[LymphocyteLover]

30. No, it says just that's where they will be used first

[Mike 03]

5. Fantastic! N/T

[kimbutgar]

6. Excellent

Maybe they’ll bomb Putins residence with him in it!

[Historic NY]

7. Time to hit the Kremlin dome

only inflecting pain on Russian infrastructure and population centers will make Russians put a stop to the war.....
They think that they are immune.

[Maraya1969]

25. That's what I say. Take away their most prized piece of architecture

[Deminpenn]

8. What would happen if Putin

decided to declare war on NATO or the US?

Treason is only a crime in war time. Trump, Musk and all their compatriots could be arrested and tried for treason before Biden leaves office.

I know this would only happen in a Tom Clancy or John LeCarre' novel but fun to contemplate.

[BrianTheEVGuy]

14. If Putin was dumb enough to do that...

…the NATO flag would be flying over the Kremlin within four months of that decision.

Russia has completely destroyed its military machine and killed an entire generation of young men in this foolish war. It has never been weaker in living memory than it is today, thanks to Putin.

[bluestarone]

16. I would hope so, BUT

If TFG is in office the only rockets would be coming from russia. TFG would sit back and watch. (maybe even assist?)

[BrianTheEVGuy]

18. There's a dirty little secret...

… most of Russia’s nuclear arsenal is inert.

They inherited it from the USSR and the maintenance required to keep the warheads and missiles active is around 25% of Russian GDP. That expense is a major reason that the Soviet Union collapsed — and its economy was far larger than modern Russia’s economy.

The Ukraine war showed that Russia spent almost no money on maintenance for any of its military. It simply couldn’t afford to.

If Putin ever gave the order to launch, and wasn’t immediately assassinated by his military officers many of the missiles wouldn’t leave their siloes. Those that did would not be able to deliver a payload reliably, and the payload would be inert and not capable of going critical.

This is why the Russians keep rattling their nuclear saber. It’s because they don’t have any real offensive capability left.

[EX500rider]

32. yeah I bet they have not kept up with the tritium replacement

Tritium in nuclear weapons needs to be replenished every few years because it decays at a rate of about 5% per year. Tritium has a half-life of 12.3 years, meaning that half of the tritium disappears every 12.3 years.
Tritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen that's essential for boosted nuclear weapons to function.

[James48]

9. Well, that's gonna sting.

Hope they have very good real time intelligence to ensure it is used accurately at valid military targets.
Make them count.

[orangecrush]

10. K&R

[Marthe48]

11. Probably not enough range to hit the true enemy

sigh

[Evolve Dammit]

12. Totally agree especially with last line

[OrangeJoe]

13. A little ticking bomb for Donny

Remember when Trump timed the withdrawal from Afganistan to occur on Biden's watch knowing it, like all retreats, was going to be a shit show? It looks like this time Ol' Joe is giving Donny a little present on his way out the door.

[tonekat]

23. I would love to see any Democratic Moxie

Sick of being the party getting sand kicked in it's face.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

15. Biden authorizes Ukraine to use long-range US weapons in Russia

It is about time

Link to tweet

https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/17/politics/biden-authorizes-ukraine-missiles-russian-targets/index.html

President Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to use powerful long-range American weapons inside Russia, according to a senior US official familiar with the decision, as North Korean troops deploy in support of Moscow’s effort.

The decision comes as Russia has deployed nearly 50,000 troops to Kursk, the southern Russian region where Kyiv launched its surprise counteroffensive in the summer, to prepare to take back territory.

Thousands of North Korean troops have deployed to Kursk as part of the offensive, sparking concern from Biden and his advisers that their entry could lead to a dangerous new phase in the war.

The decision to allow use of the Army Tactical Missile Systems, or ATACMS, inside Russia had been under consideration for months. American officials had been divided on the wisdom of allowing the new capability. Some had concerns about escalating the war, while others worried about dwindling stockpiles of the weapons.

[liberalla]

17. So, is the equipment in Ukraine right now? Is the Ukrainian army trained to use them?

god, I hope so!!! No more delays!

I haven't read the article yet, but these thoughts immediately jumped to mind.
Thank you for the gift article. I'll start reading it now.

Slava Ukraini!

[drray23]

21. It has been for months.

And the Ukrainians have been using it but until now, they were not using it to strike on the Russian territory. That was a condition the US had put on it for fear of starting WW3 . President Biden has now lifted that so they can start hitting Russian facilities in Russia.

[liberalla]

22. Yes, thank you for that. I read the article and updated another post on this same subject

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100219733465#post16

and was going to do the same here. So thank you again!

[keepthemhonestO]

19. Awesome

I was thinking, Zellinsky just needs to go rogue and do it. I hope he can take that fucker out.

[usonian]

24. Depends on the warhead.

[Itchinjim]

26. Good.

Fuck Putin.

[4catsmom]

27. END them, Ukraine

do it for Joe and the Americans who support you

[intheozone]

28. Long overdue, now give Ukraine some nukes before 1/20/25! nt

[HereForTheParty]

31. Trying to improve Z's negotiating position before Trump comes in

is my thinking.

[Piglet999]

33. Cold War Kid

Sorry, but as someone who grew up during the Cold War, I find this news to be chilling. If Putin declared war on NATO, we’d all be dead be the end of the week. I hope there are real negotiations soon. Not appeasements but a settlement.

[AllyCat]

34. Yes! Let them take care of their orc problem!

[LetMyPeopleVote]

35. This makes me smile

Link to tweet

[LetMyPeopleVote]

36. France and Britain are also allowing Ukraine use long range weapons

Link to tweet

[Igel]

37. I'd be hawkish and do something a bit different.

N Korea gets a lot of supplies through vessels that are off the books and have gone "dark."

I think a few vessels heading clearly to PRNK from allies should go permanently "dark" by agents unknown who have similarly gone "dark" due to operating issues.

N Korea's engaging in provocations, time to damage the North Korean god-emperor-child some of his playthings. If his chattel--the population--suffer, well, guess what, being sent off to die for Russians that hate you probably also counts as "suffering."

Esp. nice if the vessels that become artificial reefs simply mirror the new submarine fleet in the Black Sea.