The $95 Billion 💵 Military Aid Package to Ukraine 🇺🇦, Israel 🇮🇱, and Taiwan 🇹🇼 Has Passed

 

(This is the flag of the United States of America 🇺🇸.) 

🇺🇦🇮🇱🇹🇼

I felt like I should give a bit of an update regarding the foreign aid package for Ukraine 🇺🇦, Israel 🇮🇱, and Taiwan 🇹🇼. The biggest news this week when it comes to foreign policy is that the US Senate 🇺🇸 has passed a $95 billion 💵 military aid package for three key US allies 🇺🇸, Ukraine 🇺🇦, Israel 🇮🇱, and Taiwan 🇹🇼 after Speaker Mike Johnson allowed it to go to a vote in the House, which it passed, and then go to a Senate vote, which was guaranteed to pass. Now all that’s left is for it go to President Biden’s desk and for him to sign it into law, to approve it, which he has said he will, if it hasn’t happened already by now. 

 

(These are the flags of Ukraine 🇺🇦, Israel 🇮🇱, and Taiwan 🇹🇼, the three countries receiving military aid from the United States 🇺🇸.) 

 

This is all despite the efforts of pro-Russian Republicans 🇷🇺 who tried to prevent this aid package from getting passed. But, they failed, they got outsmarted, outmaneuvered, and outplayed, and their actions ultimately lead to the very outcome they tried their damnedest to prevent. Now, there’s nothing left to save the Kremlin, and keep Ukraine 🇺🇦 from getting the aid it needs to defeat them. This is a huge victory for anyone who cares about Ukraine 🇺🇦, and wanted it to get more military aid to defeat Russia 🇷🇺 on the battlefield. Of course, as some in the media have noted, Ukraine 🇺🇦 will not defeat Russia 🇷🇺 with just one military aid package alone, they will still need to a constant stream of military aid coming in from the US 🇺🇸 to get the job done, and knock Russia 🇷🇺 off the battlefield.

The aid is being divided between the three countries, with each country getting different size shares. Ukraine 🇺🇦 will be receiving $61 billion 💵 worth of military aid, Israel 🇮🇱 will be receiving $26 billion 💵, and Taiwan 🇹🇼 will be receiving $8 billion 💵. Though, the Taiwan 🇹🇼 aid is listed as “Indo-Pacific aid.” Probably to avoid pissing off China 🇨🇳, by making the $8 billion 💵 seem like it’s generally for the Indo-Pacific region. But, everyone knows that the aid is mostly for Taiwan 🇹🇼, though I’m sure some of it will go to Japan 🇯🇵, South Korea 🇰🇷, and the Philippines 🇵🇭.

Of the three countries that are getting slices of this $95 billion 💵 military aid package, Ukraine 🇺🇦 is definitely the one that benefits the most. Israel 🇮🇱 really doesn’t need extra military aid to defeat Hamas, or defend themselves from Iran 🇮🇷, or Hezbollah, or the Houthis. In fact, some could argue that Israel 🇮🇱 needs less military aid since it enables them to attack the Palestinians 🇵🇸, disproportionately kill Palestinian civilians 🇵🇸, commit war crimes, and steal more Palestinian land 🇵🇸.

Some people who are critical of Israel 🇮🇱’s handling of the war in Gaza, and their treatment of the Palestinian civilians 🇵🇸 inside Gaza have argued that the only way to make Israel 🇮🇱 stop, or reconsider their entire Gaza strategy, and enter good faith peace negotiations is to cut off military aid or threaten to do so since Israel 🇮🇱 gets most of its weapons and equipment from the US 🇺🇸. Although the Israelis 🇮🇱 have made strides in their own military industrial base, and have developed their own weapons and equipment. Like, they use their own domestically produced tanks called the Merkava rather than American M1 Abrams tanks 🇺🇸.

So, Israel 🇮🇱 would’ve been just fine had it not received a share of this massive $95 billion 💵 military aid package. It isn’t as reliant on it as Ukraine 🇺🇦 is that’s for sure. Ukraine 🇺🇦 needs outside military weapons and equipment to continue its war effort against Russia 🇷🇺, and if that steady stream of military aid were to be cut off, Ukraine 🇺🇦 would lose to Russia 🇷🇺. But, Israel 🇮🇱’s getting this aid because it was attacked by Iran 🇮🇷 and its proxies in the Middle East.

The only reason why this aid package was allowed to go through was the Iranian attack on Israel 🇮🇷🇮🇱, which was a wake up call for a lot of people in Congress, specifically Mike Johnson, who was the one who blocking this aid package and preventing it from going to a vote in the House or Senate. Like, if there’s anything that motivates an Evangelical Christian ✝️ like Mike Johnson, it’s Iran 🇮🇷. When Iran 🇮🇷 launched those drones and missiles at Israel 🇮🇱, it must’ve made Mike Johnson go, “Oh shit! This is serious, we gotta pass that aid package right away!”

So, the Iranian attack on Israel 🇮🇷🇮🇱 ended up being a blessing in disguise for Ukraine 🇺🇦 because it meant that the aid package that they’ve wanted and needed for so long is finally getting passed. In a way, Iran 🇮🇷 helped Ukraine 🇺🇦 in the long run by attacking Israel 🇮🇱. When the Russo-Ukrainian War 🇷🇺🇺🇦 is over, and Russia 🇷🇺 will have no body else to blame for their loss but themselves and also Iran 🇮🇷 for attacking Israel 🇮🇱 in such ineffective and theatrical fashion, and Ukraine 🇺🇦 will partially have Iran 🇮🇷 to thank for them being able to press on to absolute victory. But, for those of you who are worried about the Palestinians 🇵🇸 inside Gaza, about $9 billion 💵 of the total $95 billion 💵 will go to humanitarian aid, of that $9 billion 💵 being dedicated to humanitarian aid, $1 billion 💵 will go to Gaza.

While Taiwan 🇹🇼 is definitely not at war at the moment, it benefits from receiving a share of this aid too. Not as much as Ukraine 🇺🇦 obviously, but a lot more than Israel 🇮🇱 definitely. Similar to Ukraine 🇺🇦, Taiwan 🇹🇼 is reliant on US military weapons and equipment 🇺🇸 for its own military, and if it were to ever stop receiving US military aid 🇺🇸, then it would be serious trouble. So, by receiving a cut of this aid, Taiwan 🇹🇼’s readiness is increased. It’s more prepared in case China 🇨🇳 ever does decide to invade.

But of course, China 🇨🇳 wouldn’t dare invade Taiwan 🇹🇼 if Ukraine 🇺🇦 manages to defeat Russia 🇷🇺, and it is given the message that military aggression and attempted land grabs will gain you nothing, and you will fail in the end. And also, that the US 🇺🇸 will not abandon its allies, and will stand by them no matter what, and the US 🇺🇸 will not give up its position as the indispensable nation, and will not allow tyrants to win and get what they want.

If Ukraine 🇺🇦 is allowed to lose the war, and Russia 🇷🇺 is allowed to win, then China 🇨🇳 will be emboldened, and be given the message that it’s okay to invade your neighbor, and take their territory through military force, and the US 🇺🇸 won’t do anything about it, or if they do, they’ll give up right away. That is definitely not the message that we want to be sending to the Chinese 🇨🇳. So, the only way to prevent a war between China 🇨🇳 and Taiwan 🇹🇼, and by extension, a war between China 🇨🇳 and the United States 🇺🇸 since the US 🇺🇸 would get directly involved and fight on Taiwan 🇹🇼’s side in a war between China 🇨🇳 and Taiwan 🇹🇼, is to help Ukraine 🇺🇦 win its war against Russia 🇷🇺. You defeat Russia 🇷🇺, you deter China 🇨🇳. 

 

🇷🇺🇮🇷🇨🇳

 

(These are the flags of Russia 🇷🇺, Iran 🇮🇷, and China 🇨🇳, the three countries that are targeting Ukraine 🇺🇦, Israel 🇮🇱, and Taiwan 🇹🇼, and the three countries that the $95 billion 💵 aid package is supposed to address. The three threats that they and we face.) 

 

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Update (Thursday May 2, 2024):

🇺🇸🇺🇦

 

(This is a screenshot from Marjorie Taylor Greene’s most recent press conference where she announced her intention issuing a motion to vacate Mike Johnson from the Speakership.)

 

 
Can I just say, if Marjorie Taylor Greene considers any Democrat and Republican that voted in favor of the $95 billion 💵 aid package to Ukraine 🇺🇦, Israel 🇮🇱, and Taiwan 🇹🇼 to be MUGA, or Make Ukraine Great Again 🇺🇦, then she is MRGA, Make Russia Great Again 🇷🇺? I know the chosen nickname for her by certain sections of the media is “Moscow Marge,” but I think MRGA 🇷🇺 is a bit better. Because MTG is pro-Russian 🇷🇺, she likes Vladimir Putin, just as much as she likes Donald Trump, although Trump at this point doesn’t like her back. She wants Russia 🇷🇺 to win the war, and she wants Ukraine 🇺🇦 to win. Why is she so pro-Russian 🇷🇺? Hell if I know, but if I’m going to guess, she mainly likes Russia 🇷🇺 because of the social conservative aspect of it.

Russia 🇷🇺 has completely outlawed LGBTQ+ 🏳️‍🌈, and has been discriminating against anyone who is openly LGBTQ+ 🏳️‍🌈, and imprisoning them or even killing them in some cases. This is a very violent and oppressive regime that can only really stay in power and maintain some semblance legitimacy through fear and violence. And also rigged elections, but that’s beside the point. She wants to be able to do that sort of thing to LGBTQ+ people 🏳️‍🌈 here in America 🇺🇸. She also likes the authoritarian aspect of Putin, like she likes the idea of a strongman leading the entire country, and crushing any and all dissent, and she wants Trump to be in power again so that he can become the American equivalent of Putin 🇺🇸. Although to be honest, Trump would be more like the American equivalent of Alexander Lukashenko 🇺🇸. Still as brutal of a dictator as Putin, but no where near as smart as him, and being completely subservient to him. That’s what Trump would be, he’d be subservient to Putin, rather than being dominant over him. 

So, MTG and all MAGA 🇺🇸 (Make America Great Again 🇺🇸) have turned Russia 🇷🇺 into the symbol or example of every far-right political belief that they hold and what they want the United States 🇺🇸 to become, while they’ve turned Ukraine 🇺🇦 into a symbol or example of every liberal and “woke” value that they oppose. I mean, they people keep trying to tie the Biden family to Ukraine 🇺🇦, and use that as reason for Joe Biden is an illegitimate president who should be prosecuted and thrown in jail. So, that’s why they have such a strong vitriolic hatred for Ukraine 🇺🇦, and why they have such a strong adoration for Russia 🇷🇺.

It’s not that they’re anti-war, and they want peace, it’s that they’ve projected American domestic political dynamics 🇺🇸 onto the war in Ukraine 🇺🇦, projected the American culture war 🇺🇸 on it, and want Russia 🇷🇺 to win because they believe that by Russia 🇷🇺 winning, they’ll get more of the world that they want, which is a more chaotic and authoritarian world ruled by might makes right. Keep in mind too, these people also want to invade Mexico 🇲🇽. 

 

The MAGA movement 🇺🇸 and Trump himself have advocated for an invasion of Mexico 🇲🇽 by the United States 🇺🇸 under the guise of stopping drug cartels, which would be a devastating conflict that would make both the war in Iraq 🇮🇶 and the war in Afghanistan 🇦🇫 look like cakewalks. Like, I don’t think invading and occupying Mexico 🇲🇽 Iraq-style 🇮🇶 is going to get rid of drug cartels. It would probably empower and embolden them. They also see Russia 🇷🇺 as a model for what they want the United States 🇺🇸 to be, which is probably the most terrifying thing of all. These people are unAmerican 🇺🇸 as far as I’m concerned.

I mean, if Russia 🇷🇺 wins the war in Ukraine 🇺🇦, then that will just open the flood gates, and give the green light to other dictators and other authoritarian governments to invade their neighbors and do whatever they want with them. This would not only embolden China 🇨🇳 to invade Taiwan 🇹🇼, but it would also embolden Venezuela 🇻🇪 to invade Guyana 🇬🇾. Remember when that was in the news? I sure do, that feels ages ago now. It’s crazy how quickly the news cycle moved on from that.

But, Venezuela 🇻🇪 threatening to invade Guyana 🇬🇾 to take Essequibo is an on-going issue, and if Russia 🇷🇺 wins the war in Ukraine 🇺🇦, then Nicolás Maduro (the dictator of Venezuela 🇻🇪) might consider going through with it. But, a China-Taiwan war 🇨🇳🇹🇼 is the thing that people are the most concerned about happening if Russia 🇷🇺 wins, because a war between China 🇨🇳 and Taiwan 🇹🇼 would have global ramifications. It would make the war between Russia 🇷🇺 and Ukraine 🇺🇦 right now look like a slap fight.

So, not only are MTG and MAGA 🇺🇸 MRGA 🇷🇺, they’re also MCGA 🇨🇳, Make China Great Again 🇨🇳 because by allowing Russia 🇷🇺 to conquer Ukraine 🇺🇦, they’d be allowing Xi Jinping to “make China 🇨🇳 great again” by invading and annexing Taiwan 🇹🇼. They’d also be MVGA 🇻🇪, Make Venezuela Great Again 🇻🇪 because they’d be allowing Venezuela 🇻🇪 to steal the Essequibo region from Guyana 🇬🇾, which is internationally recognized to be Guyanese territory 🇬🇾. And you know what? Throw Iran 🇮🇷 in there as well. 

 

They’re MIGA 🇮🇷, Make Iran Great Again 🇮🇷, since they’d be allowing Iran 🇮🇷 to continue expanding its influence in Middle East, continue antagonizing Israel 🇮🇱, and ultimately develop their own nuclear weapons ☢️, which will likely have the expressed purpose of securing the regime, just like with North Korea 🇰🇵. North Korea 🇰🇵 probably has very little intention of using their nukes ☢️ on South Korea 🇰🇷 and starting a new war, but they have every intention of using them to secure the Kim regime, and prevent a foreign invasion by the United States 🇺🇸 or by South Korea 🇰🇷. Making it very difficult to get rid of that regime from the outside without triggering a nuclear war ☢️. 

 

Not that I’m advocating such a thing, I’m not. I think an attempted regime change invasion of North Korea 🇰🇵 would be a horrible idea, even if you don’t factor in the nuclear aspect ☢️. But, you get the point. North Korea 🇰🇵 just wants nuclear weapons ☢️ to use as deterrence against the US 🇺🇸 and South Korea 🇰🇷, and prevent the regime from being toppled by an outside power just like Saddam Hussein and the Ba’ath Party were in Iraq 🇮🇶 in 2003. That’s what Iran 🇮🇷 wants to do with its nuclear weapons ☢️ if it succeeds in developing them, which the US 🇺🇸 and its allies want to try to prevent.

 

 

(This is the flag of Iraq 🇮🇶 from 1991 to 2004.)

 

Trump was very weak on Iran 🇮🇷. He tore up the JCPOA, better known as the Iran Nuclear Deal 🇮🇷☢️, allowing Iran 🇮🇷 to continue its development of nuclear weapons ☢️. And when Iran 🇮🇷 retaliated after the US 🇺🇸 killed Qasem Soleimani with an airstrike in Iraq 🇮🇶 back in 2020, he did very little to respond, and he in fact mocked the US soldiers 🇺🇸 who were injured in the Iranian attacks 🇮🇷. Because Iran 🇮🇷 fired a bunch of ballistic and cruise missiles at various US bases 🇺🇸 in the Middle East, most of them being in Iraq 🇮🇶 since Iraq 🇮🇶 is the closest country in proximity to Iran 🇮🇷 (it directly borders Iran 🇮🇷), and since the strike that killed Soleimani happened in Iraq 🇮🇶. These people claim to hate China 🇨🇳, hate Iran 🇮🇷, and hate Venezuela 🇻🇪, and yet by trying to help Russia 🇷🇺, they’re also helping those countries too since Russia 🇷🇺 is very heavily aligned with those countries. They are part of their vision for the world, which again is a more violent and authoritarian one.

I hate Marjorie Taylor Greene, she’s a horrible person. But, most of you reading probably already know that, and probably don’t need someone like me to tell you that. Luckily, MTG’s influence in the House, and in the Republican Party as a whole is started to wane, as the majority of the party has turned on her because of her ridiculous decision to try to oust Mike Johnson from the Speakership, and throw the Republican majority House of Representatives into chaos as they try and fail to find another speaker. I think her attempt to vacate Mike Johnson will fail, as very few people in Congress are on her side, and a lot of the people who are way more in tune with American domestic politics 🇺🇸 than I am also think that. She’ll just fade into irrelevancy and we won’t have to think about her or talk about her anymore, which would be a good time for all of us. Especially those who care about freedom and democracy, not just here in America 🇺🇸, but around the world as well.