US Ends Support For Ukrainian F-16s • Hacker News Board

Re: US Ends Support For Ukrainian F-16s

#411

Post by kingkawn » Sun, Mar 09, 2025, 3:59 PM UTC

onlyrealcuzzo wrote: post #385

epistasis wrote: post #266

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I always thought that the American Empire would be dismantled when it elected a leftist steeped in anti-imperialist ideology who wanted to better the world. Nope, turns out that the American Empire is being dismantled by something else entirely. A subset of the populace that feels jealous of those with more and scared of social change, reacting to try to hurt their fellow country men? A megalomaniac leader who is som…

There's some truth to this, but the bigger issue is that we've been paying A LOT in taxes for A LONG time and because larger and larger portions of that are going to pensions, people are starting to second guess every expense. The good news - form my perspective - is that the GROWTH in the percentage of the workforce living off pensions is slowing dramatically and is now under REAL growth, which means working folks m…

The country has been growing and people getting rich taxes are not the issue that’s just Republican propaganda

Re: US Ends Support For Ukrainian F-16s

#412

Post by acdha » Sun, Mar 09, 2025, 3:59 PM UTC

pacifika wrote: post #62

What’s the motivation, if the Russians have the strong cards in this upcoming peace negotiation the current administration feels the need to weaken the Ukrainian side equipment? Slice of the minerals?

He forces Ukraine to take a bad deal by removing their ability to walk away. That deal involves more revenue for him and ensures that he gets to tell his voters that he kept his promise to end the war. His first impeachment was over trying to extort Ukraine’s assistance in election rigging so the humiliation is an extra bonus.

Re: US Ends Support For Ukrainian F-16s

#413

Post by signalToNose » Sun, Mar 09, 2025, 3:59 PM UTC

onlyrealcuzzo wrote: post #244

samcheng wrote: post #234

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The best explanation I've heard is that this (almost) half of the US population doesn't care if it hurts a bit, as long as it hurts the other half of the US population more.

Not half - but probably around 30%

Most of politic seems to be about negotiating to keep a third of the population away from power. Because once they get in power they will trash almost anything in their path

Re: US Ends Support For Ukrainian F-16s

#414

Post by silvestrov » Sun, Mar 09, 2025, 3:59 PM UTC

Chance-Device wrote: post #286

I think I’ll use this thread to make a prediction. At the end of Trump’s term: - Europe will still be using F-16s and F-35s - The US will still be in NATO, and will still be actively committed to the alliance - European defense spending will be massively higher, with manufacturing and supply chains that are far less easily disrupted - The US forces deployed to Europe will still be there, but will be bolstered by more…

> - The US will still be in NATO, and will still be actively committed to the alliance

This is already gone: "US ‘to cease all future military exercises in Europe’" https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2025/03/08/us-to-cea...

Re: US Ends Support For Ukrainian F-16s

#415

Post by davikr » Sun, Mar 09, 2025, 3:59 PM UTC

ta988 wrote: post #228

And the story continues. This means that no country will want to buy F16s. If you don't get support they are useless. They are eroding really fast the US shine and trust in the world. This is going to have a massive effect on the US economy, internal consumption will not save it. This is the end of an empire while its rich kings are golfing every weekend on the taxpayer dime using federal and local resources. I am re…

> If you don't get support they are useless.

Yes, but any country selling military hardware would do the same if it turned coats in a conflict.

Re: US Ends Support For Ukrainian F-16s

#416

Post by spixy » Sun, Mar 09, 2025, 3:59 PM UTC

mrweasel wrote: post #144

eunos wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Especially F-35 where lack of American support means total brick. Hey, at least Ukraine can use their S-300 systems and Sukhois against their maker.

While I doubt that it solves all the issue, subcontractors, imported parts and so on, but the Italian F-35s are build be Leonardo in Cameri in Italy. How long would it take BAE, SAAB or Leonardo to un-brick an F-35? Again, not ideal, but the first F-35 have been delivered an need to be serviced and maintained until they can be replaced,... or maybe just until the next US election.

Depends on the used cryptography, could be months or decades.

Re: US Ends Support For Ukrainian F-16s

#417

Post by bad_haircut72 » Sun, Mar 09, 2025, 4:00 PM UTC

onlyrealcuzzo wrote: post #385

epistasis wrote: post #266

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I always thought that the American Empire would be dismantled when it elected a leftist steeped in anti-imperialist ideology who wanted to better the world. Nope, turns out that the American Empire is being dismantled by something else entirely. A subset of the populace that feels jealous of those with more and scared of social change, reacting to try to hurt their fellow country men? A megalomaniac leader who is som…

There's some truth to this, but the bigger issue is that we've been paying A LOT in taxes for A LONG time and because larger and larger portions of that are going to pensions, people are starting to second guess every expense. The good news - form my perspective - is that the GROWTH in the percentage of the workforce living off pensions is slowing dramatically and is now under REAL growth, which means working folks m…

I moved from Australia to the USA (be careful who you swipe on dating apps) and went from paying 50% tax to 15% tax for basically the same job with basically the same quality of life. Tax in America is outrageously low which is no doubt why it cant balance its budget (though I approve of cutting government spending aswell).

Re: US Ends Support For Ukrainian F-16s

#418

Post by ajuc » Sun, Mar 09, 2025, 4:00 PM UTC

onlyrealcuzzo wrote: post #385

epistasis wrote: post #266

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I always thought that the American Empire would be dismantled when it elected a leftist steeped in anti-imperialist ideology who wanted to better the world. Nope, turns out that the American Empire is being dismantled by something else entirely. A subset of the populace that feels jealous of those with more and scared of social change, reacting to try to hurt their fellow country men? A megalomaniac leader who is som…

There's some truth to this, but the bigger issue is that we've been paying A LOT in taxes for A LONG time and because larger and larger portions of that are going to pensions, people are starting to second guess every expense. The good news - form my perspective - is that the GROWTH in the percentage of the workforce living off pensions is slowing dramatically and is now under REAL growth, which means working folks m…

Taxes aren't the problem.

How do I know? Because my parents earning ~1000 USD per month each living in Poland have higher standard of living than most Americans. Despite paying ~30% taxes.

You have to add up what the taxes pay for in the calculation. Free healthcare, free university education, good public transport, low inequality (= low crime). All of that adds up to higher standard of living achievable with pretty shitty earnings.

Oh and before you blame it on military spending - we spend higher% of GDP on military than USA. Russia is a shitty neighbor, we have to.

American problems are exactly the opposite of what Americans think they are. You are in dire need of some social democracy.

Re: US Ends Support For Ukrainian F-16s

#419

Post by chgs » Sun, Mar 09, 2025, 4:00 PM UTC

nxm wrote: post #365

ascorbic wrote: post #221

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A week ago Trump killed the western alliance when he made it clear that allies could not rely on the US. This week he has killed the US weapons export business. Not a single country will trust them now. It would be quite an interesting thing to watch if we didn't have to live here.

*They can’t rely on USA and the American tax payer for the defense of their country. Finally some defense spending will have to take place

Europe has spent trillions on defence since the fall of the Berlin Wall, most of which went to US weapons manufacturers.

What the last decade has shows is relying on external oligarchs for energy and defence is not sensible. The us has encouraged this for a long time. I just hope that Europe actually steps up quickly enough.

It will hurt the us a lot more than Europe, and China will be massively emboldened in the Pacific. It’s a new world order.

Re: US Ends Support For Ukrainian F-16s

#420

Post by robwwilliams » Sun, Mar 09, 2025, 4:00 PM UTC

hackinthebochs wrote: post #278

postingawayonhn wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

NATO as has existed is already over. Nobody has any faith that the US will follow through on its Article 5 obligations.

Does anyone think a country not already involved in a nuclear war would willingly expose itself to being annihilated? NATO works best when all member states are stable, ideologically aligned, and its Article 5 resolve is untested. Here the uncertainty works in its favor. But when NATO expands past deep ideological alignment towards a maximal expansionist strategy, and openly courts states its rival signals as core se…

We need to remember the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurance and not forget that Ukraine was coaxed to give up its nuclear weapons in 1993 by a guarantee of territorial integrity.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budapest_Memorandum