MAHMOUD BENNETT: THE US HAS SENT A LOT OF EQUIPMENT TO UKRAINE
AND PRESIDENT BIDEN JUST ANNOUNCED WE’RE NOW SENDING OVER ADVANCED ROCKETS – A MOVE RUSSIA SAYS ‘ADDS FUEL TO THE FIRE’
ALL THAT AIDE ADDS UP – AND IT HAD US ASKING JUST HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TAXPAYERS
FOR STARTERS: ARMING AND TRAINING UKRAINIAN FORCES CAME OUT OF THE NEW PACKAGE – *PRICE TAG* 6 BILLION DOLLARS
WE ALSO HAD TO REPLENISH THE STORES OF AMERICAN WEAPONS THAT WE SHIPPED TO UKRAINE – THAT INCLUDES JAVELINES, STINGERS AND DRONES – 8.7 BILLION DOLLARS
THEN THERE’S THE COST FOR U.S. MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE – ANOTHER 8.1 BILLION
ALL OF THIS IS ONLY PART OF THE TWO AID PACKAGES THAT WERE APPROVED BY CONGRESS IN MARCH AND MAY.
COLLECTIVELY U.S. SPENDING ADDS UP TO NEARLY 54 BILLION DOLLARS – TO PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE – IT’S MORE THAN ONE-QUARTER OF UKRAINE’S PRE-WAR ECONOMY.
WHILE A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE AID HAS GONE TO MILITARY SPENDING, THE BULK IS GOING TO TRADITIONAL FOREIGN AID LIKE FOOD ASSISTANCE AND REFUGEE SERVICES
IT’S A SHARP CONTRAST TO THE 2.7 BILLION DOLLARS THE U.S. SENT BETWEEN 2014 TO 2021 AFTER RUSSIA ANNEXED CRIMEA – AND AS THIS WAR CONTINUES, THOSE NUMBERS ARE ONLY GOING UP