April 2022 — M2CC Newsletter

WWW.M2CC.US Monthly Newsletter | 13
that hasn’t been possible
either.”
Sen. Richard Blumenthal,
D-Conn., said he has
strongly supported
providing more lethal
weapons, including
fighter jets, to Ukraine
since Russia first invaded
in 2014 and annexed
the Crimean Peninsula.
He suggested during a
hearing with top military
officials last week that
the U.S. consider sending
A-10 Thunderbolt II
attack aircraft, known as
Warthogs, which the Air
Force wants to retire.
“It’s going to be a long
slog," Blumenthal said.
"This is a protracted war
going to the east, but we
need to be there for the
Ukrainians in the midst of
this long slog."
The most critical element
of supporting Ukraine’s
offensive is maintaining
a consistent influx of
munitions, Cancian said.
Even lighter weapons such
as shoulder-fired, antiaircraft
Stingers missiles
and anti-tank Javelins
missiles can be effective
in a drawn-out fight, he
said.
Defense Secretary Lloyd
Austin told senators last
week that those weapons,
as well as drones
and communications
equipment, have proved
“somewhat decisive” in
Ukraine’s stiff resistance.
Ukraine continues to deny
Russia air superiority
through tens of thousands
of anti-aircraft systems
from the U.S., added
Army Gen. Mark Milley,
chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff.
“The biggest thing is that
they need this flow of
supplies and equipment
to continue because that
is what has allowed them
to maintain a continuous
combat capability that's
defeated the Russians so
far,” Cancian said.
Republican Sens. Joni
Ernst of Iowa and Jim
Inhofe of Oklahoma said
the U.S. should equip
Ukraine with the ability
to trounce Russian forces,
not just repel them. But
they agree the speed of
heavy weapons delivery
will be a major deciding
factor in whether Ukraine
can boot Russia from its
territory.
“President Zelenskyy,
and all of the Ukrainians
I’ve met with over the
last month, have said
weapons are not being
delivered fast enough —
particularly with their high
burn rate,” Ernst, a former
Army officer, said in a
statement. “The U.S. can
deliver more capability
quicker, and Congress
will continue to pressure
this administration.”
Russia has warned that it
will treat arms convoys
from NATO countries to
Ukraine as “legitimate
targets” for military action
and deliveries of more
sophisticated weapons
will not go unnoticed,
Cancian said. The risk of
Russia making good on
its threat, however, is not
likely for now, he said.
“The Russians have their
hands full,” Cancian said.
“In terms of shipping
equipment, they seem to
have accepted that, they
really haven’t even struck
the supply lines.”
Sens. Jacky Rosen,
D-Nev., and Jeanne
Shaheen, D-N.H., said
they will work with their
Republican colleagues in
the coming weeks to shore
up Ukraine’s military
capabilities for a renewed
Russian onslaught. Before
leaving for spring recess
last week, the Senate
passed a bipartisan bill
to expedite U.S. arms
transfers to Ukraine
through a World War IIstyle
lend-lease program.
The legislation has moved
to the House.
“As the military situation
in Ukraine evolves, so
must our global response,”
said Shaheen, the bill's cosponsor.
VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT
MHCE.US
HAPPY
SPRING!
m2cc.us