As the Republican Party’s blockade of aid to Ukraine drags into its fourth month, the U.S. government under Pres. Joe Biden has found a clever new way to give Ukraine’s forces the weapons and ammunition they need to defend their country.

It is, in essence, an American version of Germany’s circular weapons trade—the so-called Ringtausch. The United States is gifting older surplus weapons to Greece with the understanding that Greece donates to Ukraine some of its own surplus weapons.

Greek media broke the news last week. According to the newspaper Kathimerini and other media, the Biden administration offered the Greek government three 87-foot Protector-class patrol boats, two Lockheed Martin C-130H airlifters, 10 Allison T56 turboprop engines for Lockheed P-3 patrol planes plus 60 M-2 Bradley fighting vehicles and a consignment of transport trucks.

All this hardware is U.S. military surplus—and is available to Greece, free of charge, under a U.S. legal authority called “excess defense articles.” Federal law allows an American president to declare military systems surplus to need, assign them a value—potentially zero dollars—and give them away on the condition that the recipient transport them.

  • CableMonster
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    9 months ago

    Then I’d call you ignorant with a weak grasp on facts.

    • afraid_of_zombies@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      4 day old account, all but two comments are pro-russian. Guess lemmy is getting popular enough to attract attention from the Russian troll farms.

      • CableMonster
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        9 months ago

        If I am trolling and you keep responding then that means I am winning… Thank you!

            • theangryseal@lemmy.world
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              9 months ago

              You literally said nothing. You made a statement, offered no evidence, called it facts.

              I mean, come on CableMonster. If you have a point, make it. I’m listening. You have my attention. Show me what you got.

              • CableMonster
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                9 months ago

                The problem is that if someone does the insult comment, they are no longer looking for a conversation or to learn they are doing an ad hominem or strawmen attack and are not worth giving a thoughtful comment. If you had a reasonable question I dont mind answering, but I dont waste my time with the douches.

                • theangryseal@lemmy.world
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                  9 months ago

                  But I’m not being insulting. I’m asking you to expand on why it is that you believe what you said. Literally, you offered no content. Just an opinion without explaining the information that led you to that decision.

                  To me it read like, “well guys, feeding homeless people actually ends up starving them.”

                  So, why do you believe what you believe? What led you to that belief?

                  I’m offering you the ability to have an honest conversation.

                  • CableMonster
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                    9 months ago

                    Unless I am on the wrong thread it started with him saying; “Then I’d call you a complete liar with a weak grasp on reality, and a poor understanding of where and when you ought to open your ill-informed mouth, before I walked off and continued with my day, secure in the knowledge that you’re as wrong about something as it’s physically possible to be.”

                    Why do you think responding to someone like that with an thoughtful comment would be worth my time?

                    What in paticular are you wanting me to tell you what I think about?

        • rusticus@lemm.ee
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          9 months ago

          Like I said: failing miserably. An effective troll foments FUD. You are only receiving ridicule.

          • CableMonster
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            9 months ago

            Like I said; if you think I am a troll and you respond then I win. I will take the W!

            • rusticus@lemm.ee
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              9 months ago

              You must live a pathetic existence to count being called out for being an incompetent troll as a win. It took longer than usual to type this as it’s harder to type while laughing. Thanks for the hilarity imbecile!

              • CableMonster
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                9 months ago

                I think its funny. You said nothing and then started to rage because I didnt stay the standard set of lines. The more you type the funnier it gets.

                • rusticus@lemm.ee
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                  9 months ago

                  Now it’s not funny but sadly pathetic that you crave attention so much someone just responding to your pathetic comments makes you feel like you “won”.

                  • CableMonster
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                    9 months ago

                    Oh man, I dont want you to think poorly of me! You opinion is super important!