‘We Have to Give Them the Capability of Going on the Offense’: Tug of War on Over Sending Jets to Ukraine
Biden resists calls to supply military aircraft -- but appears to leave door open for the future
Now that President Biden has visited the streets of Kyiv and demonstrated the West's commitment to stand with Ukraine over the long-haul, there are increasing calls to back up that commitment by delivering even stronger weapons to aid that embattled nation in its defense.
Namely, some specifically are calling for sending F-16 Fighting Falcon military jets to embolden Ukraine's arsenal with which to repulse the Russian forces which have been invading Ukraine for more than a year now.
Biden last week made a dramatic and secret visit to the Ukrainian capital, to publicly stand in the warzone with Ukraine President Volodomyr Zelensky.
The visit by the US president immediately electrified and bolstered those who want to see Ukraine defend its borders and sovereignty from the ongoing and brutal Russian invasion of that democratic nation, which has now slipped into its second year.
And some experts say that the US government should begin acquiescing to Zelensky's requests for offensive military aircraft, such as the F-16, which has been in service for nearly half a century.
Biden, himself, continues to resist such entreaties — repeating his opposition just days ago.
“I think that President Biden ought to at least allow them to start training on the F-16. In the meantime, I think Poland has offered to have MiG-29s,” William Cohen, who served as defense secretary for President Bill Clinton, said, referring to Soviet-era fighter jets first built to counter the American F-16. “Right now they’re playing defense. The Russians are crushing them. Assaulting them from long-range with cruise missiles and other times of artillery. Long-range even from Russian territory, even from the Black Sea.
“They’re on their heels trying to hold. I think we have to give them the capability of going on the offense. Not just the counter. On the offense to control the Russian defense line,” added Cohen, a former Republican senator from Maine, speaking to CNN.
Biden, however, said that that he won't approve such a transfer — at least right now.
In an on-camera interview for ABC News, he had this exchange with journalist David Muir:
BIDEN: “Look — first of all, the idea that we know exactly what’s going to be needed a year, two, or three — there is no basis upon which there is a Rationale according to our military now to provide F-16s.”
MUIR: “But you’re not ruling it out?”
BIDEN: “I am ruling it out for now.”
MUIR: “For now.”
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