[Goose]

Looks like the bills in the house really do add up pretty much to the passed senate bill, with vote planned Saturday. Includes humanitarian and economic support aid.

Interesting bit here-

SEC. 505. (a) TRANSFER OF LONG-RANGE ATACMS REQUIRED

"As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the President shall transfer long range Army Tactical Missile Systems to the Government of Ukraine"

Though reading the text of the bill, immediately after that section it says if the President determines transferring long range ATACMS is detrimental to US security, then he doesn't have to. So I guess it's really just a suggestion.

You are right it is a "suggestion", but a pretty pointed one. It may be true that the Army is dragging its feet pretty hard and the Congress felt they needed to give the President an "out". I hope he doesn't take the off ramp and goes ahead. Russia probably isn't ready for really "deep strike" MRBMs and Ukraine can do some real damage short term. We don't really know if Russia has a viable defense against these missiles. If nothing else, knowing they do/don't would be valuable. Perhaps bridge tolls need to rise in Crimea :-).

https://x.com/Osinttechnical/status/1780657788751958230

Better late than never I guess.

.....

And on the topic of ATACMS, Ukraine seemingly used some of the shorter ranged ones that were provided to hit a Russian airbase on Crimea. 3 S400 TELs and radar claimed destroyed at least. They've used the few provided to good effect.

https://x.com/bayraktar_1love/status/178...6479856931

Great pictures. Ukraine is clearly still attempting to cut down Russia's air defense. It may be those S-400s were defending some other assets (in addition to the airfield) that are now without defense against ALCMs.

Fingers crossed that Johnson has the 2/3 needed for suspension of rules.  Could be a minefield with 4 separate votes.

Indeed it could. One would think that sending up four bills to the Senate would be fine. The Senate could then quickly pass four separate bills and call it good. Combining them together in the House after they pass shouldn't be necessary IMO.

I actually believe keeping separate issues separate is a "good thing". It makes sense to some members to aid Ukraine and Taiwan but not Israel. Other members may prefer the exact opposite. I think a majority supports all four bills, but the leadership often wants to put members in a situation where in order to do "good" (as they see it), they have to vote for an omnibus that also contains "bad".  No good reason that should ever be done IMO.

[Goose]

Looks like the bills in the house really do add up pretty much to the passed senate bill, with vote planned Saturday. Includes humanitarian and economic support aid.

Interesting bit here-

SEC. 505. (a) TRANSFER OF LONG-RANGE ATACMS REQUIRED

"As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the President shall transfer long range Army Tactical Missile Systems to the Government of Ukraine"

Though reading the text of the bill, immediately after that section it says if the President determines transferring long range ATACMS is detrimental to US security, then he doesn't have to. So I guess it's really just a suggestion.

You are right it is a "suggestion", but a pretty pointed one. It may be true that the Army is dragging its feet pretty hard and the Congress felt they needed to give the President an "out". I hope he doesn't take the off ramp and goes ahead. Russia probably isn't ready for really "deep strike" MRBMs and Ukraine can do some real damage short term. We don't really know if Russia has a viable defense against these missiles. If nothing else, knowing they do/don't would be valuable. Perhaps bridge tolls need to rise in Crimea :-).

https://x.com/Osinttechnical/status/1780657788751958230

Better late than never I guess.

.....

And on the topic of ATACMS, Ukraine seemingly used some of the shorter ranged ones that were provided to hit a Russian airbase on Crimea. 3 S400 TELs and radar claimed destroyed at least. They've used the few provided to good effect.

https://x.com/bayraktar_1love/status/178...6479856931

Great pictures. Ukraine is clearly still attempting to cut down Russia's air defense. It may be those S-400s were defending some other assets (in addition to the airfield) that are now without defense against ALCMs.

Fingers crossed that Johnson has the 2/3 needed for suspension of rules.  Could be a minefield with 4 separate votes.

Indeed it could. One would think that sending up four bills to the Senate would be fine. The Senate could then quickly pass four separate bills and call it good. Combining them together in the House after they pass shouldn't be necessary IMO.

I actually believe keeping separate issues separate is a "good thing". It makes sense to some members to aid Ukraine and Taiwan but not Israel. Other members may prefer the exact opposite. I think a majority supports all four bills, but the leadership often wants to put members in a situation where in order to do "good" (as they see it), they have to vote for an omnibus that also contains "bad".  No good reason that should ever be done IMO.