Politics

[Doubleplay]

Yes, it's easy. We've given the F-16 and a myriad of other fighter aircraft to Israel, Taiwan, etc.

Every one of them was approved by the congress and in some cases there was a lot of back and forth and it didn't happen right away.
Also we approved the sale we didn't give them away like we are doing to Ukraine..

 

[CoElkHunter]

Every one of them was approved by the congress and in some cases there was a lot of back and forth and it didn't happen right away.
Also we approved the sale we didn't give them away like we are doing to Ukraine..

True. That's why I've previously suggested a "lend lease" program to provide Ukraine with F-16s and other countries could do the same with their fighter aircraft.

 

[Doubleplay]

How wonderful that you can predict the future. Many other ideas and attempts at replacing the internal combustion engine have come and gone. Maybe one day this will be true, with current technology the EVs are the most polluting and unreliable vehicles on the road. The term “pipe dream” comes to mind.

Where did I say with the current technology?
Also future is happening right now either you like it or not.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Actually it is both an easy and ideal solution. The F-16 is being replaced rapidly across NATO by the F35. Beginning this year, Lockheed Martin (ably assisted by Northrop Grumman) will be churning out 175 a year (so much for the problem plagued program nonsense). That is why the various NATO variant aircraft are available. All those aircraft will go to other second tier countries. Ukraine, besides its obvious need, is also a likely future EU member and at least an abiding NATO ally if not full member.

Interesting places like Pakistan, Morocco, Jordan, Israel, and Egypt among several other non-NATO nations also operate it.

Perhaps most importantly, the maintenance and supply infrastructure for the aircraft is fully mature across NATO making support for the Ukrainian fleet very simple. It is also a single engine aircraft which simplifies operations even over their own surviving MIG 29's. Sadly, it is a decision would could have made just as easily last summer.

IMO it should have been made last summer but we continue to let the WAR CRIMINAL Putin dictate terms and control the narrative! Absurd!

 

[Red Leg]

Every one of them was approved by the congress and in some cases there was a lot of back and forth and it didn't happen right away.
Also we approved the sale we didn't give them away like we are doing to Ukraine..

I am genuinely curious how we are "giving them away" to Ukraine. They are wholly owned by the current operators. All we have is the equivalent of a technical copyright. I would assume the European operators would treat the F-16's as part of their in kind support to Ukraine as they have done with Leopard tanks, Marder IFV's, ADA systems (to include Patriot another US developed and produced system of perhaps even greater technological capability), etc.

 

[Doubleplay]

I am genuinely curious how we are "giving them away" to Ukraine. They are wholly owned by the current operators. All we have is the equivalent of a technical copyright. I would assume the European operators would treat the F-16's as part of their in kind support to Ukraine as they have done with Leopard tanks, Marder IFV's, ADA systems (to include Patriot another US developed and produced system of perhaps even greater technological capability), etc.

What I meant was they are not like the approved sales like we did with bunch of countries.
I don't think any country us or European is asking anything in return.
Kind support is a nice term for giving away.
On a side note I'm definitely not against it. Ukraine can't progress without proper air support and F-16 is a perfect platform for air to air and air to ground.

 

[Red Leg]

Another quick look at the Russian strike on Chernihiv this morning. Russian bloggers have been swooning over it on the Telegram network. Imagine your own daughter walking through a small town square on a Saturday morning. Barbarians.

“Scratch a Russian, as the saying goes, and you find a Tartar.” attributed to Napoleon and quoted by Ann Reid.

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/15vryrp

 

[sgt_zim]

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Just speculation on my part, but I suspect the west's goal isn't to win the war rapidly. Every slow decision exterminates more Russians. Russia's population is going extinct and the population age pyramid of their culture has inverted. Russia would not have been capable of waging war in 5-10 years, just not enough warrior-age men.

So if inside the Pentagon they perceive Russia as a perennial and persistent threat to western interests, slow-playing this war doesn't just end in a final peace, but it ends in the extinction of the Russian threat forever.

If 500,000 breeding-age men die on the Russian side of this conflict, they are an extinct people.

View attachment 552247

To use the double negative, I don’t disagree with you. However, I think the single biggest issue has always been to not provoke the Russian into going nuclear.

 

[sestoppelman]

Wonders never cease!! Whodathunkit??

MSN

 

[Jeff505]

Where did I say with the current technology?
Also future is happening right now either you like it or not.

Your comment “EVs are here to stay and the future” is what I took exception to. I think this technology has its limits. Burning fossil fuels to make power for this ‘green experiment“ is ludicrous, if the idea is to reduce CO2. EVs would not even exist on an affordable scale if not for government subsidies. The free market will decide wat is viable, not government mandates or government ignorance.

 

[sestoppelman]

Your comment “EVs are here to stay and the future” is what I took exception to. I think this technology has its limits. Burning fossil fuels to make power for this ‘green experiment“ is ludicrous, if the idea is to reduce CO2. EVs would not even exist on an affordable scale if not for government subsidies. The free market will decide wat is viable, not government mandates or government ignorance.

One word to remember:

SOLYNDRA

 

[WAB]

I've read several pieces where ULSD doesn't reduce emissions to the great extent the "experts" thought and costs much more to refine than LSD. Similar to ethanol, where the farming of the corn produces overall more emissions than the ethanol added to gasoline reduces. More experts! Anyway, I'm getting a flux capacitor for my F250 diesel so I can get 75-100mpg.

You want to be really pissed off? The Engine Manufacturers Assoc (EMA) decided on a different trap technology negating the need for ULSD. They presented this decision in a task force meeting prior to the final decision on the regs. The EPA decided to go forward with ULSD anyway even though it was no longer needed to protect the trap technology in the engine’s emissions control systems.

Don’t get me started on ethanol. I was in that debacle as well.

 

[Red Leg]

You want to be really pissed off? The Engine Manufacturers Assoc (EMA) decided on a different trap technology negating the need for ULSD. They presented this decision in a task force meeting prior to the final decision on the regs. The EPA decided to go forward with ULSD anyway even though it was no longer needed to protect the trap technology in the engine’s emissions control systems.

Don’t get me started on ethanol. I was in that debacle as well.

Particularly when I put too high a content in my 30K generator during the last ice storm!

 

[fourfive8]

EV tech works only in lala fantasy land like in the tiny town of Leisureland NM in the movie Downsizing or going to and from the bridge match at Sun City or for about 18 holes on the golf course. For the foreseeable future, pretty much green folly, nothing more. Unless mistaken, I think currently some small diesel vehicles can get 90 mpg. Explain how that would be a larger environmental foot print than that of an average EV. ???

 

[mdwest]

Every one of them was approved by the congress and in some cases there was a lot of back and forth and it didn't happen right away.
Also we approved the sale we didn't give them away like we are doing to Ukraine..

That’s not exactly correct…

The executive branch approves foreign military sales, and the State Dept plays a role in the approval process.

Congress is only required to be notified if the dollar value exceeds certain limits (an F16 would exceed the limit).

Notification is required 30 days before the sale is finalized. Congress does not approve or deny any sale. If they so choose, after they are notified, they can attempt to block the sale through the passage of legislation specific to that sale.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

If this has been previously shared... my apologies...

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

The Russians have gone too far with Chernehiv, they will live to regret this. If ever there was a wakeup call to the West to get in there and supply what it takes to bring this stupid war to an end, this is it.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Another quick look at the Russian strike on Chernihiv this morning. Russian bloggers have been swooning over it on the Telegram network. Imagine your own daughter walking through a small town square on a Saturday morning. Barbarians.

“Scratch a Russian, as the saying goes, and you find a Tartar.” attributed to Napoleon and quoted by Ann Reid.

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/15vryrp

This is a huge war crime, plain and simple.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

This has been mentioned before but I like this chart.
When we are forced into a EV world, how much will all the other oil products cost?