Biden authorizes Ukraine to use long-range US weapons in Russia

[LetMyPeopleVote]

It is about time

Link to tweet

https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/17/politics/biden-authorizes-ukraine-missiles-russian-targets/index.html

President Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to use powerful long-range American weapons inside Russia, according to a senior US official familiar with the decision, as North Korean troops deploy in support of Moscow’s effort.

The decision comes as Russia has deployed nearly 50,000 troops to Kursk, the southern Russian region where Kyiv launched its surprise counteroffensive in the summer, to prepare to take back territory.

Thousands of North Korean troops have deployed to Kursk as part of the offensive, sparking concern from Biden and his advisers that their entry could lead to a dangerous new phase in the war.

The decision to allow use of the Army Tactical Missile Systems, or ATACMS, inside Russia had been under consideration for months. American officials had been divided on the wisdom of allowing the new capability. Some had concerns about escalating the war, while others worried about dwindling stockpiles of the weapons.

[Shermann]

1. Well, Trump has his excuse as to why he won't be able to stop the war with a single phone call.

He'll say Biden intentionally did this to disrupt his plans.

[littlemissmartypants]

8. Who really cares what President Psychopath thinks? ...

I for sure don't.

Good on President Biden for being bold!

🌻🇺🇦❤🇺🇦🌻 Slava Ukraini! 🌻🇺🇦❤🇺🇦🌻

[Cha]

2. Good For Ukraine! I don't give a Shit about what

it does for TSF

Mahalo, LMPV

[AkFemDem]

3. Doing this in reaction to NK troops on the ground according to "sources"

Not sure amping up a hot war with NK is really what we need right now. The world's a miserable enough place as is.

[AkFemDem]

4. More in depth info

https://www.reuters.com/world/biden-lifts-ban-ukraine-using-us-arms-strike-inside-russia-2024-11-17/

[Deuxcents]

5. It's been almost 2 years and Ukraine has fought and sacrificed with one hand tied behind their backs.

Russia has targeted civilians, brought in professional soldiers and now has North Koreans fighting for him. It’s past time we let Ukraine do what they need to do to survive. Way past time, imo. 🇺🇦

[yaesu]

6. A great call that should have been made months ago but killing more russians during the 2 months left

before russia takes over the US is better than nothing.

[AloeVera]

12. As a fellow progressive...

A gentle reminder that those soldiers are mostly poor, unworldly, young men from the boondocks. They enlisted to save their families from poverty.

The cannon-fodder Russian foot soldiers are not Putin. Save your wishes for him. HIM I would like to see keel over and die.

War is evil as are the warmongers.

[oasis]

7. Time to kick some serious ass.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

9. This makes me smile

Link to tweet

[LetMyPeopleVote]

10. France and Britain are also allowing Ukraine use long range weapons

Link to tweet

[AloeVera]

11. 90 seconds to midnight.

On the Doomsday Clock. As of January 2024.

Dark and dangerous times.

[Shermann]

13. I suspect there were back-channel communications between the US and Russia

Russia has had ample time and warning to move high-value targets to a safe distance.

[AloeVera]

17. Interesting.

I hope some dialogue is happening. In public, Russia is saber-rattling, talking about an "appropriate and palpable response".

[NickB79]

15. Russia isn't going nuclear over conventional weapons. nt

[AloeVera]

16. Hope to Goddess you're right.

From the Doomsday Clock (Jan. 2024)

A durable end to Russia’s war in Ukraine seems distant, and the use of nuclear weapons by Russia in that conflict remains a serious possibility. In February 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his decision to “suspend” the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START). In March, he announced the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. In June, Sergei Karaganov, an advisor to Putin, urged Moscow to consider launching limited nuclear strikes on Western Europe as a way to bring the war in Ukraine to a favorable conclusion. In October, Russia’s Duma voted to withdraw Moscow's ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, as the US Senate continued to refuse even to debate ratification.

Nuclear spending programs in the three largest nuclear powers—China, Russia, and the United States—threaten to trigger a three-way nuclear arms race as the world’s arms control architecture collapses. Russia and China are expanding their nuclear capabilities, and pressure mounts in Washington for the United States to respond in kind.

Meanwhile, other potential nuclear crises fester. Iran continues to enrich uranium to close to weapons grade while stonewalling the International Atomic Energy Agency on key issues. Efforts to reinstate an Iran nuclear deal appear unlikely to succeed, and North Korea continues building nuclear weapons and long-range missiles. Nuclear expansion in Pakistan and India continues without pause or restraint.

And the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas has the potential to escalate into a wider Middle Eastern conflict that could pose unpredictable threats, regionally and globally.

I do worry.

[Lincolnite]

14. If only there was some way Russia could end this war