Moments ago, in a show of continued solidarity with the people of (West) Ukraine, US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced the latest batch of "non-lethal" aid to Ukraine. Among the items that would be shipped are:
- Sleeping mats;
- Water purification systems;
- Medial supplies; and of course
- Helmets
What, no healthcare plans? Also, one wonders: is the procurement price billed to US taxpayers for every helmet shipped to Ukraine above $5,000 or above $10,000?
Hagel added that while US actions are "provocative" and "heighten tensions", the US supply of equipment to non-NATO member Ukraine is not meant to "provoke or threaten Russia" and will review providing Ukraine with more support, also saying that the US is offering "planners" to help NATO update plans. The same NATO which as we reported yesterday, is preparing to expand its air and water presence around Russia... also obviously in a way that is not meant to threaten provoke Russia.
And while the US is providing helmets and sleeping bags, Canada, which has a substantial Ukraine population, is also jumping in, this time by providing 6 F-18 Hornet fighter jets to the NATO "reassurance mission" in Poland:
BREAKING:Canada to contribute 6 CF 18s to NATO reassurance mission, they will be based in Poland + 20 officers to Nato Supreme Command (CBC)
— Just Hovens Greve (@JustHovensGreve) April 17, 2014 [4]
Or this:
[5]
This delivery of lethal "reassurance" support to a country in immediate proximity to Russia is surely also meant to neither threaten nor provoke Russia. That said, any response by Russia to this clear NATO escalation will promptly be branded as both threatening and provoactive. Stay tuned.