#johnkirby

B.A. Hamza, a Professor at the National Defence University in Malaysia recently wrote about how the United States (US) was intentionally trying to downplay the June 2024 Ayungin Shoal Incident between China and the Philippines. Here are some chosen Excerpts from the Article, you can find the Link to the Article below:

"As anticipated, the “Incident” elicited only condemnation from the White House one Day after, giving the impression that both Parties (US and Philippines) were not keen to escalate the Incident. The Cue was provided by the National Security Council spokesman John Kirby. Kirby informed Journalists Monday, “This kind of Behaviour [by China] is Provocative, it’s Reckless, it’s unnecessary, and it could lead to misunderstandings and miscalculations that could lead to something much bigger and much more Violent.” Kirby was silent on the Treaty (meaning the Mutual Defense Treaty between the US and Philippines).”

“Grappling with more important Strategic Issues in the Middle East and Ukraine, opening a third Front against a formidable China, 6000 miles away, will not be wise for the President Biden, Commander in Chief, who stumbled and looked disoriented during the recent Presidential debate with Donald Trump.”

“Given American involvement in Conflicts in the Middle East and Europe, it is unlikely that Washington will fight on another Front. Despite President Biden’s Promise of Iron-clad support to President Marcos, the failure to invoke the 1951 MDT serves as a Reminder to other US Allies – Taiwan, Japan and Australia included – that Defense Treaties in modern times are sometimes not worth the Papers they are written on.”

John Kirby – Complete Jazz Series 1939-1941

For the safety and security of the free world, and to protect democracy, the U.S. Congress must pass a new funding package for Ukraine now. 🇺🇦💙💛🇺🇦

#Repost @kyivindependent_official with @use.repost . . . The U.S. has run out of existing money for aid for Ukraine, and “there’s no other magical pot to dip into” unless Congress passes a new funding package, U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on Jan. 3.

The U.S. State Department announced a $250 military aid package for Ukraine on Dec. 27, exhausting the remaining funds already earmarked. A bill containing $61.4 billion in aid for Ukraine was blocked by Republicans in the Senate earlier in December because it did not contain strict measures on U.S. border and immigration policy.

Kirby said that due to a lag between the signing out of funding packages and their actual delivery, Ukraine will still receive items allocated on Dec. 27 for the “coming days and weeks.”

After that, Kirby is not “aware of any Band-Aid fix that can be done” absent a decision by Congress, he added.

Independent U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema said on Jan. 3 that the Senate was “closing in” on a deal about border security measures that would pave the way for the approval of a funding package for Ukraine.

Other Republican lawmakers have cast doubt on the likelihood of a bill passing both the House and Senate.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has repeatedly acknowledged the centrality of the U.S.'s support to Ukraine's war effort, and said in an interview with CNN on Jan. 3 that "we don't have a plan B (if U.S. aid ends), we are confident in plan A."

"Ukraine will always fight with the resources given to it," he added.

Kirby emphasized that despite reports in some Western media, there was no evidence that Russian leader Vladimir Putin was ready to negotiate.

On the contrary, the mass attacks against Ukrainian cities in recent days illustrate that he is doing "everything he can to try to put the Ukrainians on their back feet, which is why it's so important that the supplemental funding request that the President (Joe Biden) put forward gets passed."

Photo: Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images

"[R]ealize that helping Ukraine — and they’re not asking for boots on the ground — helping them win this war is very much in our national security interest and in the national security interest of all our allies in Europe.” ~ U.S. National Security Council spokesperson, John Kirby 🇺🇦💙💛🇺🇸

#Repost @kyivindependent_official with @use.repost . . . Failing to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia would exact a heavy cost on U.S. economic and security interests, U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters at a press briefing Dec. 8.

Funding for Ukraine has been stymied by partisan politics in Congress, with Republican legislators refusing to approve continued aid unless Democrats agree to heightened restrictions at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Kirby said that political controversy over aid to Ukraine was “a great gift to Vladimir Putin.”

“He’s been banking on that kind of a development since early on in this war,” Kirby said, referring to the Russian dictator.

Article Five of the North Atlantic Treaty requires member nations to consider armed attacks on any member nation as attacks on the entire alliance, and render immediate military assistance.

Ukraine has lobbied for NATO membership, but the Alliance has not issued an invitation or set a timeline for Ukraine’s accession.

“If [Putin] gets Ukraine, he gets right up against the doorstep of NATO,” Kirby said at the briefing.

“If you care about our national security, you ought to see Mr. Putin for what he is, you ought to see Russia for what it is, and realize that helping Ukraine — and they’re not asking for boots on the ground — helping them win this war is very much in our national security interest and in the national security interest of all our allies in Europe.”

Kirby was also asked to comment on Putin’s announcement that he would participate in Russia’s March 2024 presidential elections, seeking a fifth term.

“Well, that’s going to be one humdinger of a horse race, isn’t it?” he said.

📸: Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images

An update on the war in Ukraine from U.S. National Security Council spokesperson, John Kirby. 🇺🇦💙💛🇺🇸

#Repost @kyivindependent_official with @use.repost . . . U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said that according to Washington's assessments, Russia is suffering significant losses and experiencing low morale due to its attacks on Avdiivka, European Pravda reported on Oct. 26.

"We have information that the Russian military has been actually executing soldiers who are refusing to follow orders," Kirby said during the press briefing, according to the Agence France Presse.

"We also have information that Russian commanders are threatening to execute entire units if they seek to retreat from Ukrainian artillery fire."

Kirby did not provide further details on the alleged executions or on how Washington had obtained the information.

Russia has been intensifying its attacks against Avdiivka, a front-line town a few kilometers north of occupied Donetsk, for several weeks. Moscow has reportedly thrown in extensive force in an effort to encircle the town, suffering heavy losses in manpower and equipment in the process, Kyiv said.

This was also confirmed by Kirby, who said that since Oct. 11, Russia has lost "at least 125 units of armored vehicles around Avdiivka and more than a battalion's worth of military equipment."

Ukrainian forces in the sector "were able to hold their own and are holding their defense," he added.

The Kremlin is likely to continue its offensive in the coming months and "may achieve some tactical successes," the U.S. official believes. This will, however, come at the cost of thousands of Russian soldiers thrown into battle without proper training and with poor morale, Kirby stressed.

Photo: Drew Angerer via Getty Images