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Those who read this blog have gotten the sense that it values primary source materials well over any sort of effort to interpret or use it as an instrument for whatever purpose it may be deployed. Not that this use of primary text is bad, it is just that primary text is necessary to engage with all efforts (including my own) to engage with and project primary text. Analysis, especially of secondary text (including this one) cannot be undertaken except as a function of a close reading of the primary sources from which analysis is attempted.
It is with that in mind that it is useful to read. . . . carefully. . . . President Biden's response to the remarks delivered by President Zelensky (Ukraine) to the US Congress on 16 March 202 (Text of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's address to Congress 16 March 2022 and to the Canadian Parliament 15 March 2022). But it is not just the carefully worded response--with its promise of funds for the purchase of even more carefully curated objects, including military objects--but also for the decision by the Office of the President to include an answer to the central question that hung over President Zelensky's remarks and the American debate.
These follow below. And they are well worth the few minutes necessary to savor the response.
Mr. Biden remains the merchant of sovereignty. And he presides over the pricing of the sovereign authority of states on the periphery of empire (eg, "our determination to make Putin pay a very heavy price," "That’s our goal: make Putin pay the price"). The cost to the Ukrainian people, in the words of President Biden, watching on the TV: "I mean, it’s — it’s God awful. I was speaking about this with the — our — our Commander, behind me here — General Milley. I mean, it just is amazing." The price the United States is willing to pay for its detachment has been calculated with some precision by the elected branches of our government. And Mr. Biden is a very good accountant--taking a moment to add this up for the American people:"We took the threat of Putin invading very seriously, and we acted on it. We sent Ukraine more security assistance last year — $650 million in weapons . . . And once the war started, we immediately rushed $350 million. . . On Saturday, my administration authorized another $200 million. . . Now I’m once again using my presidential authority to activate . . . an additional $800 million in assistance. That brings the total of new U.S. security assistance to Ukraine to $1 billion just this week."
Included in this accounting are the weapons that are being delivered to the Ukrainian forces from before the invasion with the promise of more to come; plus "$300 million in humanitarian assistance [and] direct financial assistance as well."This, then, is what the President appears to mean when he declares suggests the extent to which the US is "going to continue to have their back as they fight for their freedom, their democracy, their very survival."
To be sure this is all very positive action from the apex power at the head of the global state system it instituted after 1945 to prevent the sort of aggressions that are now costing over $1billion in a relatively short time period. Of course, Mr. Biden has not added to his tally of costs the costs in lives and material goods etc. suffered by the Ukrainians in defense of the global system (and their sovereignty). But that, it appears, is their problem, though perhaps a burden lightened by the commiseration that can be sent over from a safe distance. That appears to be the heart of the cost accounting systems for states at the peripheries of empire who are not "inside"--perhaps a message to the Swedes and Finns--though it is far too early to tell--the Russians have not yet invaded the Baltic states or Poland and one has no way of gauging the nature and extent of the response from an imperial center in Washington cautious about engaging a nuclear power (for partisan analysis here). One wonders whether the caution is contextual--Russia yes, Iran and Pakistan, unclear.
And then the most interesting part of the remarks. And the deliberate tease form the Office of the White House: "
Q Mr. President, what will it take for you to send the Polish MiGs that President Zelenskyy is asking for?
THE PRESIDENT: I’m not going to comment on that right now. I’m not going to comment on anything other than what I told you (inaudible).
It is far too early to divine what that means (eg, does it mean that Mr. Biden is thinking about it?; are Mr Biden's advisors have him on a short ex temp leash, Does Mr Biden just not want to say no (again) because it will spoil the discursive mood he has been at some pains to develop, are there some actions that are more valuable is undertaken out of sight? and so on). That it was included in the official transcript then is both a signal and a tease, and an intriguing one. Perhaps the merchant will be changing occupation.
South Court Auditorium
Eisenhower Executive Office Building
1:01 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. I want to begin by thanking
President Zelenskyy for his passionate message this morning. I listened
to it in the private residence, and he was convincing. And —
significant speech.
He speaks for a people who have shown
remarkable courage and strength in the face of brutal aggression —
courage and strength that has inspired not only Ukrainians but the
entire world.
Putin is inflicting appalling — appalling devastation and horror on
Ukraine — bombing apartment buildings, maternity wards, hospitals.
I mean, it’s — it’s God awful. I was speaking about this with the —
our — our Commander, behind me here — General Milley. I mean, it just
is amazing.
Yesterday, we saw reports that Russian forces were holding hundreds
of doctors and patients hostage in the largest hospital in Mariupol.
These are atrocities. They’re an outrage to the world. And the world
is united in our support for Ukraine and our determination to make Putin
pay a very heavy price.
America is leading this effort,
together with our Allies and partners, providing enormous levels of
security and humanitarian assistance that we’re adding to today and
we’re going to continue to do more in the days and weeks ahead.
We are crippling Putin’s economy with punishing sanctions that’s going
to only grow more painful over time with the entire NATO and EU behind
us, and many other countries.
What’s at stake here are the principles that the United States and the united nations across the world stand for. It’s about freedom. It’s about the right of people to determine their own future. It’s about making sure Ukraine never — will never be a victory for Putin, no matter what advances he makes on the battlefield.
The American people are answering President Zelenskyy’s call for more help, more weapons for Ukraine to defend itself, more tools to fight Russian aggression. And that’s what we’re doing.
In fact, we started our assistance to Ukraine before this
war began, as they started to do exercises along the Ukrainian border —
the Russians — starting in March of last year.
We took the
threat of Putin invading very seriously, and we acted on it. We sent
Ukraine more security assistance last year — $650 million in weapons,
including anti-air and anti-armor equipment before the invasion — more
than we had ever provided before. So when the invasion began, they
already had in their hands the kinds of weapons they needed to counter
Russian advances.
And once the war started, we immediately rushed $350 million in additional aid to further address their needs: hundreds of anti-air systems, thousands of anti-tank weapons, transport helicopters, armed patrol boats, and other high-mobility vehicles, radar systems that help track incoming artillery and unmanned drones, secure communications equipment and tactical gear, satellite imagery and — and analysis capacity. And it’s clearly helped Ukraine inflict dramatic losses on Russian forces.
On Saturday, my administration authorized another $200 million to keep a steady flow of weapons and ammunition moving to Ukraine. Now I’m once again using my presidential authority to activate — to activate additional security assistance to continue to help Ukraine fend off Russia’s assault — an additional $800 million in assistance. That brings the total of new U.S. security assistance to Ukraine to $1 billion just this week. These are the lar- — these are direct transfers of equipment from our Department of Defense to the Ukrainian military to help them as they fight against this invasion.
And I thank the Congress for appropriating these funds.
This new package on its own is going to provide unprecedented assistance to Ukraine. It includes 800 anti-aircraft systems to make sure the Ukrainian military can continue to — can continue to stop the planes and helicopters that have been attacking their people and to defend their Ukrainian airspace.
And at the request of President Zelenskyy, we have identified and are helping Ukraine acquire additional longer-range anti-aircraft systems and the munitions for those systems.
Our new assistance package also includes 9,000 anti-armor systems. These are portable, high — high-accurate — high accurately — high-accuracy shoulder-mounted missiles that the Ukrainian forces have been using with great effect to destroy invading tanks and armored vehicles.
It’ll include 7,000 small arms — machine guns, shotguns, grenade launchers — to equip the Ukrainians, including the brave women and men who are defending their cities as civilians, and they’re on the countryside as well. And we’re — and we — and as well as the ammunition, artillery, and mortar rounds to go with small arms — 20 million rounds in total. Twenty million rounds. And this will include drones, which — which demonstrates our commitment to sending our most cutting-edge systems to Ukraine for its defense.
And we’re not doing this alone. Our Allies and partners have stepped up to provide significant shipments of security assistance and will continue to help facilitate these deliveries as well.
The United States and our Allies and partners are fully committed to surging weapons of assistance to the Ukrainians. And more will be coming as we source additional stocks of equipment that are — that we’re ready to transfer.
Now — now, I want to be honest with you: This could be a long and difficult battle. But the American people will be steadfast in our support of the people of Ukraine in the face of Putin’s immoral, unethical attacks on civilian populations. We are united in our abhorrence of Putin’s depraved onslaught, and we’re going to continue to have their back as they fight for their freedom, their democracy, their very survival. And we’re going to give Ukraine the arms to fight and defend themselves through all the difficult days ahead.
We’re going to continue to mobilize humanitarian relief to support
people within Ukraine and those who have been forced to flee Ukraine.
In just the past few weeks, we’ve provided $300 million in humanitarian
assistance to the people in Ukraine and in neighboring countries. Tens
of thousands of tons of food, water, medicine, and other basic supplies
to support the people in need.
Our experts on the ground in Poland and Moldova and other neighboring countries are there to make real-time assessments of the rapidly evolving crisis and get urgently needed humanitarian supplies to the people in need when they need it.
And we will support Ukraine’s economy with direct financial assistance as well.
And together with our Allies and partners, we will keep up the pressure on Putin’s crumbling economy, isolating him on the global stage. That’s our goal: make Putin pay the price, weaken his position while strengthening the hand of the Ukrainians on the battlefield and at the negotiating table.
Together with our Allies and partners, we’re going to stay the course. And we’ll do everything we can to push for and end this tragic, unnecessary war. This is a struggle that pits the appetites of an autocrat against humankind’s desire to be free.
And let there be no doubt, no uncertainty, no question: America stands with the forces of freedom. We always have and we always will.
I want to thank you all. And God bless you. And now I’m going to walk over and sign this legisla- — sign this bill to allow the drawdown of those materials.
And may God protect the young Ukrainians who are out there defending their country.
What I’m signing here is the Delegation of Authority Under Section 506(a)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. Translated into plain English: a total of $800 million in defense articles.
(The Delegation of Authority is signed.)
Q Mr. President, what will it take for you to send the Polish MiGs that President Zelenskyy is asking for?
THE PRESIDENT: I’m not going to comment on that right now. I’m not going to comment on anything other than what I told you (inaudible).
Thank you.
1:10 P.M. EDT
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