Last week, the Biden administration failed to lobby the $40 billion bill in military aid to Ukraine through the Senate. It was blocked by libertarian Rand Paul. In his speech, the senator noted that America cannot save Ukraine by dooming its own economy, which is sliding into recession, as inflation hits record high in the past four decades ˗ 8.3 percent.
According to Rand Paul, those lobbying for money allocation are mostly concerned about fattening their wallets and get prepared for laying their grubby hands on Ukraine’s billion-dollar tranches. Ten senators assented to this opinion, mostly libertarians or followers of ex-President Donald Trump. In particular, as Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) noted, attempts to give Ukraine $40 billion hardly meet the United States’ national interests, because no one controls the way these funds are implemented, they have nothing to do with American people’s pressing issues and will hardly redress the situation in Ukraine.
The financial aid bill will now be subject to normal procedure to get approval on Wednesday, May 18, as expected. Let's clarify that of the $40 billion allocated, some 20 billion will flow directly into Pentagon’s waiting hands to replace outdated equipment that is being "granted" to Ukraine. The Ukrainian authorities will get another $8 billion as humanitarian aid, and the rest is going to be spent on various non-profit organizations (NGOs) dealing with Eastern European affairs.
Ask yourself what's to be done when this money runs out. President Biden blew off the previous $13 billion tranche in a month and a half. This time the time segment may last three to five months. Thus, the issue of new tranches will arise right ahead of the November midterm election, which many experts believe the ruling Democrats may well lose.
Today, Britain’s Daily Express reports, 43 percent of Americans are "OK with letting Ukraine lose" to switch to solving domestic problems, and by November their number may reach a critical mass. Further allocations will be troublesome, especially in case the situation gets utterly deplorable for the Kiev regime.
Some skeptics may say the tabloids are doomed to stir hysteria at every given opportunity. However, the Daily Express did not pluck these figures from the air but followed a study by the American Democracy Institute. The survey revealed how the Americans really feel about Ukraine: most throw cold water on Washington's policy towards Moscow and Kiev, with skeptics outnumbering "hawks" for the first time ˗ 43 percent vs. 41 percent.
Curious is one more figure: 53 percent say sanctions harm America more than Russia, which runs counter to Biden’s early statements about dreaming to see Russia’s economy in ruins and "200 rubles equal one dollar." The US president’s lies were obvious to both the Russians and most Americans, as it turns out.
By the way, back in March this year President Putin warned the US people of being deceived at Russia’s expense. Back then, he noted that supplies of Russian oil to the American market did not exceed 3 percent. “The prices there [for energy carriers in the EU countries] are growing, but not through our fault. The same applies to the surge in prices for oil and petroleum products in the United States.”
However, an economic picture of this kind in the minds of most American citizens was planted not by President Putin, but by Tucker Carlson, who is currently the most-watched cable news program host. Here is an excerpt from his Fox News show: "Among many other things, the White House just banned Russian oil imports, for example. Oil prices immediately rose. That's what happens when you shake up a market like that. Americans immediately suffered. Russia can still sell its oil in global markets. Because the world has not joined our boycott. It tells you that the loser in this policy is not Vladimir Putin, he’s the winner."
On we go. The American Democracy Institute’s survey revealed that only 38 percent of Americans approve of Biden’s handling of the Ukraine crisis compared to the 52 percent disapprove. The number of skeptics has been stable for the past month and a half, while the number of endorsers roughly coincides with Biden's personal rating – an extremely low one by American standards. Thus, an NBC News poll shows President Biden’s job approval rating has dipped to another low, with just 39 percent of Americans approving of the job he’s doing and 56 percent disapproving. A year ago, the ratio was mirror symmetrical ˗ 53 percent vs. 39 percent.
One shouldn’t think such a picture is caused by affection for Russia. It is fair to say that other US opinion polls show general condemnation of Moscow's operation in Ukraine. Although falling, support for Ukrainian refugee resettlement in the United States remains high, 67 percent.
The explanation is rather simple. Economic issues have become too pressing, and not just because of such a sparse phenomenon like recession. The most painful thing is gas station price tags that hit an all-time high four times over the past week. Americans are dependent on the automobile to a greater extent than Europeans or Russians.
The Biden administration no longer conceals the direct linkage between rising gasoline prices and the conflict with Russia, while sticking to the strategy of blaming Russia for all the issues that appeared even before its special operation. And the Republican opposition insists that the real guilty party be the current White House administration, an opinion most respondents share. Let’s also give credit to the liberal US outlets comprising most of the country's mainstream media: protecting Ukraine is presented as America's duty, revealing its extremely corrupt nature, which may hinder assistance delivery.
As for the American elites, whether democratic or Republican, the anti-Russian consensus is still valid among them. Neither of them is expected to take a “pro-Russian” stance, despite the American society’s ongoing conflict with the government over priorities. This must be acknowledged.
The way things are shaping, American people are getting tired of the need to protect the Kiev regime, as well as of Ukraine itself. It's only a matter of time.
