On the Social Security "paying the dead" thing: in 2023 the SSA inspector general concluded that there were a little under 1 million people not included in the death master file within the SSA. This is because they were alive after the digitalization of the department. Of those million, 98 people were found to be still receiving benefits. The SSA checked on those individuals and found 14 had passed away. They updated their records on the other 84 individuals.

So 14 people were receiving benefits fraudulently.

14 of 1 million.

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 - 10:27 am: Edit

It seems Zelensky is now annoyed with President Trump and has gone very vocal on it.

Not sure if 'now' is the right time for Zelensky to 'Stand up and fight his corner' with the US?

As politely as possible, I bet the rest of NATO (UK probably excluded) couldn't agree how to fight out of a damp paper bag (based on the recent Paris meeting)... and so to annoy your only real (read relevant) supporter seems to be a tad silly?

By Jessica Orsini (Jessica_Orsini) on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 - 10:30 am: Edit

With regard to the U.S. position shift on the matter of Ukraine, Foreign Policy magazine provided this analysis:

In Moscow, it was like Christmas, Easter, and New Year's all rolled into one. In a gushing readout of his call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the immediate start of negotiations about the future of Ukraine—without preconditions or other countries at the table. Earlier, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ruled out NATO membership for Ukraine and any chance of a return to the country's internationally recognized borders, fulfilling two key Russian conditions. On the same day, the U.S. Senate confirmed Tulsi Gabbard, whose talking points often align with Kremlin propaganda, as the next director of national intelligence.

The Kremlin and its media machine have not been this ecstatic since the launch of Putin's "special military operation" on Feb. 24, 2022, when for a day or two it actually looked as if Russian forces would overrun Ukraine without much of a fight. "Trump is now doing our job for us" by "sawing" Europe into pieces, Russian talk show host Evgeny Popov told his viewers. His giddy, smiling co-host, Olga Skabeeva, described the turn of events as having been "unimaginable" and "unthinkable" before. On another show, the pundit Sergey Mikheev was elated by another Hegseth remark that was widely interpreted to mean that Washington was reconsidering its security commitment to Europe. Mikheev concluded that Russia was finally free to strike Brussels, London, and Paris. Some pundits basked in the fact that it was Trump who reached out to Putin. "It's as if Julius Ceasar himself telephoned a barbarian," Mosfilm studio chief Karen Shakhnazarov commented on another show.

Pundits, bloggers, and officials across Moscow echoed the triumphalism. From their vantage point, fortune has finally turned Russia’s way following three years of humiliating setbacks, including Ukraine’s surprise conquest of a slice of Russia last summer. Since Wednesday, Ukraine looks abandoned by its allies, Europe is as effete and paralyzed as ever, and the Americans are handing Russia a series of gifts by dismantling their alliances and making massive concessions before negotiations even begin. Among Trump’s major appointments, there is not a single official with expert knowledge or experience in the region—not even Keith Kellogg, his special representative for Ukraine and Russia. There is no doubt that the Kremlin will exploit this institutional ignorance to its benefit.

But what is especially delightful to Putin and his cronies is the humiliating exclusion of Ukraine and its European allies from the deal that Trump is eager to personally strike with Putin. Aleksandr Kots, a pro-Putin war reporter, is skeptical that Trump is really Russia’s friend, but for now he celebrates the fact that there are “two men deciding” Ukraine’s fate while Europe is reduced to providing “backup vocals” in the upcoming negotiations. Trump’s own former national security advisor, John Bolton, perfectly captured the exuberance on CNN: “They’re drinking vodka straight out of the bottle in the Kremlin tonight,” he said shortly after the Trump-Putin call.

As a note, my handful of friends in the intel community are united in the opinion that Putin's plan is to string Trump along for as long as is possible, get the administration to kick the legs out from under Ukraine as much as is possible, and then to continue the war, with the goal still being the total absorption of Ukraine into Russia.

By A David Merritt (Adm) on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 - 04:00 pm: Edit

President Trump is on film stating that Ukraine should not have started this war.

I did not realize that part of Making America Great Again, meant he intended to behave in such a way as to make Prime Minister Chamberlain appear to be an up right and honest defender of Czechoslovakia's sovereignty in 1938.

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat) on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 - 06:32 pm: Edit

In the present mess about Trump's false statements about Ukraine, it is worth remembering that a standard Russian information warfare tactic is to try to turn components of the target society against each other, so that they are too busy to notice that the Russians are doing whatever they are doing.

In my reactions to Trump, I keep reminding myself of that. I can and do disagree but should still remain calm.

By Carl-Magnus Carlsson (Hardcore) on Thursday, February 20, 2025 - 01:02 am: Edit

Next up is probably that he will question the US commitment to the defense of Taiwan and S Korea. From an isolationists point of view that makes sense.

By Carl-Magnus Carlsson (Hardcore) on Thursday, February 20, 2025 - 01:23 am: Edit

This here is the text from one of Trumps latest Truth social post.

Think of it, a modestly successful comedian, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, talked the United States of America into spending $350 Billion Dollars, to go into a War that couldn't be won, that never had to start, but a War that he, without the U.S. and "TRUMP," will never be able to settle. The United States has spent $200 Billion Dollars more than Europe, and Europe's money is guaranteed, while the United States will get nothing back. Why didn't Sleepy Joe Biden demand Equalization, in that this War is far more important to Europe than it is to us We have a big, beautiful Ocean as separation. On top of this, Zelenskyy admits that half of the money we sent him is "MISSING." He refuses to have Elections, is very low in Ukrainian Polls, and the only thing he was good at was playing Biden "like a fiddle." A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left. In the meantime, we are successfully negotiating an end to the War with Russia, something all admit only "TRUMP," and the Trump Administration, can do. Biden never tried, Europe has failed to bring Peace, and Zelenskyy probably wants to keep the "gravy train" going. I love Ukraine, but Zelenskyy has done a terrible job, his Country is shattered, and MILLIONS have unnecessarily died - And so it continues.....

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Thursday, February 20, 2025 - 02:24 am: Edit

Some of what Trump says makes more sense than other things he has said...

Think of it, a modestly successful comedian, Volodymyr Zelenskyy,
UNNECESSARILY INSULTING.

talked the United States of America into spending $350 Billion Dollars,
FOR BANKRUPTING RUSSIA AND REVITALIZING NATO THAT SOUNDS CHEAP

to go into a War that couldn't be won,
PROBABLY TRUE

that never had to start,
I DON'T GET HOW YOU AVOID A WAR WHEN PUTIN CLEARLY WAS ITCHING TO INVADE.

but a War that he, without the U.S. and "TRUMP," will never be able to settle.
PROBABLY TRUE, BUT SETTLING THIS WAR IS UGLY. IT MUST BE ADMITTED THAT PEACE AT ANY PRICE IS ANOTHER WORD FOR SLAVERY BUT WAR WITHOUT END IS ANOTHER WORD FOR DEATH. CAN ANYONE SAY THAT EITHER SIDE IS ON THE VERGE OF COLLAPSE?

The United States has spent $200 Billion Dollars more than Europe, and Europe's money is guaranteed, while the United States will get nothing back. Why didn't Sleepy Joe Biden demand Equalization, in that this War is far more important to Europe than it is to us We have a big, beautiful Ocean as separation.
ALL SO VERY TRUE.

On top of this, Zelenskyy admits that half of the money we sent him is "MISSING."
THE RAMPANT CORRUPTION IN UKRAINE (AND RUSSIA) IS LEGENDARY. I DOUBT ANYONE IS HAPPY ABOUT THIS PART. THE UGLY TRUTH.

He refuses to have Elections,
ACTUALLY THE UKRAINIAN CONSTITUTION SAYS THAT, SAME AS THE BRITISH

is very low in Ukrainian Polls, and the only thing he was good at was playing Biden "like a fiddle."
CANNOT ARGUE THERE.

A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left.
SEEMS MORE THAN A BIT HEAVY HANDED.

In the meantime, we are successfully negotiating an end to the War with Russia,
I HAVE NOT SEEN THIS SUCCESS YET

something all admit only "TRUMP," and the Trump Administration, can do. Biden never tried, Europe has failed to bring Peace, and Zelenskyy probably wants to keep the "gravy train" going. I love Ukraine, but Zelenskyy has done a terrible job, his Country is shattered,
UGLY BUT TRUE

and MILLIONS have unnecessarily died
I AM NOT SURE HOW THIS STATEMENT FOLLOWS. THE ONLY WAY TO HAVE AVOIDED THE WAR WOULD HAVE BEEN TO HAND 1/3 OF UKRAINE TO PUTIN AND LEAVE THE COUNTRY VULNERABLE TO BEING GOBBLED UP UNDER THE NEXT INEFFECTIVE AMERICAN PRESIDENT.

By Carl-Magnus Carlsson (Hardcore) on Thursday, February 20, 2025 - 02:30 am: Edit

This is isn't going down well with his supporters here in Sweden because they share the majority view that Russia is an enemy and the instigator of conflicts. Now they got eggs on their faces.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Thursday, February 20, 2025 - 02:32 am: Edit

Well, before you condemn Trump for a bad solution to Ukraine you have to ask the same question that we all asked Biden about Afghanistan:

Could that stinking mess have ended any other way no matter who was president?

I mean, what else is there to do? Keep the war going forever? The EU and US taxpayers were not going to put up with that much longer. Everyone is worried that Ukraine will spiral into a nuclear war. Attrition wars are bloody and until one side clearly caves in (much predicted by not in sight) it's going to be another open sore likely to get worse and bigger. I don't like this solution but I am at a loss to suggest a different solution.

So, other than sending in half a million NATO troops and literally going to war with a country that has a thousand nuclear missiles, and other than "continue the attrition indefinitely" which the taxpayers won't support past next July, WHAT IS THE ALTERNATE PLAN? Did I mention that I really do not like the current plan?

(Did I mention that turning the Gaza Strip into McGaza Villages isn't going to work because the Gazans do not want a good life, they want to destroy Israel?)

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Thursday, February 20, 2025 - 02:57 am: Edit

Well, the Rhetoric is being ramped up - but as with anything, it seems you can mix a little bit of truth and a little 'uncertain facts' (should we say).

The original war - could have it been averted?

Certainly, a discussion on additional independent/autonomany for the Russian majority areas could have been discussed (NATO was happy to give that to the former Yugolsalvian republics etc) - would have it have stopped Putin, probably not - but a delay might have helped the Ukrainians more than it helped the Russians (soemone else mentioned it, the Munich Peace Accord in 1938 was a terrible piece of paper for Czechoslavikia, but the time it bought the UK probably was worth it - the Radar chain for example).

Corruptuon - for those that did business before the invasion, Ukraine was not a 'Ehtical' nation to do business with - you needed a lot of grease for the wheels.

The US and UK was able to do elections while at War - but it's possible to do an Election when you still own all your land (and certainly by 1945, the UK islands only had to contend with the occasional Bomber Raid, V1 or V2 strikes) - I am not sure how a nation can do Elections in the middle of a War Zone?

So yes - Elections should take place - but unless you had a Cease Fire and ALOT of Election monitors , a fair result would be impossible.


So we are where we are - whats the outcome going to be?

Starmer seems to be supoorting Zelensky (the good or the bad that does) - but alas being in the UK, I don't feel that the UK is the equivalent of the 'Mouse that Roared' - will anyone take notice of us?

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Thursday, February 20, 2025 - 05:59 am: Edit

News Nation posted an article (February 19, 2025.)showing different numbers than Jessica reported earlier.

An inspector general report from Nov. 2021 found that Social Security issued approximately $298 million in payments after death to about 24,000 beneficiaries. The agency recovered about $84 million of that, meaning it had not recovered about $214 million of the payments.

That doesn’t mean fraud is the reason those payments went out. Instead, the report found that it was mostly because Social Security technicians did not follow policy.

The report went on to say, that to fix the known would cost millions of dollars, but there was nothing said that the government actually did anything to stop additional payments from being made.

Bottomline, the 14 out of 1 million figure quoted above may not be accurate.

By Mike Grafton (Mike_Grafton) on Thursday, February 20, 2025 - 08:34 am: Edit

To be fair, TRUMP is the one that negotiated the "peace deal" with the Taliban and then left it to Biden to execute on a very short time line. I was IN AFGHANISTAN then and exited my contract as soon as I saw the "deal" trump had made; I knew instantly it was going to be bad.

Much like in Ukraine, trump only negotiates with one side while spending a lot of time talking about himself while casting blame and insults around freely...

My suggestion is that Ukraine commit to holding MONITORED elections 6 months after the war ends. And that France and Britain move some Brigades up to the border of Ukraine (say move most of the Foreign legion to East Romania & a UK Armored Brigade to Slovakia), while Poland holds "exercises" constantly near the Kallingrad exclave.

In other news I saw a video that says that perhaps Russian shipping has been having a problem with limpet mines.

By Ryan Opel (Ryan) on Thursday, February 20, 2025 - 09:04 am: Edit

Most money sent to Ukraine is not in the form of cash but munitions. We started with the oldest in the inventory that we would soon have to pay to destroy and replace with new munitions. This money is then spent in the US to build the new munitions and we didn't have to spend money to destroy the expiring munitions.

By Jessica Orsini (Jessica_Orsini) on Thursday, February 20, 2025 - 09:14 am: Edit

The latest solid numbers on U.S. allocated support for Ukraine are from 30 Sep 2024, with the following:

$124.9 billion from the Dept. of Defense ($32.7 billion from USAI, $45.7 billion for replenishment of stock, and $46.5 billion from USEUCOM/EDI)
$39.8 billion from USAID
$11.1 billion from the Dept. of State
$7.1 billion from other U.S. agencies

That totals $183 billion, with $130.1 billion obligated and $86.7 billion disbursed.

Those numbers are from the Office of the Special Inspector General for Operation Atlantic Resolve (yes, there's a name for the U.S.'s operation in support of Ukraine).

Through 31 Dec 2024, Europe has provided $137.9 billion, with another $120 billion committed. Those numbers are from the Kiel Institute's Ukraine Support Tracker.

Again, these aren't apples/oranges comparisons, as the U.S. numbers are four and a half months old while those for Europe are only a month and a half old.

By Jessica Orsini (Jessica_Orsini) on Thursday, February 20, 2025 - 10:29 am: Edit

Apologies; that should have read "...are apple/oranges comparisons..."; I switched phrasing halfway through typing and failed to correct.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Thursday, February 20, 2025 - 11:30 am: Edit

Total to Ukraine from the US is over $350 billion so there are some numbers missing.

Trump's Afghan plan would not have worked. Biden's revision to the plan was worse, but the result was the same "did not work" so there's that.

People, Jean has given me (and you) a few inches of string in this topic and the other one since there is a LOT of things happening with the new administration and reading the list of what they did is like sipping from a fire-hose. Keep it civil, and no making up stuff or repeating long refuted talking points. Try to make your posts as fair and balanced as my own. I'm trying very hard and some of you are frankly not trying to show both sides and are stating one spin or the other as fact. You're going to set fire to our bit of string. If you cannot play fair you can watch others play fair. Nobody here is going to change the mind of anyone else, but we can inform and enlighten.

By Jessica Orsini (Jessica_Orsini) on Thursday, February 20, 2025 - 12:19 pm: Edit

Steve, I tried going to the source on those numbers, and that's what the source reflected. I've tried and failed to find a source for the $350 billion number, and would welcome one.

By A David Merritt (Adm) on Thursday, February 20, 2025 - 01:25 pm: Edit

Afghanistan;

To be fair, both Trump and Biden were screwed on this one by Bush the Younger when he missed Bin Laden at Tora Bora, and did not do the announced quick in and out of Afghanistan. Obama just passed the buck to the next guys.

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat) on Thursday, February 20, 2025 - 02:30 pm: Edit

Paul, I lived in Ukraine for about 5 years of my life. Yes there was corruption. You had to pay $20 here or there for this or that. Typically this happened to me once or twice a year.

But let's remember the big picture. I was not under any physical threat. No one was arbitrarily trying to kill me for my opinions. I was free to believe what I wanted to believe and to talk to whomever I wanted to talk to.

I also spent a couple of months in Russia. There was corruption there, too, and it was more frequent. Furthermore, I had the feeling my opinions were being monitored. I remember one time a woman I had never met took me somewhere and started asking pointed questions.

Also, when I travelled through Russia on my way to Ukraine, they typically put me up overnight in a locked hotel. I was not free to leave the hotel. This was in the early 2000s.

So yes, corruption is an issue in Ukraine. But compared with Russia, it's night and day better.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Thursday, February 20, 2025 - 06:40 pm: Edit

Better, but if half the money goes missing, do we really need to give them any more? Or do we just accept the gross inefficiency of the situation? Or do we demand that they do better as a condition for more aid and actually monitor it?

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Thursday, February 20, 2025 - 06:52 pm: Edit

Jessica, I have heard the $350 billion figure on CNN and FOX and others; President Trump cited it in the statement that Gary posted. I have never heard the figure you cited. I suspect it's a matter of "what do you call it and how do you count it?"

By Jessica Orsini (Jessica_Orsini) on Thursday, February 20, 2025 - 08:08 pm: Edit

Steve, I hope you will understand if I don't necessarily accept the word of the same politician who said that Ukraine started the war. As near as I can tell, the CNN and Fox News references go back to quotes from that same politician (and in both cases, those networks have conducted fact-checks of that figure which have found it to be incorrect).

I'd like to provide the link to the site for the Special Inspector General, if I may, so you can see what I'm talking about.

All that being said: I think we can both agree with your earlier statement, inasmuch that whether the number is $183 billion or $350 billion or something in-between, it is money extraordinarily well spent in degrading Russia's military capabilities and exposing the Russian bear to be more of a paper tiger. I for one would like to see that continue; whatever the sum, it's done more to degrade Russian capabilities than the thirteen trillion or so we spent to that aim during the entire Cold War, and it very much gives China reason to think again about any attempted invasion of Taiwan.

As an aside: it is possible that the politician who has claimed it to be $350 billion made an honest mistake, accidentally using something close to sum of what has been contributed by both the U.S. and Europe. I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt on that possibility.

By Ryan Opel (Ryan) on Thursday, February 20, 2025 - 08:14 pm: Edit

Ukraine's accounting system for military aid is as efficient as our DoD's accounting system.

By Jessica Orsini (Jessica_Orsini) on Thursday, February 20, 2025 - 08:19 pm: Edit

Ryan: with respect, my source is not a Ukrainian site. It is a U.S. gov't site... specifically, https://www.ukraineoversight.gov/Funding/

I am not 100% on the rule regarding weblinks here these days; a review of the posting rules didn't turn up anything, but I'd have sworn that they were verboten at one time. As such, I understand if said link is not permissible, and accept that I earn a strike if that is the case.