Free Republic

This afternoon, April 1, the Department of Defense (DoD) notified Congress of additional assistance activities under authority provided by the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). Through USAI, DoD will provide up to $300 million in security assistance to bolster Ukraine's capacity to defend itself. This decision underscores the United States' unwavering commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity in support of its heroic efforts to repel Russia's war of choice. Capabilities in this package include: • Laser-guided rocket systems; • Switchblade Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems; • Puma Unmanned Aerial Systems; • Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems; • Armored High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled...

A leading economist has claimed that, in his view, economic globalisation is now ‘over’ as a result of the Ukraine war. Gabriel Felbermayr, a world-renowned economist who heads up the Austrian Institute for Economic Research (WIFO), has declared that globalisation is now “over” thanks to the ongoing war in Ukraine. ....snip Although the end of globalisation has been predicted many times before, Felbermayr’s warning matches those made by other groups and organisations, with Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine already causing serious issues for international trade. The supply of food is one major area where the war has already caused significant...

The White House refused to rule out President Joe Biden issuing a presidential pardon for his son Hunter Biden or for his brother James Biden as federal investigations continue over their foreign business dealings. “That’s not a hypothetical I’m going to entertain,” White House communications director Kate Bedingfield said during the daily press briefing when asked about a potential pardon “I don’t have anything to add from this podium.” Bedingfield was reluctant to address any aspect of the Hunter Biden story, after CNN, The Washington Post, and the New York Times recently published stories about the federal tax probe into...

Ukraine has been asking for more fighters since the war started, but the US refused to support a deal that could have seen Poland supply 28 MiG-29s, a Russian-made jet of the type its remaining pilots are used to flying. Washington was concerned that supplying fighter jets could be deemed escalatory by a nuclear-armed Russia. Despite the refusals, Ukraine continues to press its case, and overnight its air force tweeted “the greatest need is for fighter jets” and asked specifically for F-15s and F-16s, whose original designs date back to the 1960s and 1970s, which it said its pilots could...

President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden are the picture of scandal and corruption that the Democrats and corporate media tried to make former President Donald Trump and his family out to be — but instead of covering the bombshell stories, the press is turning a blind eye. Even before Trump won the election in 2016 after gaining popularity for calling out “fake news,” Democrats and the media were out to get him. Hillary Clinton’s campaign hired lawyers who hired a firm that hired Christopher Steele to dredge up fake news about Trump colluding with Russia. This fake information...

Given Russia's reliance on Ukraine for military components, UK defence sources say Russia's war effort is in serious trouble. Last night a source said: 'Serious amounts of components for Russian weapons systems were made there [Ukraine]. That won't be happening any more. 'Russia cannot manufacture this equipment itself or import it, so it won't be getting any of these materials any time soon. The hardware expended in Ukraine came from historic stockpiles, developed when there was greater cooperation between Russia and Ukraine. 'The integration of their industrial complexes meant a severing of relations would jeopardise Russia's ability to sustain military...

Tuesday Joe Biden will come to Capitol Hill and give the annual State of the Union Address. No matter how hard he tries, he will not be able to hide the fact that America is in crisis. It’s not just one crisis, either: a war in Europe, the worst inflation in 40 years, the worst violent crime in 25 years, the highest gas prices in 7 years, the most illegal border crossings ever recorded, and the deadly, disgraceful surrender in Afghanistan. Joe Biden created each one of these crises, and they have led to another crisis: a complete lack of...