Call it ‘slippery slope’ or ‘mission creep’, America’s strategy for helping Ukraine defend itself against the Russian invasion has adapted and expanded many times in the last 28 months.
However, there was a golden rule laid down by President Biden almost on the first day of Russia’s aggression against its neighbour. There would be no ‘boots on the ground’, he said. No US troops would be deployed to fight the Russians.
Civil contractors have played a significant role in the field in every US war in modern times. But the US is not at war in Ukraine
That Biden doctrine has not changed. And yet now there is serious consideration going on inside Biden’s national security team over whether to allow American contractors to go to Ukraine to help repair and service the multitude of advanced US weapons supplied in recent months, and the F-16 fighter jets which are being provided by European allies and are due to arrive soon.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in