23 January 2023

Stars and Stripes | US has given $113B in aid to help Ukraine in its war with Russia, oversight report says

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Three inspectors general, including the Pentagon’s top watchdog, have issued their first comprehensive oversight plan that outlines transparency efforts to manage and keep track of billions of dollars that the U.S. has provided Ukraine to defend itself against invading Russian forces.

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Congress requires the IGs produce the oversight plan and the first edition, which was released Wednesday, elaborated on where aid dollars authorized by federal lawmakers went during most of 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine at the end of February.

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Stars and Stripes | Young and hard-to-reach veterans need better VA contact to access benefits, report says

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A program to help veterans reintegrate into civilian life needs to improve outreach to young veterans and partner with more veteran organizations to boost its effectiveness, according to a government watchdog report released Thursday.

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The Hill | Treasury resorts to ‘extraordinary measures’ after US hits debt limit

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The nation’s debt climbed to more than $31.4 trillion this week, federal financial data shows, crossing the threshold set by Congress when it last raised the nation’s borrowing limit more than a year ago.

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The Soapbox | No, weakening Russia is not “costing peanuts” for the U.S.

On the face of it, the economic value argument is valid: The cost of degrading the Russian military would have been infinitely higher had the U.S. fought Russia itself. Yet this is an incomplete, if not misleading, accounting exercise because it doesn’t show the many hidden costs to the U.S. of a prolonged war—one in which we’re becoming even more involved, as President Biden prepares another weapons package for Ukraine and weighs support for attacking Russian-held Crimea.

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Washington Post | Why the U.S. must calculate ‘solvency’ risk as it arms Ukraine

Sending tanks to Ukraine, as Washington is debating, would likely have less impact on U.S. readiness in the Pacific, where naval and air forces are predominant. But in the long run — and Russia’s revanchism will likely persist for years — European countries will need to take the leading role in the defense of the continent’s frontier against Moscow.

How much do you know about America’s alliances and foreign policy?

Concerned Veterans for America’s sister organization, CVA Foundation, is answering those questions and more. Through its new “Untangling Alliances” effort, CVA Foundation is educating Americans on the past, present, and future of American alliances.

San Diego Union Tribune | Secret Hero of Korean War air battle to receive Navy Cross

For more than 50 years, Navy pilot Royce Williams couldn’t talk about his epic Korean War dogfight with seven Soviet fighter jets. He’d been sworn to secrecy because of Cold War sensitivities, and all mention of the battle was scrubbed from the official records.

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CBS News | WWII veteran reflects on her experiences before celebrating 100th birthday

A WWII veteran will soon be celebrating her 100th birthday.