SECURITY: Pentagon Greenlit Sale Of Tomahawks To Ukraine - CNN
CNN reports the Pentagon gave the White House the green light to provide Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles after assessing that it would not negatively impact US stockpiles, leaving the final political decision to President Donald Trump, according to US and European officials.
- Trump deferred the decision, but in light of a hawkish turn on Russia since his October 17 meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, including the imposition of sanctions on Russian oil majors, the administration may now determine that the missile could increase pressure on the Russian energy sector.
- CNN notes, "The Joint Staff informed the White House of its assessment earlier this month, just before Trump met with Zelensky who has been pushing for the missiles to more effectively target oil and energy facilities deep inside Russia.
- " Tomahawks have a range of around 1,000 miles. The assessment buoyed the US’ European allies, who believe that the US now has fewer excuses not to provide the missiles, two European officials said.
- The report appears to contradict one justification for Trump's decision not to approve the missiles when he met Zelenskyy. The CSIS noted at the time, "About a thousand Tomahawk missiles are available for transfer to Ukraine in the U.S. stockpile today. Their deployment could have a major impact on the war... Ukraine, however, competes with U.S. requirements in the Pacific, which the administration sees as a higher priority."
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US: Republicans Likely To Get More Blame For Govt Shutdown - Marist
An NPR/Marist survey published yesterday found Republicans would get more of the blame from a government shutdown than Democrats, but a significant percentage would blame both parties equally.
- NPR notes, “By a 38%-27% margin, respondents said they would blame Republicans for a shutdown with 3 in 10 saying both parties would be to blame. The plurality of independents, 4 in 10, would blame both parties equally.”
- NPR adds, “Marist found no clear consensus among Democrats on what to do. Democrats, Republicans and independents are all split on whether it's generally more important to compromise to avoid a government shutdown or to stand on principle even if it means a government shutdown.”
Figure 1: Which party do you think would be blamed more for a government shutdown?
Source: NPR, Marist
US DATA: MNI's Guide To U.S. Data Releases In Federal Shutdown (Correct)
(Corrected Baker Hughes Rig Count source)
Please see PDF below for MNI's rough guide to the upcoming data schedule postponements as a result of the federal government shutdown. We will update this document as and when we learn more about individual release plans.
US DATA: MNI's Guide To U.S. Data Releases In Federal Government Shutdown
Please see PDF below for MNI's rough guide to the upcoming data schedule postponements as a result of the federal government shutdown. We will update this document as and when we learn more about individual release plans.
