Changes

Let's slow down and be careful in our research.  The [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jun/25/american-helicopters-to-replace-russian-models-in-/ ''Washington Times'' article] said "The Obama administration came to realize the failure in its last weeks in office and stopped the deal."  [https://www.defensetech.org/2016/12/06/mi-17-rusisan-flying-afghanistan/ Defense Tech] reported on the decision on December 6.  What is at issue is that Afghanistan had a bunch of Mi-17 helicopters and was already trained to fly them.  In March 2014, the Obama administration crafted sanctions against Russia for attacking Ukraine, but the sanctions did not include  Rosoboronexport, the state-run arms broker, who was allowed to continue maintaining Mi-17s.  For whatever reason, Russia by 2016 stopped supplying parts under its contract, so the US will replace Mi-17s with US made products.  Some people were disappointed that Obama did not cut off the Rosoboronexport deal back in 2014.  Trump was silent on the issue back in 2014 and during the campaign, so I don't see why this is being added to the article. [[User:JDano|JDano]] ([[User talk:JDano|talk]]) 07:30, 26 June 2017 (EDT)

Let's slow down and be careful in our research.  The [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jun/25/american-helicopters-to-replace-russian-models-in-/ ''Washington Times'' article] said "The Obama administration came to realize the failure in its last weeks in office and stopped the deal."  [https://www.defensetech.org/2016/12/06/mi-17-rusisan-flying-afghanistan/ Defense Tech] reported on the decision on December 6.  What is at issue is that Afghanistan had a bunch of Mi-17 helicopters and was already trained to fly them.  In March 2014, the Obama administration crafted sanctions against Russia for attacking Ukraine, but the sanctions did not include  Rosoboronexport, the state-run arms broker, who was allowed to continue maintaining Mi-17s.  For whatever reason, Russia by 2016 stopped supplying parts under its contract, so the US will replace Mi-17s with US made products.  Some people were disappointed that Obama did not cut off the Rosoboronexport deal back in 2014.  Trump was silent on the issue back in 2014 and during the campaign, so I don't see why this is being added to the article. [[User:JDano|JDano]] ([[User talk:JDano|talk]]) 07:30, 26 June 2017 (EDT)

:The Trump Administration made it official, and decided to stock the air force with American helicopters. I don't care what Trump said during his campaign (why are you even bringing this up? This article is not a list of kept campaign promises -- it's about every campaign achievement). I will let it be, at least for a while, and think of another way to add it. This is the diff of me adding it: [http://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Donald_Trump_achievements&diff=prev&oldid=1356390] --[[User:1990'sguy|1990'sguy]] ([[User talk:1990'sguy|talk]]) 11:30, 26 June 2017 (EDT)

:The Trump Administration made it official, and decided to stock the air force with American helicopters. I don't care what Trump said during his campaign (why are you even bringing this up? This article is not a list of kept campaign promises -- it's about every campaign achievement). I will let it be, at least for a while, and think of another way to add it. This is the diff of me adding it: [http://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Donald_Trump_achievements&diff=prev&oldid=1356390] --[[User:1990'sguy|1990'sguy]] ([[User talk:1990'sguy|talk]]) 11:30, 26 June 2017 (EDT)

::I found earlier sources saying pretty much the same thing (other than the fact that the Trump Administration made it official): [http://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-usa-helicopters-idUSKBN13N2FO][https://www.voanews.com/a/afghanistan-to-get-helicopters-aircraft-as-part-of-security-plan/3786469.html][http://thediplomat.com/2016/12/us-to-replace-russian-mi-17s-with-black-hawk-helicopters-in-afghanistan/] The fact that the Trump Administration made it official may be a good reason to add it, but I will leave it for other editors to comment on for now. --[[User:1990'sguy|1990'sguy]] ([[User talk:1990'sguy|talk]]) 15:26, 26 June 2017 (EDT)

::I found earlier sources saying pretty much the same thing (other than the fact that the Trump Administration made it official): [http://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-usa-helicopters-idUSKBN13N2FO][https://www.voanews.com/a/afghanistan-to-get-helicopters-aircraft-as-part-of-security-plan/3786469.html][http://thediplomat.com/2016/12/us-to-replace-russian-mi-17s-with-black-hawk-helicopters-in-afghanistan/] The fact that the Trump Administration made it official may be a good reason to add it, but I will leave it for other editors to comment on for now. --[[User:1990'sguy|1990'sguy]] ([[User talk:1990'sguy|talk]]) 15:26, 26 June 2017 (EDT)

:::Thank you for the further research. The December 1, 2016 "diplomat.com" reference said that in November, the White House sent a supplemental appropriation request to the Congress to include funding for the new American replacement helicopters, so as far as the Pentagon was concerned, the Executive Branch had approved it, subject to Congressional funding.  So, I think this was an Obama Administration decision. This is another example of a non-partisan change. Neither Republicans nor Democrats like the idea of being dependent on Russia for parts and maintenance of Afghan helicopters. It was not practical to retrain Afghan pilots, so the Russian contractor was exempted from the Ukraine-related sanctions.  Russian were not fulfilling the parts and maintenance contract, so the Afghan government was ready to switch to US helicopters, and the Obama Administration requested funding to make this possible.  The new copters will be delivered in 2019. Nothing to add to this article, although you could add something to the [[Afgahanistan]] article. [[User:JDano|JDano]] ([[User talk:JDano|talk]]) 15:47, 26 June 2017 (EDT)