We confess. We’ve vacillated quite a bit on whether or not to post today. The verbal reports and exploding bomb images rolling in from a foreign land that deserves better can wear one out mentally.
If you’d prefer to take the day off, we understand. But, if you’d like a few questions and answers put forth, soldier on. Below, we begin with facts, opinions, and even guesses. We throw in a dose of befuddlement and bewilderment before we close.
Who is responsible for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine? This is an easy one. It’s 100% Putin. Inevitably the leader of Russia gave the final nod to execute the plan that’s clearly been in place for some time.
Who was the most obvious one to halt or at least alter Putin’s power play? This too is an easy one. It’s not 100% Biden, but it’s close. A more unified NATO would have helped. But, Biden and the left could have helped themselves as well.
How? Reagan said, “Peace through Strength.” Biden’s actions since taking office as well as his global missteps of decades and decades gone by offer “War through Weakness.”
Why? Perhaps it’s this simple. Biden is a weak, frail physical figure. People, like it or not, still make assumptions of who you are based on how you look. Perhaps, it’s more complex. Biden listened to too many left-wing zealots when rounding out his approach to energy.
What’s energy got to do with it? 
Putin’s ego aside, it’s got everything to do with it. Russia has plenty of it coming out of the ground, and America did until Biden and the climate change shrills significantly slowed the spigot.
Is timing everything? It is with energy. The price of a barrel was so cheap (read free) for the first few months of 2020, the year of our Covid, that Trump restocked our national reserves for pennies on the dollar. Biden used his executive pen on inauguration day to suspend drilling/leases on federal lands, increased regulations, and turned the key off on the Keystone Pipeline. In other words, Trump bought low, and Biden sold out to his bidders.
Then what? As demand returned to pre Covid levels, prices rose. Supply was short. Russia got rich supplying its oil and natural gas to Europe. America got shafted at the pump, but we digress. Putin got the funding for the invasion and then some.
Now what? Now, Europe (as Trump warned) is even more dependent on Russian oil and gas. It’s now too dependent as America has less to sell. European NATO nations cannot afford to cut off Russia to the extent that is warranted in sanctions because they would be cutting off the needs of their citizens.
So will the sanctions imposed yesterday work? No, and yes apparently. In the span of 96 hours, Biden said, “No-one expected the sanctions to prevent anything from happening. This is going to take time, it’s not going to occur…he’s gonna say ‘oh my God, these sanctions are coming, I’m gonna stand down.” But r just Sunday, his VP said, “And within the context then of the fact that that window is still opening, altho- — open, although it is absolutely narrowing — but within the context of a diplomatic path still being open, the deterrence effect, we believe, has merit.”
Are the sanctions strong enough to slow their roll or at least give them a reason to pause after taking Ukraine down? They likely aren’t. The real money sits in Putin’s personal accounts, the Russian oligarchs’ accounts, and most of all the interactive banking that must remain open for countries like Germany to pay Russia for their oil and gas.
How sad is that? We’re asked to help defend NATO countries that are lining Russian pockets. Sad.
So why is Putin in Ukraine anyway? Only Putin knows for absolute certainty. But a guess would be in order, ego, power, money, and a desire to return Russia to the former Soviet Union.
Is it true that former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry warned in an interview this week about “massive emissions consequences” from a Russian war against Ukraine, which he also said would be a distraction from work on climate change? Unbelievably, yes.
Did he also say, “I hope President Putin will help us to stay on track with respect to what we need to do for the climate?” Unbelievably, yes again.
Did anyone mention that the Russian troops weren’t wearing masks? Unbelievably, but thankfully, in the world today, no.
Will whoever said they stand with Ukraine yesterday please stand down? Not likely. It’s one of the dumbest statements incessantly regurgitated on a daily basis about whatever gets people’s attention. It must make the weak feel good, but not good enough to stand in front of a Russian tank.
Will we next hear from some congressperson that we need to “come together as a nation?” For sure.
What’s next from the US side? Likely little. Putin has the next move. He must think he’s playing chess while Biden’s playing checkers at this point. If Biden were smart he would have turned the spigot back on American oil months ago in anticipation of this. Or, better yet, he would have never turned it off to begin with.
Are cyber attacks next? And just like that $7.50/gallon of gas is the least of our worries.
Responding during a Euro press gaggle to whether or not the sanctions implied could deter Putin or if it was too late, Madame VP offered, “And within the context then of the fact that that window is still opening, altho-open, although it is absolutely narrowing-but within the context of a diplomatic path still being open, the deterrence effect, we believe, has merit.” We wish we were misquoting her, even if by a little bit. Maybe that worthless mask masked the message a smidgen?
“Whatever happens in Ukraine we shouldn’t underestimate the fact the United States has retaken the adult chair in the world,” Lockhart tweeted. “Biden has restored American leadership so damaged by Trump. The world needs us and we have a President who can and does lead.” Why doesn’t it feel like that to nearly 75% of polled US adults last week?