Covid, Ukraine and Taiwan

[Sarge]

I find it a bit strange that of the 36 or so countries banned from using Russian airspace, the United States isn’t one of them, in spite of our tough sanctions in troop deployments. Germany sends helmets and threatens the pipeline-banned. The US sends weapons, troops and supposedly “crippling” sanctions and—nothing. Can’t imagine why.

 

[Steelworth]

And the while the biggest bad guys on the planet get away with mass murder and they get to host the Olympics as a reward.

Funny that, isn't it? Saw where Disney came out against everything Russia, all the while chuckling at how ******* hypocritical they are kowtowing to the CCP.

 

[Steelr4evr]

I find it a bit strange that of the 36 or so countries banned from using Russian airspace, the United States isn’t one of them, in spite of our tough sanctions in troop deployments. Germany sends helmets and threatens the pipeline-banned. The US sends weapons, troops and supposedly “crippling” sanctions and—nothing. Can’t imagine why.

Because it's a game. Probably has dementia Joe's blessing considering he and his baby boy Hunters past$$$ dealings with Ukraine.

Doesn't make sense at all other than how it appears from the outside. Condemn from the outside, support from the inside.

That's about the level of this administration.

 

[Steelr4evr]

Funny that, isn't it? Saw where Disney came out against everything Russia, all the while chuckling at how ******* hypocritical they are kowtowing to the CCP.

I would have never imagined in my wildest dreams that we would be subjects to the communists like we are.

The world should be giving China **** nonstop and looking for ways to cut them off financially even if it means paying more for stuff instead of cheaply made slave labor goods.

 

[Steelworth]

I don't trust most of what our media or politicians really say, but WTF is this about? Sarge (or anyone), can you please try to make sense of this statement.

 

[Confluence]

How about this:

 

[Djfan]

I fully expect that the dems are posturing for Biden to be the hero of the Ukrainians after Russia turns and runs home.

You heard it here first.

 

[Steelworth]

How about this:

Interesting, but not shocking. I wouldn't have doubted that Ukrainians on that island would've said "go **** yourselves" before knowing they were going to be taken out. But the "Ghost of Kyiv" was crazy, as who would detail a fighter pilot's full name in a war?

I'm skeptical about the tank story though as that thing was straight course, then just headed full bore into a civilian target, full on. I know it's hard to trust any Western media right now, but I'm going to trust my eyes and my girl from that part of the world right now over anything these vultures throw at me. And if anyone wants to question me, I've been to Kyiv.

Forget LA, New York, Chicago etc., these people are truly hard and I don't know a gd thing about them truthfully, as I just went there as a visitor.

 

[Steelmann]

Holy ****, that's a lot of people. Emphasis on the people as Germany's patchwork government certainly hasn't done Ukraine any favors, and they're not going to forget Ostpolitik.

Yes, I wonder how much old Angela misses politics. Lol. Tough time to be brand new for Germany’s government. I gave it a little thought. I mean Germany can’t win no matter what they do.

They are being watched closely. As the economic power of Europe people rightfully except them to Condemn Russia. And when they do( not quickly enough to many) and send Ukraine equipment, people then wonder where the hell they even get it from. Nobody of course trusts the Germans militarily wise. That will take another century.

The Nord 2 was completed in Sept.
55 % of Germans energy comes from Russia. This pipeline will supply 50% of that.

Russian state owned, 11 billion plus To build.
Interestingly enough 50% was financed by companies in Germany, France,England, Austria.
Follow the money. Russians putting pressure on Germany to get it flowing. It means 15 billion a year in Revenues for Russia. The rest of the world says how dare you think about it. Meanwhile if Russia turns off their gas switch. 55 % rely on it. Huge number. Too many eggs in one basket.

Meanwhile the price shoots up to 81$ a megawatt hour. A year ago it was 18.50
Shot up to 180$ in parts of Europe and higher.
They are looking quickly to get LNG from the States or Qatar. But at the most it would cover 10%.
Not nice having to rely so much on other countries for your energy needs. Especially the Russians right now.

 

[Confluence]

Yes, I wonder how much old Angela misses politics. Lol. Tough time to be brand new for Germany’s government. I gave it a little thought. I mean Germany can’t win no matter what they do.

They are being watched closely. As the economic power of Europe people rightfully except them to Condemn Russia. And when they do( not quickly enough to many) and send Ukraine equipment, people then wonder where the hell they even get it from. Nobody of course trusts the Germans militarily wise. That will take another century.

The Nord 2 was completed in Sept.
55 % of Germans energy comes from Russia. This pipeline will supply 50% of that.

Russian state owned, 11 billion plus To build.
Interestingly enough 50% was financed by companies in Germany, France,England, Austria.
Follow the money. Russians putting pressure on Germany to get it flowing. It means 15 billion a year in Revenues for Russia. The rest of the world says how dare you think about it. Meanwhile if Russia turns off their gas switch. 55 % rely on it. Huge number. Too many eggs in one basket.

Meanwhile the price shoots up to 81$ a megawatt hour. A year ago it was 18.50
Shot up to 180$ in parts of Europe and higher.
They are looking quickly to get LNG from the States or Qatar. But at the most it would cover 10%.
Not nice having to rely so much on other countries for your energy needs. Especially the Russians right now.

Gerhard Shroder made this his post retirement plan when Merkel took power. Its not like the Germans didn't know this was going to be a problem for decades, and that shutting off the rest of their historic power production for green energy was risky at best. They have made their bed, and the choices left to them are unappealing. Maybe, just maybe, the people will come to look at these decisions as the complete train wreck that they are, and the "work" of Merkel will be less highly regarded, because she left her people significantly exposed ..... and in spite of the political rhetoric, it is still cold in winter.

 

[MTC]

And the while the biggest bad guys on the planet get away with mass murder and they get to host the Olympics as a reward.

Does anyone even watch the olympics?

 

[JMM]

We went from covid 24/7 to Ukraine being invaded and threats of nuclear war on tv. The fear and uncertainty campaign never ends.

I was wondering what new crisis would replace our covid zealots.

Just don't watch TV...Get your news from SN

 

[JMM]

I saw a pretty good overview of what's going on with Putin going after Ukraine.

As always... It's about oil. Ukraine in 2012 discovered huge reserves of natural gas and shale. Russia responded by taking Crimea to confiscate a large portion of the natural gas and cripple Ukraine from using the sea for trade etc.

Ukraine, being about 1/2 badasses responded by cementing up the canal that feeds fresh water to Crimea. Currently the capital city of Crimea has only 7% reserves in their water reservoirs for the city as the country itself has no access to fresh water except through the canal through Ukraine.

This has all been brewing for awhile. If Ukraine is allowed to start developing it's fossil fuels, they can compete directly with Russia to serve Europe and that will cut Russia's throat. It will also pave a clear path for Ukraine to join NATO and THAT means that Russia has an indefensible chunk of flat open plain that is far too wide to keep enemy forces from advancing.

Further, before Russia began the Nord 1 & 2 pipelines directly into Germany, they had to pay Ukraine a HUGE fee to allow their oil to be shipped through Ukraine to Europe. Ukraine was using that money to begin development of their own fossil fuel program and Russia said Hell No!

Ukraine, while corrupt, is a democracy and no way in hell that would work out well on their doorstep. It might lead to the Russians thinking, hey why can't we have nice things?

Still makes me wonder why we're not doing more to promote democracy with these fledgling governments. Oh yeah I forgot, we're socialists now...

 

[JMM]

I find it a bit strange that of the 36 or so countries banned from using Russian airspace, the United States isn’t one of them, in spite of our tough sanctions in troop deployments. Germany sends helmets and threatens the pipeline-banned. The US sends weapons, troops and supposedly “crippling” sanctions and—nothing. Can’t imagine why.

I can...

 

[Steelmann]

Gerhard Shroder made this his post retirement plan when Merkel took power. Its not like the Germans didn't know this was going to be a problem for decades, and that shutting off the rest of their historic power production for green energy was risky at best. They have made their bed, and the choices left to them are unappealing. Maybe, just maybe, the people will come to look at these decisions as the complete train wreck that they are, and the "work" of Merkel will be less highly regarded, because she left her people significantly exposed ..... and in spite of the political rhetoric, it is still cold in winter.

While I hear what you are saying, mistakes were obviously made in the push for green energy. But...... for a country like Germany with its major production areas and population, along with let’s face a country not blessed with a ton of oil , natural gas deposits I think they had to take a chance trying to develop alternatives. They used to have lots of coal, but obviously there has been a push away from coal. The decision to push away from nuclear energy was obviously also too soon.

 

[Confluence]

While I hear what you are saying, mistakes were obviously made in the push for green energy. But...... for a country like Germany with its major production areas and population, along with let’s face a country not blessed with a ton of oil , natural gas deposits I think they had to take a chance trying to develop alternatives. They used to have lots of coal, but obviously there has been a push away from coal. The decision to push away from nuclear energy was obviously also too soon.

Another way of saying this is that they bet the economic farm on the availability of cheap Russian gas to replace the coal and nukular power so that they could virtue signal a shift to "green" energy. That might work, except that the huge dependence on the Soviets/Russians actually makes them a client state of the Russians --- or their access to that NG power doesn't exist and they have have to buy at the margin, which will make German power costs the highest in the world.

Shroder sold Germany out, and Merkel provided the cover over the past 20 years. Ask Germans, and German industry how the green power revolution is going in a couple years. lol

 

[Steelmann]

Another way of saying this is that they bet the economic farm on the availability of cheap Russian gas to replace the coal and nukular power so that they could virtue signal a shift to "green" energy. That might work, except that the huge dependence on the Soviets/Russians actually makes them a client state of the Russians --- or their access to that NG power doesn't exist and they have have to buy at the margin, which will make German power costs the highest in the world.

Shroder sold Germany out, and Merkel provided the cover over the past 20 years. Ask Germans, and German industry how the green power revolution is going in a couple years. lol

Schroeder took several jobs with leading Russian energy companies after he left office. I am sure that looks just great now. As usual......it’s all about $$$$$$$$$

Definition of client state
: a country that is economically, politically, or militarily dependent on another country.

I am sure the people of Germany would appreciate you calling them “ a client state of Russia “
Lol. Ridiculous.

 

[SteelerInLebanon]

While I hear what you are saying, mistakes were obviously made in the push for green energy. But...... for a country like Germany with its major production areas and population, along with let’s face a country not blessed with a ton of oil , natural gas deposits I think they had to take a chance trying to develop alternatives. They used to have lots of coal, but obviously there has been a push away from coal. The decision to push away from nuclear energy was obviously also too soon.

Too soon? It should never have happened. Nuclear is the only real choice.

 

[SteelerInLebanon]

Schroeder took several jobs with leading Russian energy companies after he left office. I am sure that looks just great now. As usual......it’s all about $$$$$$$$$

Definition of client state
: a country that is economically, politically, or militarily dependent on another country.

I am sure the people of Germany would appreciate you calling them “ a client state of Russia “
Lol. Ridiculous.

If they are dependent on their oil then how are they not at least toa degree?

 

[Sarge]

I don't trust most of what our media or politicians really say, but WTF is this about? Sarge (or anyone), can you please try to make sense of this statement.

The only sense is if, as Mad says, it's a game that we are in on. In that context it makes perfect sense because we know what the Russians are going to do. I mean, yeah, you could say that information is coming from gathered intelligence, but even in the best of times, I've never seen intelligence so specific. Or, he could be trying to gin up fear so that they can push to use our planes as part of an internationally enforced no fly zone. I know there are some lunkheads that think that's what we should be doing.

The biggest question I have is why isn't ANYONE bombing the ever loving **** out of the 40 mile long convoy headed for Kiev? If you recall Desert Storm and the Highway of Death, when the Iraqis had a mile long convoy trying to flee Kuwait, Apaches rained hellfire missiles and the Air Force bombed them into oblivion. Not sure why Ukraine hasn't hit that convoy. Russia's planes aren't anywhere in Ukrainian airspace. It would be a turkey shoot.

This whole thing just stinks.

 

[Tim Steelersfan]

The only sense is if, as Mad says, it's a game that we are in on. In that context it makes perfect sense because we know what the Russians are going to do. I mean, yeah, you could say that information is coming from gathered intelligence, but even in the best of times, I've never seen intelligence so specific. Or, he could be trying to gin up fear so that they can push to use our planes as part of an internationally enforced no fly zone. I know there are some lunkheads that think that's what we should be doing.

The biggest question I have is why isn't ANYONE bombing the ever loving **** out of the 40 mile long convoy headed for Kiev? If you recall Desert Storm and the Highway of Death, when the Iraqis had a mile long convoy trying to flee Kuwait, Apaches rained hellfire missiles and the Air Force bombed them into oblivion. Not sure why Ukraine hasn't hit that convoy. Russia's planes aren't anywhere in Ukrainian airspace. It would be a turkey shoot.

This whole thing just stinks.

100% agree. Two questions/points as I don't know...

Doesn't Russia control the airfields now? Not sure Ukraine can get that many planes in the air now, if any? Does anyone know?

They are drone bombing them. They have Turkish drones. That carry 4 missiles each apparently. Not nearly enough but there is this going on if the videos are to be believed.

 

[ZonaBurgh]

The only sense is if, as Mad says, it's a game that we are in on. In that context it makes perfect sense because we know what the Russians are going to do. I mean, yeah, you could say that information is coming from gathered intelligence, but even in the best of times, I've never seen intelligence so specific. Or, he could be trying to gin up fear so that they can push to use our planes as part of an internationally enforced no fly zone. I know there are some lunkheads that think that's what we should be doing.

The biggest question I have is why isn't ANYONE bombing the ever loving **** out of the 40 mile long convoy headed for Kiev? If you recall Desert Storm and the Highway of Death, when the Iraqis had a mile long convoy trying to flee Kuwait, Apaches rained hellfire missiles and the Air Force bombed them into oblivion. Not sure why Ukraine hasn't hit that convoy. Russia's planes aren't anywhere in Ukrainian airspace. It would be a turkey shoot.

This whole thing just stinks.

Not knowing Ukraine's military ability, but do they even have any kind of air support? I would think that if they did then Zelensky would use it.

 

[steel dino]

The only sense is if, as Mad says, it's a game that we are in on. In that context it makes perfect sense because we know what the Russians are going to do. I mean, yeah, you could say that information is coming from gathered intelligence, but even in the best of times, I've never seen intelligence so specific. Or, he could be trying to gin up fear so that they can push to use our planes as part of an internationally enforced no fly zone. I know there are some lunkheads that think that's what we should be doing.

The biggest question I have is why isn't ANYONE bombing the ever loving **** out of the 40 mile long convoy headed for Kiev? If you recall Desert Storm and the Highway of Death, when the Iraqis had a mile long convoy trying to flee Kuwait, Apaches rained hellfire missiles and the Air Force bombed them into oblivion. Not sure why Ukraine hasn't hit that convoy. Russia's planes aren't anywhere in Ukrainian airspace. It would be a turkey shoot.

This whole thing just stinks.

Was wondering the same Sarge..

Sitting ducks for us...

Do we have the balls to do it?
Or maybe our military's leadership knows the response if we do....and doesn't want to chance it?

 

[Steelmann]

If they are dependent on their oil then how are they not at least toa degree?

Well it’s not like Germany is not an economic powerhouse. I am sure they are looking at alternative countries. You don’t think they could find other options?

 

[Steelmann]

Too soon? It should never have happened. Nuclear is the only real choice.

I don’t disagree. Every country has a different philosophy. Especially relevant to their geographical site. Crowded Europe with tons of neighbouring countries. The worry of the safety/fallout aspect of Nuclear could have come in to play. I mean, I am just speculating from my couch. It’s so easy to do.

I remember years ago taking the train from Frankfurt to Dortmund. I could not believe the amount of solar panels on residential housing. The amount of wind turbines in the valleys. The recycling that was going on.