Mr Feeble meets Mr Evil

Putin is an evil man, a thuggish dictator running a kleptocracy.

He kills journalists

He kills political opponents

He says he wants the old Soviet Union back

Biden seems a feeble leader

He avoids the press

His approach to Russia before the invasion is hard to explain/understand. (I hope he and/or his son aren't beholden or compromised by Russia.)

His leadership on Russia after the invasion has been weak (see below) and unclear. (Were sanctions supposed to deter or not?)

I hope and pray that the Ukrainians can hold out long enough until the world's promised military supplies can get there to help and that the world, including the US, insures that Ukraine get the needed military support to defeat Putin, including a no-fly zone in Western Ukraine.

Putin is evil and he is the root cause of the deaths.  Biden seems feeble and his actions/responses have probably led to and may lead to more deaths than were necessary.  

And for all of those who want to talk about Trump I will share my view. Trump was intellectually lazy, lacked gravitas, was insecure and was not well spoken.  I hope he is not the next Republican candidate.  His words regarding Putin, especially out of context, are hard to reconcile with the actual evilness of Putin.  BUT Trump's actions regarding Putin were significantly stronger than Biden/Obama and Biden: He imposed dramatic sanctions on oligarchs, he sanctioned the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, he killed Russian mercenaries in Syria and he provided anti-tank missiles to Ukraine (both before and after the phone call.)

WTF2-Why is Biden helping Putin?

Is Biden trying to help Putin?

Biden restricting natural gas pipelines and exports

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2022/02/18/now-is-not-the-time-to-limit-u-s-natural-gas-exports/

Biden Turned Over Intelligence To China On Russia's Plans To Invade Ukraine, China Gave It To Russia,

https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-turned-over-intelligence-to-china-on-russias-plans-to-invade-ukraine-china-gave-it-to-russia-report-says

As gas prices skyrocket, the Biden administration announced this week that they're indefinitely delaying new oil and gas drilling on federal land and other energy-related actions following a federal court ruling that blocks the administration from using their steep "social cost of carbon" estimate.

Biden Halts Oil, Gas Leases As Oil Prices Skyrocket At Home

https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-halts-oil-gas-leases-as-oil-prices-skyrocket-at-home

There’s lots of coincidental evidence that, if anything, Biden has been encouraging Putin to take Ukraine. I can’t help but wonder what Biden said in his phone calls to Putin?

In May 2021 Biden gives the go ahead for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline 

In June of 2021 Biden freezes lethal aid to Ukraine

In early December 2021 Biden takes military option off the table. 

December 2021 Biden was still withholding lethal aide. 

February 18 Biden takes kicking Russia out of the SWIFT (International banking ) system off the table

(Bush and Georgia)

2008 Russia and the aids part of Georgia 

Bush sent warships to the Black Sea

Bush took the combat troops that Georgia had in Afghanistan and airlifted them back

Bush signals willingness to give logistical support

Russian troops stopped at … the two enclaves, and they did not make a move

Boris Johnson was roundly praised for his tough-talking speech at the Munich Security Conference today. The speech was seen as the most hardline speech given at the annual security conference. The British Prime Minister was praised afterwards by both supporters and critics alike for "defending a free Europe" and being the most outspoken Western leader against Russian aggression in Ukraine.

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-waive-sanctions-firm-ceo-behind-russias-nord-stream-2-pipeline-source-2021-05-19/

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/06/18/white-house-ukraine-military-lethal-weapons-495169

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/appeals-ukraine-biden-admin-holds-back-additional-military-aid-kyiv-di-rcna8421

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/594961-white-house-kicking-russia-out-of-swift-unlikely-to-be-in-initial

Biden hypocrisy

https://www.newsweek.com/who-janice-rogers-brown-black-dc-circuit-judge-biden-blocked-appointment-1674175

 

Shame on Biden

Biden should be ashamed of himself. 

He cut off military aid to Ukraine at the start of his term. Then, as Russia gathers 100’s of thousands of  troops with modern tanks and aircraft on Ukraines borders, he only provides 10’s of anti-tank launchers with 100’s of missiles. NO anti air-weapons.  NO anti-ship weapons. NO helicopters.  NO no fly zone. 

He tells Russia ahead of time that we won’t use any US troops. (UK threatens military action). Not to mention he greatly reduces US oil production and greenlights Nord Stream 2 helping Russia.

Biden resists withering sanctions and ask for a month or two for his sanctions to work. Nobody thinks Ukraine has a month or two. 

Biden’s not joining UK and France in pushing to remove Russia from SWIFT 

Now, with Russia’s near completion of their takeover of Ukraine he is talking about limited additional  military aid and just last night offered to evacuate Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy. 

Zelenskyy’s response?   “The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride.”

I hope Zelenskyy survives!  Regardless, he has shown great courage and Ukraine is shaming Biden’s weak feckless response  

https://www.wsj.com/articles/vladimir-putins-ukraine-slaughterhouse-russia-volodymyr-zelensky-11645830840

https://twitter.com/jimlaporta/status/1497428052988641281?s=21

Then don’t invade your neighbors

Russia Threatens ‘Serious Military’ Consequences If Sweden, Finland Join NATO After Ukraine Invasion

https://www.dailywire.com/news/russia-threatens-serious-military-consequences-if-sweden-finland-join-nato-after-ukraine-invasion

WTF-why is Biden helping Putin?

 

Is Biden trying to help Putin?

Biden Turned Over Intelligence To China On Russia's Plans To Invade Ukraine, China Gave It To Russia,

https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-turned-over-intelligence-to-china-on-russias-plans-to-invade-ukraine-china-gave-it-to-russia-report-says

As gas prices skyrocket, the Biden administration announced this week that they're indefinitely delaying new oil and gas drilling on federal land and other energy-related actions following a federal court ruling that blocks the administration from using their steep "social cost of carbon" estimate.

Biden Halts Oil, Gas Leases As Oil Prices Skyrocket At Home

https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-halts-oil-gas-leases-as-oil-prices-skyrocket-at-home

There’s lots of coincidental evidence that, if anything, Biden has been encouraging Putin to take Ukraine. I can’t help but wonder what Biden said in his phone calls to Putin?

In May 2021 Biden gives the go ahead for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline 

In June of 2021 Biden freezes lethal aid to Ukraine

In early December 2021 Biden takes military option off the table. 

December 2021 Biden was still withholding lethal aide. 

February 18 Biden takes kicking Russia out of the SWIFT (International banking ) system off the table

(Bush and Georgia)

2008 Russia and the aids part of Georgia 

Bush sent warships to the Black Sea

Bush took the combat troops that Georgia had in Afghanistan and airlifted them back

Bush signals willingness to give logistical support

Russian troops stopped at … the two enclaves, and they did not make a move

Boris Johnson was roundly praised for his tough-talking speech at the Munich Security Conference today. The speech was seen as the most hardline speech given at the annual security conference. The British Prime Minister was praised afterwards by both supporters and critics alike for "defending a free Europe" and being the most outspoken Western leader against Russian aggression in Ukraine.

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-waive-sanctions-firm-ceo-behind-russias-nord-stream-2-pipeline-source-2021-05-19/

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/06/18/white-house-ukraine-military-lethal-weapons-495169

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/appeals-ukraine-biden-admin-holds-back-additional-military-aid-kyiv-di-rcna8421

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/594961-white-house-kicking-russia-out-of-swift-unlikely-to-be-in-initial

At least two people don’t know what an existential threat is

 

Biden stands aside for bully

Biden says that we will stop bullies.  

So far it looks more like we were standing aside for bullies.

Before invasion

We cannot put sanctions on beforehand because then we would not have a deterrent

After invasion

We did not expect the sanctions to stop Putin

We stop bullies 

These are devastating sanctions

????

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/feb/24/joe-biden-us-russia-sanctions-ukraine

Biden more bark than bite

Biden just said that his sanctions are worse than taking Russia out of SWIFT. That’s either ignorance or a lie 

SWIFT is a critical International financial transaction system that facilitates more than 80% of Russia’s financial transactions

Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister of the UK was pushing to remove Russia from SWIFT

Not clear that Biden leading or pushing to remove Russia from SWIFT, if he was trying he clearly failed to convince the rest of Europe, and his claim regarding SWIFT versus his imposed sanctions is ridiculous.

Does the world need a policeman?

Does the world need a policeman?

Yes. In the history of the world it is clear that evil strong men/powers will use their strength to impose their will on others in unfair and unjust ways. 

Is the UN and effective police force. No.  In the history of the UN it has proven, except in a limited number of cases to be incapable of protecting others from evil strong men/powers. A key reason for this is that two countries, one of which is strong, at least military, and evil, being Russia, and the other being strong (at least getting there) and, if not evil, having values quite different from freedom, being China, have veto power over the UN Security Council. 

If the world needs a police force and if UN cannot be counted on to be an effective lead force what should we do?

Where and if possible, broad coalitions of freedom based countries should form coalitions to help protect people in countries that are being threatened or attacked by strong evil men or powers. This could include NATO in some circumstances but if/when necessary might consist of whatever coalitions that can be formed. 

And, at times, it may come done to the leadership, bravery, ability and capabilities of one country. 

If you had to pick one country that had the combination of military, economic, and moral authority, which country would you pick?  I know that I would pick the US even with its imperfections.

 

Russia’s adapting to US?????

Psaki: “President Vladimir Putin was unprepared for the Biden administration's response to Moscow's aggression against Ukraine and its visibility into Russia's actions. Putin is "improvising" and "adapting" in response to the US.”

Thanks Greta

Climate is warming but it is not an existential threat. The costs of the actions that are being advocated today are far greater than the threat. Money should be spent on R&D to reduce the cost of alternate energy but we should be expanding the use of nuclear and natural gas. 

Reducing nuclear power in Germany and natural gas production in the US has only increased Putin‘s leverage. 

We need withering sanctions+

So far the US response has been whimpering sanctions and threats that have not deterred Putin 

We need withering sanctions

We need to freeze Russian assets

We need to prosecute Putin and his generals for war crimes

We need to isolate Russia economically.

If Putin is not stopped now it will be a disaster as he tries to reform the Soviet union

And, if there’s much army remaining, we should be providing significant arms to Ukraine (anti-air, more antitank, heavy weapons, and consider providing air cover)

Way to go Joe!

Biden has been in office a little over a year. Let’s see how he’s doing.

1. Covid-more deaths even though he has had Trump vaccine
2. Economy – record inflation spurred on by excessive spending
3. National Security-Russia threatens Ukraine, Biden gives a handful of antitank missile‘s to Ukraine, Russia takes Ukraine
   
   
   

F’ Putin

Biden needs to get tougher

Putin: “Anyone who tries to interfere with us, or even more so, to create threats for our country and our people, must know that Russia’s response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences as you have never before experienced in your history.”

Biden: “The U.S. will not be sending American troops to Ukraine. I will address the American people on Thursday. I will hold Russia accountable.”

Whimpering not withering sanctions

 

From Bloomberg News

Instead of a sweeping package that crippled top Russian banks, cut its financial transactions off from the global economy, or personally singled out Vladimir Putin -- the U.S. and its allies settled on a modest “first tranche” of penalties. Markets responded with a shrug, underwhelmed by the tit-for-tat approach.

The sanctions targeted a pair of Russian banks, VEB.RFand Promsvyazbank as well as three members of Russia’s elite with close ties to the Kremlin. The penalties also sought to freeze future purchases of Russian sovereign debt. 

Yet the sanctions hardly amounted to the precedent-shattering, economy-crippling measures the U.S. and its partners long telegraphed if Russian troops rolled across the border. 

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-23/biden-s-first-salvo-of-russia-sanctions-hits-with-thud-not-roar

More from WSJ

The White House bet seems to be that sanc­tions re­straint will cause Mr. Putin to set­tle for hold­ing the re­gions his forces now oc­cupy and for­go­ing an as­sault on Kyiv. But the Russ­ian has never been de­terred be­fore by West­ern re­straint, and he may see this as more weak­ness. Mr. Putin re­sponds only to strength, and the West still isn’t show­ing enough.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/cold-war-ii-arrives-vladimir-putin-russia-ukraine-sanctions-us-biden-europe-11645571764

Everyone still making more

 

Using the latest data from the CBO on Income distribution:

1. Everyone is still making more;
2. The rich are still paying far more than others; and,
3. The proportion the rich are paying is increasing.

 

Fix education don’t tax more

“Predistribution”, not “redistribution”, explains why Europe is less unequal than the United States.

After accounting for indirect taxes and in-kind transfers, the US redistributes a greater share of national income to low income groups than any European country.

https://wid.world/document/why-is-europe-more-equal-than-the-united-states-world-inequality-lab-wp-2020-19/

Biden-ok to invade with peacekeepers

In 1994 the US gave Ukraine a promise of territorial integrity if the would return their nuclear weapons to Russia, which they did.

In 2014 Russia invaded and annexed Crimea and invaded and occupied two Ukraine territories.  Biden/Obama put meaningless sanctions on Russia.

In 2015 Russia and Ukraine backed by the EU and the United States made the Minsk agreement, once again guaranteeing Ukraine territorial integrity

Today Russia declared the two Ukraine territories to be independent republics and moved their troops into those territories claiming they are peacekeepers. This is in violation of the Budapest accord,  the Minsk agreement International norms.

Biden‘s immediate action was the put meaningless sanctions on the two Ukraine Republic. Nothing on Putin or Russia yet.

Way to go Joe!

BIDEN: From the beginning of this crisis, I have been absolutely clear and consistent: The United States is prepared no matter what happens. If Russia attacks Ukraine, it’ll be met with overwhelming international condemnation. It’s about standing for what we believe in, for the future we want for our world, for liberty — for liberty, the right of countless countries to choose their own destiny, and the right of people to determine their own futures, for the principle that a country can’t change its neighbor’s borders by force.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected Ukrainian nationhood in a speech, calling it “madness” and arguing “modern Ukraine was completely created by Russia.” He then signed decrees recognizing "independence and sovereignty" of two Ukrainian regions.