Gas is much safer than oil.
Posted on 05/03/2006 3:52:17 AM PDT by vertolet
"We asked. She refused." This was what Polish Defense Minister Radek Sikorski said plaintively over the weekend at a conference of European and North American leaders in Brussels.
Sikorski was voicing Warsaw's complaint that German Chancellor Angela Merkel ignored Polish pleas to scrap the US$10.5 billion trans-Baltic North European Pipeline project with Russia, which was negotiated by her predecessor Gerhard Schroeder - a project that would cement Berlin's energy ties to Moscow but bypass Poland and the Baltic states.
Planned in the early 1990s after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the gas-pipeline project was intended to reduce Russia's dependence on having to transit through such countries as Belarus and Ukraine to export its gas to Europe. The 1,200-kilometer line would transport gas from Russia's Baltic Sea coast through international waters offshore Poland and the Baltic states to a landfall in Griefswald on Germany's coast.
Sikorski said, "Poland is particularly sensitivity to corridors and deals above our head. That was the Locarno tradition, that was the Molotov-Ribbentrop tradition. That was the 20th century. We don't want any repetition of that." He was ominously referring to the two poignant moments in 20th-century history when Poland got squeezed between Europe's great powers.
He asked, "If important countries in Europe like Germany say they want...
(Excerpt) Read more at atimes.com ...
"Washington has been striving to get the European governments to orient toward its trans-Atlantic leadership on a platform riveted on the issue of energy security - meaning in plain terms that Europe's 'excessive' dependence on Russia for energy will make them vulnerable to Moscow's political blackmail."
Who cares?
And doesn't compelling Euro governments to maintain trans-Atlantic connections damage us by exposure to their international institutions (eg. world court)? They are resentful for being under the umbrella. Time for the State Department to let them go on their way.
"From the composition of the high-powered delegation of German industries that accompanied Merkel (and given the Christian Democratic Union's close ties with German industry), it is evident that the alchemy of close Russian-German ties forged in the smithy of Putin's friendship with Schroeder remain intact despite the change of government in Berlin."
Another example of how Big Business and Big Government, when forced to coexist, do things such as subvert national sovereignty.
Allowing the Russian government to buy gas storage and power companies throughout Europe? In addition to delivering the energy supply? Talk about having a hammer of your head.
The sad fact is, in order to stave off steep economic decline, their government class will chew up a civic institution such as the concept of sovereignty in order to delay the inevitable. Expanding the "State" across Eurasia will not provide individual liberty.
Surprise, surprise.
I guess we by now know why the Russian government nationalized its oil assets: for geopolitical power.
no - but securing the energy supply will.
If gazprom is not delivering gas to germany we will have a weaker stance in furture negotiations with other deliverants.
Germany has a 30 year tradition as a customer of the russians - so far it wasn't to our disadvantage.
Look at the alternatives:
Iran, Iraq the middle east - are these low risk suppliers ? Only multi sourcing is a feasable strategy. If the russians want to invest over here - fine, why not. Limit their influence and see how they behave. (Think ports deal)
Poland is a powerfull young democracy - a bit cheeky on this deal because tehy didn't get to the cake - but the future is theirs - they will be allright.
We certainly mustn't let putin lead our energy politics.
"Washington expects to ratchet up tensions with Russia over the issue of energy security by July 15, when the Group of Eight summit takes place in St Petersburg, so that Moscow cannot possibly realize any long-term decisions binding the industrial countries.
The US strategy involved rallying European countries under its leadership in a common stance vis-a-vis Russia. Merkel has now driven a huge hole into this strategy by breaking loose and proceeding to firm up some massive new energy deals for German companies with Russia, while in turn conceding to Russia's Gazprom new opportunities to make acquisitions in the European energy-distribution network. "
As a conservative, Merkel is a bust. WSJ reports today that she is copping out on election promises to move the economy in the direction of free markets.
To my mind, here is a person who emerged from East Germany, presenting herself as a conservative---but isn't. Possibly secretly set up by people linked to Russia. The simple fact of the matter is, the West Germans made a mistake absorbing East Germany without any kind of decommunization process.
East Germany had more spies than any country in the world. Counting part-timers, I believe one in three people in East Germany were spying for government.
So what happens when some German or Russian hating maniac cuts it?
Big bubbles :)
Gas is much safer than oil.
Pipelines bump
Ukraine is split 50/50 with Yushies bad economy and the new pipeline the preassure will be on them to quit their games and play fair.
"Ukraine is split 50/50 with Yushies bad economy "
Don't tell me your back - I hope this does not get in the way of your Kremlin inspired Ukraine bashing.
http://www2.pravda.com.ua/en/news/2006/5/2/5123.htm
I was telling you this months ago when you assured me Ukranians loved Yushie.
At the time I pointed out that Ukranians I know in the area don't care much for Yuschi and mostly like Timoshenko.
Be careful when you go to the links spanalot posts - I did and for the third time in a row the "host" (in Ukraine) of the link tried to access my home computer (thank God for McAffee firewall). I can freepmail you the info.
please do!
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