Posted on 01/24/2022 12:31:24 AM PST by RomanSoldier19
In the Ukraine crisis, Russian natural gas supplies should not be subject to EU sanctions, according to Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg.
The Baltic Sea pipeline Nord Stream 2 should also be excluded, the conservative politician made clear in an interview with the Sunday edition of Die Presse newspaper.
Schallenberg pointed out to the Austrian newspaper that Nord Stream 2 is not yet in operation. Therefore, he said, the pipeline could not be used to build up a threat.
"We in Europe are to a certain extent dependent on energy from Russia," the chief diplomat also argued. "We will not be able to change that overnight if we want heat and electricity."
The minister stressed, however, that extensive European Union economic and financial sanctions are being worked on intensively in case of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.
"There will be a very clear, unequivocal and swift response in the event of an escalation," Schallenberg said. He did not rule out an exclusion of Russia from the SWIFT bank payment system.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
Stupid is as stupid does....
There is virtually no sentiment in this forum to go to war to defend the national integrity of Ukraine and very little in the country as a whole.
But, God help us, let us at least refrain from mortifying ourselves by hypocritical rationalizations to relieve ourselves of the humiliation that this disaster truly is. Balance of power politics, the security of the country, the gruesome fate that awaits the Ukrainians represent a political as well as a moral calamity. Afghanistan followed by Ukraine and soon Taiwan and then America will be lucky to survive for another generation as the nation we know until leftists at home, having perfected their art of rationalization after Afghanistan and after Ukraine, persuade the Karen's of America that we cannot win, should not try win and, anyway, America, racist and unequal, is not worthy of survival. Let the barbarians in without a shot fired in defense.
Our national hubris that generated a chain of mistakes that have brought us to this debacle is a self-made national disgrace. Of course Europe is falling apart, did we think that we put a man in the White House who could keep it together? After Afghanistan no rational ally believes America will actually save them from Putin or China just as every warlord in Afghanistan rationally concluded that he had to cut his own deal. Yes, Europe, and especially German-speaking Europe , have made themselves vulnerable to Russian energy blackmail, but did we not abet them? No need to go on, the history is a dismal collection of mistakes, missteps, naïveté and arrogance.
Until we acknowledge our pathetic situation, until we find the integrity to refrain from making a virtue of our haplessness, we will not find the resolve to change our ways.
The Russian gas will definitely get sanctioned if the West gets involved in Ukraine. I’d suggest waiting until spring before poking that bear too hard.
The other 9-11: September 11th, 1683, It was a Polish King, Jan III Sobieski, not at Austrian, who led the forces that defeated the Muslim invaders at the Gates of Vienna. The only other good to come out of Austria has been music and baked goods.
Most likely it well get bombed if Russia attacks
You say ‘we abet them.’ Could you provide the circumstances that back your assertion?
I’ve found that very few people take a historical approach in formulating their opinions about these century old disputes. Most people can’t see back as far as 1939 or 1914.
Stopping gas imports would cut CO2 emissions. Why are they being so selfish?
To instigate or encourage by aid or countenance; -- used in a bad sense of persons and acts (American Heritage Dictionary).
We reversed course on the pipeline and "countenanced" and even "aided" in its completion. Biden actually explicitly approved it.
If Germany puts its eggs ONLY in Russia's basket, that is stupid for Germany, but as a source, heck, the US has always relied on Venezuela and the Middle East for oil, even when we had our own, untapped. Under Trump and even a bit under 0bama, fracking greatly helped.
Why are you against another source of energy for Germany? Is it solely due to Germany's inability to plan for yet other sources, meaning your citizens and politicians are grossly inept and shouldn't be trusted with such matters?
. The case of Germany is especially egregious because of the surrounding facts. We had the pipeline stopped. Biden resuscitated the pipeline and Germany announced that it is closing 2 nuclear power plants and 3 coal plants leaving the country even more desperately dependent on Russia, that is, liable to intimidation by Russia. Thereafter, Germany announces it will be sending no weapons to Ukraine. A German Admiral then praises Putin. Germany is the economic powerhouse of Europe and it is inconceivable that a unified front of economic sanctions against Russia in the wake of an invasion of Ukraine can be effective without Germany's full participation. Worse, the deterrent power of threatening economic sanctions has just evaporated.
So the answer is yes, multiple sources of energy are to be preferred as an abstract principle but there are countervailing issues such as now confront us concerning Germany, NATO and Ukraine.
One need only consider our Middle Eastern wars and the fact that Pearl Harbor was precipitated, although not caused, by our oil embargo of Japan to acknowledge the cardinal role to a nation's survival that energy represents. In view of the atrocities committed by Japan in China and the looming threat of China in the notorious Southeast Asia Co Prosperity Sphere, the embargo was more than justified.
Energy is synonymous with survival so our national interest is at stake. That is the principle to properly guide us always and especially with respect to Ukraine.
Iran is right to seek energy solutions for its people; however, the rest of the world is right to complicate Iran’s access to weapons, due to its intransigence on terrorism. If the source of energy is also a viable weapon, then Iran should continue to have problems from the outside (UN, ourselves, and others) with getting and using such an energy source. But, on its face, of course Iran should seek all energy sources, just as it should seek all other basic needs for its people. This is not a “vague principle,” unless we also need to discuss Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.
As for Germany shutting down nuclear and coal plants, you believe the US should find ways to force Germany to keep those going, and stopping the pipeline helps in such an endeavor? How many other ways would you like the US to intervene into intimate decisions made by our allies as they tend to their people? For instance, the US holds the threat of forms of financial sanctions in place over Latin America such that they continue to implement gay and indigenous rights policies.
I simply see that we should encourage our allies and not block basic needs from them. We should not block a pipeline. We should instead be encouraging newer forms of nuclear energy to be used in conjunction or as a replacement, helping our allies to become stronger and more independent, not unlike what one should encourage in a spouse or a friend.
Then we shall put flowers in our hair, join hands and sing Kumbaya as we skip about the Maypole.
Now, that's rich! You chose to go live in a country with worse liberal thinking than the US, and you are mad that the US doesn't impose hardships on Germany for that.
It looks like you were the one who first chose to “skip around the Maypole.”
On the merits then I win, you lose.
Not at all. In no way have I appealed to feelings, prejudice, or your character.
I only called out your likely motives.
Here is a definition for you:
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