Green energy is incompatible with energy security. Which makes it incompatible with national intercontinental security.
Joseph Sternberg, WSJ today
This week marks the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. There are lots of revelations reported but here is my take.
Western Europe learned the hard way that it cannot rely on a power antagonistic to its lifestyle for energy. Germany in particular abandoned nuclear energy for no reason in particular, and instead signed contracts for natural gas with Putin. That effectively mad Putin Germany’s energy secretary. He then threatened to withhold gas at any price with an expected cold winter. That cold winter was not to be. But Germany has yet to re-embrace nuclear power.
An autocrat can control his media and his people despite staggering losses. Various reports have Russian losses at over 2,000 tanks (half their total force) and over 100,000 killed and or wounded. A leader in any other country with access to information would be long gone . Russia showed disdain for its troops in WW II and that continues to today.
The West seems content to dither. Çolin Powell or George Patton would recommend maximum force. Had the West sent requested weapons and aircraft early on, this might be over now. Yet Team Biden still slow walks to no walks planes and tanks. No one seems to care that the lack of assistance just leads to more body bags on both sides.
Natural gas prices are down 65% since December. The US is now the world’s largest exporter of liquid natural gas.
Prices of everything are up.
Putin’s dream of becoming a world financial center is smoke. He will more likely become a lackey to China and Iran. A negotiated peace will only leave a frustrated Putin looking to re-arm for a second chance.
