We are actually formally in “Roll On The Ground Snort Your Ass Off” territory. The USA and Europe, that are on the precipice of financial collapse, are blaming Russia for his or her issues. I suppose when you find yourself deaf, dumb, blind and silly in addition, it’s fantastic to have Russia round responsible for all the things.
Are you ugly? That’s Russia’s fault. Fats? Putin did it. Broke and bankrupt? A nefarious commie plot by Putin and his Russia cronies, who are usually not communist. However why let troublesome information get in the way in which of telling a gargantuan lied.
This headline from Bloomberg, Holiday Season Airfares Soar on Pricey Fuel and Revenge Travel, is consultant of the collective dishonesty and insanity that has seized Biden and the clowns of Europe:
Russia’s technique of curbing provides of pure gasoline to Europe has sparked a full-blown energy disaster and spurred a rush for alternate options resembling diesel that can be utilized for heating, trade and electrical energy technology. That’s making a scarcity of jet gasoline — which is constructed from the identical kind of oil as diesel — simply as demand soars.
Airfares to Europe and the Americas from Asia have at the least doubled from pre-pandemic ranges on the again of restricted capability, in addition to the soar in jet gasoline costs,” stated Mayur Patel, head of Asia at OAG. Costs aren’t prone to get again to 2019 ranges till at the least early 2023, as it’ll take some time for “the frenzied journey demand that has constructed up in recent times” to taper off, he stated.
The surge in aviation gasoline is most pronounced in Europe, the place the vitality disaster is most acute. Costs there are up about 56% this 12 months, with Asia and the US not far behind. By comparability, international oil benchmark Brent crude has risen round 21%.
Excuse me. Russia’s technique? Now I understand that the demented Joe Biden can not keep in mind what day of the week it’s, however what’s the excuse for a supposedly skilled financial information outlet like Bloomberg. Allow us to stroll down reminiscence lane. Do you keep in mind this announcement from the Biden White Home in early March of this year:
Right this moment, President Biden will signal an Govt Order (E.O.) to ban the import of Russian oil, liquefied pure gasoline, and coal to america – a major motion with widespread bipartisan assist that can additional deprive President Putin of the financial assets he makes use of to proceed his unnecessary struggle of selection.
The USA made this determination in shut session with our Allies and companions around the globe, in addition to Members of Congress of each events. The USA is ready to take this step due to our sturdy home vitality infrastructure and we acknowledge that not all of our Allies and companions are at the moment ready to hitch us. However we’re united with our Allies and companions in working collectively to cut back our collective dependence on Russian vitality and hold the stress mounting on Putin, whereas on the similar taking lively steps to restrict impacts on international vitality markets and defend our personal economies.
These guys make Alec Baldwin appear like an expert firearms security teacher. They don’t seem to be taking pictures the director. They pointed the gun at their very own heads and pulled the set off. BOOM! The USA and Europe imposed sanctions on Russian oil and gasoline and shutdown the worldwide monetary system, which supplied a mechanism for Russia to promote oil and gasoline to the west, and that’s Putin’s fault?
I’ve at all times lived by the motto, should you’re going to leap out of a airplane at altitude be sure to have a parachute hooked up to your physique. The identical precept applies to imposing financial sanctions. If you’re going to attempt to punish one of many world’s largest producer and exporter of oil and gasoline, make rattling positive you’ve got ample different provides.
Paying larger airfare is hen feed in comparison with the financial ass whipping america and Europe, particularly Europe, are actually beginning to really feel. Right here is a few cheery information, additionally courtesy of Bloomberg, in regards to the energy tsunami that is clobbering Britain:
Hovering vitality payments are threatening to place six in 10 British producers out of enterprise, in line with a survey that lays naked the extent of the disaster going through the subsequent prime minister.
“The present disaster is leaving companies going through a stark selection,” the report stated. “Reduce manufacturing or shut up store altogether if assist doesn’t come quickly.”
Simply taking a wild guess right here, however plainly dropping 60% of your manufacturing functionality is a fairly large deal and would possibly, simply would possibly, harm the nationwide economic system of the Brits. Once more, I’m spitballing.
The information from Germany is similarly bleak:
German exports and imports each fell in July as surging costs and the struggle in Ukraine threaten to ship Europe’s largest economic system right into a recession.
The commerce surplus shrank to five.4 billion euros ($5.4 billion) from 6.2 billion euros in June, as exports dropped by 2.1% and imports by 1.5%, Germany’s statistics workplace said Friday. Items gross sales to the US, the nation’s greatest market, fell by nearly 14%.
Why is that? What may have brought about such financial turmoil in Russia. Reuters provides a tantalizing clue:
Germany faces the “bitter actuality” that Russia is not going to restore gasoline provides to the nation, the German economic system minister stated on Monday, forward of deliberate halt by state vitality big Gazprom (GAZP.MM) of exports to Europe by way of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline.
“It gained’t come again … It’s the bitter actuality,” Robert Habeck stated in a panel with European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen.
Russia will halt natural gas provides to Europe for 3 days on the finish of the month for unscheduled upkeep to the Nord Stream pipeline, Gazprom stated on Friday, piling stress on the area because it seeks to refuel forward of winter.
Golly gee willikers. It solely took the Germans six months to determine that kicking Russia within the testicles would make Russia reluctant to be buddies and promote the Germans gasoline at minimize fee costs. The Russians perceive the way to repair the issue, however many European leaders are blind, intransigent and certifiable cretins:
“The vitality safety of Europe with out Russia is unimaginable,” Volodin wrote, noting that the EU had two choices: “The primary one. Raise unlawful sanctions in opposition to our nation and launch Nord Stream 2. The second. To depart all the things as it’s, which can result in issues within the economic system and make life much more tough for residents,” he stated, in line with Reuters’ translation.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnston accused Russia of weaponizing pure gasoline in retaliation to western sanctions at a press listening to on Wednesday, although he emphasised Europe wouldn’t again down from its assist of Ukraine, with nations like Germany shifting away from Russian energy supplies totally. Europe can also be on observe to assembly its natural gas storage targets this winter, a constructive signal as nations attempt to get by with out Russian vitality flows.
There you’ve got it. The west impose sanctions on Russian oil and gasoline, however it’s Russia, not the west, that’s weaponizing gasoline. I’ve a suggestion for Vladimir Putin–let the western politicians and their individuals who embrace sanctioning Russia, suck on the outcomes. Winter is just not right here but, however it’s nigh. Quickly the pungent, sweating Europeans who’ve been compelled to chop again on scorching water and air con can be shivering within the hovels making an attempt to determine the way to kindle a fireplace with out placing their entire complicated up in flames. I recall one other related aphorism, “revenge is a dish best served cold.” Appears to be like like Europe has conjured up its personal wintry buffet. Bon appétit.
