The US also lifted sanctions on the executive - an ally of Russia's Vladimir Putin - who leads the firm behind the Nord Stream 2 project.


The move came in a report on Russian sanctions delivered to Congress by the Department of State.


Critics say the pipeline is a major geopolitical prize for the Kremlin.



Nord Stream 2: Biden waives US sanctions on Russian pipeline - BBC News (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57180674)

Matthias Warnig is a former East Germany spy and Putin crony who the State Dept will admit to Congress is engaged in sanctionable activities . Still they will recommend that sanctions on him and his company be waived .

Sec State Blinken stated in testimony during confirmation that "I am determined to do whatever we can to prevent that completion" of Nord Stream 2."

These recommendations put the lie to that statement . The completion of Nord Stream 2 would be a major political win for Putin and would increase his leverage in Western Europe . As Putin has shown many times ;he has no problem cutting off energy supply to nations for political leverage .

Another example of US policy sticking it's nose into something that really doesn't concern them.
America are not the World Police and really should get their own house in order before pointing fingers at others.

The US should stop this cold war policy of sanctioning other nations

One has to wonder what Putin has on Quid pro Joe . The administration's stated in February that it's policy was that Nord Stream 2 is a "bad deal "because it exposes Ukraine and Central Europe . His mouthpiece Jen Psaki also stated that any new pipeline carrying fossil fuel in Europe “goes against Europe’s own stated energy and security goals.” Domestically he stopped the construction of the XL extension because of his energy goals . Quid is rejoining the Paris accords, which the pipeline runs counter to it's goals .

And this comes shortly after the Russians are accused of a cyber-attack on a US pipeline that caused gas shortages throughout much of the US.

Do these waivers have anything to do with Sec State Blinken meeting with his Ruskie counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Iceland ?

And what does the 5th column ....oops I mean 4th estate report about ? The lead was that the US does not want to buy Greenland .

What Blinken is doing in Iceland is the equivalent of the emperor and Evita's "reset" effort . Waiving sanctions on a former Stasi agent and Putin crony is a small step in that effort .


“Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin can reinvigorate U.S.-Russia relations that have been in a deep freeze for years.”
Biden Has a Second Chance at Russia Reset - Bloomberg (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2021-05-19/biden-has-a-second-chance-at-russia-reset)

What would all the TDS sufferers have bellowed if it was Trump waiving these sanctions ? We are still told the lie that Trump was a Russian asset . As such Trump must've been a disappointment to the Kremlin.

What would all the TDS sufferers have bellowed if it was Trump waiving these sanctions ? We are still told the lie that Trump was a Russian asset . As such Trump must've been a disappointment to the Kremlin.

All American presidents are a disappointment to the Kremlin, for cyber attacks I would look to the Chinese.

One has to wonder what Putin has on Quid pro Joe .

What would all the TDS sufferers have bellowed if it was Trump waiving these sanctions ? We are still told the lie that Trump was a Russian asset .

Typical right-wing reversal strategy. Whatever is charged against Trump, turn it around and charge the same thing against Biden. From the playbook of Trump's mentor, Roy Cohn.

ok then how do you explain that only a couple of months ago Quid's position was that the pipeline was against US policy ;that it was bad both for strategic and environmental reasons ? Quid is keeping sanctions on all other entities involved in the pipeline construction ,including 13 Russian ships , EXCEPT for Putin's crony .
You know and I know that if this were Trump ,every Dem from Madam Mim to Adam Schiff-head to All Out Crazy would be screaming from the highest roof top that this is proof that Trump is Putin's poodle .
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, (Dem NH) said, “Completion of this pipeline poses a threat to U.S. security interests and the stability of our partners in the region.”

Jen Psaki said
"The Biden Administration has been clear that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline is a Russian geopolitical project that threatens European energy security and that of Ukraine and eastern flank NATO Allies and partners,” “We continue to examine entities involved in potentially sanctionable activity and have made it clear that companies risk sanctions if they are involved in Nord Stream 2.”

Assuming that she is stating Quid's policies accurately , the contradiction needs more explanation .

What would all the TDS sufferers have bellowed if it was Trump waiving these sanctions ?[/Q We are still told the lie that Trump was a Russian asset . As such Trump must've been a disappointment to the Kremlin.

The sanctions were in the planning stages and Trump did nothing to withdraw them. They were a threat to make Germany buy US "fracked" gas.

During Trump's administration the pipeline reached 90% completion.

Trump ruined the relationship between the US and its NATO allies, especially Germany.

Dropping the never-implemented plan for sanctions is a move by Biden to restore good relations with our NATO allies, especially Germany.

They were a threat to make Germany buy US "fracked" gas. lol and here I thought Merkel got rid of nukes so Germany could go totally green .

Germany will be forever beholden to Russian energy . As you know ,the Russians have no problem cutting off their energy supply as a political bludgeon .

Frankly Germany would indeed be better off with American fracked natural gas . I propose that il duce end his moratoriums on fracking in NY and his effective bans on pipeline construction . Then NYS gas could be piped to Europe under the Atlantic to the continent .

lol and here I thought Merkel got rid of nukes so Germany could go totally green

??? Merkel refused to buy the fracked gas.


Germany will be forever beholden to Russian energy . As you know ,the Russians have no problem cutting off their energy supply as a political bludgeon

With restored and improved relations between the US and NATO, Germany has a formidable defense against any Russian bludgeons.


Frankly Germany would indeed be better off with American fracked natural gas . I propose that il duce end his moratoriums on fracking in NY and his effective bans on pipeline construction . Then NYS gas could be piped to Europe under the Atlantic to the continent .

I'm sure all parties involved will immediately drop everything and consider your proposal.

I must say after the last 4 years I can give old Joe plenty of running room to clean up the mess YOU guys made of things and build back better...without the help of conservatives who screwed the whole world up, and still holler about what a great job they did!

What a fine job they did of screwing things up and making a huge mess!

Your opinion, what should they have done in the face of aggression?

Could you be more specific? What should WHO have done against WHOM's aggression?

where have you been we are discussing the withdrawal of sanctions

We ramble through many subjects on this forum Clete. Sanctions are most effective when you have allies that honor them.

as I recall that is what doomed the UN sponsored Oil for Food program. Too many on the take including the UN Sec General's family .Whatever happened to Kojo ? Probably the same as Hunter .

https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/192389587_10159122407267464_5776840056724869491_n. jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=8bfeb9&_nc_ohc=g5s5QZIJP0UAX-riVZR&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-1.xx&oh=b6779432612ab1960b38ad075477b31d&oe=60D9A778

We ramble through many subjects on this forum Clete. Sanctions are most effective when you have allies that honor them.

Do your own dirty work, if you impose sanctions why should we follow you?

well let's put it this way . Maybe the Iraq war doesn't happen if entities like AWB wasn't violating the provisions .

Your sanctions are good for your business not ours, being allies doesn't mean we slavishly follow your lead and in any case saddam was a master at getting around your sanctions, Food should not be subject to sanctions

Your sanctions are good for your business not ours, being allies doesn't mean we slavishly follow your lead and in any case saddam was a master at getting around your sanctions, Food should not be subject to sanctions

Food and medicines weren't sanctioned but the sale of oil was...except for food and medicine. Cash under the table was the deal breaker, but still insufficient as an excuse to invade Iraq.

This is the day we will really see if quid is a Putin stooge, he has already backed off on his rhetoric

He is . That long pause in his presser was very unnerving . The fact that he will not have a joint presser with Putin shows how concerned the US is of his feebleness . Plus he has already demonstrated in G 7 ,EU ,and NATO meetings ;and his caving in about Nord Stream 2 , that he will defer to European interests .


Also NATO made a terriblly childish ,ill considered blunder declaring both Russia and China enemies. There is no reason the 2 nations should be allied but NATO looking for relevance is almost forcing them to be allies. Russia may be a concern of NATO because it expanded up to the Russian border ;territory it cannot defend . But there is zero reason for NATO to expand into the Pacific . It doesn't have the resources (the Taliban is defeating it ) ;nor the desire to put in the money to become a global force. Growing the NATO mission into a new cold war is in no one's interest .

The strategic imperative should be for Quid to do like Nixon ,a dividing of Russia from China . They have rivalries of their own that are ripe for exploiting .Yet NATO is going to force them together .

And what should the Aussie position be about this ? They have sharp differences with China . But as far as I can tell do not have issues with Russia . The Aussies will of course choose the NATO block . But why should they have to ?

And what happens with the central Asian states(the 'Stans' ,Azerbaijan ) that would like to create their own block of influence because they sit in the middle of the trade east west trade route ? Will they have to choose ;and which side would they choose ?
And how will the Pacific 'Quad' deal with NATO forcing Russia into the Chinese arms ?

Biden's pause when asked if he would call Putin a killer ..

Joe Biden answers awkwardly when asked about calling Vladimir Putin a ‘killer’ (news.com.au) (https://www.news.com.au/world/north-america/us-politics/joe-biden-answers-awkwardly-when-asked-about-calling-vladimir-putin-a-killer-ahead-of-their-summit/news-story/21f0c7e65942f72f6c98dce25e24a078)

And what should the Aussie position be about this ? They have sharp differences with China . But as far as I can tell do not have issues with Russia . The Aussies will of course choose the NATO block . But why should they have to ?


I can't speak for scomo but my take is use Russia to keep China occupied. China has already signaled that Siberia is traditionally Chinese and they want the resources. All that stops them is Russia's nuclear arsenal. China and Russia share a long border and Russia will not benefit from China's belt and road, it just becomes a vast chinese rail yard. As to NATO its purpose is to contain Russia, it is just an american proxy

As I said before Biden has backed off on his rhetoric, what you can say when a candidate for domestic consumption doesn't fly in diplomacy

My gosh that video was a complete embarrassment. It's really rather sad to see Biden close his eyes in an attempt to concentrate and try to say something intelligent. And he's even learned to laugh awkwardly like his VP. What a sad day for America. If he tries a joint PC with Putin, it will be the political equivalent of losing a football game 56-0.

. As to NATO its purpose is to contain Russia, it is just an american proxy

As I said before Biden has backed off on his rhetoric, what you can say when a candidate for domestic consumption doesn't fly in diplomacy

Russia is a gas station with an Army. A combined united Europe could easily contain Russia if it had any testicular fortitude and the will to fund their common defense . NATO was formed by the ravaged remains of western Europe to contain a Soviet Empire that doesn't exist anymore . Quid is a cold war relic .



And he's even learned to laugh awkwardly like his VP.
Kam the Sham was in my part of South Carolina this weekend. They kept her appearances a big secret .But somehow word got out and people lined the motorcade route carrying the American flag ; MAGA signs and other clever signs like 'the border is that way ' . We did not have a good discussion of her disastrous road trip to the triangle nations .
Love how when asked about going to the border her reply was that she had never been to Europe either .
Elvis Presley Never Been To Spain 1972 HD Live - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdYYcMH4dmw)

The White House was deeply concerned about some of her responses . CNN White House correspondent Jeremy Diamond said. “It’s left some of the administration officials perplexed, and the vice president’s team frustrated.” This is not good . An incompetent who was selected to check off the pc boxes is backing up a feeble President

other clever signs like 'the border is that way 'That made me laugh. Over eighty days now and she's still in charge of a border she has not bothered to inspect.

That made me laugh. Over eighty days now and she's still in charge of a border she has not bothered to inspect.

What's to see? refugees climbing fences? swimming rivers?

Democrat Rep Henry Cuellar thinks it is important that Kam the Sham visit the border . His district has 300 miles of border at risk . He sent her a letter today urging her to visit to find out the facts .

I encourage you to join me and other Members of Congress, while we visit with the people on the ground who deal with these issues every day," "I believe it is critical that you meet with local stakeholders and residents, consider their concerns, and use their lived experiences to implement more effective policies."
Cuellar requests VP Harris to visit southern border (kgns.tv) (https://www.kgns.tv/2021/06/16/cuellar-requests-vp-harris-visit-southern-border/)

What a world you live in, the internet is not to be believed, the public servants are not to be believed, you must visit to see for yourself and what would she see? a river? a fence? camps? desperate people, surely she is surrounded by those in Washington?

The internet is not to be believed? Really? So you believe everything you see on the web?

The internet is not to be believed? Really? So you believe everything you see on the web?
Twist and shout. Is this your new behavior?

No, I'm just wondering what is going on, politicians are condemned if they do and condemned if they don't, maybe Joe is right, the media have nothing positive to say, pity politicians have adopted the same attitude

I would agree that being a pol is tough. The press over here, however, is largely supportive of Biden.

Joe's comments before departure don't reflect that, clearly he thinks the media is negative

You need look no further than Hunter Biden to see that the press has his back.

side issue, you are fixated on side issues

The neglect of the HB hard drive story and the wild speculation about tear gas in Lafayette Square both affected public opinion which affected votes. Hardly a side issue.

It is now, time to move on

side issue, you are fixated on side issues

We call them conspiracy theories Clete, or lies for the foolish to distract from the truth.

Yes some believe, some of it is actually truth, but of no consequence. It made a good argument in the campaign, but the campaign is over

The last campaign is over, but the next one has started already.

with a short electoral cycle this is ever so

That's about all we can stand from elected leaders.

Yes but you don't change many they are entrenched

Yes but you don't change many they are entrenched You seen one you've seen them all (talking about Politicians). Nobody lives as they do. It's not real life. They might enter with good intentions but it is short-lived.

Yes reality sets in and idealism goes out the window

So Quid and Putin meet. Quid brings up ransomware that is generating from Russia . He give Putty a list of attacks he would not tolerate .
Evidently one of them is Not the RNC's 3rd party provider Synnex ( done by the infamous 'CozyBear ' linked to the Russian government ).

Putin tested Quid and Quid's response has been weak.

Quid is Putin's stooge and the compliant press and the hi tech sites are covering it up as much as they can.

May 7 The Colonial Pipeline was forced to shut down after 'DarkSide' a Russian linked hacker demanded a $4.4 million ransom payment. The shutdown of this pipeline led to massive fuel shortages on the East Coast of the United States and gas lines not seen since the Carter administration. The ransom was paid .

May 20, Quid announces the lifting sanctions on the Nord Stream II pipeline, and CEO Matthias Warnig, a Putin crony .

June 3, Russian hacker , 'REvil ' (Cozy Bear ) , attacks the US meat supplier JBS, which shut down its operations in the United States, Canada and Australia I'm betting the ransom was paid also.

June 16, Quid and Putin summit .

Two days later the United States froze a military aid package to Ukraine that included defensive weapons as Russia was amassing troops on the Ukraine border .

I get the uneasy feeling that the Russkies are probing us right now, trying to see how we respond, what works and doesn't work, and getting ready for a much bigger effort. Might not be true, but it does look that way.

I've always thought it was amusing that anyone could have thought that the Russians wanted to see Trump get in rather than HC. I'd MUCH rather take on HC or Robinette Biden than Trump if I was a foreign power.

I'd MUCH rather take on HC or Robinette Biden than Trump if I was a foreign power.
Flatter tRump and he's all yours.

June 16, Quid and Putin summit .

Two days later the United States froze a military aid package to Ukraine that included defensive weapons as Russia was amassing troops on the Ukraine border .

Nonsense.

The military aid was paused after Putin announced he would reduce the military build-up on Ukraine's border. The pause was BEFORE the Biden-Putin summit, not two days after.

The White House Friday afternoon disputed the characterization of the aid: "The idea that we have held back security assistance to Ukraine is nonsense. Just last week—in the run-up to the U.S.-Russia Summit—we provided a $150 million package of security assistance, including lethal assistance," press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement.

Well if Jen Psaki said it, then I'm sure it is indisputably true. (much sarcasm intended)

Right 2 days before not after . Ukraine says Russia has not withdrawn .

Same date as this source.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/white-house-freezes-ukraine-military-aid-package-report


Flatter tRump and he's all yours.You must be living with your eyes closed. Trump was criticized for putting trade restrictions on the Chinese. Under the Trump admin, we became energy independent for the first time in who knows how long.

nothing about the Russian cyber hacks ?

nothing about the Russian cyber hacks ?

Biden today said "Yes" to "Is something being done" (paraphrased).

My suggestion if Biden asks me is to do the same to them - Hack the s**t out of their "lights" - I assume that means their electric grid.

I'll stay by my phone in case he calls.

Under the Trump admin, we became energy independent for the first time in who knows how long.
But no thanks to him who doesn't understand how "stupid" wind turbines work and doesn't believe in global warming because he himself feels cool breezes.

No thanks to him? It happened under his admin. Robinette B then comes along and stupidly cancels the Keystone project. Thanks a lot. Wind turbines are stupid. They are non-competitive cost-wise and...ahem...don't work when those cool breezes are not blowing.

Get your head out of where the sun don't shine JL, wind turbines are only part of renewables solution, but advantageously placed they can be highly efficiency, unlike solar which can only ever be 50% efficient at best, but in order to solve the northern hemisphere problem of "AGW" they have been used to good effect in places with abundant wind and sunshine. There is an electricity grid for a reason. The big problem for both is they give twenty years at best unlike hydro which is a century long project. The Keystone project transports the most polluting carbon based energy on the planet so not really a good idea and anyway its Canadian oil, let them build their own refineries, they might be ultra competitive

The price of oil has surged under Green New Quid's policies ;up to $75/bbl . This of course drives up the costs of everything associated with getting goods to market .
We are also experiencing droughts in all the wheat producing places of the world . Not good news for the folks who depend on bread at reasonable prices to feed their families . But if you are an investor in the commodities market .... bet on wheat .

Great job Quid ! For years the American goal was energy independence . We are on the verge of realizing it and the only thing preventing it is Democrat utopian visions .

wind turbines are only part of renewables solution, but advantageously placed they can be highly efficiency, unlike solar which can only ever be 50% efficient at best, but in order to solve the northern hemisphere problem of "AGW" they have been used to good effect in places with abundant wind and sunshine. There is an electricity grid for a reason. The big problem for both is they give twenty years at best unlike hydro which is a century long project. The Keystone project transports the most polluting carbon based energy on the planet so not really a good idea and anyway its Canadian oil, let them build their own refineries, they might be ultra competitiveSorry, but that's a really poor post. We all know electrical grids are there for a reason. Solar is not even under discussion. Coal is the most polluting carbon based energy and Keystone did not move coal. Wind only makes sense because our out of money government subsidizes it. As to letting Canada refine it's own oil, that's completely ridiculous. Why would we want to give business away in that manner? That's the Australian model as the graph below shows.

It gets old having to constantly correct your inaccurate posts, so try doing some research ahead of time. You'll look less foolish that way. I realize you have a burr under your saddle about me for whatever reason, but your knee-jerk responses in trying to be offensive are childish. Why not address the points rather than the person?

You don't want to give Aussie land a bad name since you've got enough problems over there as it is as the graph below shows. It's surprising you can't see the dangers for your national security in that information.

We don't want to become like you.

https://theconversation.com/australia-imports-almost-all-of-its-oil-and-there-are-pitfalls-all-over-the-globe-97070

https://images.theconversation.com/files/220082/original/file-20180523-51102-1pklrb2.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip

I am well aware of the national security issue surrounding oil which is political because the greenies/lefties won't allow exploration, we have plenty of oil we just can't drill it, yet and yes we have allowed old inefficient refineries to close just as we have allowed old inefficient coal fired generation to close and you know what replaced it? that wind and solar you think so poorly of

that wind and solar you think so poorly ofYou mean the solar YOU also think so poorly of? " unlike solar which can only ever be 50% efficient at best." At any rate, wind and solar cannot replace petroleum products unless you are using a seriously high number of electric vehicles, and I very much doubt that is the case. It can replace coal fired power plants, but petrol products are not typically used to produce electricity. Besides, the graph above shows that you did not replace your refinery losses with solar/wind. You replaced their production with increased imports. It is very, very clear. Your electrical production from solar is still relatively small (5% or so) and wind is only around 10%, so your statement is simply not true.

The Chicoms could shutdown your energy imports for a few weeks and you'd be in a bind. It is why we should be eternally grateful to have become energy independent. It's why the Keystone project should be restarted tomorrow.