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Biden Slouches towards Catastrophe in Ukraine
National Review ^ | January 5, 2022 | Robert Zubrin

Posted on 01/06/2022 5:08:27 AM PST by tlozo

The White House is writing off an ally to appease an enemy. The situation in Ukraine has become very grave.

On December 17, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin sent U.S. president Joe Biden an ultimatum, effectively demanding that NATO abandon Eastern Europe or face military action. Biden agreed to a phone conversation with Putin to talk it over, giving the Kremlin what it sought: The affected countries were now on the table instead of at the table. When the two then talked on December 30, according to the White House, Biden rejected the ultimatum and informed Putin that if he proceeded to invade Ukraine, he would face strong economic sanctions from the U.S. and its European partners. Putin then countered by saying that such sanctions would result in a “complete rupture in relations” between Russia and the U.S.

The Russian ultimatum was outrageous, so much so that it is clear that it was designed to be rejected, giving Russia a pretext for war. Furthermore, in promising to cut off relations in response to any new Western sanctions, Putin was threatening retaliation for Western actions that would only occur in the event of an invasion.

In other words: The invasion is on. Putin is planning to take Ukraine, or the bulk of it, because he thinks he can.

Putin looks at Biden and his European counterparts and sees weakness. And why wouldn’t he? In July 2014, when Russia-backed fighters shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over Ukraine, killing all 298 passengers and crew aboard, the Obama–Biden administration refused to hold them responsible for it; instead, the White House called for a prolonged “investigation” to defuse the issue. A month later, when Ukrainian forces were advancing into Donetsk to retake the city from Russian-backed separatists, Russia massed armored forces on the Ukrainians’ flanks. These tank concentrations could not have escaped observation by U.S. reconnaissance satellites. But rather than “provoke” Russia by warning the Ukrainians of the impending envelopment, the Obama–Biden administration shamefully kept quiet, allowing the Ukrainian forces to be surprised, surrounded, and defeated. The economic sanctions imposed on Russia in response to its seizure of Ukrainian territory and its killing of over 14,000 Ukrainian citizens were a joke, limited to reducing a few secondary Kremlin figures’ opportunities to shop and enjoy the sites in Western countries. Meanwhile, the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project was allowed to proceed apace.

More than five years later, Russia is mobilizing troops on the Ukrainian border, and the Biden administration seems to be taking the Russian seizure of Ukraine as a fait accompli. Rather than warn Putin that he will be held responsible for any harm that might come to the 15,000 American citizens currently in Ukraine, the administration has announced that it is developing plans for their evacuation. Biden has threatened to impose more serious sanctions in the event of an invasion, but Putin is betting that any sanctions with real teeth will be temporary in nature, and well worth the pain if he can take Ukraine and discredit the Western alliance in the bargain...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bidenlovers; nationalreview; nevertrump; nr; putin; russia; ukraine; war
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1 posted on 01/06/2022 5:08:27 AM PST by tlozo
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To: tlozo

“The White House is writing off an ally to appease an enemy. “

Enemy? When will there be a declaration of war?
What contribution to US security did the “ally” do?


2 posted on 01/06/2022 5:11:40 AM PST by NorseViking
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To: tlozo

“15,000 American citizens currently in Ukraine”

Gee, that sounds familiar.

Some fairly new citizens need to open their eyes and come to their senses.


3 posted on 01/06/2022 5:12:02 AM PST by Brian Griffin ( )
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To: tlozo

Anytime talk of war comes out, I ask myself one question:
Is this worth planting one of my sons?
So far, since 2002, the answer is always no


4 posted on 01/06/2022 5:12:23 AM PST by joe fonebone (bush league chamber of commerce worshiping republiCAN'Ts are the enemy)
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To: tlozo

how much property, tunnels, trafficking, companies,
do the Xiden FAMILY (BigGUY, too) own and control
in Ukraine??

why is no one in MSM asking?

what is trafficked in the tunnels?


5 posted on 01/06/2022 5:12:54 AM PST by Diogenesis (Si vis pacem, para bellum)
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To: tlozo

“the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project was allowed to proceed”

Germans tend to be frugal.


6 posted on 01/06/2022 5:14:56 AM PST by Brian Griffin ( )
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To: tlozo

If I were Ukraine, I would not depend on the USA for help. Americans will not support the current President that is illegitimate in defending Ukraine.


7 posted on 01/06/2022 5:16:27 AM PST by DEPcom (Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules)
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To: tlozo

*** Rather than warn Putin that he will be held responsible for any harm that might come to the 15,000 American citizens currently in Ukraine, the administration has announced that it is developing plans for their evacuation.***

I wonder if this evacuation will be any more successful than the one in Afghanistan.


8 posted on 01/06/2022 5:16:31 AM PST by FamiliarFace
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To: tlozo

Ukrainians want to know, can Hunter be rented again?


9 posted on 01/06/2022 5:16:31 AM PST by Brian Griffin ( )
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To: tlozo

Except for him, it’s not a catastrophe - it’s exactly what was planned.

We’re not supposed to be paying attention to any of this stuff, however: We’re supposed to focus on this stupid virus/vaccination BS until, by hook or by crook, the world’s population has been reduced by one-third. Then it will get really interesting.


10 posted on 01/06/2022 5:16:49 AM PST by Scarlett156 (Don't take it personally. I just get bored really easily. )
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To: NorseViking
What contribution to US security did the “ally” do?

What contribution to our security do any of our "allies" do?

They only "help" us fight their enemies.

Our biggest security threat is our porous borders. That should be our security priority.

11 posted on 01/06/2022 5:17:54 AM PST by Angelino97
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To: tlozo
This is Robert Zubrin's Wiki page, if anyone is interested in his background. It doesn't say if he has Ukrainian ties.
12 posted on 01/06/2022 5:21:46 AM PST by Angelino97
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To: tlozo
The Russian ultimatum was outrageous, so much so that it is clear that it was designed to be rejected, giving Russia a pretext for war.

IIRC, that happened at the opening of WWI. Austro-Hungary's Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated in Serbia and Serbia wanted very much to avoid a war. Austro-Hungary sent them some sort of ultimatum detailing how Serbia could avoid war. It was so totally unreasonable that it was clear to everyone that the war was going to happen. And it just got bigger and bigger.

13 posted on 01/06/2022 5:23:16 AM PST by ClearCase_guy (The experts are liars. The conspiracy theorists are the people who have figured out the Truth.)
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To: tlozo

Our enemies are in DC, not Moscow.


14 posted on 01/06/2022 5:26:43 AM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: tlozo

Putting the CCCP back together.

“The Ukraine girls really knock me out
They leave the West behind”

Back in the USSR
https://www.songfacts.com/lyrics/the-beatles/back-in-the-ussr


15 posted on 01/06/2022 5:28:22 AM PST by Brian Griffin ( )
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To: Angelino97

I was going to say that, but then I hit “refresh.”

I was going to say “Why is Ukraine our ‘ally’ when they’ve never helped us with a gosh-darned thing?”

I agree with you 100%, our own farm has enough problems.


16 posted on 01/06/2022 5:28:27 AM PST by Scarlett156 (Don't take it personally. I just get bored really easily. )
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To: tlozo

I won’t blame Biden.

I will blame every single congressman and senator who refused to defend our vote on Jan 6, 2021.


17 posted on 01/06/2022 5:29:25 AM PST by Safrguns
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To: tlozo

China gets the green light to invade Taiwan.


18 posted on 01/06/2022 5:30:23 AM PST by DownInFlames (P)
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To: Diogenesis

19 posted on 01/06/2022 5:38:01 AM PST by Travis McGee (EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com)
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To: Travis McGee

Trump controlled the southern border AND sent Javelin missiles to Ukraine.


20 posted on 01/06/2022 5:40:14 AM PST by tlozo
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