The Ukraine Crisis and the Energy Markets

https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/qatar-sees-little-chance-of-replacing-russian-gas-with-lng-in-europe

Without a doubt the US Energy sector (as a component of Wall Street) is one of the driving factors in the US attempt to pull Russia into a war with Ukraine. The US has been sabre rattling for months though this has been ignored by Western media. It's clear the US wanted to break Nordstream 2, and at this point it would seem they've been successful.

The abundant and even jubilant commentary coming from US politicians and energy sector analysts has also been telling. They're champing at the bit to open up the US Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) sector, even though Europe at this point lacks the available infrastructure. It doesn't matter. History shows that America expects its allies to suffer for its cause and fall on their sword if need be. And while the politicians shed crocodile tears for their constituents suffering from inflation, the market is red hot and the money is pouring in.

Ukraine has effectively been a US proxy since 2014 though US control is not absolute – nor is president Zelenskiy in full control of his military or the various (and sometimes fascistic) paramilitary groups. Everyone speaks of Russia being corrupt and rightly so. But the situation in Ukraine is no better and the United States has played a role in this – just as it did in 1990's Russia.

If there's another US intervention then you can be certain that Kiev will become a fully subservient satrap and if Zelenskiy won't bow to Washington, Poroshenko (or some other American lackey) stands ready to re-assume control. And Wall Street is seeing dollar signs all down the line. There's money to be made in war and in energy. With its access to the Black Sea there are possibilities in terms of ports and pipelines – all of which can cut Russia out and make Europe dependent on North American gas or from its strategic 'partners' in Transcaucasia. Such a new reality would open up new possibilities in Central Asia and if Russia is knocked down and suffering from post-Putin chaos – Washington will make its move. That's the endgame in all this. America's Russian and Eurasian project was thwarted by Putin in the early 2000's and Wall Street wants its revenge which amounts to his removal.

Putin is of course attempting to play a chess game – or more accurately a game of chicken. This will be his last attempt to thwart Ukraine from its trajectory of becoming an asset of the West and fully integrated into its bureaucracies that include NATO. This would mark a serious strategic defeat for Russia, wrecking its historic security strategy, and such an event would likely lead to Putin's fall. Putin has drawn the line and yet the problem is this – Washington wants the war and so there's no basis for diplomacy. Every move he makes shuts down diplomatic possibilities and provides Washington an excuse to keep clamping down. Washington keeps floating the possibilities of diplomacy but it's clear that the Biden administration has no interest in any sort of compromise. They want a proxy war between Ukraine and Russia which will then develop into a larger NATO vs. Russia conflict. It's all madness and very dangerous but the Washington Establishment has made its calculations. They too see this as a kind of 'last chance' to finish the work started thirty years ago and they are in desperate need to reassert unity – over the Empire's satrapies in Europe and also domestically, especially as the situation has become very volatile and dangerous. Some believe with Russia broken (and Putin gone), they can turn to China. But there's no reason to believe that's how things will go.

And what a gamble. It could quickly turn into a world war and as both sides are intensifying their militaristic posturing, the situation could quickly become very dangerous for the entire globe. The US warns of deaths resulting from a Russian invasion but this too is disingenuous. With a million dead from the state's murderous Covid policies, to the million dead across the Middle East since 2001, it's clear the US Establishment reckons life as cheap especially when compared to profits and strategic goals.

And domestically the Right is out in full force using the crisis as a means to attack Biden. Whatever he does or doesn't do they will use to inflame their base. It's a race to see which narrative, which conflict, can tip the scales and unite (or blow apart) what's left of the American social consensus. In some respects it's comical, but also tragic. Taking in the domestic scene it's as if people have lost their minds.

Corruption, greed, and violence drive such leaders – the oligarchs and plutocrats who reign over these lands. From the American Praetorians to Putin and his lieutenants, they're all little more than gangsters in suits hiding behind flags, killers maddened by bloodlust and the scent of gold. For Putin his ambition brought him here. Corrupt and evil, he's not a sympathetic figure but it must be noted that despite what is said in the West – he didn't start this. And Western charges of Russian geopolitical criminality are ridiculous. For decades the US has conquered and carved up nations, violated sovereignty, manipulated politics, stolen resources, collaborated with butchers, tortured, killed, assassinated, and laid waste to entire regions. This doesn't exonerate Putin but a little perspective is due. We need not support him to take great umbrage at the phony narratives and counterfeit morality being promoted by the Anglo-American criminals and hypocrites who are trying to generate a firestorm. Be careful what you wish for.