On the final day of the NATO summit in Madrid, President Biden declared that the US and NATO will support Ukraine for ‘as long as it takes’ for Kyiv to win its war against Russia. He also said that his administration will be announcing a new $800 million weapons package for Ukraine in the coming days.
“We are going to stick with Ukraine and all of the Alliance is going to stick with Ukraine as long as it takes to, in fact, make sure that they are not defeated by… Russia,” Biden said at a press conference.
When asked how long Americans should expect to pay high gas prices that have spiked as a result of his sanctions on Russia, Biden also said for “as long as it takes” so Russia cannot “defeat Ukraine.”
As Russia is making more money from oil sales now than it was before the war, the US is looking at ways to hamper Moscow’s profits while not causing another spike in prices. One idea G7 leaders are exploring is placing a price cap on Russian oil, a plan doomed to fail as it would need the cooperation of Vladimir Putin as well as China and India, which have significantly stepped up their imports of Russian crude.
“I suggested a while ago that what we should consider doing is putting a cap on the amount of money that… the world would pay for Russian oil,” Biden told reporters. He said that he delegated a team to “sit down and work out that mechanism” for the price cap. “We think it can be done,” he said.
Swedish bank analysts are warning that the price cap could bring oil prices to over $200 per barrel. Russia could respond to the policy by cutting off Western countries that are still purchasing Russian oil, which would drive gas prices even higher in Europe.
Biden’s pledge for open-ended support for Ukraine to win its war came after CNN reported that White House officials privately doubt that Ukraine can win back all the territory Russia has captured since it invaded. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky maintains that it is his goal to take all of that territory back even as Russia continues to make gains in the eastern Donbas region.
The Ukrainians are outgunned by Russia and their war effort is entirely reliant on Western military support. Biden said the new $800 million weapons package that will be detailed this week will include an “advanced” Western air defense system, more artillery and ammunition, including ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, and counter-battery radars.
The failure to understand what “the world” really means is a rather serious problem for UKUSA and its client states.
Maybe they are referring to “the international community” again https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/96dd8e0a23e0b7c0b57301d674f994c3679cd8b954b6b3528e3dd955e558539b.jpg
Perhaps Biden thinks that a price-cap is more politically acceptable than a full ban on Russian oil because it would allow European countries to buy Russian oil without concealing the fact (by buying it from someone who has already refined it, or from a seller who transferred oil between ships to conceal its source, etc.). Or perhaps he 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 the price to rise to $200 a barrel so that the market can do what the ban did not.
But the genie is out of the bottle. Two tiered pricing (one for friendly countries and one for unfriendly countries) has already been established. It seems unlikely that either India or China would be any more willing to accept a worldwide price cap than the worldwide ban Biden originally tried.
Time to give us a map or better yet, one of those globes that spins…
Biden will probably succeed in bringing down Russia’s oil revenues. But it won’t happen the way he evidently thinks it will happen. His efforts to manipulate the market have already triggered stagflation in the US and signs of panic in Europe. If the global economy collapses as it did in 2008, demand for global oil will likely collapse. Mission Accomplished… sort of.
Inflation in the U.S. was 7% before the invasion. Corporation raised prices, because they could.
Well it comes down to higher up the food chain you are, the more you can pass costs down and not take a loss yourself
The sanctions intentionally reduced the supply of energy exported by Russia. Energy is an inelastic commodity. Now it costs considerably more. That, and the cost of food, also directly affected by the sanctions, have driven the economy to the tipping point.
There are 2 ways to turn this around: increase the supply, or reduce demand. The price cap proposal is intended to further reduce the supply.
It’s true that if the market was competitive, competition would bring the prices down. But it’s not competitive, and both producers and refiners are no doubt enjoying all of this government sponsored market manipulation.
“We think it can be done,” said the man as he fell off his bicycle.
Training wheels have been installed. Now when he forgets that he has stopped, he won’t fall down.
Does he remember which lever is for brakes for the front and which is for the back wheels.
For some unknown reason he was riding a bike with toe clips on the pedals and had trouble getting his foot out when he stopped.
That’s one reason I don’t use toe clips. Although, even being much younger than him, I’ve gone ass over teakettle a couple of times when I stopped and my knee buckled or my foot slipped on loose gravel.
There are a lot of reasons to think the guy is frail or senile. This particular thing isn’t one of them.
You are far too generous Mr. Knapp…
No, Thomas is right. Riding with toe clips (really toe cages), or with “clipless” pedals that engage cleats on cycling shoes, is something that needs to be practiced until it’s a matter of automatic muscle memory to “clip out” when preparing to stop, or instantly when urgent need arises.
I doubt there are many cyclists who haven’t fallen at least once when riding clipped in after an extended period of not doing so. Guess why I know.
Unless you’re in the pro peloton, I don’t understand going clipless. You need to get off the bike too frequently in city cycling to be clipped-in e.g. if confronted by an off-leash dog. It is different for a pro on a 180km closed course out on the open road, highways,etc! I almost never wear my cycling shoes any more. Platforms for road cycling even. Also I have come to enjoy having my feet move around more – don’t like one fixed pedal position. So this story tells us that there isn’t even one regular cyclist on Biden’s team to understand these simple cycling concepts to forewarn him!
When I first started “seriously” cycling, I did the “cycling shorts” and stuff like that, considered switching to toe clip pedals, thought about buying aero bars, etc. on my used (VERY used — I got it for $100) Trek 7000.
Then it occurred to me that I was unlikely to ever compete in the Tour de France, or even to compete at all. I was just getting some exercise, and getting around. If not having toe clips or perfect aerodynamic vis a vis position and clothing meant that I averaged 1/10th of a mile per hour less speed-wise, big deal. These days, when I climb on my bike (right now it’s a cheap Chinese electric cargo bike), I’m wearing whatever I was already wearing (plus a helmet and, depending on light conditions and where I’m going, a reflective vest).
You’d think that whoever was planning a photo/video op for a president that involved a bicycle would consult SOMEONE on “what’s the safest/easiest setup here?” But I guess you’d think wrong.
Knapp is a peacenik and a commuter cyclist ?
Respect.
Not really a “commuter” cyclist, since I work from home. My “commute” is the walk from my bedroom, past the el cheapo espresso machine which I turned on as soon as I sat up in bed using an Alexa smart plug so that it would be done brewing by the time I got dressed, to my office. But I do use the bicycle for trips into town to e.g. see a movie, attend a meeting, visit a friend, do some light grocery shopping, etc.
We also have a family car, but I don’t drive. I lost my wallet with my driver’s license and Social Security card in it circa 2004, and at the time the post-9/11 stuff was so bad that I couldn’t get a new driver’s license without my Social Security card and birth certificate, couldn’t get a new Social Security card without my driver’s license and birth certificate, and couldn’t get my birth certificate (which had long since disappeared) without my driver’s license and Social Security card.
So, I just stopped driving. I finally got a state ID so I could get on an airplane, after I moved to Florida and found out some of the regulations were different and others had loosened up. I was able to get my birth certificate with a DD-214 and a piece of mail (e.g. utility bill), and a state ID with the birth certificate, DD-214, and copy of my lease.
But I’ve never bothered to get a driver’s license again. I’m considering it, just so I can upgrade from a bicycle to a scooter, and then to a motorcycle. I’d like to be able to wake up one morning, decide that it’s been too long since I visited California, and just go. Right now, I have a realistic solo range of 40 miles or so.
Dude – the pedalec cargo bike threw me. Similar journey for my (retired) household:
Been also living car free since 2018. A gradual transition that started roughly 2014. DL expired in 2018. da’ wife still keeps her car but she is car lite – she‘ll drive maybe 1,200 miles this year, mostly to visit her mother.
Fortunately in the small town we live, the train service is good. It’s easy to take the train 40 miles into the big city.
The big grocery store is 6 miles away. That’s my long errand. The rest of the errands are in my small town. 1-2 miles, I did need to see a consultant for a business project the other day – 8 miles away. A enjoyable trip there and back.
40 miles ???? My pedalec range is realistic 20 miles. I‘ve cycled 70 miles in a day, but that’s a epic day. I also muse about getting a scooter DL or a motorcycle DL but geez being car free is liberating in some way.
It’s actually a weird feeling to sit in a car these days. It’s happened maybe 3 times in the last year that I’ve been on a 1-2 hour car ride. Every time, I think whoever-thought-this-was-a-good-way-to-travel ?
Sounds like a nice lifestyle!
I live about five miles out of a city of 100k (Gainesville, FL). The absolute nearest store is a c-store a little mile over a way; three miles to a real grocery store, five to seven miles for most other shopping, ten miles to city center / night life stuff.
Pre-electric bicycle, I routinely did 100+ miles per week, until my knees went and then I’d be off the bike for at least two months. With the electric bike, my longest single ride has been about 40 miles, mostly to see how much work I’d have to do and how much assistance it would give me. I bike for utility rather than exercise now. If I do no pedaling at all, I can get a little over 11 miles out of it (I checked that so I’d know). So I can run those 3-5 mile one-way errands and do no work at all if I choose. If I’m going further, I pedal as much as I feel like, use the “assist” mode some, and save the throttle-only for when I’m really tired, almost home, or want to e.g. get through an intersection quickly from a standing stop.
I’m torn on where to live when I get a retirement choice. On one hand, I’d love a downtown apartment within walking distance of groceries and such, with bike for slightly longer outings and good mass transit, Uber, etc. options for especially distant things. On the other hand, I’d like to live in the woods at least a mile from any neighbors. Eventually I’ll have to pick one of those.
Oh you have a Moped e-bike. Those are very slick. The wife and I share a pedal Assist e-bike. Bought used .
Small towns away from the interstate are the great little secret in the US. Challenge is finding one that’s on a decent railine.
Why not simply stay where you are right now ?
I use pedal assist a lot, but being able to just twist the throttle and rely entirely on the motor is nice when I need or want it.
Where we are right now is a rental and our adult children are still living with us. Eventually they won’t be, so we won’t need as much space, and we’d rather own something by the time we retire if we’re not going to be in an apartment. The only real advantage to where we are is that it’s reasonably close to my wife’s work but not on the city utility (which is about twice as expensive as our rural electric cooperative). If we move further out in the sticks we’ll get something at least as nice for a mortgage payment that’s half what we pay in rent, and probably without close neighbors (we live on a one-acre lot, so the neighbors aren’t right up in our faces, but I’d prefer to not be able to see another house from mine).
1 acre ?
Can you Buy your place from the landlord; keep the kids and grandkids together and live happy like in the old TV series The Waltons ?
Nope. Our landlord doesn’t sell land. At least not now. If he ever does sell the lot we’re on, it will almost certainly be as part of a large package for development. If we want to own, we’ll have to move further from the city. Which I’d prefer anyway if we’re not going to live in the city.
For me walkability is the key variable in selecting a location. At some point, we age enough that walking is the best option for getting around.
I have friends that are too old to drive and are essentially trapped in a house. Their adult kids bring groceries once a week.
On the other hand my 89 year old Mother lives in a walkable beach city in California. She has a full social life and can do all her shopping on foot. That’s liberating.
Go with the woods, Thomas. Neighbors suck.
Thomas, that’s terrible!!! 😟
😆
I think toe clips for a man his age are almost a necessity.
Yes. What is Biden’s team doing, not protecting him. No one foresaw the risks for an infrequent older-guy cyclist in getting in & out of those toe clips? Platform pedals only please. Earlier with the big German Shepherd, too, I said “That dog is going to hurt Biden”.
I’m not a big fan of Biden (or any politician), but even way back in the 1980s PJ O’Rourke was already pointing out that everywhere a president goes, “there’s a camera crew waiting for him to say f*ck or get shot.” The only reason him falling off a bike is news is because he’s president.
In my opinion, presidents should probably stay off bicycles and other sketchy vehicles, both for their own safety and so they don’t look like idiots in public. George W. Bush got in a mountain bike wreck at his ranch, fell off a bike after colliding with a cop in Scotland, and fell off a Segway on camera, all while president. And Barack Obama looked like a special needs child toodling around on a bike.
Then again, maybe there’s something to be said for presidents looking stupid and going ass over teakettle in public. Might bring them down a notch on the “people think I’m wise and competent” scale.
Thomas, poor Gerald Ford was the champion. It seemed as though every nightly news broadcast showed him falling down, the White House steps, Air Force One, just everywhere.
It was his “thing”.
I’ve yet to see Vladimir Putin unseated by a horse 😉
You know how much us horse-loving ladies admire a man that rides!
That being said, I flipped my bike in an inconvenient pothole on our gravel road when I was in my 30’s and fractured a hip. I did ride the three miles back home in spite of it.
That hip is just fine; it’s the other one that needs to be replaced 😐
I for one appreciate comic relief. It is clear why he fell, and it is good that ge did not get hurt. Other than his pride.
But I worry about his inability to balance out his foreign/military policy. As a result, we are sliding dangerously into a void — place we have not seen before. Insane money creation out of thin air to finance Ukrainian disaster, is generating indirect taxation via inflation. Ironically, a country that was barely held befote by sticks and rubber bands before – is now hopelessly fructured. And should Russians just decide to leave — the country called Ukraine cannot any longer be kept together unless extreme force is used. A minority has already attempted to rule a majority, and it did not work. Now, no unity is possible.
While falling from a bike may be humorous, Zelenski exorting “Ukrainians” to resist invadiors — is hillarious. Who are the mythical “Ukrainians”. The ginnie is out of the bottle. Cannot shove it back. It is gravity. in both cases. Cannot be defied.
“In my opinion, presidents should probably stay off bicycles and other sketchy vehicles, both for their own safety and so they don’t look like idiots in public.”
And the unbelievable waste of money for security.
Er, Thomas, I think the fact that he used toe clips at all might be indicative 😉
😂
NATO just restarted the cold war and ironically the G7 summit was held at a former Nazi sanatorium. As a New Zealander i am astounded that our Prime Minister was at the NATO meeting and i will do everything in my power to ensure she goes before the Hague to answer for her many many crimes against the people of New Zealand and around the world.
Currently its a phony war against Russia in Ukraine, but it is going to be a global war and the trigger could be Lithuania. Little Lithuania is telling France, Germany and Poland that they want WW3 over their unlawful blockade of Kaleningrad.
NATO expands because of the war caused by NATO expansion. Pretty brilliant, isn’t it?
If she goes to The Hague it’s to see the sights, some Vermeers at maritshaus, etc 🙂 sorry but NATO warmongers aren’t held accountable.
Biden Says US Will Keep Sacrificing Ukrainians For ‘as Long as It Takes’
Tragically this is true.
A moving short video of a terrified Ukranian conscript (female ?)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=26&v=okYb26_EQLs&feature=emb_logo
The desire of other euro nations to turn Ukraine into Afghanistan is astonishing, because this is what Biden is saying here. Ukraine cannot win, no matter what toys they are given. Thus, “as long as it takes” is a prescription for endless guerrila war that will completely destroy Ukraine. Truly an evil concept.
There’s a way to end “endless guerilla war” against an invading force.
That way is for the invading force to withdraw.
Thomas, U must mean NATO and the USA! They must withdrawal and tell Ukraine to negotiate, which includes accepting Crimea as Russian soil.
We (Biden) had our chance late last year. Zelensky had espoused detente, but the NAZIs in Ukraine threatened to lynch him. We did not protect him, so, his tune changed to match the harmony by the Right Sector and the Azov Battalion. Then Biden’s mushy brain kicked in, the propaganda began, voila’, American taxpayers gouged again.
!!! Mushy brains crikey!
NATO and the USA should just stay out of it entirely.
But no, I meant that if the Russians don’t want Afghanistan Part II: This Time It’s Personal, they can withdraw any time. Otherwise, it’s on them.
Agfan part 2 also is a disaster for Ukraine. And the world, as it risks escalating this horrible conflict.
Yes, it’s also a disaster for Ukraine. And for Europe. And for the US. Wars are never good things overall, and they generally have few beneficiaries other than politicians and profiteers.
I don’t consider Putin’s decision to invade any more a crime than lots of things his opponents has done. But as Talleyrand pointed out, what’s worse than a crime is a blunder.
Or negotiate!
Yes, but this is not going to happen in this case. Russia has said and I believe them that loss is not an option here in their heartland proximity. The choices are peace with Russia or utter destruction of Ukraine.
It’s unlikely Southern and Eastern Ukraine can be governed again by Ukraine. Most of those civilians who didn’t flee lean Russian and their homes are being shelled by Ukraine now. More violence from Western led guerrilla warfare will only add to it. So what is the point except kill more?
The AFU ARE the invaders. The US puppet regime in Kiev claims
territories where they are not wanted. The resident population are the ones that should decide their government. NOT the puppet regime that seeks to oppress them. Not the EU that seeks to exploit them. And NOT Washington, DC which seeks to sacrifice them on the altar of globalism and hegemony.
How does someone get in on this racket and intercept some of that money? Certainly one of the most corrupt countries in the world has a few “games” going on. Wouldn’t be surprised if people pocketing turn around and start buying cheap real estate after the country is ruined. Ideal for them would be for destruction to continue but in end keep Putin from Western Ukraine. And gee that does seem to coincide with official strategy. And the EU membership will only help some of those investors.
It is probably going to cost the average US homeowner a minimum of $4000.00 to heat the home with home heating oil this coming winter. That is not good.
I recommend a wood stove or wood-burning fireplace insert like we have, Mardasee. Ours heats our entire home comfortably, and even though the price of wood has gone up, it’s still far less pricey than natural gas or propane.
Of course this only applies to areas where hardwoods are readily available. We primarily burn oak and maple and purchase it from a tree-cutting business.
My residence has two apartments. Woodstoves are not allowed.
Unfortunately it’s not accessible to everyone…
A war between The Netherlands and Belgium might remove much cheese and beer from international trade but will not cause widespread hunger elsewhere.
Grains have been a principal food staple of mankind for millennia. Hence this war between two major grain producing countries is sheer madness. The longer it lasts the greater the risk of a serious hunger outbreak.
For “as long as it takes” to bankrupt the United States.
THIS MAN MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO REMAIN IN POWER!
The United States has been bankrupt for quite some time.
But it treats that situation like a Trump construction project — borrow enough, they figure, and the lenders can’t afford to let you actually go under, so they’ll just keep loaning you more.
It can’t work in perpetuity. And it’s going to be ugly.
Thanks for that, Thomas. I’m not very financially savvy.
Scary times we live in. Sometimes I feel as though we’d all be better off getting nuked 😟
They will ensure that Russia takes more territory in Ukraine and build a buffer to protect Russia from these weapons Washington is sending.
I can see Russia securing everything East of the Dnieper River. As well as Odessa.
US/NATO has already lost in Ukraine, comprehensively beaten by Russia. US/NATO are a spent force and Russia is slowly but surely bleeding out US/NATO weapons, troops and resources in Donbass.
The president also said Americans will have to deal with high gas prices ‘for as long as the Biden Regime remains in office.
last year the US imported about 8.47 million barrels of oil per day including 672,000 barrels per day from Russia.
also last year, the US exported about 8.63 million barrels of oil per day.
this has been business as usual for decades.
so WTF is trump always going on about “energy independence” when uncle sam allows the oil to be exported away rather than turning it into fuel for americans.
For every billion dollars we send to Ukraine, we could send 10,000 Americans through 4 years of college. I’m not saying that we should necessarily spend $1-billion that way, but that is an opportunity cost of sending a billion dollars to Ukraine.
NATO/EU is a circus…….Turkey’s pre-condition to Finland entering the NATO bloc is falling apart. Finland and Sweden have not joined NATO yet, and there is a long process ahead,
Scholz at this very same NATO meet, got scared and quickly urged not to hinder the transit of Russian goods to Kaliningrad.
Germany steals Gazprom LNG Tankers which belonged to the Russian energy giants. Gazprom simply turns off the gas faucet and key gas retailers in Germany and the UK suddenly stare as the bottom of the tank becomes visible.
Sergei Kiriyenko visited the Kharkov region. The issuance of Russian passports has started and the formation of administration is in progress.
XakNet Team hacked the website of the Ukraine is Our Home TV channel. Now the anthem of Russia is played there. the Killnet group brought down the website of the US Federal Tax Payment System.
The Banderite Forces of Ukraine are in total panic: The battle for LYSICHANSK is over (mopping up), and the Russians are already advancing on SEVERSK! This is getting very embarrassing for US/NATO.
And yet the wheel in the sky keeps on turning.. While leaders come and go promising futures that they won’t ever live to see, crowds cheer on the madness, come next year all is forgotten.. The misery, pain and shattered lives stand as testament not to trust what politicians say in the US, whether its shown on the news or hidden is irrelevant.. Slowly but surely every single nation on earth will have enough of their blood being spilled just so 1 guy can give a speech and jet off to the beach.
When the US parasite latches on to a host country, it’s difficult removing it, unless you commit a revolution. Ukraine unfortunately doesn’t see this yet.
The neo-feudal Gang of 7 met and condemned freedom. They didn’t call it freedom though, they called it Russia. Freedom is denied in the name of Democracy in which one country controls the rest of the world and cruelly exploits it.
The US / UK / NATO numpties will go bankrupt before Putin will allow Russia to be defeated , all none NATO countries are lining up to buy Russian natural resources and as none NATO countries out number the Numpties in NATO tells you all you need to know.
Russia has turned off both Nord Stream pipelines from July 11 to 21 – allegedly for “maintenance” – in reality to give Europe a taste of what’s coming: NO gas.
The greatest threat to the American people and world at large are both repugnant political terrorists that own both parties. Americans must find a way to expel the cancer that no longer hides its true intentions. Covid was no accident, and it will only get worse from here…
The fix is easy, place a limit on their wealth, this will limit the damage they can do. Tax them 100% after that limit. If they break the rules execute them for treason (Capital Punishment).
By the way, if you want to get some good clear analysis of how things are going in Ukraine, Brian Berletic has a good Youtube channel.
Latest Brian Berletic…
Replacing Ukraine’s Dwindling Air Defenses & Kiev’s “Managed Retrogrades” in Donbass
Crack up when he reports the Pentagon is calling Ukrainian retreats “managed retrogrades”… He pours scorn on that, rightfully.
Also talks about the NASAM missiles.
Bonaparte’s Managed Retrograde?
Leave behind as much destruction as possible, deprive cities and towns of infrastructure, and then blame Russia. This is the tactics of the Nazi US/EU/NATO thugs.
The Banderite Forces of US/EU/NATO fired a “Tochka-U” at Lisichansk civilian infrastructure. These are war crimes.
I am witnessing the disintegration of Western society – the depravity is visible to the naked eye. HISTORY WILL JUDGE THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ALLIES
As long as there is a Ukrainian left alive willing to weaken Russia, they will get dollars and arms to do so from Uncle Sam. The actual quote there is “not defeated by” not “win against,” which is clearly impossible as Biden is perfectly aware (unless we turn over to Ukraine our entire inventory of military hardware, which they ask for but we will not do). The only positive step forward for the US these days is high gas prices, finally. And the gradual destruction of a toxic regime in Kyiv heading towards utter bankruptcy.
Does Joe Biden own any stock or assetts in the oil industry? One has to wonder, if his donors do. What does Joe Biden think will happen to the billion of dollars of weapons he’s shipping when they fall into enemy hands in an unwinnable war. F U Joe Biden.
Boris Traitor Johnson is now pillaging the health and education budgets across the UK to send to Ukraine Nazi’s. Billions are being pillaged, this just shows his allegiance to the people he represents.
Ukraine since 2014 has been a military dictatorship operating under marshal law. Opposition parties have been banned and their leaders thrown in jail. Political executions are normal.