‘Europe’s gas imports from Russia overtook supplies from the US for the first time in almost two years in May, despite the region’s efforts to wean itself off Russian fossil fuels since the full scale invasion of Ukraine.’
“It’s striking to see the market share of Russian gas and [liquefied natural gas] inch higher in Europe after all we have been through, and all the efforts made to decouple and de-risk energy supply,” said Tom Marzec-Manser, head of gas analytics at consultancy ICIS.’
This is what “free trade” and “global economy” is supposed to do, only it’s not quite the meal we ordered. The canard is: Free trade and making a buck off of everybody else will so entangle people’s affairs and raise their standard of living that war and general misbehavior will not happen because it would interfere with all this wonderful free trade, buck-making, and low-low prices.
All it does is paralyze one side and point the gun at themselves. It might prevent war but not because nobody will find war useful or enriching. It just keeps the ostensible good guys from fighting back because you can’t afford to risk all that cheap this and plentiful that and free trade that you’ve become accustomed to.
Have sanctions from high dudgeon and righteous indignation laid on some ne’er-do-well ever done any good?
I must say I was in fact a little surprised but first thing I thought of was: How many times have they been imposed? 13 out of 14? 15? 99?
Also, most of the miscreants who were duly cowed really had nothing to offer so nobody was losing anything by putting the screws to them in the name of righteousness. Plus, the miscreants knew they’d be better off playing the game. Putin is playing a different game and has stuff people want/need.