US Foreign Policy 3.0: We're The Mets of International Diplomacy

[ScoobyDoo]

It was so ****ing smart of Germany to become reliant on natural gas from Russia. Good plan.

[The Sicatoka]

It was so ****ing smart of Germany to become reliant on natural gas from Russia. Good plan.

In 2018 the following received amused reactions from the German delegation:

“Germany will become totally dependent on Russian energy if it does not immediately change course. Here in the Western Hemisphere, we are committed to maintaining our independence from the encroachment of expansionist foreign powers.”

The first sentence: Nailed it. (The Germans are restarting retired coal plants knowing they ain't gettin' nat-gas.)
The second sentence: We've moved from that and now we are idiots, fist-bumping guys with bone saws for ex-pat journalists.

But blind squirrel and OMB.

[Kepler]

Next will be oil & natural gas

https://swentr.site/business/559235-...sia-sanctions/

"Give me convenience or give me death."

[mookie1995]

It was so ****ing smart of Germany to become reliant on natural gas from Russia. Good plan.

Much like Minnesota is reliant on energy imports from Texas?

[dxmnkd316]

Much like Minnesota is reliant on energy imports from Texas?

We are? We get 55% of our energy from nuclear and renewables. Coal makes up 25%, likely from Powder River or Appalachia. Natural Gas was 20%. Of the natural gas, almost all of it comes from the Dakotas and Canada.
80%-90% of the oil that goes into our gasoline comes is extracted in Alberta.

So... I guess you'd have a point, we get our energy from elsewhere, but the vast majority of it comes from Canada.

[Deutsche Gopher Fan]

Yeah we prefer our energy maple syrup flavored vs spiked with toxic waste

[Swansong]

I think Germany pays far too much attention to their Green party and that's burned them here. Absolutely refusing nuclear leads to over-reliance on coal and natural gas, which are far worse for the environment.


Again, I'll say that a national energy plan that doesn't include nuclear is not a serious plan. Yes, we need to incorporate more and more renewable energy sources and at some point they should make up a majority of our energy, however we aren't there yet.

[Handyman]

Cactuses are dying in the desert...I think we are past the point where any one decision is going to help anymore. This is all just deck chairs on the titanic barring a ****ing miracle.

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

All I can say is, at least for now, I'm glad I stayed put in Michigan and have housing flexibility.

[dxmnkd316]

I think Germany pays far too much attention to their Green party and that's burned them here. Absolutely refusing nuclear leads to over-reliance on coal and natural gas, which are far worse for the environment.

Again, I'll say that a national energy plan that doesn't include nuclear is not a serious plan. Yes, we need to incorporate more and more renewable energy sources and at some point they should make up a majority of our energy, however we aren't there yet.

Nuclear probably is the best bridge for renewables. What's the lifetime of a nuke plant, 25-50 years? 75 years? But the biggest problem is the time to build. Even fast-tracked it's going to take 5-10 years. In 10 years we're going to be at a significant fraction of renewables. We're at 20% as a nation now. Plus 18.9% nukes. We need to double that in ten years or less. We would need to start today.

A nuke plant isn't going anywhere near major cities I wouldn't think. Not in the timeframe we need it to. So who do we dump on? I vote the dakotas. Best to do it farther north as possible where solar isn't as attractive.

[Drew S.]

Apparently F-22’s to Europe next week.

[Kepler]

Apparently F-22’s to Europe next week.

To Ukraine?

Whoa. Src? That kind of plane is for a no fy.

[dxmnkd316]

I thought they've had squads of raptors over there since the start.

[aparch]

Meanwhile, apparently the Russians are using maps from the Soviet days to guide themselves around Ukraine.

Ukrainian security services released a copy of a map of the Kharkiv area that was found on a dead Russian commander in the field.

The map is about 50 years old! There are entire areas that do not exist on the Russian maps, including two reservoirs. Google Maps version on the right for comparison.

[RaceBoarder]

So the hope is that when Vlad gets ticked off enough and hits the red nuke button, it goes full Sideshow Bob on him and reveals a "Best Before Sept. 1987" sticker?