Biden's foreign policy agenda is teaching us a lesson.

The lesson is how it feels to be a lobster in a pot of water.

The Cold War is heating up!

I guess that it is wise to confront Russia, China and Iran (amongst others) to show who the ruler of the world is.

https://thehill.com/policy/international/548477-biden-sanctions-further-...

The U.S. and Russia entered a new phase of heightened tensions Thursday after President Biden announced punishing sanctions over cyberattacks, election interference and threats against U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan.

The decision to impose sanctions comes as Biden is attempting to strike a delicate balance of forcefully confronting Russian President Valdimir Putin and seeking open communication to establish a “stable and predictable” relationship.

“Our objective here is not to escalate. Our objective here is to impose costs for what we feel are unacceptable actions by the Russian government,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a briefing with reporters Thursday. “We can’t predict what the impact will be, but we still believe that when there’s unacceptable behavior, we should put consequences in place.”

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/04/00cd632c5bb8-taiwans-tsai-hol...

An unofficial delegation dispatched by the U.S. government signaled readiness to further deepen ties with Taiwan in talks with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Thursday, amid heightened tensions between the United States and China over the self-ruled island.

Former Sen. Chris Dodd said in remarks that the bipartisan delegation was sent at the request of President Joe Biden and meant to reaffirm the U.S. commitment to "deepening our cooperation on the multitude of interests that we share in common."

"And we look forward to working with Taiwan to advance our shared values, prosperity and security," he added in the talks at Tsai's office in Taipei, part of which were streamed online.

Tsai expressed her thanks to the Biden administration, saying it has repeatedly expressed support for Taiwan. She also called for stronger cooperation with the United States in economic and energy-related areas.

The delegation that also included two former deputy secretaries of state, Richard Armitage and James Steinberg, drew a strong reaction from mainland China, which views it as official in nature.

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https://sputniknews.com/world/202104151082641658-summoning-of-russian-am...

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, commenting on the summoning of Russian ambassadors to Poland and the United Kingdom, called it "a chain reaction of the NATO countries in support of US sanctions."

"A chain reaction of NATO countries in support of US sanctions is a sign of a vicious bloc discipline, when decisions are made not on the basis of real facts, but on command, demonstrating pseudo-solidarity," Zakharova said.

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Raggedy Ann's picture

https://www.moonofalabama.org/

Three Recent Failures In Foreign Policy Coordination - Why Is Jake Sullivan Creating Such A Mess?

This was fun to watch.

U.S. Navy ships were supposed to sail into the Black Sea "in a show of support for Ukraine" and to "send a specific message to Moscow" due to "concerns about mounting tensions between Ukraine and Russia."

Moscow then let know that it was not amused about the obviously preplanned provocation: "We warn the United States that it will be better for them to stay far away from Crimea and our Black Sea coast. It will be for their own good."

Next the U.S. Navy put its tail between its legs "due to concerns about escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine."

Pleasantry

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

@Raggedy Ann

are the back doors the US is trying to *sneak-into* major confrontations
with the bear and dragon. Israel is the proxy for Iran.
Sneaky bastids.

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https://tass.com/politics/1278533

MOSCOW, April 15. /TASS/. Moscow will announce its response to new US sanctions in the near future, the response is currently in the works, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said during a briefing on Thursday.

"Our response is inevitable, it will be worked out. You will hear about it shortly, I think. Our experts are working on it right now," she pointed out.

She also informed that US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan had been summoned by the Russian Foreign Ministry over the announcement of new US sanctions. "I think that right now, the US Ambassador to Russia is at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of our country. I wouldn’t have said this before, but now I can say this: this won’t be a pleasant meeting for him," the spokeswoman said.

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ggersh's picture

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7 users have voted.

I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish

"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"

Heard from Margaret Kimberley

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/548550-biden-calls-for-dialo...

President Biden on Thursday said he is not seeking a “cycle of escalation and conflict with Russia” and called for dialogue between Washington and Moscow after his administration unveiled a new raft of sanctions intended to punish Russia for its malign behavior.

Biden described the new sanctions as “proportionate” measures designed to respond to Russia for the SolarWinds cyberattack and meddling in the 2020 elections, making good on his pledges to hold Moscow accountable for its actions.

“The United States is not looking to kick off a cycle of escalation and conflict with Russia. We want a stable, predictable relationship,” Biden said in brief remarks from the White House. “If Russia continues to interfere with our democracy, I am prepared to take further actions to respond.”

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Azazello's picture

@humphrey
I see those words all the time from politicians and pundits.
Our Democracy is a marketing term now, like Velveeta.
Just as Velveeta isn't actually cheese, it's a "processed cheese food",
Our Democracy isn't actually a democracy.
It's an oligarchy.
A real democracy would have no wars, a living wage, free healthcare, free college and etc.

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15 users have voted.

We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.

@humphrey

This is negotiation 101.

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"Without the right to offend, freedom of speech does not exist." Taslima Nasrin

Pricknick's picture

You bet!
I welcome the cold one over the hot.
The last cold one between capable, almost nihilistic nations, bankrupt one.
This country (us) will not outspend two nations (china and russia) to achieve another so-called win.
While we waste out nations blood on protectionism, they will spend theirs on socialism.
Thinking you are exceptional has it's price.

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Regardless of the path in life I chose, I realize it's always forward, never straight.

Cassiodorus's picture

Europe thinks it's a bore because the Europeans like Russian fossil fuels.

As for China, if the Chinese thought Biden was any sort of threat, they could dump their collection of US Dollars and Dollar-denominated assets onto the international markets. You'd see peace talks right away.

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"I'm starting to believe that they want Donald Trump to get elected." -- Compton Jay

wont have an effect on us. Remember reading Dean baker's post about how the FED can act as a buyer of last resort and then credit the interest back to the Treasury. It has been done in the past. He linked to where we can view this data. Can't find the link now. To me it feels like the bonds are effectively a savings instrument for the buyers with hardly any effect on the US. Which is why investors flock to US treasury bonds in times of crisis. Unless the FED deliberately choses to, we can't default on the debt (me thinks of a scenario if someone like Sanders squeaks thru all the obstacles put up by TPTB)

An aside: During the Greek crisis, Baker called on the FED to purchase Greek bonds so as to keep their interest low and even zero (the EU Central Bank wont) and thus offer them a lifeline. But fat chance given the FED was in bed with Euro central bank in the neoliberal austerity push.

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Cassiodorus's picture

@Funkygal The Fed is going to go through all the world markets and buy up all of the dollars and dollar-denominated assets the Chinese dumped on them? With what? Dollars?

Nah. Aggression against China is not serious. Biden needs them.

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5 users have voted.

"I'm starting to believe that they want Donald Trump to get elected." -- Compton Jay

@Cassiodorus

is more about justifying the bloated military budget
and saturating us with fear. Manufacturing consent.

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@Cassiodorus
using funny money created by their computers.
If they were smart they would buy them at a steep discount. Dumping all those bonds at once will cause a temporary depression in the rice. No lasting damage as long as the FED sweeps them all up.

Yes, it would depress the value of the dollar. What would thay gain Russia and China? It would be like they just had a big bond bonfire.

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I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.

Cassiodorus's picture

@The Voice In the Wilderness The point was that the US isn't going to attack China.

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"I'm starting to believe that they want Donald Trump to get elected." -- Compton Jay

What hold does that witch have on the government? (I'm not good at spelling obviously).

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6 users have voted.

I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.

1) All Ukraine has to do is implement the Minsk accords to resolve the issue with Donbas. They signed the accords and then refuse to implement them. France and Germany seem to understand this, but the UK, the US and NATO are brain dead about this, can't mention facts contrary to their interests.

2) Zelensky ordered a large military build up on the deconfliction line, contrary to the Minsk accords and the recent cease fire agreement. They have been shelling civilians in the Donbas and have received shelling in return. The Western MSM talks about the return fire, but neglects to talk about the build up and the shelling from the Ukrainian military.

3) Zelensky signed a document ordering the Ukrainian military to attack Crimea and to capture it, presumably killing a large number of civilians and Russian and local soldiers. This is a declaration of war against Russia.

4) The election of Biden has been a very destabilizing event for the Ukraine. His obvious bias towards the Nazi infected government in Kiev has been interpreted as a green light to use military force. Biden needed to disavow this immediately. He hasn't.

5) NATO has been enormously destabilizing. They have made it clear that their long term strategy is to incorporate Ukraine into NATO, a really really bad idea. The gating item is that they do not have control of what they consider their own territory. The real solution is for Kiev to implement the Minsk accords and to recognize Crimea as part of Russia. They are far to stupid and dogmatically nationalistic to ever realize this. Instead, they want the green light and military backup to attack the Donbas and Crimea.

Given this situation and the Ukrainian military build up the smartest course for Russia is a large military presence on the boarder of Ukraine. They need to react immediately to any Ukrainian military offensive, as in within hours to avoid bloodshed. Seeing this buildup, the Western press is immediately calling it Russian aggression. This is truly preposterous. Marketing operations is always the first rung on the ladder of war for the US. In fact the US brags to adversaries about this capability.

The current situation could easily get out of hand and escalate. The Pentagon decided wisely not to sent two Arleigh Burke class warships into the Black Sea. The risk here is that some action of these ships could seem hostile and Russia would react by sinking them both within minutes. The Pentagon understands that they are sitting ducks. At that point, our idiot Congressional critters would demand retaliation, and that then spirals to global thermonuclear war. Best to always avoid direct confrontation with another nuclear superpower.

The question really arises, do we have anyone in the Administration who is smart enough and experienced enough to manage foreign relations with adversaries? I think that the answer is obviously no. In this case we need to avoid any interaction with our adversaries. Already Biden has completely screwed up our relations with Russia, China, Iran, Venezuela and pretty much every country in the world that is not a US toady. He has been lead to believe that he can manage foreign affairs of the country. He cannot and he has already screwed up royally.

The key to a peaceful outcome of this Ukrainian crisis is that Zelensky is restrained from doing anything stupid, either by Russian action on the border and in Crimea, or that the US tells him in no uncertain terms that they will not have his back if he initiates hostile military action. I would not count on the US doing the right thing, it almost never does. I do have a great deal of faith in Russia and President Putin. I think that is is very clear that he does not want a military hostilities, and that is very good.

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9 users have voted.

Capitalism has always been the rule of the people by the oligarchs. You only have two choices, eliminate them or restrict their power.

@The Wizard

They are blackmailing him.

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6 users have voted.

I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.

TheOtherMaven's picture

@The Voice In the Wilderness

All they need to do is provide a script for him to read from.

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9 users have voted.

There is no justice. There can be no peace.

Biden described the new sanctions as “proportionate” measures designed to respond to Russia for the SolarWinds cyberattack and meddling in the 2020 elections, making good on his pledges to hold Moscow accountable for its actions.

SolarWinds cyberattack? Meddling in the 2020 election?

World War III over ridiculous bullshit? Nah, just "sanctions."

What a great country we live in.

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12 users have voted.

I cried when I wrote this song. Sue me if I play too long.

@fire with fire

any evidence behind them. Of course, look at how many times we went to war over un-evidenced claims.

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"Without the right to offend, freedom of speech does not exist." Taslima Nasrin

Jen Psaki used the word "consequences" and we are still utilizing the services of Richard Armitage.

And back to the Bush years we go!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Armitage_(government_official)

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9 users have voted.

"Without the right to offend, freedom of speech does not exist." Taslima Nasrin

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orlbucfan's picture

@humphrey

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Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.