Biden puts Russia first with gas pipeline choices

“Biden puts Russia first with gas pipeline choices” Monterey Herald – June 22-2021

Is President Biden an environmentalist? He did order the cancellation of the Keystone XL oil pipeline and suspend oil and gas leases in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He said the projects would have harmful effects on the environment. So, if that is the case, why did he decide to waive sanctions against the Russian company overseeing the construction of their Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Germany? This makes no sense. Biden is apparently fine with pumping more fossil fuels as long as the Russians are doing it.

Besides stabbing environmental concerns in the back, Biden’s executive order has cost over 10,000 high-paying U.S. jobs, which could damage our fragile post-COVID-19 economy, and trigger higher gasoline prices at the pump.

As for Russia, they will get to significantly increase their flow of fossil fuel, reap an economic bonanza that could strengthen their economy, while at the same time, American and European nations strive to punish Putin with economic sanctions to stop his bad behavior.

It appears that Biden has taken a “Russia first” and “America last” position. That seems rather backward for a supposedly forward-looking president.

— Lawrence Samuels, Carmel