Is Kyiv to be a new Leningrad?

by Ed Sperry, Col USAF (ret) , Stevensville

During world war two Leningrad was besieged by the Nazis for over 800 days. Once surrounded, is this to be the fate of Kyiv? Like all of you I am watching the TV and very concerned about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This aggression by the folks we used to call “Ivans” seems to warrant some observations by an old cold war vet. Seems the Ivans have been causing problems all of my adult life. Actually they have been and are an existential threat to our very existence. They have the means and the authoritarian ruthless -leader just like they did long ago with Stalin.

These guys are ruthless, life is cheap. Yet here we are financing the invasion now underway! Yes, that’s what I just wrote—we are paying for it by buying Russian oil! Now let’s see how this came about.

Climate change advocates can’t explain and excuse all that has come about as a result of our devotion to the War on Carbon. Our national policies concerning energy are all aimed at stopping the use of our coal, petroleum, natural gas resources. This is true even though with the use of these resources we recently led the world in reducing carbon emissions. We also were energy independent and able to support Europe and other nations by export. We have energy resources that can support our economy and way of life for 200 years or more. But, we buy Russian oil.

We are even so committed to avoiding the use of our energy resources that we are begging Iran to up its production to help our supply. Iran??!! Yep, maybe we (they call us the Great Satan) will give them another plane load of money or leave them develop their nuclear bomb. But it is assumed our planet will be safer. 

Our war on carbon is managed by those who fear climate change. Other nations talk about it but we are off and running. Off and running off a cliff. The leaders busy saving our planet are the same ones that previously gave us some really great leadership. Let me list a few of their accomplishments. In the seventies they told us to fear the coming ice age—they forced the additives to our gas which harm our engines and emit more carbon than the gas they dilute—they gave us the great light bulb emergency and now we have bulbs we can’t safely discard—they got acceptance of indestructible windmills that some times generate electricity (about 120 more are due to go up near Miles City) time will show this to be one of histories great scams—they gave us global warming and then moved that up to a more inclusive description called climate change (this can’t miss as the climate has been changing since the planets birth). My little tirade will end with the great decision to demand electrical cars. Say goodby to over a hundred years of freedom to move as one sees fit. 

The war on carbon is fought by law suits and laws. Major projects must endure years of study about the effect on climate of their efforts. The Key Stone pipeline being a crowning example. Years of debate, study after study and finally it got approved. Then without recognition of the results on our national defense, energy for manufacturing, enjoyment it just got canceled. Surely one lesson must be that for every future environmental study there must be an equivalent  study devoted to the long range effects upon our national defense and economy.

Let’s at least temporarily end this war on carbon and get with national defense and economic competition. It’s a dangerous world out there. I hope the Army isn’t being urged to develop an electric tank and I hope the Air Force isn’t forced to fly battery powered fighters. 

Men like Patton, LeMay and Nimitz must be spinning in their graves.