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Opinion: My predictions of losers of 2023

My early predictions for the losers in 2023:

Ukraine

Ukraine is running out of ammunition, manpower and time. Ukraine currently fires about 2,000 rounds of artillery a day, while the Russians fire between 20,000 and 50,000 rounds. The casualty rate is reported to be as high as 8 or 10 to 1, favoring the Russians.

The Ukrainians are being subjected to missile and drone attacks on an almost daily basis that are wrecking fuel, power and transportation systems. These attacks will continue.

Ukrainian mayors of large cities are advising their citizens to leave the cities and flee into the countryside. This will result in a massive flood of refugees into the European Union.

These are not indicators of a winning strategy.

Europe/EU

To start with, the head of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde, just informed lawmakers that she does not believe inflation has peaked yet.

If war ends tomorrow and Putin is replaced, Europe will still be out of a cheap, reliable fuel source. Liquid Natural Gas is four to five times more expensive than pipeline gas.

Unfortunately, when the Nord Stream pipelines were blown up, it removed any chance that Europe would continue to have cheap, reliable gas.

France and Germany are unhappy because fuel costs 4 to 5 times as much as from Nord Stream. They are angry at the U.S. not only for what they see as ripping them off for the cost of LNG, but also for offering subsidies to industries to leave Europe and move to America where they will have cheaper, reliable energy. European industry cannot compete with this difference in energy costs.

Unprecedented inflation, permanent loss of energy and industry, and a flood of Ukrainian refugees, indicates that the EU is in danger of coming apart.

NATO

A few weeks ago, six people died and 81 were injured when Istanbul was hit by a bomb attack.

Turkish authorities blamed a Kurdish group active in Syria. This resulted in the Turks attacking Syrian Kurds. Both Turkey and the U.S. are members of NATO causing some senators to wonder if the Turks are true allies.

Adding Finland and Sweden while losing Turkey is insane. Is NATO in danger of losing Turkey?

USA

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, India and many countries in the Southern Hemisphere are being driven into the Russian circle of influence. Loss of global diplomatic influence could lead some to inquire, “Doesn’t anyone here know how to play this game?”

Next week, Winners.

Rube Render is a former Clovis city commissioner and former chair of the Curry County Republican Party. Contact him:

[email protected]