Dark clouds of war have been gathering for months and really for years, but the world has been distracted with a hyped pandemic loosed by a Chinese biological weapon. Press and political induced pandemic paranoia has gripped the planet for over two years, so people paid scant attention to predatory nations skulking into position to conquer their prizes. It may appear like unrelated regional conflicts, but it is prelude or perhaps diversion to a greater global struggle that may indeed be an orchestrated campaign by China, Iran, and Russia to achieve their long desired territorial conquests while Biden dances around the danger. Is it coincidence these three arch enemies of the West are holding their third joint Naval exercise this week?

Suddenly, Biden and imbecilic European leaders are shocked that Russia is AGAIN threatening Ukraine; and the media is surprised that well over 100,000 Russian troops are amassed on the Ukrainian Border. Russia has been threatening Ukraine since 2014 when Obama and the lily livers running NATO turned a blind eye to Russia’s forced annexation of Crimea and partial occupation of eastern Ukraine where some 14,000 have been killed since then in skirmishes with Russian sponsored rebels. And the Russian troop build-up was going on most of last year; they have been there for months.

For nearly four years, hyperventilating fake news tried to convince Americans President Trump was a Russian stooge, but they have dismissed and ignored Biden’s nauseating appeasement of Russia. Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) laid the blame for Russia’s aggression squarely on Biden. Biden gave Putin a very one-sided nuclear arms control treaty in his first month. He removed sanctions from the Nord Stream 2 pipeline which allowed Russia to gain leverage on Europe and make lots of money to fund their lust for land. He let the Colonial Pipeline hack slide and then Biden showed the world is abject incompetence and weakness with his abominable retreat from Afghanistan. No wonder Putin is emboldened.

While Russia is almost at the gates of Kiev, feckless Secretary of State Anthony Blinken offers “severe sanctions” from his chicken hut if Russia invades. Biden already gave up his cards against Russia last year and now Europe is dependent on Russian gas to heat their homes in winter. Europeans are much too cowardly, selfish, and weak to risk freezing for Ukraine. Blinken blusters that he has authorized $200 million in military aid to come through allied nations except Germany is blocking shipments. Too late! The Russians are on the border now!

Biden has misplayed every move and played right into Putin’s hands, but how hard was Biden resisting? At his disastrous marathon press conference, Biden essentially gave Putin a greenlight to invade when he said if Russia just made a “minor incursion,” we would have to debate what to do – which means nothing. The Ukrainian president immediately protested there is no such thing as a “minor incursion;” and now British Intelligence accuses Putin if wanting to install a Russian puppet regime in Kiev. DUH!!!

Putin has been pining and planning to reconstruct the old Soviet Union for years, but it will be the Russian empire. The means and motive are in place, so now Putin only needs the opportunity. Europe has devolved into fickle fiefdoms dependent on Russia for energy; and the USA has been weakened by moral decay and divided by media supported BLM/ANTIFA riots. European leaders will not spend on defense until it’s in their yards and the USA is missing in action with an incompetent and otherwise senile president. It’s winter and it’s cold. There is no better time for Russia to act; Putin would be a fool to let this opportunity pass. Ukraine is to Putin what Austria was to Hitler, only the first course.

So, what is Putin waiting on? The bear will go first, but he must wait until the dragon is ready. With the world’s eyes on China for the Winter Olympics, why is Chinese President Xi taking time for a summit with Putin on February fourth? The Beijing Winter Olympics are a big deal for China, but China is eyeing Formosan gold. China needs to show its dominance and legitimacy with the Olympics, so they cannot risk boycotts or sanctions before the games.

Will Putin and Xi will coordinate the timing for their aggression? Once the Olympics are well underway, it makes sense for Russia to invade Ukraine in the dead of winter. While world leaders are on their heels focused on the Ukrainian crisis, it’s a golden opportunity for China to attempt a rapid attack to take Taiwan quickly before the world can react and the final medal count can be totaled.

Like WWII, it seems this global conflagration will be rapid and a surprise, but actually it’s been planned and in the works for years. Ordering the Ukrainian embassy evacuated of families and non-essential personnel, Biden has essentially capitulated before Russia even makes the first move. It may have seemed odd that Hunter Biden was extorting Ukraine of all countries, but Ukraine was bribing him for their survival. So, with all the bribes paid to the Biden family, why are they sacrificing Ukraine to Putin? Because China paid them more.

“In you they take bribes to shed blood; you take interest and profit and make gain of your neighbors by extortion; but me you have forgotten, declares the Lord GOD” (Ezekiel 22-12).

Pete Riehm is the host of Common Sense Radio heard 8 pm every Thursday on FMTalk106.5 or streaming at fmtalk1065.com. Email him at peteriehm@bellsouth.net or on MEWE @PeteRiehm or read all his columns at http://www.renewamerica.com/.kraien