[PLEASE NOTE: Posting will end for the school year on Friday, May 28th.]

NOTE: Before answering the following questions, read the “Background” and watch the videos under “Resources” below.

1. List the who, what, where and when of the news item.

2. Which two countries are happy about Biden’s decision to lift sanctions on Nord Stream and its CEO, Putin pal Matthias Warnig? Why?

3. a) List those opposed to Biden’s lifting of sanctions on Russian pipeline company Nord Stream.
b) What points did Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez make when expressing his opposition?
c) What did Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen say about about Biden’s move?
d) What did former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine point out about the President’s decision?

4. Consider the following:

• President Biden’s Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during his confirmation hearing that he was opposed to Russia’s pipeline to Germany. He said, “I am determined to do whatever we can to prevent that completion” of Nord Stream 2.
• Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman expressed opposition during her confirmation hearing, saying, “I will do everything I possibly can to ensure that Nord Stream 2 does not go forward.”
• A spokesman traveling with Secretary of State Blinken in Iceland said Mr. Blinken “underscored the U.S. commitment to work with allies and partners to counter Russian efforts to undermine our collective security, and in that vein, emphasized U.S. opposition to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.”

a) How did Secretary Blinken explain the Biden administration’s decision, and its position on the pipeline? (see para. 21)
b) President Biden and his administration say they oppose the completion of the Russian pipeline to Germany. They have the power to prevent it but instead have removed the sanctions put in place to do so. What do you think of Blinken’s statement?

5. Former Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette wrote in a recent commentary:

On his first day in office, President Biden issued an executive order cancelling the (Canada to Texas) Keystone XL pipeline and eliminating the prospect of thousands of American union jobs.

Under the new administration’s policies, Vladimir Putin’s pipeline has been allowed to move forward without serious consequence, but a well-studied, economically important pipeline that would greatly benefit the people of the United States and Canada cannot.

…The Biden administration is seemingly more worried about upsetting diplomatic relationships in Germany…versus upholding their commitment to “build back better,” protecting good-paying American jobs, and standing up to Russian aggression.

Read the rest of Brouillette's commentary here, and answer the questions at the bottom of that page.