text: RUSSIA & SYRIA BRACE FOR NEW TURKISH OFFENSIVE: Russian and Syrian forces are preparing for a potential assault against Kurdish militants by Turkey. The Erdogan government wants to establish a 30-km “buffer zone” in northern Syria, which Moscow warned could further deteriorate the security situation. “Since the announcement of the operation, the Syrian regime and its Iranian militias have mobilized and (are) sending reinforcements to the YPG,” a Turkish military official said. The U.S. warned new Turkish incursions in Syria could put U.S. troops at risk as Washington backs the Syrian Democratic Forces. (AC: Turkey may moderate its assault into Syria with the right concessions from Washington and Moscow. Turkey remains intransigent over adding Sweden and Finland to NATO as they accuse the Nordic nations of harboring Kurdish terrorists. U.S. Special Operations Forces continue training operations in Syria, increasing the risk of a miscalculation or skirmish between NATO forces. – D.M.)ISRAEL PROMISES NO NUKES FOR IRAN: In a strong warning to the United Nations nuclear watchdog, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett stated that Israel is prepared to use its “right to self-defense” to prevent Iran from gaining a nuclear weapons capability. Bennet also emphasized the “urgent need in mobilizing the international community to take action against Iran.” (AC: Bennet, as well as a number of other Israeli government surrogates, have repeatedly warned the Biden administration and world leaders that it will not tolerate a nuclear Iran. As the U.S.-led joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear agreement with Iran disintegrates, reports indicate Iran has over 18 times the enriched uranium that it said it had under the initial JCPOA with the Obama administration. It is unlikely that the Biden admin will break from its current attempt at realigning the U.S. with Iran. The U.S.’ refusal to see Iran as an existential threat to Israel will likely lead to some type of Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities and possibly a broader war in the middle east. – M.M.)DOMESTIC INTSUMBIDEN ADMIN INVOKES DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT FOR CLIMATE CHANGE: In an effort to slow soaring energy costs brought on by Russian president Vladimir Putin and climate change, U.S. President Biden invoked the Defense Production Act (DPA) to prioritize green energy sources as part of a domestic manufacturing push. The administration is targeting solar production capacity and electric fuel cell manufacturing as well as transformers and electric grid components, heat pumps, and insulation. (AC: Invoking the DPA allows President Biden to take what the White House sees as action on rising fuel and energy costs in America while addressing critical climate change funding. The administration is betting on green energy programs to reduce the use of fossil fuels and create more resilient domestic supply chains. – M.M.)U.S. NATURAL GAS PRICES HIT 14-YEAR HIGH: U.S. natural gas prices hit a 14-year high this week at $9 per million British Thermal Unit (MMBtu). The increase represents almost triple the $3.5 per MMBtu in 2021. The rising price for natural gas is a result of tighter energy availability due to disrupted Russian exports and diverted U.S. supplies. (AC: While in the U.S. the price of natural gas is rising, it still remains widely available, whereas, in Europe, there are definitive supply crunches that result in higher prices and temporary shortages. As long as the Western sanctions regime remains in place on Russia, the price of natural gas will continue to be higher than normal. Americans can expect worsening supply chain disruptions if the Biden administration continues to cancel natural gas leases on federal land. – M.M.)