A hermit observing the world from his cave
The Nord Stream I and II pipelines bringing Russian gas to Europe have been sabotaged.
There were multiple explosions and now there are four damaged portions, and gas has been
leaking to the surface in the Baltic Sea (there is one circle of bubbling methane that is a
kilometer in width). Could this just have been caused by an earthquake or a nautical accident, such as a ship’s anchor being dragged at the bottom of the ocean? No, as there were actual huge explosions, as recorded by Swedish seismologists, who estimated one explosion at 100 kilograms of TNT or more.
There are many ramifications to this sabotage, including ecological damage and geopolitical
tensions between the West and Russia, as well as opening up terror attacks against energy
infrastructure in international waters. But for now, the big question is: who was responsible?
Some in the West, especially its fake news media, say it is Russia. But this is not plausible, as
Russia has no reason at all to do this.
This has destroyed Russia’s $30 billion investment in these pipelines, and has caused the loss of up to $800 million worth of gas already in the pipeline.
This cuts its earnings from such gas deliveries to Europe to zero.
Its military operation in Ukraine will be adversely affected, as such earnings provide continuing finances for men and materiel.
This negates any bargaining leverage Russia has in dealing with Europe, especially Germany, that is in dire need of such energy especially in the face of coming winter.
If Russia wanted to stop supplying gas to Europe, it could just turn off the valves.
My own guess is that the culprit is the USA. For the simple reason that it has all the reasons, as well as the resources and capability, to do it. Former Polish Defense Minister Radek Sikorski merrily tweeted, with a picture of the gas bubble on the sea surface, “Thank you, USA.”
The US already threatened to do away with the pipeline. A rule in investigation is that one who threatens something is the first suspect when that something actually happens.
- Biden on February 7 said: “If Russia invades …. then there will be no longer a
Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it. …. I promise you, we will be able to do
that.”
- US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland, who helped
engineer the coup that overthrew the Ukranian government in 2014, said: “If
Russia invades Ukraine, one way or another, Nord Stream 2 will not move
forward.”
The US, with its NATO allies, has been relentless in pushing Ukraine to militarily fight the Russians. To date it has spent and/or committed $40 billion in arms and other support infrastructure. Any major happening that greatly reduces Moscow’s money degrades its ability to fight.
The US wants Europe totally free of any dependence on Russian energy. What better way than to permanently cut off one major way of delivering such energy. By the way, the US had always wanted Europe to buy its more expensive oil and gas.
The US wants Europe to be more dependent on it (or more realistically, economically subjugated), effectively forcing the EU to toe its line and not to pursue any independent policy, especially in dealing with an enemy such as Russia. The Deep State will not tolerate any cohesion between Europe and Russia.
Massive demonstrations have been happening in Germany (as well as other European nations) protesting the government’s handling of the energy crisis, with demands to reopen the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, forcing the German government to re-think its all- out support of war and sanctions against Russia. The destruction of the pipelines removes such option for Bonn.
Actually, destroying the pipelines is disastrous and crazy. But the US leader, President Joe
Biden, is advancing in senility, and can be expected to do crazy things. Unfortunately, the world will have to suffer for it.
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