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"'Russia destroys its own pipeline so as to cause fracture in the alliance.' Not sure how is that supposed to work! Care to explain?" Sure, just look at this d

"'Russia destroys its own pipeline so as to cause fracture in the alliance.' Not sure how is that supposed to work! Care to explain?" Sure, just look at this discussion where the majority opinion is that the US or some other western nation did this. This is gold for all the Orbans and Salvinis in europe to change popular opinion. See, the US wants us to freeze and pay enormous sums for their LNG. Lets go back to our russian friends with their cheap oil and gas. Who cares about those corrupt Ukrainians anyway. That is right now far more important for Russia than some temporary shutdown of a pipeline that is not in use anyway. For me the main indicator is that this is a reckless, desperate and somewhat stupid move. The US is none of that things while Russia...

eternalban 4y ago
[edit: this just in: https://nitter.net/radeksikorski/status/1574800653724966915 https://nitter.net/radeksikorski/status/1574800653724966915] I see: A false flag by Russia, followed by coordinated propaganda, to convince certain European nations that they just got fucked by US. This then results in a change in popular opinion which forces German government to sit down with Russia and beg for forgiveness. If RF managed to send special forces in that highly monitored and shallow stretch of waters there will inevitably be forensic evidence. How was it done and what clues remain as to how it was done. Can this be sourced then, right to Russia? So there is the competence issue, and subsequent evidence issue. Not to mention, hey, Russia now is at war with NATO. Something that they are clearly, desperately, trying to avoid. Second, I honestly don't think this propaganda reaches a majority of the targeted nation's population. (Same for our propaganda). There is basically a usual suspects demographic in any society that eats this stuff up. They are not influential, in general. Sometimes, like in the past 2 decades, excesses of the ruling class effective inflate the number of people who flip to a counter-narrative and it can be a force. Is that the situation in Germany? Next, you and I disagree about the degree in which "popular opinion" has any influence in immediate and short term strategic decision making by governments. Are Germans going to follow the example of Iranians and revolt in the streets? I just don't see it. (Long term, sure. Public opinion matters.) ~ "the US wants us to freeze and pay enormous sums for their LNG." Btw, this is not what US wants. It's not the money. We print that shit since our CB is blessed by heaven so we can print without consequence ... until we lose global power. No. US wants the EU dependent on energy flows that are subject to the famous "Anglo-Saxons". That would keep EU in line.
- inferiorhuman 4y ago
  No. US wants the EU dependent on energy flows that are subject to the famous "Anglo-Saxons". That would keep EU in line. Surely there must be forensic evidence if Russia did it and none if the US did so? Russia now is at war with NATO. Something that they are clearly, desperately, trying to avoid. Asserts facts not in evidence.
- Paradigma11 4y ago
  This would not lead to war with NATO. Russia already has used nerve agents and radioactive poisons on european soil without much consequences. The only consequence would be some contradicting statements: We didnt do it, but here is evidence that the US,UK..... spiced up with a video of some CoD game footage showing scuba divers. Thats the other part of the cui bono argument. What happens if you get caught? That would be pretty devastating for the US who tries to hold this coalition together through the coming winter but for Russia its nothing. There will always be enough doubt, that they themselves created, for them to continue unabated. I can see some baltic or polish actor doing this but 2:1 my money is on Russia.There have been some suggestions in this thread that the pipelines might be completely destroyed. In that case I would have to reevaluate my position. But it seems to me, that would be a rather fragile pipeline if any wrong anchoring or earthquake could destroy it.

eternalban 4y ago

[edit: this just in: https://nitter.net/radeksikorski/status/1574800653724966915 https://nitter.net/radeksikorski/status/1574800653724966915] I see: A false flag by Russia, followed by coordinated propaganda, to convince certain European nations that they just got fucked by US. This then results in a change in popular opinion which forces German government to sit down with Russia and beg for forgiveness. If RF managed to send special forces in that highly monitored and shallow stretch of waters there will inevitably be forensic evidence. How was it done and what clues remain as to how it was done. Can this be sourced then, right to Russia? So there is the competence issue, and subsequent evidence issue. Not to mention, hey, Russia now is at war with NATO. Something that they are clearly, desperately, trying to avoid. Second, I honestly don't think this propaganda reaches a majority of the targeted nation's population. (Same for our propaganda). There is basically a usual suspects demographic in any society that eats this stuff up. They are not influential, in general. Sometimes, like in the past 2 decades, excesses of the ruling class effective inflate the number of people who flip to a counter-narrative and it can be a force. Is that the situation in Germany? Next, you and I disagree about the degree in which "popular opinion" has any influence in immediate and short term strategic decision making by governments. Are Germans going to follow the example of Iranians and revolt in the streets? I just don't see it. (Long term, sure. Public opinion matters.) ~ "the US wants us to freeze and pay enormous sums for their LNG." Btw, this is not what US wants. It's not the money. We print that shit since our CB is blessed by heaven so we can print without consequence ... until we lose global power. No. US wants the EU dependent on energy flows that are subject to the famous "Anglo-Saxons". That would keep EU in line.

inferiorhuman 4y ago
No. US wants the EU dependent on energy flows that are subject to the famous "Anglo-Saxons". That would keep EU in line. Surely there must be forensic evidence if Russia did it and none if the US did so? Russia now is at war with NATO. Something that they are clearly, desperately, trying to avoid. Asserts facts not in evidence.
Paradigma11 4y ago
This would not lead to war with NATO. Russia already has used nerve agents and radioactive poisons on european soil without much consequences. The only consequence would be some contradicting statements: We didnt do it, but here is evidence that the US,UK..... spiced up with a video of some CoD game footage showing scuba divers. Thats the other part of the cui bono argument. What happens if you get caught? That would be pretty devastating for the US who tries to hold this coalition together through the coming winter but for Russia its nothing. There will always be enough doubt, that they themselves created, for them to continue unabated. I can see some baltic or polish actor doing this but 2:1 my money is on Russia.There have been some suggestions in this thread that the pipelines might be completely destroyed. In that case I would have to reevaluate my position. But it seems to me, that would be a rather fragile pipeline if any wrong anchoring or earthquake could destroy it.