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None of the comments so far offer the most obvious motive for Russia to blow the pipeline: For Russia to show that it could, and it would. That the pipeline nom
by somewhereoutth 4y ago
None of the comments so far offer the most obvious motive for Russia to blow the pipeline: For Russia to show that it could, and it would. That the pipeline nominally benefits Russia is useful ambiguity (that many here seem to have fallen for).
There is no shortage of undersea infrastructure vulnerable to such attacks, not least bringing gas from Norway to the EU - look at exactly where the pipeline was blown. It is part of a pattern of strategic terror.
- BitwiseFool 4y ago>" the most obvious motive for Russia to blow the pipeline: For Russia to show that it could, and it would. That the pipeline nominally benefits Russia is useful ambiguity." I don't follow this reasoning. The kind of expertise required to detonate a bomb underwater is likely something any developed country with a reasonably equipped navy/intelligence agency could pull off. Unlike something like Stuxnet, this seems rudimentary in comparison. As dysfunctional and diminished as Russia may be today, I don't think anyone assumed this was something they couldn't do.
- somewhereoutth 4y agoemphasis more on the would then.