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It was enlightening to read/watch the realtime assessments of the sabotage from US leadership. The original storyline from American leadership was that Russia

It was enlightening to read/watch the realtime assessments of the sabotage from US leadership. The original storyline from American leadership was that Russia did it. That this story got any legs was an insult to the intelligence of any thinking person. The pipeline was a major revenue source for Russia, and probably a major reason why Germany was slow to back Ukraine. Eventually leadership realized that this was a terrible angle, and now the story is that they have no idea who did it. My take is that it was either Ukraine or the U.S. And even if it was Ukraine, it was done with the U.S. president's approval and tactical support.

0cf8612b2e1e 2y ago
We were consuming different media at the time. I do not recall anyone serious making definitive statements about the perpetrators. Too many groups had the motive and opportunity to execute the plan. Given the small crew size required, it would not have even required national backing to execute. A professional diving crew would possess all the required equipment without additional funding.
- themgt 2y ago
  I do not recall anyone serious making definitive statements about the perpetrators. This might be narrowly literally true, but - especially in the context that apparently the CIA was aware of the Ukrainian plot to carry out the attack before it occurred - former CIA director Clapper saying "Russia is certainly the most likely suspect" or Biden's statement “Let me say this, it was a deliberate act of sabotage and now the Russians are pumping out disinformation and lies” And the anonymous "officials familiar with the latest intelligence" informed CNN [If Russia did deliberately cause the explosions] that Moscow would likely view such a step as worth the price if it helped raise the costs of supporting Ukraine for Europe. US and western intelligence officials believe Putin is gambling that as electricity costs rise and winter approaches, European publics could turn against the Western strategy of isolating Russia economically. Sabotaging the pipelines could “show what Russia is capable of,” one US official previously told CNN. And national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Friday that the US does not believe any NATO ally is behind the leaks. etc ... I think it's fair to say this at least vaguely pointed finger at Russia communicated to the public an impression which US leadership knew to be false. https://edition.cnn.com/2022/09/28/politics/nord-stream-pipeline-leak-russian-navy-ships https://edition.cnn.com/2022/09/28/politics/nord-stream-pipe...
dtquad 2y ago
Nobody from the "American leadership" said Russia did it. They pushed back against disinformation spread by Russian propagandists like Seymour Hersh who were baselessly blaming the US and Norway without providing any credible proof. Seymour Hersh were later exposed to be a unknowing useful tool for Russian handlers because his "US security source" was using Russian idioms that no Westerner would use. Google "poor waif in his underwear".

0cf8612b2e1e 2y ago

We were consuming different media at the time. I do not recall anyone serious making definitive statements about the perpetrators. Too many groups had the motive and opportunity to execute the plan. Given the small crew size required, it would not have even required national backing to execute. A professional diving crew would possess all the required equipment without additional funding.

themgt 2y ago
I do not recall anyone serious making definitive statements about the perpetrators. This might be narrowly literally true, but - especially in the context that apparently the CIA was aware of the Ukrainian plot to carry out the attack before it occurred - former CIA director Clapper saying "Russia is certainly the most likely suspect" or Biden's statement “Let me say this, it was a deliberate act of sabotage and now the Russians are pumping out disinformation and lies” And the anonymous "officials familiar with the latest intelligence" informed CNN [If Russia did deliberately cause the explosions] that Moscow would likely view such a step as worth the price if it helped raise the costs of supporting Ukraine for Europe. US and western intelligence officials believe Putin is gambling that as electricity costs rise and winter approaches, European publics could turn against the Western strategy of isolating Russia economically. Sabotaging the pipelines could “show what Russia is capable of,” one US official previously told CNN. And national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Friday that the US does not believe any NATO ally is behind the leaks. etc ... I think it's fair to say this at least vaguely pointed finger at Russia communicated to the public an impression which US leadership knew to be false. https://edition.cnn.com/2022/09/28/politics/nord-stream-pipeline-leak-russian-navy-ships https://edition.cnn.com/2022/09/28/politics/nord-stream-pipe...

dtquad 2y ago

Nobody from the "American leadership" said Russia did it. They pushed back against disinformation spread by Russian propagandists like Seymour Hersh who were baselessly blaming the US and Norway without providing any credible proof. Seymour Hersh were later exposed to be a unknowing useful tool for Russian handlers because his "US security source" was using Russian idioms that no Westerner would use. Google "poor waif in his underwear".