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Who Blew Up the Nord Stream Pipelines? "Russia, Russia, Russia!"

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Who Blew Up the Nord Stream Pipelines? "Russia, Russia, Russia!"

Matt Orfalea's video compilation exposes the absurdity of Nord Stream propaganda


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Matt Taibbi
Oct 23, 2022
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Who Blew Up the Nord Stream Pipelines? "Russia, Russia, Russia!"

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transcript

About a month ago, on September 26th, explosions rocked the undersea “Nord Stream” natural gas pipelines connecting Russia to Germany, sending boiling methane rushing to the surface in masses big enough to be seen from space.

We’ve all seen the video of Joe Biden promising last February, “There will be no longer a Nord Stream 2 ” and “We will bring an end to it. ” ← View Context   ← View Video Context The history of America’s bellicose threats with regard to Nord Stream were far more expansive than just a clip or two. Stopping Nord Stream was a central goal of American foreign policy for nearly a decade, with politicians from both parties pounding the table to stop it, and all that history was disappeared the moment the blasts took place.

We can’t say yet who blew up the pipelines. Matt Orfalea’s video captures three troubling things we already know about the Nord Stream blasts:

  1. American officials have an extensive, years-long record of promising action to stop or disable the pipeline.
  2. Those earlier statements were ignored both by officials and press commentators in asserting ad nauseam that the West did not have motive for the attack.

  3. Three: despite a total absence of evidence, American voices repeatedly insisted Russia was behind the attack.

The first weeks of coverage featured a blitz of commentary from politicians and intelligence and military officers who declared the unknown to be fact, often pointing a finger and admitting ignorance at the same time.

“We have to conclude without the evidence that it's most likely … Russia is the likely cause of it ,” said retired General Jack Keane.

“All of the signs point to some type of sabotage ,” said former CIA director John Brennan. “Russia is certainly the most likely suspect .”

The $11 billion pipeline was long a centerpiece of Russian geopolitical strategy. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier this year likely wouldn’t have happened had the project linking Russia’s Yamal gas fields with the German town of Lubmin not been completed the previous September. Before Nord Stream, Russian gas had to travel over land to Europe by way of Ukraine, which annually extracted as much as $2 billion in transit fees. Once the Baltic pipeline was complete, Ukraine not only lost a huge revenue source, but its main leverage against Russian attack.

Ukraine naturally lobbied the United States to intervene to stop the completion of the pipeline. American politicians saw that their interests aligned with Ukraine’s and complied, and in another oddly forgotten fact, no one was more enthusiastic about pressuring Europe to reject the pipeline than Donald Trump. In 2019 Trump imposed sanctions on contractors working on the Nord Stream project, including the Swiss Allseas group, declaring the completion of the pipeline a threat to U.S. security interests that would turn Germany into a “hostage of Russia.”

At the same time Russiagate-mad press figures were casting Trump-Putin as geopolitical Brokeback Mountain, Trump was maybe the most resolute opponent of Nord Stream in American politics. He used his address to the United Nations in 2018 to blast Europeans for cooperating on the pipeline, saying it would leave EU nations open to extortion and intimidation ,” adding that “Germany will become totally dependent on Russian energy ” if it didn’t “immediately change course .”

American officials in both parties for years used the strongest possible language to condemn, cajole, and threaten Europeans. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held hearings in 2017 led by Republican Ron Johnson and ranking member Chris Murphy of Connecticut blasting Europe for even considering the pipeline. One Senator after another testified to being determined to remind EU countries of “Russia's persistent use of energy as a weapon text context,” ← View Text Context adding America’s aim was to help Europe “minimize dependence upon a single supplier text context.”

A. Wess Mitchell, a Trump State Department official, explained this would be accomplished in part by going ahead with an Obama-initiated plan to loosen rules about the export of American liquefied natural gas (LNG), because “the mere availability of LNG provides leverage when negotiating contracts with Russia. text context” A year later, Democrat Jeanne Shaheen co-sponsored a bill with Ted Cruz to sanction companies involved with Nord Stream production, with Shaheen saying the U.S. can’t stand by “while the Kremlin builds this Trojan horse. text context”

Wyoming’s John Barasso in 2019 said “Germany seems to be willing to put its head in the noose. I think it's a terrible mistake. text context” The American ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell wrote an editorial for Die Welt that year saying, “The Nord Stream 2 pipeline will heighten Europe's susceptibility to Russia's energy blackmail tactics. text context,” chiding “some” Europeans for “pushing a self-serving narrative that it is too late to stop Nord Stream 2 text context.”

By next year, Trump’s Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Europe must “Get out now ” from the pipeline project “or risk the consequences ,” saying he was delivering a “clear warning to companies aiding and abetting Russia's malign influence projects will not be tolerated. ”

Matt’s video collects a sample of the saber-rattling that came from both parties during the long period of intense U.S. opposition to the pipeline’s construction. Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger said we had to “end it, once and for all ,” while Ted Cruz stumped for America to use “all tools available” to stop the project.

Senator Tom Cotton on May 21, 2021 meanwhile delivered what for him qualifies as inspired oratory, blasting the Biden administration for waiving sanctions on Nord Stream 2 (hold that thought; this would be an important later development), seething that this was a bit of a punk move from a party that “spent the last four years… pretending they were Jack Ryan in a Tom Clancy novel .” He went on to argue it wasn’t too late to act and dismounting with a KILL NORD STREAM NOW line seemingly culled from the first Naked Gun movie, when Reggie Jackson tried to take out Queen Elizabeth with a bat:

This Russian pipeline is bad for America and bad for Europe. If the president wishes to take the reins of international leadership, this is his opportunity. Kill Nord Stream 2 now text context, and let it rust beneath the waves of the Baltic.

Many Europeans were furious when sanctions were imposed. Some accused the United States of meddling with European economic independence and suggested the Americans had both financial and geopolitical ulterior motives that made their objections hard to accept at face value.

The Federation of German Industries complained that U.S. sanctions created “serious stress” for the U.S.-Europe partnership, while former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder, who chaired Nord Stream 2’s board of directors, denounced the U.S. attempt to “dictate the sovereign community of states such as the EU what to do text context.” He said Europe would pursue a diplomatic solution, but added, vaguely and ominously, “this will not work without counter sanctions text context.”

Nord Stream then was at the center of an incredibly fraught dispute that saw Europe and the United States in schism, with Russia a catalyst for conflict and Ukraine a penniless pawn in the larger game. European countries, led by Germany, were bent on getting access to cheap Russian energy, perhaps with the aim of achieving more independence from the U.S. American pols were in lockstep that the pipeline needed to be stopped, arguing that its completion would increase security risks to Ukraine and Europe. An obvious subtext was the unprecedented threat this pipeline (as well as the similar TurkStream project that would run from Russia beneath the Black Sea to Turkey) posed to a crucial market for American energy.

Russiagate also colored interpretation of the Biden administration’s decision to reverse Trump policy and waive Nord Stream 2 sanctions in May of 2021. The two parties had been in sync, the major difference being that Trump was willing to browbeat European companies involved with the project, whereas the Biden administration tried to redirect sanctions to Russian entities only. Pompeo’s successor, Anthony Blinken, used conciliatory tones to say the waiving of sanctions would “demonstrate the administration's commitment to energy security in Europe text context,” pledging to “rebuild relationships with our allies and partners in Europe. text context”

As Russia moved closer to invasion, however, Biden administration officials lapped the Republicans in the saber-rattling game, offering more and more overt promises of action should Russia enter Ukraine. Biden’s famed quote that “we will bring an end to it ” has been circulated the most, but a more unequivocal statement, seen above, came from National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on January 14, 2022, when he told CNN’s Jake Tapper, “we have made clear to the russians that pipeline is at risk if they move further into ukraine.”

American politicians and commentators didn’t just forget nearly a decade of lobbying about the pipeline, they also forgot with amusing alacrity their reflexive outrage on climate change issues. At least 300 million metric tons of gas poured into the atmosphere, making it the largest-ever dump of greenhouse gases from a single event, equivalent to a year of emissions from a million cars. But outrage was muted if it was there at all. As Matt notes, outlets like the Washington Post even turned around with regard to the use of words like “catastrophe” to describe toxic emissions:

The sudden “What, me worry?” attitude toward toxic emissions wasn’t limited to the U.S. The following passages appeared minus sarcasm emojis in Die Welt right after the explosions:

Images show the surface of the sea broiling as gas erupted from pipelines 80-110 meters (265-360 feet) below sea level. The long-term impact of the explosion is hard to quantify. text context

“According to our current knowledge, the leaks in the Nord Stream pipeline do not pose any serious threat to the marine environment of the Baltic Sea text context,” a spokesperson for Germany’s Environment Ministry told DW.

Trade routes, access to energy, and spheres of influence are the stuff that inspires world wars, and the fight over who would get to be the main supplier of European energy is a powerful casus belli. The United States has every right to lobby against the completion of a Russian-German pipeline. To an extent, it even makes some sense that our government would try to dissemble about who’d benefit from sabotage of the pipeline, after the fact.

However, national press going along with the transparent deception is a lot less forgivable. We’re headed toward a major war and not telling the population the reasons for it. New York Times writer David Sanger for instance knows better than to look into a CNN camera and say, hoping to be taken seriously, that it’s “4hard to imagine others with a significant motive .” Transcript needed That such an experienced reporter would pretend he didn’t live through ten years of American politicians screeching demands to stop the pipeline tells you the extent to which government and media have merged. There’s no discernible difference now between the Sangers and Chuck Todds of the world and the craggy-faced retired CIA flacks the networks bring on as guests. The media performance on this one was and is as bad as it gets.

Again, it’s impossible to say for sure what the United States role was in the Nord Stream sabotage, but the notion that we don’t have a motive is a silly falsehood. I’m glad Matt Orfalea [video at top of page] is around to make memory-holing the fact harder.


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Follow-up Elsewhere:

  • Sweden shuns formal joint investigation of Nord Stream leak, citing national security (Reuters), October 14, 20222
  • How America Took Out The Nord Stream Pipeline by Seymour Hersh, Feb 8, 2023
  • Why the Silence on the Bombing of the Nord Stream 2 Natural-Gas Pipeline? (LA Progressive), Feb 18, 2023
  • Prof. Jeffrey Sachs and Ray McGovern address UN Security Council on Nord Stream investigations, Feb 22, 2023
  • Rising Interviews Seymour Hersh: Journalist DEFENDS Reporting on US DESTRUCTION of Nord Stream (Rising), Feb 23, 2023
  • As Bakhmut Falls, US May Turn From Ukraine, Starting With Pipeline Story (Consortium News), March 8, 2023
  • US Intel Community conveniently scapegoats non-state group. (Rising), March 9, 2023
  • Seymore Hersh: Question and answers, March 13, 2023
  • Scott Ritter: The Nord Stream-Andromeda Cover Up (Constortium News), March 14, 2023
  • THE COVER-UP: The Biden Administration continues to conceal its responsibility for the destruction of the Nord Stream pipeline, Seymour Hersh, Mar 22, 2023
  • US/Allies reject Russian proposal for an Independent UN Investigation into Nord Stream bombing. (Rising), Mar 28, 2023
  • THE NORD STREAM GHOST SHIP: The false details in the CIA's cover story, Seymour Hersh, Apr 5, 2023
  • West ADMITS Nordstream Bombing Coverup (Breaking Points), Apr 6, 2023
  • Facebook censors journalist Seymour Hersh's report on Nord Stream pipeline attack (Geopolitical Economy Report), Apr 24, 2023
  • Nord Stream Bombing: Debunking the Mainstream Media Narrative" (acTVism Munich), May 10, 2023
  • Interview with Sy Hersh: CIA Covers Up The Nord Stream Pipeline Bombing (London Real), May 10, 2023

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Who Blew Up the Nord Stream Pipelines? "Russia, Russia, Russia!"

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Feral Finster
Oct 23, 2022·edited Oct 23, 2022

The fact that the MSM seem to have quietly dropped the subject shows that everyone knows who did it, even if they can't say so out loud.

The Europeans know too, but their leadership also dare not speak up. Europeans should think about this, and ask whom do their "leaders" really represent, 'cause it sure ain't them.

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Nenad Lovric
Oct 23, 2022

From (at least) Iraq, and Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Russiagate, Jan 6, Covid etc the US political/media mainstream discourse has been pretty much nothing but spin, hypocrisy, propaganda and outright lies. But, goodness me, after Ukraine it’s gone further still and now the entire West is basically in Orwell territory: Goebbels and Stalin could only dream of such a relentless blatant monolithic reality/reason-defying propaganda machine. “Russian invasion was unprovoked; Ukraine is a democracy defending Western values; Russia is bombing the nuclear plant under its own control; Ukraine’s Nazi problem is just Russian propaganda; Russia has sabotaged its own pipelines…” Problem is, tens of millions of Western sheep still believe whatever their politicians/msm tell them…

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.. ng on. Today the Department of State is updating the public guidance for CAATSA authorities to include Nord Stream 2 and the second line of TurkStream 2. This action puts investments or other activities that are related to these Russian energy export pipelines at risk of U.S. sanctions. It's a clear warning to companies aiding and abetting Russia's malign influence projects will not be tolerated. Get out now , or risk the consequences. Let me be clear: These aren't commercial projects. They are Kremlin's key tools to exploit and expand European dependence on Russian energy supplies, tools that undermine Ukraine by cutting off gas transiting that critical democracy, a tool that ultimately undermines transatlantic security. The United States is always ready to help our European friends meet their energy ..

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.. s) in diameter.Image: Danish Defence Command via REUTERSAdvertisementMajor leaks on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines releasing huge amounts of gas into the surrounding Baltic Sea and atmosphere were reported on Monday. Images show the surface of the sea broiling as gas erupted from pipelines 80-110 meters (265-360 feet) below sea level. The long-term impact of the explosion is hard to quantify. ʺ According to our current knowledge, the leaks in the Nord Stream pipeline do not pose any serious threat to the marine environment of the Baltic Sea ,ʺ a spokesperson for Germany's Environment Ministry told DW. Experts say the long-term climate impact of the emissions will be substantial. ʺThe most direct effect of these gas leaks on climate is the extra dollop of the powerful greenhouse gas methane they are adding to the atmosphere,ʺ Dave Reay, executive director of the University of Edinburgh's Climate Change Institute, said in a statement. ..

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.. o put up with it these horrible prices much longer reliance on a single foreign supplier can leave a nation vulnerable to extortion and intimidation that is why we congratulate European states such as Poland for leading the construction of a Baltic pipeline so that nations are not dependent on Russia to meet their energy needs Germany will become totally dependent on Russian energy if it does not immediately change course here in the Western Hemisphere we are committed to maintaining our independence from the encroachment of expansionist foreign powers it has been the formal policy of our countries since President Monroe that we reject the interference of foreign nations in this Hemisphere and in our own affairs the United States has recently strengthened our laws to better screen foreign investments in our countr ..

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.. AboutPressCopyrightContact usCreatorsAdvertiseDevelopersTermsPrivacyPolicy & SafetyHow YouTube worksTest new featuresNFL Sunday Ticket© 2023 Google LLCwell I think All of the signs point to some type of sabotage ese pipelines are only in about 200 feet or so of water and Russia does have an undersea capability too that would easily lay explosive devices by those pipelines and I do think it's a signal to Europe that Russia can reach Beyond Ukraine's borders uh so who knows what he might be planning next but I think this is uh clearly a an act of sabotage of some sort and and Russia is certainly the most li ..

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.. defend many of these nations for nothing and then they take advantage of us by giving us high oil prices not good we want them to stop raising prices we want them to start lowering prices and they must contribute substantially to military protection from now on we are not going to put up with it these horrible prices much longer reliance on a single foreign supplier can leave a nation vulnerable to extortion and intimidation that is why we congratulate European states such as Poland for leading the construction of a Baltic pipeline so that nations are not dependent on Russia to meet their energy needs Germany will become totally dependent on Russian energy if it does not immediately change course here in the Western Hemisphere we are committed to maintaining our independence from the encroachment of expansionist fore ..

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.. t foreign policy. But there is still time to stop it. I'm urging the president to reverse course immediately. There is little room for error left at this late, perilous stage. Nord Stream 2 is 95 percent completed—like an outstretched arm, Russia's pipeline extends ominously within reach of Germany's shore. We have to move quickly and in concert with our allies to make sure it extends no farther. This Russian pipeline is bad for America and bad for Europe. If the president wishes to take the reins of international leadership, this is his opportunity. Kill Nord Stream 2 now , and let it rust beneath the waves of the Baltic. Print Email Like Tweet Previous Article Next Article About Tom Help for Arkansans News Contact Privacy Policy Senator Cotton Facebook Senator Cotton Twitter Senator Cotton Youtube nav-mobile-modal nav-mobile-modal × About Tom Help for Arkansans Casework Tour Requests Flag Requests Internships Academy Nominations Grants News Press Releases Op-Eds S ..

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.. to the Chinese people is bad enough, but the free world shouldn't tolerate Beijing's abuses as well. Moving on. Today the Department of State is updating the public guidance for CAATSA authorities to include Nord Stream 2 and the second line of TurkStream 2. This action puts investments or other activities that are related to these Russian energy export pipelines at risk of U.S. sanctions. It's a clear warning to companies aiding and abetting Russia's malign influence projects will not be tolerated. Get out now, or risk the consequences. Let me be clear: These aren't commercial projects. They are Kremlin's key tools to exploit and expand European dependence on Russian energy supplies, tools that undermine Ukraine by cutting off gas transiting that critical democracy, a tool that ultimately undermines transatlantic security. The United States is always ready to help our European friends meet ..

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.. benefits by design the russian company building nordstrom 2 and its ceo who you won't believe it is a former communist east german stasi officer and long time crony of vladimir putin president biden's decision to cave on nordstrom 2 is just the latest show of weakness towards russia by this administration which is strange coming from a party that spent the last four years all chesty and boastful pretending they were Jack Ryan in a Tom Clancy novel nordstrom 2 will serve as a noose around the neck of europe's energy supply it will allow russia to squeeze the sovereign nations of eastern and central europe into submission you may think i'm exaggerating but russia has used energy as a weapon of foreign policy many times in the past in 2009 for instance russia shut off the flow of natural gas to europe during a dispute with ukraine causing ene ..

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.. CEO Matthias Warnig, and Nord Stream 2 AG's corporate officers. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also anticipates issuing guidance allowing for the continuation of various transactions and activities involving the Marine Rescue Service that are unrelated to Nord Stream 2 construction – including on a range of search and rescue, environmental, and other missions. Today's actions demonstrate the administration's commitment to energy security in Europe , consistent with the President's pledge to rebuild relationships with our allies and partners in Europe. We will continue to oppose the completion of this project, which would weaken European energy security and that of Ukraine and Eastern flank NATO and EU countries. Our opposition to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline is unwavering. Though we may not always agree, our alliances remain strong, and our p ..

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.. e export of liquefied natural gas and U.S.- produced crude oil, which will unlock the wealth of American energy to the strategic benefit of allies and provide a boon to the U.S. economy. The advent of cheap and abundant LNG is turning natural gas into a globally traded commodity, connecting otherwise isolated regional markets to the Atlantic basin. For allies reliant on a single source of energy, the mere availability of LNG provides leverage when negotiating contracts with Russia. To cite one notable example, in the period since Lithuania began importing LNG, the price it pays for gas has fallen 20 percent. An important component in U.S. strategy is to encourage closer political and economic cooperation at the regional level among the allies most vulnerable to supply manipulation in Central and Eastern Europe. Lack of seriousness about the need to increase north-south infr ..

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.. rthering global security and prosperity," said Shaheen. "Unfortunately, Putin is dangling the prospect of cheap gas in front of some of our closest allies to monopolize the supply of energy in Europe and bring increased instability to the continent. This pipeline has the tremendous potential to compromise energy security throughout the continent for decades. The United States cannot stand idly by while the Kremlin builds this Trojan horse. " "Nord Stream 2 threatens Europe's energy security and America's national security," said Cruz. "The United States simply cannot allow Russia to dominate Europe's energy future. For years I've highlighted these threats to our European allies and partners, and emphasized that I was prepared to work with my colleagues here in the Senate and with the administration to impose sanctions to block the c ..

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.. ute substantially to military protection from now on we are not going to put up with it these horrible prices much longer reliance on a single foreign supplier can leave a nation vulnerable to extortion and intimidation that is why we congratulate European states such as Poland for leading the construction of a Baltic pipeline so that nations are not dependent on Russia to meet their energy needs Germany will become totally dependent on Russian energy if it does not immediately change course here in the Western Hemisphere we are committed to maintaining our independence from the encroachment of expansionist foreign powers it has been the formal policy of our countries since President Monroe that we reject the interference of foreign nations in this Hemisphere and in our own affairs the United States has recently strengthened our laws to better ..

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.. as well are already finished finalized or is there still work ongoing and you're not really saying what the details are is that just an excuse for germany maybe to not support the swift measures the first question first if germany if uh if russia invades that means tanks or troops crossing the uh the border of ukraine again then uh there will be uh we there will be no longer a north stream too we We will bring an end to it. how would you how will you do that exactly since the project and control of the project is within germany's control we will i promise you we'll be able to do it thank you very much for your question i want to be absolutely clear we have intensively prepared everything to be ready with the necessary sanctions if there is a military aggression against ukraine and this is necessary it is necessary th ..

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.. the Department of State is updating the public guidance for CAATSA authorities to include Nord Stream 2 and the second line of TurkStream 2. This action puts investments or other activities that are related to these Russian energy export pipelines at risk of U.S. sanctions. It's a clear warning to companies aiding and abetting Russia's malign influence projects will not be tolerated. Get out now, or risk the consequences . Let me be clear: These aren't commercial projects. They are Kremlin's key tools to exploit and expand European dependence on Russian energy supplies, tools that undermine Ukraine by cutting off gas transiting that critical democracy, a tool that ultimately undermines transatlantic security. The United States is always ready to help our European friends meet their energy needs. Today I have with ..

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.. ussian gasTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 videoGermany 'putting its head in a noose' Neither Republican nor Democratic lawmakers are shy about voicing their opinion on the proposed project. "Putin's pipeline is a trap," Wyoming Republican Senator John Barrasso told the energy and environment website E&E News in May, adding: " Germany seems to be willing to put its head in the noose. I think it's a terrible mistake. " Recently, Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire joined forces with Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas to put forth a bill that would sanction companies involved in building the pipeline. Shaheen claims Russia is looking to use cheap gas as a way to monopolize the European energy market, threatening stability in the region. She says the US cannot simply look the other way "while th ..

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.. ical project that poses a threat to European energy security." In Denmark, the government has shown the right instinct by deciding to thoroughly evaluate the foreign policy and security implications of the project. Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen's statement that Russian aggression makes it hard to argue in favor of a Russian gas pipeline in Danish waters is laudable. At the same time, some are pushing a self-serving narrative that it is too late to stop Nord Stream 2 . That's just not true. The pipeline is far from completion and even further from becoming operational. Europe still has time to regulate and put a stop to the pipeline, but time is running out. Carla Sands is the US ambassador to DenmarkImage: Public DomainA new approach The EU should revise the Third Energy Package's Gas Directive so that the bloc's laws also apply to projects like Nord Stream 2 ..

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.. sed U.S. plans to tighten sanctions on the contentious natural gas pipeline project Nord Stream 2 (NS2) currently under construction in the Baltic Sea as an encroachment on EU sovereignty in a parliamentary hearing. Former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder, who has close ties to the Russian government and chairs Nord Stream 2's board of directors, said there is no doubt that the U.S. attempt to " dictate the sovereign community of states such as the EU what to do " must be rejected. He said that diplomatic possibilities must be exploited, "but this will not work without counter sanctions", without giving details. Schröder said natural gas would be needed as a bridging technology in Germany's energy system for a very long time. But the former chancellor's comments were met with criticism. His presence as a "badly informed Russian gas lobbyist is a disgrace ..

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.. ergy warfare. I mean, we have to conclude, without the evidence, that it's most likely that russia who Gasprom is his company that helped build those pipelines is actually two, one and two, but there's four pipelines and there's been four explosions of huge consequence with a significant amount of kilotons of TNT. So likely a nation state has done this and we we legitimately can speculate that Russia is the likely cause of it . What I think he really wants is There is nothing flowing through those pipiples so what's going on here? The Norwegians are replacing those pipelines because they are providing gas to the U.K., to Germany, to France, to Poland, and to Belgium and I think he wants to intimidate them as part of this energy warfare going on >> Quickly because I have got to run ..

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.. tners vulnerable to having their gas shut off at Moscow's whim. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly proven his willingness to use Russia's gas supply as a weapon, having blocked the flow of gas to neighbors in 2006, 2009, 2014, and most recently in March of last year. European Union reliance on Russian gas presents risks for Europe and the West as a whole and makes us all less secure. The Nord Stream 2 pipeline will heighten Europe's susceptibility to Russia's energy blackmail tactics. Europe must retain control of its energy security. Read more: Nord Stream 2 pipeline row highlights Germany's energy dependence on Russia Curbing Russian influence Make no mistake: Nord Stream 2 will bring more than just Russian gas. Russian leverage and influence will also flow under the Baltic Sea and into Europe, and the pipeline will enable Moscow to further undermine Ukrainian sovereignty an ..

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.. point to some type of sabotage. These pipelines are only in about 200 feet or so of water and Russia does have an undersea capability to that would easily lay explosive devices by those pipelines and I do think it's a signal to Europe that Russia can reach beyond Ukraine's borders, so who knows what he might be planning next but I think this is uh clearly a an act of sabotage of some sort and and Russia is certainly the most likely suspect . Two sources now tell CNN the US warned the Europeans over the summer their gas pipelines could be targeted. The Kremlin dismissing any accusations as quote stupid and absurd. None of the pipeline was in operation at the time although they still had natural pressurized gas. Our coverage of hurricane Ian will continue after a short break an update is just ahead. Plus we'll tell you how the Biden ..

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.. also anticipates issuing guidance allowing for the continuation of various transactions and activities involving the Marine Rescue Service that are unrelated to Nord Stream 2 construction – including on a range of search and rescue, environmental, and other missions. Today's actions demonstrate the Administration's commitment to energy security in Europe, consistent with the President's pledge to rebuild relationships with our allies and partners in Europe. We will continue to oppose the completion of this project, which would weaken European energy security and that of Ukraine and Eastern flank NATO and EU countries. Our opposition to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline is unwavering. Though we may not always agree, our alliances remain strong, and our position is in line with our commitment to strengthen our Transatlantic relationships as a matter of natio ..

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.. dence, 11 continue to rely on Russian gas for 75 percent or more of their annual needs and several others for 50 percent or more. The dangers of excessive dependence on a single supplier were highlighted, as Senator Murphy noted, in 2006, 2009, and 2014 when Russia cut off gas supplies to and through the Ukraine, hurting both the Ukraine and other Russian countries. Such actions are a reminder of Russia's persistent use of energy as a weapon . The United States does not seek to eliminate Russian gas from the market. Our priority is helping Europe minimize dependence upon a single supplier. The United States supports a pro-Europe energy security policy based on diversification of fuel types, supply sources, and delivery routes. These actions are all needed to foster a more open and competitive European energy market, one in which all c ..

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.. . IT IS TERRIBLE, THIS IDEA. IT IS KIND OF WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IN INFRASTRUCTURE. THESE DEVASTATING ATTACKS HAPPEN LIKE SOLAR WINDS, WE DO NOT EVEN BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT ON OUR COUNTRY. WE HAVE TO PUT THE COUNTRIES BEHIND IT AT THE SAME LEVEL OF THREAT THAT THEY PUT US IN. THE LAST THING I WILL SAY IS THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME TO DO THE CONGRESSIONALLY MANDATED SANCTION OF NORD STREAM 2 AND end it, once and for all THE DEMOCRATS WERE GOOD AT ATTACKING PRESIDENT TRUMP. GUESS WHAT, YOU'RE CONGRESSIONALLY MANDATED SANCTIONS AGAINST NORD STREAM 2 -- AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, THE STATE DEPARTMENT IS SLOW WALKING IT. I HAVE MY THEORIES. EMILY: THE INFRASTRUCTURE A PACKAGE THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS PUT FORWARD, HAVE YOU GOTTEN THE IMPRESSION FROM COLLEAGUES THAT THEY ARE INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH YOU TO FIND SOME B ..

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.. as well are already finished finalized or is there still work ongoing and you're not really saying what the details are is that just an excuse for germany maybe to not support the swift measures the first question first if germany if uh if russia invades that means tanks or troops crossing the uh the border of ukraine again then uh there will be uh we there will be no longer a north stream too we We will bring an end to it how would you how will you do that exactly since the project and control of the project is within germany's control we will i promise you we'll be able to do it thank you very much for your question i want to be absolutely clear we have intensively prepared everything to be ready with the necessary sanctions if there is a military aggression against ukraine and this is necessary it is necessary t ..

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.. E THAT THE LAST THING THEY WOULD DO IS BLOW UP THEIR OWN PIPELINE. AND IN FACT, THE ABILITY TO TURN THAT PIPELINE ON AND OFF IS ONE OF VLADIMIR PUTIN'S BIGGEST SOURCES OF LEVERAGE. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE RUSSIANS MAY WELL WANT TO SHOW THAT THEY CAN COMPLETELY DISRUPT EUROPE AND EUROPE'S ENERGY SUPPLIES. THEY MAY WELL WANT TO SHOW THAT THEY CAN DO THIS IN A WAY WHERE THEY CAN BLAME OTHERS. IT'S hard to imagine others with a significant motive . BUT I IMAGINE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN MAKE A CASE THAT WHY A NUMBER OF OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION MIGHT WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT RUSSIA IS DEPRIVED OF THE REVENUE, AND DEPRIVED PERMANENTLY. ONE OF THE BIG HINTS WILL BE IN THE FORENSICS OF HOW THIS HAPPENED. IF IT WAS A MINE DROPPED OR AN EXPLOSIVE DROP DOWN ONTO THE PIPELINE FROM THE AIR, THAT WOULD TELL YOU SOMETHING, AND MAY GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO T ..

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.. nvisaging and the eu is working on and the us as well are already finished finalized or is there still work ongoing and you're not really saying what the details are is that just an excuse for germany maybe to not support the swift measures the first question first if germany if uh if russia invades that means tanks or troops crossing the uh the border of ukraine again then uh there will be uh we There will be no longer a Nord Stream 2 too we we will bring an end to it how would you how will you do that exactly since the project and control of the project is within germany's control we will i promise you we'll be able to do it thank you very much for your question i want to be absolutely clear we have intensively prepared everything to be ready with the necessary sanctions if there is a military aggression against ukraine and th ..

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.. plosions on the Nord Stream, Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Secretary of State Blinken and President Biden specifically addressed that, said it was total out there and they are going to find exactly what happened with their own divers, et cetera, et cetera. Is that a justification for something that he wants to do, that allegation? >> yeah. I think this is part of his strategy of energy warfare. I mean, We have to conclude without the evidence that it's most likely that Russia who Gasprom is his company that helped build those pipelines is actually two, one and two, but there's four pipelines and there's been four explosions of huge consequence with a significant amount of kilotons of TNT. So likely a nation state has done this and we legitimately can speculate that Russia is the likely cause of it. What I think he really wants is ..

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.. . https://p.dw.com/p/4HSzEAn explosion on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline sends natural gas to the surface of the Baltic Sea. The disturbance to the sea is over one kilometer (0.62 miles) in diameter.Image: Danish Defence Command via REUTERSAdvertisementMajor leaks on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines releasing huge amounts of gas into the surrounding Baltic Sea and atmosphere were reported on Monday. Images show the surface of the sea broiling as gas erupted from pipelines 80-110 meters (265-360 feet) below sea level. The long-term impact of the explosion is hard to quantify. ʺAccording to our current knowledge, the leaks in the Nord Stream pipeline do not pose any serious threat to the marine environment of the Baltic Sea,ʺ a spokesperson for Germany's Environment Ministry told DW. Experts say the long-term climate impact of the emissions will be substantial. ʺThe most direct effect of these gas leaks on climate is the extra dollop of the powerful greenhouse gas meth ..

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.. ve dependence on a single supplier were highlighted, as Senator Murphy noted, in 2006, 2009, and 2014 when Russia cut off gas supplies to and through the Ukraine, hurting both the Ukraine and other Russian countries. Such actions are a reminder of Russia's persistent use of energy as a weapon. The United States does not seek to eliminate Russian gas from the market. Our priority is helping Europe minimize dependence upon a single supplier . The United States supports a pro-Europe energy security policy based on diversification of fuel types, supply sources, and delivery routes. These actions are all needed to foster a more open and competitive European energy market, one in which all companies play by free market rules. Indeed, the United States advocates for infrastructure projects, projects identified by the European Union as pro ..

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.. a as an encroachment on EU sovereignty in a parliamentary hearing. Former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder, who has close ties to the Russian government and chairs Nord Stream 2's board of directors, said there is no doubt that the U.S. attempt to "dictate the sovereign community of states such as the EU what to do" must be rejected. He said that diplomatic possibilities must be exploited, "but this will not work without counter sanctions ", without giving details. Schröder said natural gas would be needed as a bridging technology in Germany's energy system for a very long time. But the former chancellor's comments were met with criticism. His presence as a "badly informed Russian gas lobbyist is a disgrace for the highest government office", said Alexander Reitzenstein, senior policy advisor at think tank E3G. During the hearing, ..

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