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2023-04-11 Europe
The Nord Stream blasts cover story is crumbling. Cockamamie yarns like the one involving the yacht suggest not nefarious cunning but simple incompetence.
[AsiaTimes] Reports that nongovernmental pro-Ukrainians were behind the Nordstream gas pipeline explosions last year appear to be losing traction, as illustrated by a new Reuters report quoting skeptical remarks by a Swedish official.

As originally put forth on March 7 by the New York Times (quoting unnamed US officials with access to intelligence) and by a consortium of German media (quoting unnamed police sources), the theory held that the otherwise unidentified culprits had carried out the Baltic Sea operation from a rented 50-foot charter sailing yacht named Andromeda.

Some analysts (including me) found the tale highly improbable from the start and suggested — or, in the case of investigative reporter Seymour Hersh, flat-out asserted — that it was a cover story concocted by spooks to counter Hersh’s February 8 report, based on the Pulitzer Prize winner’s own anonymous sourcing, that US divers working for the CIA did the deed.

This week, Washington Post reporters revisited the yacht tale, apparently trying to keep it afloat even as they acknowledged the story’s holes. One big hole: The reporters learned that the perps would have needed more of a base than a single sailing yacht for their operations at sea:

US and European officials said they still don’t know for sure who is behind the underwater attack. But several said they shared German skepticism that a crew of six people on one sailboat laid the hundreds of pounds of explosives that disabled Nord Stream 1 and part of Nord Stream 2, a newer set of pipelines that wasn’t yet delivering gas to customers.

Experts noted that while it was theoretically possible to place the explosives on the pipeline by hand, even skilled divers would be challenged submerging more than 200 feet to the seabed and slowly rising to the surface to allow time for their bodies to decompress.

Such an operation would have taken multiple dives, exposing the Andromeda to detection from nearby ships. The mission would have been easier to hide and pull off using remotely piloted underwater vehicles or small submarines, said diving and salvage experts who have worked in the area of the explosion, which features rough seas and heavy shipping traffic.
The Russians bombed the pipeline, dummy. We went over this extensively when it happened, and all signs pointed to Putin.
Posted by Hupainter Peacock1045 2023-04-11 00:00|| || Front Page|| [6 views ]  Top

#1 Re the editorial comment. I recall our conversation very differently. There was considerable discussion regarding the Kearsarge, the underwater sound sensors in that area to detect submarines, the previous discovery of an attempt to disrupt the pipeline and a host of other open source information. I believe the consensus was that the information available at the time was not congruent with the Russians deliberately destroying their multi billion dollar asset. Presumably the Russians, Americans, Germans & Brits each know what actually transpired. When it suits one of their needs we may find out. Apparently the SEALs didn’t do it or else there would already be three books on the subject
Posted by Slenter Panda4300 2023-04-11 06:09||   2023-04-11 06:09|| Front Page Top

#2 /\ Apparently the SEALs didn’t do it or else there would already be three books on the subject

Snark O'The Day
Posted by Besoeker 2023-04-11 06:28||   2023-04-11 06:28|| Front Page Top

#3 Due to the lack of actual evidence having been released (other than a lot of finger-pointing and conjecture), I'm still stuck in the 'Pipe-Pig' camp.
Posted by Mullah Richard 2023-04-11 09:50||   2023-04-11 09:50|| Front Page Top

#4 
Posted by Hupainter Peacock1045 2023-04-11 09:51||   2023-04-11 09:51|| Front Page Top

#5 ^ That makes no sense, as it precludes re-opening the tap to reward pro-Russian behavior by the eurines.
Posted by M. Murcek 2023-04-11 09:55||   2023-04-11 09:55|| Front Page Top

#6 The Russians bombed the pipeline, dummy.

Russians: Do what we want or we will cut off the gas.
Germany: OK, OK. We'll do it. Now turn the gas back on.
Russians: Uhhh.... oopsie!

Thinking about the "some guys in a boat" theory the other day...
Limits for recreational scuba diving seem to be around 40 meters. The pipeline is at 80-110 meters. Commercial and military divers work at that depth but you need some technical things like gas mixtures and decompression chambers to do it practically.

For blowing up the pipeline itself, you need explosives in larger quantity than you might find at Home Depot and some experience handling them. Let's not forget some way to trigger the detonation remotely.

tl;dr: It may have been "some guys in a boat" but they had nation-state level resources behind them.
Posted by SteveS 2023-04-11 10:20||   2023-04-11 10:20|| Front Page Top

#7 I'm with Mullah. It is the least complicated of all possibilities.
Posted by DarthVader 2023-04-11 10:43||   2023-04-11 10:43|| Front Page Top

#8 By shutting down the pipelines, the Russians were in breach of the gas delivery contracts on Nord Stream 1. They were liable for gas not delivered. The amount was growing each day and already reached billions of Euros.

The destruction of the pipelines invalidated the contracts (Force Majeure clause). How lucky for the Russians! I'm sure it was a complete coincidence.

But thanks to everyone for committing sedition by trying to promote conspiracy theories blaming the US. Maybe it was the Jewish Space Lasers that made them do it!
Posted by Hupainter Peacock1045 2023-04-11 10:50||   2023-04-11 10:50|| Front Page Top

#9 Occam's Razor often disappoints the tinfoil hat crowd.
Posted by M. Murcek 2023-04-11 10:51||   2023-04-11 10:51|| Front Page Top

#10 I don't know who did it, so I didn't even conjecture. If you wanna throw the "sedition" accusation around for those who did, you can fuck right off
Posted by Frank G 2023-04-11 11:45||   2023-04-11 11:45|| Front Page Top

#11 But thanks to everyone for committing sedition by trying to promote conspiracy theories blaming the US. Maybe it was the Jewish Space Lasers that made them do it!

Versus treason, and violating Constitutional rights under the color of law.
Posted by badanov 2023-04-11 12:55||   2023-04-11 12:55|| Front Page Top

#12 Biden pledges end to Nord Stream 2 if Russia invades Ukraine

Biden implicated himself as did Victoria Nuland. I'd call that pretty convincing evidence. Maybe not enough to convict in court but it would certainly warrant arrest, interrogation and further investigation...if anyone was capable of such things anymore.
Posted by Abu Uluque 2023-04-11 13:00||   2023-04-11 13:00|| Front Page Top

#13 "If Russia invades, that means tanks or troops crossing the ... border of Ukraine again, then there will be ... no longer a Nord Stream 2. We, we will bring an end to it," Biden said. Asked how, given the project is in German control, Biden said: "I promise you, we'll be able to do it."
Posted by Abu Uluque 2023-04-11 13:03||   2023-04-11 13:03|| Front Page Top

#14 That Brandon made a blustery threat, I have no doubt. But having the courage and resources to carry out the threat - I don't think so.
Posted by Bobby 2023-04-11 18:58||   2023-04-11 18:58|| Front Page Top

#15 Discussing and analyzing in an attempt to find the truth is not sedition — it’s the American Way. Deliberately sharing lies to persuade those with the ability to act is something else, but our regulars don’t do things like that.
Posted by trailing wife 2023-04-11 21:58||   2023-04-11 21:58|| Front Page Top

#16 But having the courage and resources to carry out the threat - I don't think so.

Resources we got! Back during the Cold War, we tapped a Soviet undersea telephone cable. It was quite the intelligence coup, as well as being rather ballsy, since the cable ran between two military installations and was considered secure. Nobody can tap an undersea cable, right?

The book, Blind Man's Bluff: The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage goes into some detail about this story as well as some other undersea mischief.
Posted by SteveS 2023-04-11 22:20||   2023-04-11 22:20|| Front Page Top

#17 They really think the public is totally retarded to actually believe that yacht story. "The dog ate it" has no less credibility.
Posted by DooDahMan 2023-04-11 22:24||   2023-04-11 22:24|| Front Page Top

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