[mhermher]

It was the threat that it would be turned back on that is the reason that rules in US as a culprit. It was already not being used! Russia would blow it up to get out of some contract? Does that sound like a serious idea to you? Do any contracts even matter between Russia and Europe at this point.

[welterde]

Then explain to me why the US would not blow up both pipes of NS2? And instead blew up NS1 completely?

That makes no sense for anyone but Russia (leave the option slightly ajar for selling gas later on). And the contracts would not quite be irrelevant since they could then try to seize more assets from Russia.

Also a Norway-Poland gas pipeline was opened up just one day before the NS attacks, so could also be sending a message.

[988747]

> Then explain to me why the US would not blow up both pipes of NS2?

Maybe they wanted to, but simply failed? One of the bombs did not go off, or something like that.

[aerostable_slug]

Seems unlikely. The US has successfully engaged in much more difficult, intricate operations successfully in the past. Here the attacker didn't even have to worry about collateral damage.

A former Navy SEAL was interviewed and stated pipelines are what they called (IIRC) "friendly targets" — it doesn't take much explosive to take them out (I imagine their pressurization helps, but I don't have subject matter knowledge).

[miguelazo]

Exactly. It’s funny how the US war machine fanboys ascribe such perfection it, especially after its glaring failures all over the Middle East.

[MichaelCollins]

> Do any contracts even matter between Russia and Europe at this point.

Doubtful. I think the most rational reason Russia might have done it was to remove a bargaining chip from any Russian challengers to Putin. But this seems like a stretch; if Putin thought some gazprom executive was going to use the pipeline to negotiate a peace with Europe, he'd probably just order that executive and his family murdered. That seems to be the way he operates.

Self-sabotage to preempt coups is not unheard of though. The organizational dysfunction and poorly trained state of several militaries around the world is probably attributable in part to self-sabotage, by politicians who fear military coups.

[mhermher]

Any serious opposition to Putin is actually more hawkish than he is. Not quite something that is covered often in our press. There is no neo Yeltsin lurking in the shadows.

[DSingularity]

Hmm, I wonder why oh why is this omitted from western media ?

[miguelazo]

Thank you! It’s absurd the Game of Thrones scenarios that people like to dream up when it comes to Putin.