The explosions benefit Russia because it gives them cover for a permanent stop to supplying Germany with gas, something that was already a given because Germany would never buy gas from Russia again due to their atrocities in the war. In the Russians' mind it gives them the "moral high ground" rather than humiliation and makes out the West to be the villain. This is typical Russian logic.
On the other side there is no rational reason for the West to destroy the pipelines, outside of strained conspiracy theories that the US wanted to stop Germany from buying gas from Russia and buy it from the US, which was already happening. Nevermind that the risk/reward of such an action would be stupid for the US and that it has other, much safer ways to achieve the same result.
"In the Russian's mind it gives them the "moral high ground" rather than humiliation and makes out the West to be the villain. This is typical Russian logic." - Nice Xenophobia, you should do better than this.
You still haven't providing any counterargument to my points other than a ad-hominem attack.
I think it a bit self-contradictory that the Russian media always accuse the West of being Russophobic and at the same time air programs like this one:
https://nitter.net/JuliaDavisNews/status/1584054018145685504
Ordinary Russians need an income.
When you think of it, it's really sad. Because now that Russians have clearly realized that this is not any "special operation" but a real war, their war, and that they are going to die in it, it's already too late - it's even difficult to escape these days if you don't have ample resources.
I am not a Russian, but would highly advise you to carefully choose your words about any nation and their beliefs/logic.
> On the other side there is no rational reason for the West to destroy the pipelines
If you can't find reason, doesn't mean there is no reason. I could also ask same question there was no reason for NATO expansion because war ended, no reason for EU/US not to support diplomatic actions, instead of pushing to the war.
Russia is still supplying gas to Europe (and indirectly to Germany) through Ukrainian pipelines that operate normally. Despite all the carnage of war neither side attacked the pipelines. War is war and business is business.
What makes it strained? Even if Germany didn't buy gas, and wasn't planning to buy gas, that could change any time. Now it cannot.
The gas shortage in Europe has only just begun. We will suffer from it over the next several years, Germany more than most.
Saying there was never any chance of a change of policy in Germany is not serious.
Life is going to be one long series of disappointments for you. Well done for engaging your critical thinking faculties, but expecting unbiased facts is, well, naïve.
Keep being sceptical. Especially of the things you want to believe.
Also which other country does have an interest in cutting internet cables between Europe and the US?
It's the "opinion" of pretty much everyone in the geopolitical community. Hardly propaganda.
And equating The Economist with Russia Today is just ludicrous and a sad demonstration of the effectiveness of the "Firehose of falsehood" propaganda technique employed by, well, guess who. (hint - same guys who blew up the pipeline)
It's that simple.
I disagree: "Hardly propaganda."
A loneley voice in the geopolitical community (August Hanning):
How exactly did Russia sneak so deep into enemy territory to blow it up and sneak back out again? Especially considering how incompetent we hear that they are in literally every single article written?
I've yet to read a single explanation of this, and in fact you would think we're not supposed to look on a map and ask ourselves this question since it doesn't seem to even be asked by "everyone in the geopolitical community".
Doesn't that seem strange?
Fortunately the US benefits the most from this so that was very considerate of Russia, I guess. To sabotage themselves for our benefit. Bold move.
Russia had already shut off the gas, "hurting" themselves by your own logic. They have a long, proven history of irrational behaviour and false flag operations. And if the USA had done it, against all reason and logic, why didn't they finish the job?
Anyway, I did say almost certainly Russia. Who knows, could have been some faction in Germany or another EU power seeking to really force Germany's hand. But it seems far more likely to be the obvious actor with the means, motive and mindset who started the bloody war in the first place.
Also, everybody in Europe hates Russia so if the investigation had pointed to them that would have been shouted from the rooftops immediately. Instead, the details of the report has been hidden from public view and Russia was told they couldn't see it.
So really nothing would indicate Russia is behind it and everything indicates they're not.
Russia had already shut off the gas, "hurting" themselves by your own logic.
"Everyone" thought that Saddam Hussein had an active WMD program.
If the kremlin wants to shut down the pipeline, they simply shutdown. The sender and receivers are the last folks who will sabotage or damage.
So who did? It's going to be a well funded country with something to win.
Norway just got their pipe online literally 1 day after.
Canada/USA want to export their energy. Well not canada, they lack the capability.
Middle east? Maybe? Unlikely.
Climate groups? Very unlikely.
China or India? Absolutely. They are getting a huge discount on russian energy now.
Russia in active aggressor in this conflict and has the most to gain by killing the pipeline since the gas they now still sell is more expensive and they have other places to ship the gas (if anyone know a reference to Russian gas exports, I'd like to see).
For America to do it is harder to believe (even though there is a video of Biden alluding that they will "shut it down"). Even though they might have what to gain from LNG exports - the destruction of the European economy is not something that will help the US in the mid/long-term.
It would be one of the few actions the US could take in 2022 that would have pretty much bi-partisan political support. That to me lends a level of credibility to the possibility along with Biden’s inability to handle off the cuff questions, even though I suspect that the likely culprit is not the US.
However there is zero doubt in my mind that there are a group of folks within the Biden administration who cringe every time he runs off script. It’s said that President Obama once said “Never underestimate Joe Biden’s ability to fuck something up”.
I can stop reading at this line to know that this isn't journalism, it's opinion at best and propaganda at worst. I expect better from HN.
At this point if Moscow gets obliterated in a Nuclear Mushroom cloud, I expect the next mornings headlines to be "And here's how Russia benefits from this"