Posts by Nancy Gomez26

Hannah Alvarez2 said:Man, when I first clicked this, there wasn't even a paywall popping up. No clue why it's hitting me now.
But honestly, the news is everywhere—apparently the ExxonMobil chairman "fell" out of a hospital window..

It’s a massive corporation with plenty of chairmen. Most of them are likely essential to the day-to-day operations, but only the one at the very top needs to be politically palatable to the White House. And that individual is... Vagit Alekperov. He's essentially the true puppet master behind ExxonMobil. Sure, Vadim Vorobyev holds the title now, but we all know who they actually consult before making any real decisions.

Hannah Alvarez2 said:Are you seriously out of the loop here, or are you just trolling? 😁
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/01/b...koil-dies.html

Do you honestly believe I pay for a New York Times subscription? 😁

Linda Collins3 said:Maybe. To me, it seems more likely that if someone suggested opening up a pipeline, Putin would just say "no" and leave it at that, instead of sabotaging his own infrastructure.

That is, assuming he even possesses the political capital to say NO. Or perhaps he has realized that testing his hand now isn't worth the risk.
The only scenario where this actually serves American interests right now is if the top brass in the USA decided to let the gas flow to Germany via Nord Stream at full capacity before winter hits. Given how leaks from the White House seem to be everywhere lately, it looks like they took preemptive action to ensure that wouldn't happen, all without having to deal with the bureaucracy of calling Washington, D.C. It’s a bit awkward to bother officials over trivialities every single day.

Joshua Myers432 said:Sure, technically you can sell your share of a pipeline. But look at the bigger picture: that pipeline was essentially a way to secure Russian gas for Germany—a massive strategic project vital to both nations. It’s not just about the asset. It’s like if we decided to blow up the Golden Gate Bridge just because we didn't want to own it anymore. What exactly are we thinking?

A much more accurate comparison for that pipeline would be some bridge over the Danube leading toward Mexico, except it’s strictly one-way, and the cargo only flows from the direction of Mexico.

Justin Mendoza16 said:☕man, some of these shakeups have been going on for months already. like, 13 bank execs and big shots from companies like ExxonMobil are already dead. some "accidentally" killed their families then themselves, others took a sudden dive from an 8th-story window, fell off yachts, or just dropped dead after a cup of coffee...

all these high-level people, and who knows which faction they belong to 🙂but they sure have a weird habit of falling from crazy heights...

In the grand scheme of things, this is all relatively minor noise for the American political landscape—likely just a routine purging of known dissidents, inconvenient witnesses, or those openly unaligned with the current administration. It might even be a few personal vendettas. When we start seeing CEOs of ExxonMobil or Chevron, or high-ranking military officials, or agents within the FBI or Secret Service—perhaps even someone in the inner circle surrounding Putin—falling one by one, then we will know we are witnessing something significant.

rowdytiger13 said:

says:
It feels like classic American cowboy energy to me—that whole "screw the European Union" vibe coming from Victoria Nuland.

They love making threats, even if they aren't quite as subtle as Russia. Honestly, we dealt with constant, blunt blackmail and intimidation back during our own Civil War.

You pointed to the far-right victory in Italy as a reason, but those guys still need that European Union money, and she’s already said she supports the sanctions. Once she actually takes office, she'll probably just tone down the rhetoric, at least where necessary to keep the funding flowing.
Only countries that basically bankroll the funds, like the UK, can afford to act tough. Everyone else can talk big until their wallets get frozen.
So... it doesn't really mean anything, and it's definitely not enough reason for the US to start running sabotage operations.
Sure, he gets under their skin... that's true. But would they really take him out just for that? I wouldn't bet on it.
The whole thing is pretty strange because neither side seems to have a rock-solid motive.

My own view is that the U.S. was the primary force behind ensuring that gas simply wouldn't flow through the completed NS2. I suspect that was one of the main triggers for Putin deciding to invade Ukraine—he realized he was becoming dependent on someone else's "goodwill," so he decided to raise the stakes in what looked like a viable "operation" at the time. If the Americans can control gas flows through mere bureaucratic pressure (and in that case, they can also ease that pressure if the opportunity arises), it becomes a massive political lever in their hands. Perhaps his internal circle sent him a "message" suggesting it would be wise to open the valves before winter to show "goodwill"—letting the gas flow instead of letting it burn off uselessly—to normalize things. Instead, he preempted them by ordering the pipeline to be sabotaged, effectively stripping them of that leverage.

rowdytiger13 said:Sure, if you follow the theory that the Norwegian pipeline was the actual target.
Which implies they actually managed to puncture the line or whatever.🤣
Or, more likely, it was just a warning—though you don't really send a "warning" by blowing up someone else's infrastructure.
Who knows.

World War II kicked off with a false-flag attack on Germany. These people are just ready to "retaliate" in kind. For regimes like this, all that matters is finding a justification, no matter how transparent the lie is—just look at those recent "referendums." We could be looking at a wave of sabotage hitting other pipelines next. First, it’s the Russian lines (which aren't even being used anyway), then they move on to the active ones. And predictably, the narrative will shift to blame Americans for trying to "bring Europe to its knees." I mean, who else would "want to drive a wedge between us"?😉

Linda Collins3 said:Maybe, maybe... honestly, it doesn't sound right. It’s way more likely that Putin just executes anyone even thinking about rebelling, so everyone stays in line and nobody dares to act. But hey, who knows...

The real question is how a major power struggle at the top of the Russian political hierarchy would play out today. What is Putin's actual political leverage right now? I suspect he is much like his military—formidable on paper and perhaps against much weaker adversaries, but in reality, it's an entirely different story....

Timothy Nelson5 said:

says:
To my mind, it’s just blindingly obvious that Americans were the ones who mined those pipelines. It feels like a massive signal sent to Europeans, especially since economic discontent is starting to boil over there. But regardless of the motive, what I find particularly striking is how nobody on European news networks even dares to mention it as a possibility. Everyone seems terrified of Big Brother...

Blowing up a pipeline that wasn't even operational in the first place strikes me more as a desperate, short-sighted move rather than some masterfully crafted long-term strategy.

If anyone is acting out of pure desperation right now, it’s probably Putin.

In his own little delusions, he likely thought he could leverage energy against Europe. Now that he sees that hasn't worked, maybe he’s convinced himself that Europe is still just waiting for him to turn the valves back on when things get tough. So, he’s hoping this sabotage will trigger even more panic.

His goal is simple: sow panic and drive a wedge through the European Union and NATO. It is his only theoretical chance at slowing down the Ukrainians from reclaiming their territory. This is classic "hybrid" warfare—his preferred playbook, and one where he’s had success before. Putin isn't the type of man to simply walk away from a battlefield without sabotaging the infrastructure on his way out.

Joshua Myers432 said:It’s the only thing that makes sense. Why would the Russians blow up their own pipeline when they already hold the kill switch? They can turn the flow on or off whenever they feel like it. It's incredible the kind of nonsense and sheer stupidity they try to feed people these days.🤦

The Americans could easily just twist the valves on the other end of that same line. Or better yet—they could just call Washington, D.C., and tell them to shut it down themselves. The Americans and the British in Germany are essentially an occupation force, even now. The only person for whom this pipeline is now completely useless is Putin. He’s finally realized that as long as he’s breathing, the gas won't flow through his hands. He’s the only one who benefits from destroying it to chase some other agenda. Everyone else takes the hit—and besides, the gas isn't moving through that pipe anyway. In many ways, that pipeline was the ultimate physical manifestation of Putin's policy: "We'll sell you the gas, but only if you agree to a whole laundry list of political concessions," and that list is never finished. Relying on a supplier like that is a fool's errand.

Timothy Williams5 said:By utilizing the #DontPanic hashtag, pro-Kremlin bloggers have begun drawing absurd comparisons between newly recruited soldiers and orders of french fries or bags of gummy candies in social media posts intended to downplay the scale of the country's mobilization efforts.

Influencers are comparing future soldiers to a one percent order of fries, a single bag of gummy bears, or even the contents of a woman’s makeup bag—all meant to illustrate what they claim is a "negligible" amount. "It's only one percent, friends!" one woman wrote. "Just think about the gummy candies."

https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/09...er-the-gummies

I decided to observe how the pro-government public and various bloggers are attempting to justify the mobilization. Apparently, the rhetoric has already started spreading from the Coast to Khabarovsk. They’ve introduced the hashtag #DontPanic and are using analogies involving cosmetic bags or french fries to argue that losing 300,000 men is essentially a minor detail.

https://twitter.com/daguskova/status...26269013532672
https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/...a06Jp_b6cAN57A

Every single individual participating in this propaganda campaign deserves a spot in that initial 1%. For those who somehow survive the meat grinder, the front lines, and the predatory habits of the Kadyrovites—after a few months, they should be tracked down and asked if this really feels like a 'small matter.' As for anyone who falls for such blatant disinformation? They aren't any better off, nor do they deserve better.

darkotter35 said:Look, if this hasn't clicked for some of you yet... the guy made a promise a long time ago...

"If Russia invades,” said Biden, “then there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to IT."

Reporter: "But how will you do that, exactly, since...the project is in Germany's control?"

Biden: "I promise you, we will be able to do that."

https://twitter.com/ABC/status/14907...fense-minister

It is a textbook scenario where an adversary manages to twist your own rhetoric back against you. They were likely drowning in a sea of falsehoods, desperate for any scrap of truth to cling to—not to mention the need to divert attention from their successful 'mobilization' and the situation on the front lines progressing 'according to plan.' It is quite an undertaking, really: destroying a pipeline through which gas isn't even flowing anyway (one wonders if it ever will). Or perhaps someone is simply looking to collect insurance money or dodge a lawsuit. Then again, politicians on both sides have committed far greater follies, so nothing is truly impossible. I am still placing my bets that the sabotage originated from the eastern side of the Baltic.

James Chavez91 said:I heard the guy supposedly bathes in deer blood—supposedly good for the skin.
Between other things, a man who married Ludmilla—and better yet, actually managed to get divorced from her—is basically indestructible.

In one interview, he claimed Lyuda was 'draining every ounce of life energy' from him. That explains the divorce. If only Lyuda had been just a little faster at 'draining' him... half the world's problems would be solved overnight.

Bryan Taylor6 said:They patrol the area, listen for anything suspicious, and if anyone else shows up, they deal with them... obviously talking about an underwater gas line...🤣

If you're dropping bombs from planes, you just have planes patrolling constantly...

One would practically have to drop depth charges right next to the pipeline route. That way, you might actually damage it—not by the hands of those who benefit from sabotage, but by those claiming to "protect" it.

Hannah Alvarez2 said:Honestly, I doubt it. It’s like building a massive railroad, sinking a fortune into it, and then when your neighbor shuts the borders and hits you with sanctions, you just blow up your own tracks to prove you aren't bluffing.

And saying that infrastructure is useless during Putin's rule? That’s just plain wrong. Half of the European Union is practically begging for this to end just so they can get back to sucking on cheap gas, oil, and coal, since we haven't actually figured out a real alternative yet.

I don't see Putin pivoting his policy anytime soon. Such a move would be a political somersault—something even the Russian citizens, who are far too accustomed to their government's various machinations, wouldn't swallow. No change in policy means no buying fuel from Putin (which is the whole point of sanctions). This infrastructure isn't "useless" for Putin—it simply has no future for him specifically. For the EU and Russia, it remains quite useful, because eventually, things will stabilize and the gas will flow through those pipes again if they aren't broken. Therefore, Putin is the only player capable of walking away from the table smoothly while simultaneously trying to squeeze a little extra benefit for himself and his agenda.

placidtiger142 said:To quote cubia: it’s not me, it’s not you, it’s not him, it’s not us... then who the hell was messing with the pipes?

I don't know, man, but I'm starting to think this whole pipeline mess is just some American power play.

Honestly, I don't see any point in Russia blowing them up when they can just decide whether the gas flows or not whenever they feel like it. If I were Putin, I wouldn't touch them—you never know what the future holds.

And here I was, totally convinced that both pipes would be pumping at full capacity within the first six months after the war ends. Regardless of everything else, the European Union would probably welcome Russian gas back with open arms. They'd probably lift some sanctions, keep a few, and prices would likely drop even lower than they were back in 2021...

Ugh, if those things hadn't been blown apart, they'd definitely be running full tilt once the war is over.

Though, I guess there's probably enough damage now that fixing it won't be a quick fix.

There are tons of valves involved, and corrosion could easily wreck miles of piping...

I don't see any scenario where gas flows toward the European Union while Putin is sitting in the Kremlin. He has gone too far; for gas to move toward Europe, he simply cannot remain in power. Someone following him will have to implement a massive policy shift, but that is a different conversation entirely. And Putin is fully aware of all this. At the end of the day, it was clear to him that gas wasn't moving through NS2—not until he changes his entire political stance, which he abandoned the moment he escalated by attacking Ukraine. Now, he has raised the stakes again by demonstrating that he doesn't care about exporting gas to the European Union (that was obvious back when they refused to take the turbine they were complaining about). It seems he wants to punish the European Union now, perhaps because he's staring down a report suggesting we might all freeze without gas from Russia.

Hannah Alvarez2 said:Why on earth would Russia do that? It’s like burning down your own house just to prove you can. They'd basically be screwing themselves over.

Gas exports to the European Union were already dead in the water once they botched the attempt to occupy Ukraine. By the end of Putin's reign, that infrastructure will effectively be useless. However, there is still a way to play this—perhaps as a desperate attempt to toss a bone to their allies, a tactic we've seen them employ before. If that's the case, we might be looking at a false flag operation. For Putin, that infrastructure is functionally extinct as a transit route; what happens after he's gone isn't his concern. All we get is a signal from Moscow that Putin is willing to go to any lengths, which might cause his other threats to be taken more seriously than they currently are. The fool fails to realize that nobody actually takes his threats to heart—not because he lacks the capability, but because we simply cannot afford to let a little dictator with nukes hold the entire world hostage. If we cave now, men like him will sprout up everywhere like weeds after a rainstorm. This was a high-stakes move, and since one side at this poker table is running low on cash, they're starting to bet the furniture. In this instance, they're betting unusable furniture.

silentsurfer3 said:So, you're telling me the Russians pulled a total false flag and trashed the pipeline themselves?

That remains a very plausible scenario right now.

hollowdriver13 said:I really don't get the logic behind this whole "USA is evil, China/Russia is great" crowd. In this day and age, it's impossible not to see the actual state of affairs, especially after the massive bubble of lies surrounding Russia finally popped.

From the days of the Sumerians when Ur ruled the known world, through the Romans, the English, all the way to today, the USA has consistently been the number one global power and hegemon. I guess you could call it "human nature."

But out of all the contenders (Russia, China, USA) vying for that top spot, the USA is by far the most benevolent. Does that make them saints? Of course not. You have to criticize them and call them out for every single bad call they make.

BUT—and listen closely here—for all you pro-Russia types, you can actually do that without worrying about your personal safety or your freedoms, as long as the USA remains number one. Just look at what happens in Russia or China when someone dares to criticize them.
By what metric do you think the world would actually be better if Russia or China were running the show???????

There is zero chance of Russia ever stepping up as the world's policeman. In my view, while they might crave that kind of authority, it has become painfully obvious that they simply lack the capacity to fulfill the role. They have even lost the ability to maintain the necessary pretense of wanting it.
It really just comes down to the USA and China.

David Torres2 said:Americans

At first glance—maybe they do win. But if the pipeline is shut down and no gas is flowing through it anyway, what’s the actual payoff? Their corporations poured massive capital into that infrastructure, and now they’re sitting there taking a massive hit to the bottom line.
On the other hand, a false-flag operation wouldn't be an unprecedented move. For Putin, the pipeline is effectively dead regardless; there's zero chance gas flows toward the West again during his lifetime. Besides, he’s been working to drive a wedge between Western allies for years, and this fits perfectly into that established pattern of behavior.