Augusts Augustiņs
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
At a time when only the last couple of kilometers of the Kremlin’s gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 need to be built in the depths of the Baltic Sea, German environmental activists and a couple of politicians have made loud announcements that it’s time to put an end to the Kremlin’s very “dangerous” geopolitical project.
A couple of days before Easter, Coordinator of Transatlantic Cooperation at the German Federal Foreign Office Peter Beyer suggested that a moratorium should be imposed on the completion of Nord Stream 2. The German official suddenly believes that the pipeline will hinder the restoration and improvement of transatlantic relations, because the US expects Berlin to change its pro-Kremlin rhetoric and give Russians the finger. Therefore, the cancellation of the Nord Stream 2 project would be a good political gesture by the Germans.
I will remind you that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is frequently repeating Joe Biden’s words that Nord Stream 2 is very bad for Germany, Ukraine and Central and Eastern European allies. He added that those engaged in completing the Kremlin’s geopolitical project shouldn’t be surprised if sanctions get imposed against them.
This, of course, is another example of superpowers fighting for global influence. Nothing personal, just business, and everyone is free to choose their own path. Because this geopolitical game is rapidly getting out of control, it is vital for the Kremlin to complete Nord Stream 2 – if the project gets postponed now, it may never be completed, or at least not while Putin is at the helm of Russia.
This has resulted in the Kremlin now rushing to construct the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. In such projects haste is nothing good because it can only result in a geopolitical screw up. Moreover, because of US sanctions the project has been abandoned by several Western contractors, and now only Russian sailors with outdated equipment and a peculiar attitude towards “doing a good job” remain, meaning that the project won’t be of the highest quality. The result will be something similar to Putin’s palace in Gelendzhik, i.e. yes, there is a palace but it still looks like a barn.
What concerns the equipment used by Russia, I would like to stress that the ships VENIE, VLADISLAV STRIZHOV, YURI TOPCHEV, UMKA, VENGERY, FINVAL, ERRIE and KATUN have already served their time – some are in a state of emergency and some should have been sent to India to be cut up a long time ago. It’s possible that the Baltic Sea won’t see an ecological disaster, but instead a ship disaster.
Ukrainian intelligence services have once again published quite interesting information that may force some Germans to think about the impending danger in the Baltic Sea. For instance, one of ships engaged in the construction of Nord Stream 2 has been undergoing repairs at the Munkebo port (Denmark) since 16 March. Judging by the photographs, it looks like the ship has a damaged hull, propeller and steering gear. The poor UMKA is so old that it’s unable to withstand the workload necessary to complete the pipeline by the time the banquet celebrating the Russia Day will be held at Schröder’s house in Germany.
Experts believe that the use of old ships and technology in the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline only increases the likelihood of technological disasters occurring in the Baltic Sea that would have severe ecological consequences.
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Propaganda. Not with reading.
I beg to differ. I actually find them very amusing. They are so completely detached from reality. Germany wanted Nord Stream 2. It is Germany who made the investment. It is Germany who stands to benefit from inexpensive Russian gas. And it is Germany who will be liable for billions if the project is stopped. A little time reading on the history of Nord Stream 2 would enable anyone capable of rational thought of understanding this. But as for the writer… Who knows.
absolutely correct. It was Germany who approached Russia to build this pipeline in the first place – it was never Russia’s idea. If it does not go ahead Germany will be liable for billions, as you correctly point out. It will also simply reinforce Russia’s pivot to the east – the second Siberian pipeline is moving to completion and Russia will be no longer dependant on oil sales to Europe. Russia hold all the cards here – Germany has a 7 2, off-suit in poker terms
it’s not worth reading either.
Codswallop
Why is the Duran publishing this crappy CIA propaganda? Do they get a payoff?
The Duran started off with good intentions, but rapidly went over to the dark side. Not surprising, really, as Mr Mercurias is a former convicted crook.
What was he convicted of, speaking truth to power? That’s a death penalty offence in the US and Ukraine, isn’t it?
ON one hand we have this POS so-called ‘Author’ Propaganda Phony with his Bullshit Propaganda Lies, so as well this asshole can spew his vitriol…BUT we can unmask his BS w/o any interference or manipulation downvote him and show what a corrupt cowardly POS he really is, in contrast to ALL the other platforms/big-tech social-media MSM forums, you name it, where this would be impossible because it would censored shadowbanned manipulated + forged stats/ratings and all those phony/fake blue checkmark Frauds promoting this BS-Propaganda w/o any resitance or opposite views ect.
Who writes this muck? Shame on the Duran for publishing this anti Russia false propaganda.
Ha, now the twerp speaks for all Germans.
…and no doubt publishes close up photos of rusting Ukrainian wrecks and passes them off as NS2 vessels.
It’s an old trick (Maybe he’s a CNN stringer?) but so overused, I can’t help but YAWN.
Meanwhile, I’m reading an excellent Buzzfeeed (the complete opposite of a Russian ally) article about the exploits of American neo-nazi misfits wanted in the US for murder and fleeing to Ukraine to commit more murder and torture for fun and profit, yet supported to the hilt by their Ukrainian ‘brethren’. If that doesn’t speak volumes of the Ukrainian ‘character’, I surely don’t know what does.
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/christopherm51/craig-lang-ukraine-far-right-extremists-true-crime
So these are the interests the author works for? So that Ukraine can continue supporting this neanderthal scum with monies earned through Russian gas exports? Bad enough this American bimbo poses with the very same neo-nazi patches, now Russia has to support them too?
https://twitter.com/MaxBlumenthal/status/1381795753530654721/photo/1
Get lost, airheaded author.
America is replete with bimbos. You need to read the twitter comments to the Buzzfeed article where, every so often a bimbo chimes in outraged in thinking that this American scum has joined Russia to fight against Ukraine.
Propaganda works, esp. in America. Literally turning brains to mush without dropping a stitch.
Old Pentagon trick. Extradite the cretin and make an example of the very worst of the litter (pun intended), so the rest can continue their Ukrainian war crimes in ‘peace’ and a medal of merit without besmirching the Pentagon’s ‘integrity’.
Funny they only begin publishing such articles AFTER Biden (et al) assumed the throne, but prior to that it was all ‘Russian propaganda’.
CNN assumed the hallowed mantel of propaganda czar to remove Trump. Now it’s a perpetual habit.
“Let me control the media and I will turn any nation into a herd of pigs.”
“Asked by a visitor to the site if the quotation was from Goebbels, Bytwerk wrote: “It is almost certainly fabricated, and for the usual reasons” – namely, that those using the quotation online do not provide a source,….”
https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-fact-check-fabricated-goebbels-quote-idUSKBN28P21X
Interesting, so all that Russiagate and beyond business not providing ‘sources’ was all fabricated, according to Reuters.
Nice to know.
Oh, stop it. Of course there were sources. Anonymous sources citing articles generated by the same or related anonymous sources in a magnificently executed feedback mechanism of self-actualizing propagandistic grandeur.
Oh, you’re just giving agency to an unproven conspiracy that we’ve spent multiple millions trying to cover up with anonymous sources. It’s a tough job but someone has to do it.
Nice comment.
You won’t have to try hard when it comes to the Ukrainian public, Mr. Johnny come lately.
Remember that CNN clown going through the garbage in St. Pete? Must have an affinity for garbage, so much of it scattered through their Atlanta HQ.
Bullshit Propaganda Piece AGAIN from this lying Goon, the Majority of Germans [including myself] are Pro NS2 – Total Horseshit!
“I will remind you that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is frequently repeating Joe Biden’s words that Nord Stream 2 is very bad for Germany”
Don’t know what’s worse, the fool or the monkey parroting the fool.
We all know that the Germans have great leaders and great scientists, but at the same time they are stupid!!! and you can’t fix stupid. As an example. In WW11 they could have wiped out Europe and America with no problem. But when they chose to attack Russia also!! Then their downfall began. We Brits still have to thank the Russians for defeating the Germans.
IMO [as German] there were only two ‘Great’ German Leader ‘Otto von Bismarck’ and ‘Willy Brandt’ …..Merkel and her whole Regime is a rotten treacherous POS and corrupt/criminal excrement and should be hanged.
True. Prince Otto von Bismarck is imo the biggest leader Germany ever had.
Mr Brand (socialist?) I am not so sure but agree he continuousley pleaded for peace with former USSR.
Let us hope the Alliance sent Mrs Merkel as an european example to another planet, already?
Does this magazine also embark on NATO campaigns? Sabotage of Nordstream 2 is geopolitical, but also, and above all, economic. It is also moral, because it demonstrates a tremendous lack of loyalty from Russia’s western partners. This article is worthy of a NATO propaganda media pamphlet.
So many articles are these days.
It’s always good to have a diversity of views, something which MSNBC, The New York Times and other DNC aligned media in the US are not very good at producing. However, in this case, the writer Mr Augstins, really does not know his facts and is quite obviously just spelling out the anti-Russian party line which we have seen before ad nauseam. If a journalist wishes to express reservations on a matter like this, then fine lets hear it, but this is not journalism.
I read this article until I got to this bit, and I quote, “Russian sailors with outdated equipment and a peculiar attitude towards “doing a good job” remain, meaning that the project won’t be of the highest quality. ” Unquote. REALLY ? Says the nation that cannot even design and build a decent rocket engine. The level of Russian military technology leave the U.S. and many others gasping in consternation. How is it even possible that a nation that ALLEGEDLY uses outdated equipment and has a “peculiar attitude towards doing a good job, is incapable pf doing the highest quality ???????????… Read more »
Thank you, for kind words and comments my “friends”! Next time I will try to do my best!
You just do that. Good man!
IMO, Peter Beyer’s official title is Coordinator of Transatlantic Cooperation in the Field of Intersocietal Relations, Cultural and Information Policy. Peter Beyer, who studied in the United States and served as rapporteur for the US in the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the German Bundestag, therefore deals with a wide range of issues. Election are onderway in Germany. How to make chance for a bigger position and/or promotion? What all spineless politicians do: Russia bashing! Yer man is completely one-sided and indoctrinated in US and due to his membership of CDU in Germany completely party slave and brainwashed. Unreliable source.… Read more »