Leaks in the pipeline - Nord Stream 1 & 2

[George K]

Explosives found

Swedish authorities investigating a series of blasts that damaged undersea natural-gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea said they had found traces of explosives on several foreign objects nearby, a potential break in an international probe into who was responsible for what authorities have called sabotage.

Sweden, in a statement Friday, said it found traces of explosives on several of the foreign objects. It didn’t elaborate but said it was continuing the “very complex and extensive” probe aimed at finding a culprit.

The discovery of explosives could help investigators learn the origins of the material. A press officer at the prosecutor’s office said it wasn’t clear if the material they had found was traceable.

[Jolly]

So, what is the West going to do about it?

[Renauda]

@Jolly

Continue to sanction and isolate Russia.

[George K]

@Renauda said in Leaks in the pipeline - Nord Stream 1 & 2:

Continue to sanction and isolate Russia.

I've read that that's not making as serious an effect as hoped.

[Renauda]

@George-K

Well diplomacy hasn’t worked with Russia. Appeasement will only encourage continued bad behaviour in future. Doesn’t leave much else in the toolbox short of regime change. Don’t think anyone has the desire for the unintended consequences of that option.

So containment via economic sanction and political isolation remain the only practicable options in addition to material and technical support of Ukraine we have at the moment.

[Jolly]

The support for Ukraine may slow with a coming recession.

[Renauda]

@Jolly

Make no mistake, the Kremlin is banking on it.

[Mik]

Compared to the trillions of dollars we poured own the rathole in the past three years, Ukraine aid is a bargain, and actually goes toward an end we want. A vitally important one.

Putin stuck his dick in the meat grinder. Let's make sure he can't pull it back out unharmed, much less be rewarded for it.

[jon-nyc]

@Jolly said in Leaks in the pipeline - Nord Stream 1 & 2:

The support for Ukraine may slow with a coming recession.

True, but I was mostly concerned about the appeasement/Putin fanboi wing of the GOP getting too much power. With the MAGA implosion that doesn’t seem to have happened.

[Renauda]

@Mik said in Leaks in the pipeline - Nord Stream 1 & 2:

Compared to the trillions of dollars we poured own the rathole in the past three years, Ukraine aid is a bargain, and actually goes toward an end we want. A vitally important one.

Putin stuck his dick in the meat grinder. Let's make sure he can't pull it back out unharmed, much less be rewarded for it.

It is a deal as we cannot afford to appease Putin’s imperial obsessions. Ukrainians are willing to fight to the last person to defend their country from Putin’s horde. All they want from us is consistent political, material and technical support as practicable.

[Renauda]

@jon-nyc

Regardless of the outcome that is a legitimate concern. There’s still the Carlson/Gabbard tag team fanboi/appeasers out there.

[George K]

@Renauda said in Leaks in the pipeline - Nord Stream 1 & 2:

@jon-nyc

Regardless of the outcome that is a legitimate concern. There’s still the Carlson/Gabbard tag team fanboi/appeasers out there.

I'm not sure if I'd characterize either them as "fanbois." Support skeptics, to be sure, but fans of Putin? I don't think so.

[Renauda]

@George-K

Okay, maybe not fanbois. However their support scepticism is derived from John Mearsheimer who is calling for the appeasement of Putin in all fronts.

[Mik]

Here's his picture.

[Jolly]

@George-K said in Leaks in the pipeline - Nord Stream 1 & 2:

@Renauda said in Leaks in the pipeline - Nord Stream 1 & 2:

@jon-nyc

Regardless of the outcome that is a legitimate concern. There’s still the Carlson/Gabbard tag team fanboi/appeasers out there.

I'm not sure if I'd characterize either them as "fanbois." Support skeptics, to be sure, but fans of Putin? I don't think so.

Skeptical from an America First perspective. Entanglements in foreign wars, etc...

[Jolly]

@Mik said in Leaks in the pipeline - Nord Stream 1 & 2:

Compared to the trillions of dollars we poured own the rathole in the past three years, Ukraine aid is a bargain, and actually goes toward an end we want. A vitally important one.

Putin stuck his dick in the meat grinder. Let's make sure he can't pull it back out unharmed, much less be rewarded for it.

Here's the problem: Money and weapons stockpiles.

Money, we print. Weapons, not so much. I've seen some estimates it'll take us three years to catch up our inventories.

Mr. Biden knows this.

[Mik]

Pick your poison.

[Jolly]

Yeah, but don't let the Chinese pick it.

[Renauda]

@Jolly

I've seen some estimates it'll take us three years to catch up our inventories.

How credible are the sources and estimates?

Here’s one and it seems credible. It also suggests that matters are in hand and are being addressed:

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2022/11/18/the-precarious-state-of-us-defense-stockpiles

[Jolly]

@Renauda said in Leaks in the pipeline - Nord Stream 1 & 2:

@Jolly

I've seen some estimates it'll take us three years to catch up our inventories.

How credible are the sources and estimates?

Here’s one and it seems credible. It also suggests that matters are in hand and are being addressed:

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2022/11/18/the-precarious-state-of-us-defense-stockpiles

In the article you are citing, it talks about 36 month continuous production, non-competitive contracts...That's three years production. And it also says some Stinger components are not even available, pushing any Stinger manufacturing to sometime in 2023.

I'm not sure if the numbers cited in the article take into account a constant flow of munitions to Ukraine, or anything to Taiwan.