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href="https://www.unz.com/pescobar/germany-and-eu-have-been-handed-over-a-declaration-of-war/">unz.com</a>
<h1 class="reader-title">Germany and EU have been handed over a
declaration of war</h1>
<div class="credits reader-credits">Pepe Escobar • September 28,
2022 • 1,600 Words • 357 Comments • Reply</div>
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<p id="p_1_1"><span><em><strong>The sabotage of the Nord
Stream (NS) and Nord Stream 2 (NS2) pipelines in
the Baltic Sea has ominously propelled ‘Disaster
Capitalism’ to a whole new, toxic level.</strong></em></span></p>
<p id="p_1_2"><span>This episode of Hybrid
Industrial/Commercial War, in the form of a terror
attack against energy infrastructure in international
waters signals the absolute collapse of international
law, drowned by a “our way or the highway”,
“rules-based”, order.</span></p>
<p id="p_1_3"><span>The attack on both pipelines consisted
of multiple explosive charges detonated in separate
branches close to the Danish island of Bornholm, but
in international waters.</span></p>
<p id="p_1_4"><span>That was a sophisticated operation,
carried out in stealth in the shallow depth of the
Danish straits. That would in principle rule out
submarines (ships entering the Baltic are limited to a
draught of 15 meters). As for prospective “invisible”
vessels, these could only loiter around with
permission from Copenhagen – as the waters around
Borholm are crammed with sensors, reflecting fear of
incursion by Russian submarines.</span></p>
<p id="p_1_5"><span>Swedish seismologists registered two
underwater explosions on Monday – one of them
estimated at 100 kg of TNT. Yet as much as 700 kg may
have been used to blow up three separate pipeline
nodes. Such amount could not have possibly been
delivered in just one trip by underwater drones
currently available in neighboring nations.</span></p>
<p id="p_1_6"><span>The pressure on the pipelines dropped
exponentially. The pipes are now filled with seawater.</span></p>
<p id="p_1_7"><span>The pipes on both NS and NS2 can be
repaired, of course, but hardly before the arrival of
General Winter. The question is whether Gazprom –
already focused on several hefty Eurasian customers –
would bother, especially considering that Gazprom
vessels could be exposed to a possible NATO naval
attack in the Baltic.</span></p>
<p id="p_1_8"><span>German officials are already spinning
that NS and NS2 can “potentially” be out of commission
“forever”. The EU economy and EU citizens badly needed
that gas supply. Yet the EUrocracy in Brussels – which
rules over nation-states – would not follow, because
they have been dictated themselves by the Empire of
Chaos, Lies and Plunder. A case can be made that this
Euro-oligarchy should one day be tried for treason.</span></p>
<p id="p_1_9"><span>As it stands, a strategic
irreversibility is already self-evident; the
population of several EU nations will pay a tremendous
price and suffer serious consequences derived from
this attack, short, medium and long term.</span></p>
<p id="p_1_10"><span><strong>Cui bono? </strong></span></p>
<p id="p_1_11"><span>Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena
Andersson admitted that was “a matter of sabotage”.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen admitted “it
was not an accident”. Berlin agrees with the
Scandinavians.</span></p>
<p id="p_1_12"><span>Now compare it with former Polish
Defense Minister (2005-2007) Radek Sikorski, a
Russophobe married to rabid US “analyst” Anne
Applebaum, who merrily tweeted “Thank you, USA”.</span></p>
<p id="p_1_13"><span>It gets curiouser and curiouser when
we know that simultaneously to the sabotage the <a
title="https://www.baltic-pipe.eu/"
href="https://www.baltic-pipe.eu/">Baltic Pipe</a>
from Norway to Poland was partially opened, a “new gas
supply corridor” servicing “the Danish and Polish
markets”: actually a minor affair, considering months
ago their sponsors were in trouble finding gas, and
now it will be even harder, with much higher costs.</span></p>
<p id="p_1_14"><span>NS2 had already been attacked – in
the open – all along its construction. Back in
February, Polish ships actively tried to prevent the
Fortuna pipe-laying vessel from finishing NS2. The
pipes were being laid south of – you guessed it –
Bornholm.</span></p>
<p id="p_1_15"><span>NATO for its part has been very
active on the <a
title="https://seapowermagazine.org/baltops-22-a-perfect-opportunity-for-research-and-resting-new-technology/"
href="https://seapowermagazine.org/baltops-22-a-perfect-opportunity-for-research-and-resting-new-technology/">underwater
drones department</a>. The Americans have access to
long distance Norwegian underwater drones which can be
modified with other designs. Alternatively,
professional navy clearance divers could have been
employed in the sabotage – even as tidal currents
around Bornholm are a serious matter.</span></p>
<p id="p_1_16"><span>The Big Picture reveals the
collective West in absolute panic, with Atlanticist
“elites” willing to resort to anything – outrageous
lies, assassinations, terrorism, sabotage, all out
financial war, support to neo-Nazis – to prevent their
descent into a geopolitical and geoeconomic abyss.</span></p>
<p id="p_1_17"><span>Disabling NS and NS2 represents the
definitive closure of any possibility of a
German-Russia deal on gas supplies, with the added
benefit of relegating Germany to the lowly status of
absolute US vassal.</span></p>
<p id="p_1_18"><span>So that brings us to the key question
of which Western intel apparatus designed the
sabotage. Prime candidates are of course CIA and MI6 –
with Poland set up as the fall guy and Denmark playing
a very dodgy part: it’s impossible that Copenhagen was
not at least “briefed” on the intel.</span></p>
<p id="p_1_19"><span>Prescient as ever, as early as in
April 2021 Russians were <a
title="https://vz.ru/society/2021/4/14/1094528.html"
href="https://vz.ru/society/2021/4/14/1094528.html">asking
questions</a> about the military security of Nord
Stream.</span></p>
<p id="p_1_20"><span>The crucial vector is that we may be
facing the case of a EU/NATO member involved in an act
of sabotage against the number one EU/NATO economy.
That’s a casus belli. Outside of the appalling
mediocrity and cowardice of the current administration
in Berlin, it’s clear that the BND – German intel – as
well as the German Navy and informed industrialists
sooner or later will do the math.</span></p>
<p id="p_1_21"><span>This was far from an isolated attack.
On September 22 there was an attempt against Turkish
Stream by Kiev saboteurs. The day before, naval drones
with English language IDs were found in Crimea,
suspected of being part of the plot. Add to it US
helicopters overflying the future sabotage nodes weeks
ago; a UK “research” vessel <a
title="https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/rrs-sir-david-attenborough/current-location-ship-tracking"
href="https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/rrs-sir-david-attenborough/current-location-ship-tracking">loitering
in Danish waters</a> since mid-September; and NATO
tweeting about the testing of “new unmanned systems at
sea” on the same day of the sabotage.</span></p>
<p id="p_1_22"><span><strong>Show me the (gas) money</strong></span></p>
<p id="p_1_23"><span>The Danish Minister of Defense met
urgently with NATO’s Secretary General this Wednesday.
After all the explosions happened very close to
Denmark’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). That may be
qualified as crude kabuki at best; exactly on the same
day, the European Commission (EC), NATO’s de facto
political office, advanced its trademark obsession:
more sanctions against Russia, including the
certified-to-fail cap on oil prices.</span></p>
<p id="p_1_24"><span>Meanwhile, EU energy giants are bound
to lose big time with the sabotage.</span></p>
<div>
<p><a
href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0978813820/?tag=unco037-20"><img
src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/514BiChCuYL.jpg"
class="moz-reader-block-img"></a></p>
<p>ORDER IT NOW</p>
</div>
<p id="p_1_25"><span>The roll call includes the German
Wintershall Dea AG and PEG/ E.ON; the Dutch N.V.
Nederlandse Gasunie; and the French ENGIE. Then there
are those which financed NS2: Wintershall Dea again as
well as Uniper; Austrian OMV; ENGIE again; and
British-Dutch Shell. Wintershall Dea and ENGIE are
both co-owners and creditors. Their fuming
shareholders will want serious answers from a serious
investigation.</span></p>
<p id="p_1_26"><span>It gets worse: there are no holds
barred anymore on the Pipeline Terror front. Russia
will be on red alert not only for Turk Stream but also
Power of Siberia. Same for the Chinese and their maze
of pipelines arriving in Xinjiang.</span></p>
<p id="p_1_27"><span>Whatever the methodology and the
actors who were in the loop, this is payback – in
advance – for the inevitable collective West defeat in
Ukraine. And a crude warning to the Global South that
they will do it again. Yet action always breeds
reaction: from now on, “funny things” could also
happen to US/UK pipelines in international waters.</span></p>
<p id="p_1_28"><span>The EU oligarchy is reaching an
advanced process of disintegration at lightning speed.
Their window of opportunity to at least attempt a role
as a strategically autonomous geopolitical actor is
now closed.</span></p>
<p id="p_1_29"><span>These EUROcrats now face a serious
predicament. Once it’s clear who are the perpetrators
of the sabotage in the Baltic, and once they
understand all the life-changing socio-economic
consequences for pan-EU citizens, the kabuki will have
to stop. Including the already running,
uber-ridiculous subplot that Russia blew up its own
pipeline when Gazprom could simply have turned off the
valves for good.</span></p>
<p id="p_1_30"><span>And once again, it gets worse:
Gazprom is threatening to sue the Ukrainian energy
company Naftofgaz for unpaid bills. That would lead to
the end of Russian gas transiting Ukraine towards the
EU.</span></p>
<p id="p_1_31"><span>As if all of that was not serious
enough, Germany is contractually obligated to purchase
at least 40 billion cubic meters of Russian gas a year
until 2030.</span></p>
<p id="p_1_32"><span>Just say no? They can’t: Gazprom is
legally entitled to get paid even without shipping
gas. That’s the spirit of a long-term contract. And
it’s already happening: because of sanctions, Berlin
does not get all the gas it needs but still needs to
pay.</span></p>
<p id="p_1_33"><span><strong>All the devils are here</strong></span></p>
<p id="p_1_34"><span>Now it’s painfully clear the imperial
velvet gloves are off when it comes to the vassals. EU
independence: verboten. Cooperation with China:
verboten. Independent trade connectivity with Asia:
verboten. The only place for the EU is to be
economically subjugated to the US: a tawdry remix of
1945-1955. With a perverse neoliberal twist: we will
own your industrial capacity, and you will have
nothing.</span></p>
<p id="p_1_35"><span>The sabotage of NS and NS2 is inbuilt
in the imperial wet dream of breaking up the Eurasian
land mass into a thousand pieces to prevent a
trans-Eurasia consolidation between Germany
(representing the EU), Russia and China: \$50 trillion
in GDP, based on purchasing power parity (PPP)
compared to the US’s \$20 trillion.</span></p>
<p id="p_1_36"><span>We must go back to Mackinder: control
of the Eurasian land mass constitutes control of the
world. American elites and their Trojan Horses across
Europe will do whatever it takes not to give up their
control.</span></p>
<p id="p_1_37"><span>“American elites” in this context
encompass the deranged, Straussian neo-con-infested
“intel community” and the Big Energy, Big Pharma and
Big Finance that pays them and who profits not only
from the Deep State’s Forever War approach but also
wants to make a killing out of the Davos-concocted
Great Reset.</span></p>
<p id="p_1_38"><span>The Raging Twenties started with a
murder – of Gen Soleimani. Blowing up pipelines is
part of the sequel. There will be a highway to hell
all the way to 2030. Yet to borrow from Shakespeare,
hell is definitely empty, and all the (Atlanticist)
devils are here.<br>
<em>Pepe Escobar is an independent geopolitical
analyst and author. His latest book is Raging
Twenties. He’s been politically canceled from
Facebook and Twitter. Follow him on <a
title="https://t.me/rocknrollgeopolitics"
href="https://t.me/rocknrollgeopolitics">Telegram</a>.</em></span></p>
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