Yesterday evening, news that “pro-Ukraine saboteurs” may have been responsible for the Nord Stream sabotage was simultaneously reported by the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Times of London, and the German newspaper Die Zeit.
There is “no evidence” that Zelensky or his top generals were involved, the newspapers claimed. Nonetheless, “traces lead in the direction of Ukraine”.
The two American newspapers simply referred to “intelligence reviewed by U.S. officials”, details of which were not disclosed. In fact, the New York Times offered this hilariously obtuse observation: “The review of newly collected intelligence suggests [the saboteurs] were opponents of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.” Opponents of Vladimir Putin – you don’t say!
The two European newspapers were slightly more forthcoming.
According to the Times, Scandinavian diplomats were told only a week after the attack took place that it had been carried out by “a private venture originating in Ukraine”. The name of the “suspected private sponsor” is apparently known to intelligence officials, but was not revealed in the article.
The article did explain, however, that the operation involved “a yacht, elite divers, forged passports and the procurement of shaped explosive charges only available to the gas and oil industry”. So perhaps our international man of mystery is an oligarch in the energy sector? (That would certainly answer the question of ‘cui bono?’)
Die Zeit’s report furnished yet more details.
A “breakthrough” in the investigation by German authorities, the paper noted, has made it possible to “largely reconstruct how and when the explosive attack was prepared”. In particular:
The secret operation at sea was carried out by a team of six people… five men and one woman… the group consisted of a captain, two divers, two diving assistants and a doctor… the command set sail from Rostock on September 6th, 2022. The equipment for the secret operation was previously transported to the port in a delivery truck.
As to the evidence implicating Ukraine, “a Western secret service is said to have sent a tip to European partner services”, with subsequent intelligence confirming that a “pro-Ukrainian group could be responsible”. Investigators cannot rule out that it was a false flag attack by Russia – though they have found “no evidence that confirms such a scenario”.
What should we make of all this?
On the one hand, it certainly makes sense. Indeed, I’ve been arguing for months that Ukraine is the most likely culprit. (I had been envisioning a Government-sanctioned op, and while yesterday’s reports insist Zelensky was not involved, the New York Times says that those responsible might have “connections to the Ukrainian Government or its security services”).
On the other hand, it seems a little too convenient for the U.S. Government. As a sceptic might put it: “You say nothing for five months and then 30 days after a respected journalist points the finger at the American President, you say you can’t be sure but it was probably some pro-Ukraine saboteurs; definitely not Zelensky and definitely not Biden.”
Having said that, there’s reason to be sceptical – of the scepticism, I mean.
If intelligence agencies simply wanted to shift blame away from the U.S. Government, wouldn’t they have pinned the blame on Russia instead? All they’d have had to do is leak unconfirmed ‘intelligence’ pointing to rogue elements in the FSB, or an elaborate false flag operation designed to split the Western alliance.
A sceptic might reply that they couldn’t blame Russia because, at this point, nobody would buy it. Perhaps. But even blaming “pro-Ukraine saboteurs” isn’t risk-free from the U.S. Government’s perspective. As the New York Times notes, “Any suggestion of Ukrainian involvement, whether direct or indirect, could upset the delicate relationship between Ukraine and Germany.”
Then there’s the fact that German and Scandinavian intelligence also uncovered evidence leading back to Ukraine. Of course, such evidence could have been fed to them by U.S intelligence agencies. But the conspiracy is now getting so complicated that the simpler explanation – that there actually is evidence pointing to Ukraine – looks more plausible.
The final development worth mentioning is that Seymour Hersh told the Russian newspaper Izvestia that he plans to publish a new investigation about Nord Stream next week. Learning of yesterday’s New York Times article, he apparently said, “It cannot be true … ‘Special services suggest’, ‘pro-Ukrainian’! My God.”
Hold on to your seats.
Stop Press: Journalist Mark Ames points out that until recently, European officials believed that a “state actor” must be responsible. This raises doubts about the veracity of the new intelligence, or suggests the “pro-Ukraine saboteurs” had state-backing after all.
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I’m sure there is bike parking at Hemel Hempstead station.
I have no sympathy for the travel problems. At about her age I had to travel a lot on the Central Line before carriage, track and signal updates. Also Northern, North Circular before multi lane. on rainy days water ran inside the carriage.
I had to endure the period of Heath power cuts. Walked through tube corridors illuminated by paraffin lamps hanging precariously from anything available. Worked mornings with normal lighting but afternoons and evenings either Tilly lamps, torches or candles.
As did everyone else I walked to the station every day in all weathers and home in the evening. Wellington boots in snow or strong rain and I kept an old pair of shoes at work to change.
During the IRA bombing of London, during another strike, I slept on the floor or an old sofa at work two nights a week. I remember windows crashing when the IRA bomb exploded in Bishopsgate not far away.
The thing is, we were brought up with a strong work ethic and there was no alternative. Family and myself to support and upper teens percent mortgage rate. Inflation 27% the year my wife and I married.
No cocktail bars. No online shopping. No credit cards or mobile phones. BT took six months to install a landline.
Its completely different expectations. I’m old enough that my parents both served in WW2. When it snowed, even though 7 or 8 years old, we were expected to put the wellies on and walk to school. All the teachers and service staff would be there. It was just a thing you did. Now, my teacher wife has colleagues who, despite being only a couple of miles away, don’t come to school because they ‘can’t get the car off the drive’. In fact one of them, she walks past their house in her boots, but they still cry off.
For me the generation have been told to expect everything done for them, and it all has to be ‘safe’, and when it isn’t, they collapse. Thats probably really unfair, but what do I care.?
I remember sitting outside The Crown on Clerkenwell Green after work and hearing the Bishopsgate bomb go off.
Scoop up your pennies and travel, dear lady. There’s a world out there, London isn’t everything, y’ know.
I understand that the property/rental market in London is totally messed up, but no-one is forcing you to live there!
…such a narrow minded, entitled, defeatist attitude I cannot tolerate…
London is awesome (well, I found it so, often) but yes some people who were born or gravitate there tend to think everywhere else is hopelessly unsophisticated. My kids grew up there but have moved away, as have we. If you love it genuinely, which some do, then make the sacrifices. However there’s a lot of work there, and for some types of work you may be faced with difficult choices, especially with this rather silly “return to the office” mentality.
This feels like a continuation of the trials of Generation Y. Basically expectations in life do not meet reality. Who is to blame? Parents? Schools? Link below:
https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/09/why-generation-y-yuppies-are-unhappy.html
No dishwasher! Oh, the poor love.
Yeah, but housemates-to-be.
Yes, she sounds somewhat entitled.
However, the cost of transportation in Britain is exorbitant. And the service is dreadful.
In comparisons with other European countries,.the UK is a disgrace.
When I was young, transport was not cheap, but it was reasonable. And the service was a.lot better. A lot.
There could be a bit of reflection in that regard. Why is the UKs transport so dreadful?
The end of your third sentence sums it up – this country is completely broken and the worst is yet to come.
Anyone young and independent enough should leave whilst they can.
if she finds it hard to cope without a dishwasher, the omens are not good for a move abroad…
Well I suspect that public transport in continental Europe is more heavily subsidised than in the UK. I like free markets but rail lends itself to regional monopolies and I am not convinced our current arrangements are ideal. That said, London commuter rail services are pretty frequent compared to, for example, Italy, and since “covid” they are good deal more bearable because of WFH. Before lockdowns it was bloody awful (well, it required one to be relaxed in the face of crowds, delays – character building?).
Who the Hell gets a taxi to and from the station?
Go the whole hog, get a F***ing Chauffer to and from the office!
Oh deary, deary, the trials of those who were told they were extra special and would always be at the front of the queue.
Welcome to the real world.
The guy who decided it was a brilliant idea for everyone to go to work at the same time was as thick as mince.
Enjoy London, Ruby!
(Seriously, someone tell her… 🤦♂️ )
It does always make me wonder how the country which invented railways now seems to have forgotten everything it once knew about them. Our rail service is frankly a complete joke, especially compared with those in major European nations. How have we lost the ability to run a railway?
Can’t she purchase a monthly or annual train pass?
If she goes to work 5 days a week then she should get an annual season ticket as you get 12 months travel for the cost of 10. Not working a full week has made this more difficult. During my last month’s of work I was on a 3 day retirement scheme and in response to the post covid hybrid working there was a new ticket introduced that gave you 12 daily journeys at a reduced price to a daily rate. There was talk of an extended ticket that might last you a year at that rate. As I was working reduced days for 6 months I did look at the cost of an annual ticket and then cashing it in but because of the 12 months for 10 cost, they would charge you for the months used at the full rate and so refund less than half the cost making it more expensive than the 12 journey days ticket.
Hemel is not that far from London, I used to have to train it in every day from much further, then tube across. In my working past I have had a 2 hour each way drive to work, that was for 4 years. I would consider myself lucky to work 7 hours, my average was 10 but many days spanned into the early hours of the morning. The trains since the 90’s have always been late, expensive and dirty, nothing has changed, so I do feel for young people in that instance, and current taxation, employment and landlord regulations means that people are left with very little of their own money as the Government continues to steal most of it.
There needs to be incentives to work rather than the ease of collecting benefits, but there also needs to be a radical shake up of the attitude to work and business by people, I believe the rot sets in through the school system which seems to focus on grievance, victimhood and hate rather than the pursuit of excellence and knowledge.
When this Cheshire country lad used to visit an ad agency in London in the ’80s I used to walk from Euston to Soho as it was quicker than tube or taxi, and more pleasant. The featherbedded ad men were aghast at the idea of walking anywhere in London when they had clients like me to pay through the nose for their every working minute.
My heart bleeds.