Trump signs sanctions bill against German pipeline

I must say im personally suprised how deep USA have fallen. Sanctioning a swiss company for a german pipeline project. Thats basicly an act of war. And the audacity that americans believe they can act as tyranny over others is breathtaking.

In a letter american politician Ted Cruz said:

""This pipeline if it's completed, what it would do, it would generate billions of dollars for Putin. And Putin would use that to continue Russia's military aggressiveness. It would make Europe even more dependent on Russian energy, and that makes Europe susceptible to economic blackmail. [...] By stopping this pipeline, by getting the sanction's legislation passed, that will hurt Putin, it will take billions away from him, it will help Europe, it helps Ukraine enormously, and it helps American jobs. [It's] much better for European energy needs to be satisfied by American natural gas, that creates jobs here in America rather than fueling Putin's military aggression."

https://www.cruz.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=4826

Im actually buzzled, thats an amount of hostility i did not believe possible from a so called "ally". To my knowledge something like this also was never done before.

Chancellor Merkel already said the pipeline will be completed no matter what.

But one must imagine how crazy this is, USA as foreign power believes it can blackmail Germany to buy american gas, which is 30% more expensive.

When you look at american patriots they always talk about freedom, democracy. Wonder what they think about their nation trying to force an allied nation to buy their LNG, which is not competetive on the free market.

Former american ambassador in Germany Kornblum said he is shocked about what he has to witness here. Its absolutely clear that Germany can not back down on this pipeline project.

So why is this done, even so that it is known the pipeline will not be stopped from being completed? When its clear that this is a hostile act against Germany?

For me personally its strange to see that our country has an enemy now. I grew up with USA as an allied country to see all this develop this way is weird. One one side i´m glad that Merkel doesnt kneels but i wonder where this will lead too.

In 30 days the pipeline is completed. What then?

Merkel now chose to ignore this entirely. Concentration is on the completion of the project. When asked about counter sanctions on american LNG, she said thats not necessary right now, since it cant compete on the market anyways.

Whats important now is to complete the pipeline as quick as possible and secure our energy demands for this winter.

 

Wow just wow.

Now even Ukraine critisizes this. USA say the Nordstream II is bad for Ukraine because Russia can send gas directly to Germany.

Ukraine now said they dont want Germany sanctioned, they are against the pipeline but Germany is one of their greatest allies.

https://www.welt.de/politik/ausland...kraine-gegen-Sanktionen-fuer-Deutschland.html

 

The aggressor Russia must be brought down economically before a real war occurs.

I disapprove of most of Trump's decisions, but this time I agree with him.

 

Well lock and load! Or as we red necks say "Git'r'DONE!

 

I don't agree with the sanctions either, we should simply withdraw our financial support from NATO. Since Germany and Europe are getting along so well with the Russians, we are no longer needed in NATO.

 

This would make Western Europe a treat for the Russian predator. That cannot be in America's interest.

Make Russia great again? LOL
Pootin's new Soviet Empire is coming ...

 

So Europe better increase their defense spending. Russia has an economy the size of Italy's, a military 10% the size of the US military, and one broken aircraft. If that scares Europe they're much weaker than I thought.

 

Europe is definitely weak because Europeans believed that the era of wars in Europe is over. Europe has never recovered from WW2 in terms of defense.

On the other hand, Europe is destined for conflict. The EU is still in its infancy. Pan-European patriotism is a long way off.

When the US withdraws, all hell breaks loose.

 

Does Turkey know that?

They threw the baby out with the bathwater.

Why is that our problem? We don't ask you to come here to keep the peace.

 

Guys, if Germany sanctioned an American-Italian deal, to undercut the Italians, how would we feel about that? Because that's EXACTLY what is going on here. We may not want Russia to have more access to funds, but we cannot in good faith call ourselves a democratic country if we strong arm nations to do what we want.

Either we're pro strong arming, or we're not. Make up our minds.

 

As European, you could see the US as a kind of Sheriff's department. The US saves the prey from the predators aka Western Europe from the Russkies.

 

Time for the boys and girls in Europe to fund their own defense.

Clearly if they're building pipelines into Russia there's nothing to worry about.

 

Without the American military in Germany radical isis members would destroy Germany.
Be grateful and pay the extra 30% for reliable moral natural gas.
Don't be a cheapo

 

They're about to build their own defense. But that takes some time. If the US withdraws before the fortress Europe is built, Russkies will have it easy.

 

I'm going to get some of you guys pissed at me for saying this, but we've been "barking up the wrong tree" on this liquefied natural gas thing from the very beginning. Why?

We've gone forward with the idea that we can pipe gas from gas fields all over North America to Coos Bay, Oregon, liquefy it, load it on huge ships, sail it halfway around the planet, unload it at German seaports (where the aren't even yet prepared to store it) -- AND -- be able to compete economically with Russian natural gas which the Germans can access simply by turning on the 'tap' of an in-place pipeline! If you were a German how happy would YOU be with the idea of having to pay more than 300% more for American liquefied natural gas than you'd pay for Russian natural gas that requires no expensive special handling or huge amounts of new storage?

But, even at that, Germans say they will not rely on Russia to supply more than 30% of their natural gas purchases, precisely because they refuse to be made vulnerable to Russia and overly-reliant on Russia for energy.

Consider: the Germans are getting rid of ALL their nuclear reactors (an EXCELLENT idea!), and they've got to be able to make up for the very large coming difference in some way that makes economic sense or they're screwed -- especially at a time when Brexit is coming next month, and the economic disruption on all countries in the EU, including Germany, is as yet unknown!

How do we convince Germans today that they need to willingly take on uncertain economic hardship just because we want them to buy the lion's share of their natural gas from us...? OK, 'bust my chops' if you want, but if you have friends in Germany, ask them what they think about all this.... I do, and I have!

 

Uh bringing down russia economically is what starts wars.

Anyone who would try to destroy a nation by starving them out is begging for war. And it shows how reckless and irresponsible our neocon pnac war mongering policy is.

We are ruled over apparently by inbreds .
Guess what? You and your family will not survive a nuclear exchange. And yet some must think MAD isnt real

 

At last, someone capable of seeing the other side's legitimate concerns.

 

So...you think Russia wants to conquer Europe?

 

You're talking like a pro-Russian agent in the west who wants to suffocate any defense measures against Russian aggression with fear of nuclear weapons.

The use of nuclear weapons against another nuclear power is suicide. The Russkies know that too.

 

I think we should leave NATO and make a new alliance. Why protect Germany from an enemy they enrich.

 

In Germany this is seen as an hostile act.

It is absolutely impossible for Germany or and other nation to allow a foreign power to intervene in its energy politics.

Chancellor Merkel said she will hold talks with the americans over this. Meanwhile we use our own ships to complete the pipeline, which is already 90% completed.

What response is planned is not known yet. The goal of the americans is that we are forced to buy american LNG. Insiders say that we either put a 100% tariff on american LNG or stop construction work on LNG terminal at the Wilhelmshaven docks.

Priority now is to complete the pipeline.

Its a rare thing that happens here now. All political parties, from far right AfD to far left Die Linke side with Merkel and call her to stamd for our nation and build the pipeline. Even the Green Party, which opposes the pipeline says, that it must be completed, no matter what.

 

Russia is not our enemy. USA is.

 

More reason America should be out of NATO.

I'm glad you feel like Russia is your friend. It wasn't long ago Russia thought you were their friend... and they haven't forgotten

 

Seconded.

Additionally, sanctions like this mainly target 'civilians' who have little to nothing to do with the politics the sanctions are aimed at reversing.

Russia is the definition of a paper tiger. Most of their vast military is decades obsolete, and useful for little beyond defense of their own borders. With GDP roughly equivalent to France, they are not a threat to a Europe willing to defend itself.

We need to stop mucking about in other folks business.

 

Someone is going to freeze one chilly winter.