At the end of the week in Germany, a FDP prominent party guy stood up and asked the question....why not go ahead and approve the Nord Stream II pipeline and pump in Russian natural gas....to avoid the harsh winter reality?
So, this is the argument.
Nord Stream I? This was a Baltic pipeline (under the water) started in early 2011, and finished by November 2011. It's been operational and functional for ten years now.
The Germans have no problem with Nord Stream I today and without any hesitation.....to buy natural gas via the Russian pipeline. This 'fall-upon-ones-sword' business? Nope....not with Nord Stream I.
The 'evil' Nord Stream II? It's built, and the papers are sitting there for them to sign and make the system operational.
I sat and pondered upon this argument.
The problem here is that the Germans got themselves....over decades....deeply into the pocket of the Russians, and never once questioned the idea of limiting the relationship. If the war had not occurred in 2022....but instead had occurred in 2026 (nuke plants dismantled and coal plants shutdown), then the import business would have been probably double what it is today.
How much suffering must the German public accept this winter....to be ethical in this state of mind? I'd reverse the question and ask how much suffering the political parties are willing to accept?
Every ounce of effort ought to be put on having at least two serious competitors to Russia, and the Russian import business should be limited to only 20-percent in the end. If it takes three years to reach a competitive situation, fine.
Yeah, use Nord Stream II, and just admit a lot of bad judgement was done in the 1970s, 1980s, and a more sound judgement needs to be used for future planning.
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