December 29, 2019 "Information
Clearing House" -
Washington must think the rest of the world
is as stupid as many of its own politicians
are. Its passing into law – signed by
President Trump this week – of sanctions to
halt the Nord Stream-2 and Turk Stream gas
supply projects is a naked imperialist move
to bludgeon the European energy market for
its own economic advantage.
US sanctions are planned to hit European companies
involved with Russia’s Gazprom in the construction of
the 1,225-kilometer pipeline under the Baltic Sea which
will deliver natural gas from Russia to Germany and
elsewhere across the European Union. The €9.5 billion
($11bn) project is 80 per cent complete and is due to be
finished early next year.
It is quite clear – because US politicians have
openly acknowledged it – that Washington’s aim is to
oust Russia as the main natural gas exporter to the
giant EU market, and to replace with more expensive
American-produced gas.
What’s hilarious is the way American politicians,
diplomats and news media are portraying this US assault
on market principles and the sovereignty of nations as
an act of chivalry.
Washington claims that the sanctions are
“pro-European” because they are “saving Europe from
dependency on Russia for its energy”. The American
hypocrisy crescendoes with the further claim that by
stopping Russia earning lucrative export revenues, then
Moscow will be constrained from “interfering” in
European nations. As if Washington’s own actions are not
interference on a massive scale.