SpaceSimCentral

Anyone have thoughts on the Nordstream pipeline being rendered unusable. The press is saying here in the USA that it was sabotaged, I would expect Europe's news outfits may be better informed on what the real deal is with this. Because I hear NATO is chiming in and stating that this was a act of war. I guess the elite really what a reset huh, when they screw everything up lets have war to hide our mistakes  

Same here, they think it's sabotage but as Europe was paying billion of euros a month to Russia it's seems a bit odd that they would innless they are trying to see who collapses first, as in the EU or Russia.
Could turn out to be bad maintenance given that they have been turning it off and on like a yoyo over the last few months.

Hmm, seems like the idiom "the money went down the pipe" is getting true...

I would understand if Russia just said screw it I want to make the EU suffer this winter.... but turning off the pipeline does this. And I believe both Russia and the EU spent money on the pipeline. So why destroy billions of dollars worth of effort.... doesn't make sense.
Unless it was us (USA) that did it, highly unlikely since Biden can barely speak nevermind think of something like this haha but seriously.... why destroy something you can turn off? Unless the EU has something in the works to replace Russian oil then maybe this is a way of telling Russia we are done buying oil from you....? 
I didn't know they send droids down the pipe to do maintenance that would totally be a easy way to sabotage the pipe.... but a analysis of the breaches should tell us what caused the failure at least... I doubt we will ever know WHO actually did it?

Seems like big guys found a new way to get some pocket money... Smell badly

Looks like's Ivan the smoker will be catching it again as he will no doubt be blamed for the Crimea bridge being blow up.

The bridge definitely bothered Putin, and he ramped up attacks because of it. No one can be surprised about this. But if Ukraine goes all gorilla warfare in this war then Putin I think will start destroying the infrastructure of Ukraine. Putin has actually been good about not destroying the infrastructure because he knows to take over a country that was totally destroyed he would have to build it all back again. But if Putin thinks he cannot attain his goal he will put Ukraine in a rough spot I think and start destroying key infrastructure.... its military tactics 101 Once you control all the main utilities that provide comfort to the whole country you attain a lot of power over peoples lives. Most people do not know what it is like to live without power and internet for months... winter is coming for most people and this is going to be a tough winter for Ukraine

She's gorgeous!

How long can NATO/EU sit and watch millions of people freeze? Putin probably wants them to intervene, of course! But...

This is something the UN should be doing but as long the five permanent members have a veto, then it makes the organisation useless when one of the five is involved.

Yeah this is when it gets tough because of how voting goes because the five core countries are USA, China, Russia, France and UK.... in the security counsel and they rarely vote together on a vote Like Cody touched on I think Russia wants NATO countries to assist (ie: putting people in their country officially) because this then gives Russia the permission to up its war level.
Why the world in general is letting this drag out is stupid.... because thousands are dying monthly and the Ukraine is going to be lucky to survive the winter because Russia is doing what any military would do and that is attack crucial infrastructure. Can countries send aid... sure. But rebuilding cannot take place until its over. 
The world is in a sensitive spot and everything costs more we are just bouncing from crisis to crisis.... how long until the collapse of more institutions around the world? Inflation getting bad everywhere.

NATO (and the EU) edge a little closer to direct involvement by agreeing to send Leopard (and M1 Abrams?) main battle tanks to Ukraine. The UK has already committed to sending Challenger tanks. Consequently, the Doomsday Clock has been moved forward, and now stands at 90 seconds to Midnight. Closest it's ever been, I think (though the Cuban missile crisis of '62 would've been closer had it lasted longer).

Would have thought the doomsday clock would have been closer during the cold war, after all it was ideology then.
I read the Putin has falling out with the Wagner boss and it can't be long before he fall off a balcony as is the usual result of anyone who runs afoul of Putin.

Posted by: @pinback
fall off a balcony as is the usual result of anyone who runs afoul of Putin.

Yeah, there's been a few of those recently, and probably more that have gone unreported. So careless!

I remember listening on some youtube video that nato countries are allowed to assist any nation in fighting a conflict no matter if they are a nato member or not. But as both of you stated in doing so we are increasing the likelihood of this conflict expanding, which in my mind would be a mistake for the world. Sending main battle tanks to any country for assistance is a big sign of support and it tells Russia that everyone wants a war but instead of us fighting it we will use the Ukrainians to do it for us. And of course all of the press in all the countries will spin it in Ukraine's favor but in the end regardless of who wins Ukraine country will be just devastated.
The longer this war drags on the more pressure it puts on all the economies of the world. Can't wait for summer these oil prices are expensive for heating oil  

Media is making a lot of noise about these German tanks and how it's going to change everything, so I was surprised to learn that the Turkish army lost a number of these tanks in Syria.
Apparently due to bad tactics and crew training, maybe the Ukrainians will do better. 

Sending 10-30 tanks is NOT going to change the tide of any war.... haha you are 100% right that the media is hyping up the actions. Personally I think its a good way to get rid of old hardware the militaries have so they don't need to maintain them. When I was in a Bradley unit those tanks were pretty reliable but the unit spent thousands per week to keep their readiness state.
And what and how are the Ukrainians going to fix this hardware IF they get it

Posted by: @sscadmin
Sending 10-30 tanks is NOT going to change the tide of any war

Agreed - hundreds are needed. Air cover too, I expect... which comes back to NATO/EU and how far they're prepared to go?

I see that sleepy joe has popped up in Ukraine today.