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Berliner Zeitung journalist on blowing up Nord Stream: “An American act of war against Germany”

The new cold war

Published 16 February 2023
– By Editorial Staff
Biden in Maryland in January.

For the Biden administration, German war support is more important than keeping the population from freezing, according to high-profile journalist Seymour Hersh, who exposed US involvement in the terrorist attack on European infrastructure.

He says this in an interview with the Berliner Zeitung, where German journalist Fabian Scheidler himself adds that the attack could be considered an act of war against a Western ally.

– This can be perceived as an act of war not only against Russia but also against Western allies, especially Germany, Scheidler notes.

– This can be perceived as an act of war not only against Russia but also against Western allies, especially Germany, notes Fabian Scheidler, interviewing Hersh in the German newspaper Berliner Zeitung.

In the interview, Hersh points out that the US feared that Germany would lift sanctions against Russia due to energy shortages during a cold winter – and that this was a major reason for the Americans to blow up the gas pipelines with the help of Norway.

– I don’t think they thought it through. I know this sounds strange. I don’t think that Blinken and some others in the administration are deep thinkers. There certainly are people in the American economy who like the idea of us being more competitive. We’re selling LNG, liquefied gas, at extremely big profits; we’re making a lot of money on it.

He believes that there were certainly American powers that be who saw the attack and its disastrous effects on the German economy as something that could give the US economy a boost – but that the powers that be in the White House were mostly “obsessed with getting re-elected”.

– They wanted to win the war, they wanted to get a victory, they want Ukraine to somehow magically win. There could be some people who think maybe it’ll be better for our economy if the German economy is weak, but that’s crazy thinking. I think, basically, that we’ve bitten deep into something that’s not going to work. The war is not going to turn out well for this government.

Biden declares a halt to Nord Stream if Russia invades Ukraine:

“A shame for the United States”

The Pulitzer-winning journalist adds that he doesn’t know how the war will end but that it “scares” him that the US president was willing to blow up Nord Stream.

– Those who carried out this mission believed that the president was aware of what he was doing to the German people, that he was punishing them for a war that was not going well. In the long run, this will not only damage his reputation as President, it will also be very damaging politically. It will be an embarrassment to the United States, he concludes.

Hersh points out that the Biden administration worried that Germany and other EU countries would stop supplying weapons to Ukraine and that Germany would open Nord Stream 2 and resume gas imports. The blast made such a solution impossible.

He is also critical of the fact that, since the revelation, the US media and powers-that-be have been more focused on smearing him than digging deeper into the scandal.

– How could I reveal my source?… If I named someone, they would be fired or worse – jailed.

He adds that he worked with “experienced fact-checkers” during the report and that there are “many ways to check” the facts he presents.

– The personal attacks on me are also irrelevant. The point is that Biden has decided to let the Germans freeze this winter. The President of the United States would rather have Germany freeze than possibly have Germany stop supporting Ukraine, and that to me is a devastating thing for the White House.

– The point is also that this could be perceived as an act of war not only against Russia but also against Western allies, especially Germany, Fabian Scheidler stresses.

The operation was kept secret

People involved in the operation, Hersh says, understood that Joe Biden wanted to freeze Germany for “his short-term political goals” – and that this horrified them.

– The political advantage of the CIA is that a president who can’t get his plans through Congress can take a walk in the White House Rose Garden with the CIA director and plan something secret that could affect a lot of people on the other side of the Atlantic – or anywhere in the world. That has always been the CIA’s unique selling point – with which I have my problems. But even this community is appalled that Biden has decided to get Europe to freeze in order to support a war he will not win. I think that’s disgraceful.

Seymour Hersh further claims that the operation against Nord Stream was not reported to Congress or to military personnel not directly involved in the operation – even though they should have been.

When asked about the role of courage for Hersh in his profession as a reviewer of power, he questions whether it is really courageous to tell the truth.

Hersh also shares a reflection on the role of journalism, stressing that “Our job is not to be afraid and sometimes it gets uncomfortable. There have been times in my life when … You know, I don’t talk about it. But the threats are not against people like me, but against the children of people like me”, he says, adding that as an investigative journalist, you can’t worry about what might happen – just keep “doing what you’re doing”.

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German left party leader calls for NATO replacement – involving Russia

The new cold war

Published yesterday 11:47
– By Editorial Staff
According to Jan van Aken, NATO has outplayed its role - and a new alliance should take shape instead.

Jan van Aken, co-chair of the German left-wing party Die Linke, wants NATO to eventually be replaced by a new international security alliance that includes both Russia and the US.

In an interview with Die Zeit, he said that the NATO-led structure has no future and should be replaced by a more cooperative system.

– We have never wanted to abolish NATO without replacement, but rather to replace it with a cooperative security system, van Aken said in the interview published over the weekend.

He referred to his party’s 2011 manifesto, which proposes that Germany leave NATO in favor of a new collective security arrangement. Van Aken proposes a model similar to the OECD – a kind of “OECD 2.0” – where the focus is on peacekeeping and joint defense.

– A peace and defense alliance together with Russia and the US. But of course, such a structure would require at least ten years of confidence-building measures. During that time, NATO would remain in place – but it has no future, in my opinion, he added.

In addition to his criticism of NATO, van Aken also called for the withdrawal of US troops stationed in Germany – including the nuclear weapons they carry with them. He pointed out that the UK and France already have more than enough nuclear arsenals of their own.

Dreaming of a demilitarized Europe

Van Aken also confirmed that the vision of a demilitarized Europe remains central to the German left-wing party – a controversial and unusual stance in these times.

– Of course I want to live in a country without an army. Don’t you? he asked rhetorically.

The interview was published at a sensitive political moment, with Germany recently announcing a new military aid package for Ukraine, including air defense missiles and artillery. Incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz has also expressed support for sending Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine a weapon capable of reaching deep into Russian territory.

This has led to strong criticism from Moscow, which has warned that a German decision to deliver the weapons would make the country an active party in the war, as Russia claims that the Taurus system cannot be operated without German personnel.

Die Linke has consistently opposed arms deliveries to Ukraine and instead advocated a ceasefire and diplomatic solutions.

Survivors warn: Civilians will die as Europe reintroduces anti-personnel mines

The new cold war

Published 28 April 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Millions of anti-personnel mines remain in the ground around the world after wars and conflicts - killing or maiming thousands every year.

Five European countries – Finland, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania – have announced plans to withdraw from the 1997 Ottawa Convention, which bans anti-personnel mines.

However, the decisions have been met with strong criticism from human rights organizations and survivors, who warn that it is civilians who will suffer the most.

In mid-April, Latvia became the first country to formally vote to leave the treaty, which has over 165 signatories. The decision is described as a historic step backwards by those working to combat the use of mines.

– It feels like a punch to the face, said Zoran Ješić in an interview with The Guardian. He lost his right leg to a mine during the Bosnian War and now heads UDAS, an organization for landmine survivors.

– Antipersonnel landmines do horrible things to innocent people. They belong to a small group of weapons, including chemical and biological weapons, that are so abhorrent they must never be used again, he continues.

Ješić was 21 years old and a soldier in the Bosnian army when he stepped on a mine in a forest.

– As I later heard, it was our mine. The point is that when you put a mine in the ground, you never know what will happen. Will it wait for your soldiers, your civilians or the enemies? Usually, it hurts your people.

“It’s about the norms of war”

And the statistics confirm his claims. Every year, 70-85% of all those killed or injured by mines are civilians. Almost half of the victims are children – a reminder of the weapons’ inability to distinguish between combatants and innocent people.

Alma Taslidžan from Humanity & Inclusion, an organization working with disabled and vulnerable groups, expresses concern that the decisions could create a dangerous domino effect:

– This is really a tipping point for us. It’s not only about landmines. It is about the norms that are written for the situation of wartimes – we’re afraid this is going to create a wave of weakening the international humanitarian law that has the first obligation to protect civilians.

In March, the defense ministers of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland published a joint declaration referring to the war in Ukraine and increased security threats.

– With this decision, we are sending a clear message: our countries are prepared and can use every necessary measure to defend our security needs, the statement read.

Warning against myths about “smart mines”

Finland, which shares a border with Russia stretching over 1,300 kilometers, later joined the group, with Prime Minister Petteri Orpo saying that withdrawal would give the country “the opportunity to prepare for changes in the security situation in a more versatile way”.

However, Taslidžan emphasizes that even if the threat were real, the choice of weapon is still wrong precisely because it is civilians who will suffer the most.

– Choosing the most indiscriminate weapon amongst all to say that you are going to defend your country, that is wrong. Security cannot be built on a weapon that kills indiscriminately, that remains in the ground long after the conflict has ended and that specifically maims civilians.

She also warns against myths about “smart mines” with self-destruction mechanisms and claims that these are safe for the civilian population.

– That’s bizarre information. There is no smart mine that can think for itself and say, ‘Oh, civilians, we won’t explode now’.

American soldiers with mines in Iraq. Photo: U.S. Army/SPC Derek Gaines

Red Cross: “Extremely alarming”

Maya Brehm, legal advisor at the International Red Cross, describes the development as “extremely alarming”.

– From our perspective – and this is also a perspective shared by military authorities – whatever limited military value anti-personnel mines may still have in today’s conflicts, it is vastly outweighed by the appalling and long-lasting humanitarian consequences, she emphasizes.

Norway, which also borders Russia, has chosen to remain in the treaty, and Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide has expressed regret over Finland’s decision:

– This particular decision (by Finland) is something we regret. If we start weakening our commitment, it makes it easier for warring factions around the world to use these weapons again, because it reduces the stigma, he commented.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, an estimated 3 million mines remain in the ground since the 1990s war and continue to kill and maim men, women, and children.

– This is not something you can just put in the ground and then pick up again when the war is over, Zoran Ješić explains grimly.

Swedish Major General: “Leave the Ottawa Treaty and buy anti-personnel mines”

The new cold war

Published 16 April 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Karlis Neretnieks argues that today's anti-personnel mines cannot be compared to those that kill thousands of civilians every year.

Recently The Nordic Times highlighted how the defense ministers of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia announced that they intend to withdraw from the international convention banning the use of anti-personnel mines.

In early April, Finnish officials also confirmed that they are also preparing to withdraw from the Ottawa Treaty. Retired Swedish-Latvian Major General Karlis Neretnieks now wants Sweden to do the same and start buying “smart” anti-personnel mines.

– My opinion is clear. We should do what the Finns did, leave the Ottawa Agreement, and acquire anti-personnel mines, declares Neretnieks, who has also previously served as President of the Swedish National Defense College.

He explains that within the NATO military pact, there is a plan for the Swedish army to be able to move quickly to Finland and form joint defense forces with Finnish soldiers in the event of a possible Russian attack. In such a scenario, he argues, the armies of both countries must have similar rules of engagement.

– What should we do when Swedish commanders have to command Finnish units? Should a Swedish commander tell a Finnish commander that you are not allowed to use anti-personnel mines because you are under Swedish command? That’s not how it works in reality.

Kills thousands annually

Finland’s defense minister, Antti Häkkänen, insists that “mines are only for war” and “will not be scattered in the countryside“. However, over the years, anti-personnel mines have caused enormous civilian suffering and in 2021 alone, an estimated 5,500 people were killed by them many of them children.

Millions of undestroyed anti-personnel mines remain in former war zones around the world and can detonate at any time when someone accidentally steps on them. This is also one of the primary reasons why some 160 countries around the world have committed to stop stockpiling, producing or using them.

However, Neretnieks argues that today’s modern anti-personnel mines can be turned on and off by remote control and he emphasizes that some models stop working after a certain amount of time.

– The reason for removing the mines was that they were often left behind after the fighting was over. Then they were dangerous for children, farmers and anyone walking around the terrain… I’m advocating that we abandon the Ottawa agreement and get these anti-personnel mines with self-destruction, he continues.

“Were far too enthusiastic”

Sweden signed the convention in 1998, the year after it was drafted, but the major general says it was a big mistake.

– I think we were far too enthusiastic about a ban at the height of the discussions in 1996-1997. It was quite obvious that the Russians had no intention of signing anything like that, he states.

It should be noted that it is not only Russia that has chosen not to sign the convention. Major military powers such as the US and China have so far also refused to sign the Ottawa Treaty, as have Israel, India, Iran and both North and South Korea.

Moderate Youth League: Raise the retirement age to finance Sweden’s rearmament

The new cold war

Published 15 April 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Raising the retirement age to fund the Swedish defense effort is not expected to be well received by the electorate.

As reported by The Nordic Times, Swedish politicians have decided to borrow at least SEK 300 billion (€26 billion) for what is described as the “biggest rearmament since the Cold War”.

Douglas Thor, chair of The Moderate Youth League (MUF), fully supports the military investment – but emphasizes that it should be paid for by older Swedes through a higher retirement age.

The governing politicians agree that it is reasonable to borrow the equivalent of €4,400 for each Swede of working age for the military project, and analysts have noted that it will largely be future generations of Swedes who will have to pay for the decisions made today.

– It’s clear that future generations will have to take a bigger hit than if we were to just go on this year’s budget. But it also seems reasonable that future generations should help finance reconstruction because it will also benefit them, commented, for example, Daniel Waldenström, professor of economics, and continued:

– It’s simply that they will have to pay a bit more tax as a result of this. They will have to pay taxes to finance our repayment of these loans.

“In the long run, everyone will pay”

Just like the other establishment parties’ youth wings, MUF applauds the military investment, but believes older Swedes must bear a greater share of the cost – not just the younger generation.

– Borrowing money is not free. The costs are postponed to the future, which means that the younger generation has to pay. We are happy to contribute, but it is unreasonable that we alone should bear the cost, they say.

Thor’s solution is to raise the age at which older people can start drawing their pension from the current 63 to 67.

– Today, people can start drawing their income and premium pensions at the age of 63. We believe it is reasonable to raise it. One possible age is 67, confirms the Muf leader, who states that raising the retirement age is a much better option than raising taxes.

– In the long run, everyone will pay because we are all getting older. When our country has faced difficult challenges in the past, we have coped by working more, Thor argues.

Unpopular measure

Raising the retirement age to fund military spending is not expected to be a particularly popular message with voters but Thor says this does not matter much.

– There are many issues that were previously unthinkable, but which have been reconsidered in this serious international situation. For example, loan financing has been reconsidered. It should be possible to do the same with regard to this issue.

According to Muf’s calculations, if older Swedes worked two years longer than they do today, this would mean around SEK 30 billion (€2.6 billion) extra to the public purse annually about half the contribution needed to meet the government’s target of spending 3.5% of GDP on defense.

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