No, of course not, but it might be an alternative means of waging war.
The significance of this pipeline deal is threatening to the chances of Western Europe remaining civilized. With Turkey possessed of a pipeline switch and able to interdict the flow of gas and oil into southern Europe, it will be even more difficult to deny Turkey membership in the European Union. Short of that, it will be exceedingly difficult to bar Turks from free access into Europe, especially Germany. The Islamization of Europe, already approaching the inevitable, will accelerate
The pipeline deal has significance for American economic interests. We are trying to convert Europe away from Russian energy and turning it to the consumption of American gas delivered by huge ships. Presumably a pipeline will be able to deliver the energy cheaper, putting us at a profound disadvantage for a fledgling energy industry by denying us our biggest market. We have surplus gas but no place to sell it, or at least no place with the demand of Western Europe.
I had dinner last night with a Russian who is very knowledgeable and who said that the entire game of Russia in the Mideast is the construction of these pipelines. Do not be surprised to find that Chinese money will finance the construction of these very expensive pipelines. He estimates that the plunging energy prices from about US$100 per barrel to today's level has forced Vladimir Putin to inflate the ruble by at least 30%. It appears that this new source of energy income will shore up the Russian regime for some time to come. Thus, the opportunity to influence Russian behavior in the world through energy policy has probably now been lost and if we are to project our interests in conflict with the Russians we will be forced to look closely at the military option. In other words, this makes war even more likely.
Overall, this development makes America weaker and Russia stronger, it turns the balance of power in the Middle East on its head and threatens the of power that favors America, at least in Europe. Much depends on the overall intentions of Vladimir Putin but it is hardly reassuring to place one's expectations for peace in the hands of a murderer and a thug.
