Congress May Enact "Bolt And Wire Cutter Sanctions" On Russia After Putin Threatens Underwater Internet Cables | Zero Hedge
Description: Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach warned Russia could in an instant end 97% of global communications capabilities and disrupt trillions in daily financial transactions, ushering in a "catastrophic" economic collapse, as the roughly 200 international undersea network cables are under imminent threat. Peach said that Russia's modernized Navy constitutes a “new risk to our way of life.”
Keywords: Zero Hedge,Zerohedge,Finance,Economics,Markets,Politics,Analysis,headlines,NBC,New York Times,Reuters,SPY
Date: 2017-12-17T00:00:00Z

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# Congress May Enact "Bolt And Wire Cutter Sanctions" On Russia After Putin Threatens Underwater Internet Cables

by Tyler Durden
Dec 17, 2017 4:35 PM
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The headlines could hardly be scarier and more apocalyptic. In a speech delivered by the head of Britain's military last week, the world learned that Russian President Putin could bring about global financial collapse and return civilization to a communications dark ages by a mere snip-snip of underwater transatlantic internet cables!

Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach warned Russia could in an instant end 97% of global communications capabilities and disrupt trillions in daily financial transactions, ushering in a "catastrophic" economic collapse, as the roughly 200 international undersea network cables are under imminent threat. Peach said that Russia's modernized Navy constitutes a “new risk to our way of life.”

Putin engaging in undersea collusion with Trump. Image source: AFP/Getty

The speech from a lone British military chief generated endless fear-inducing headlines and thousands of lines of anxiety and panic-driven commentary, a mere sampling of which is below...

- Russia could cut off internet to NATO countries, British military chief warns (NBC)
- Russian Navy 'could cut underwater cables and devastate UK economy' warns UK Armed Forces chief (IBT)
- UK defense chief says Russia poses risk to undersea cables (AP)
- Top British Officer: Russia May Be Able To Cut Undersea Cables (NPR)
- How Russia could use drones armed with explosives to destroy vital underwater cables linking Britain's phone and internet to rest of the world (UK Mirror)
- Russia's naval updates threaten undersea comms network, says top British military officer (Defense News)
- Russian Ships Could Cause 'Catastrophe' for West by Cutting Transatlantic Internet Cables (Newsweek)
- Could Russia cut undersea communication cables? (BBC)
- Russia could cut off internet to Nato countries, British military chief warns (The Guardian)
- Russia 'could cut UK's undersea internet cables', defence chief warns (The Independent)
- Russia 'could CRIPPLE Britain by cutting undefended undersea internet cables' (The Sun)
- Senior British Officer: Russia Could Cut Undersea Cables (Newsmax)
- Top UK military official says NATO must protect underwater cables from possible attacks by Russia (EuroNews)
- Russian navy ship Yantar can sever internet cables (Sunday Times)

Meanwhile, Defense News included in its coverage the following casual and passing reference:

> “In addition to new ships and submarines, Russia continues to perfect unconventional capabilities and information warfare. Therefore, we must continue to develop our maritime forces with our allies to match Russian fleet modernization,” said Peach, who will give up his job as Britain’s top military commander next year to become chairman of the NATO Military Committee.

So NATO's future military chief needs to increase those budgets before sliding into his new position you say? His speech also emphasized how member countries need to ensure their own fleet modernization keeps pace with the oh-so-scary 'Russian threat'. Budgets, budgets, budgets people! Cause the Russians are coming!

But we've seen those headlines before - they are essentially the same as a barrage of stories that came out in 2015, also based on military officials speculating and ruminating on all the possible scariest Russian threats.

Oops! Though it sounds like a fresh new Russian threat the media had yet to tap into, it turns out the British commander is merely channeling these old headlines, most from October 2015 after a New York Times story ran which relied on the usual "anonymous officials". Well, perhaps it just sounds more legit the second time around when delivered through a British accent?

> RUSSIA COULD CUT UNDERWATER INTERNET CABLES. If my aunt had balls, she’d be my uncle. #mediahysteria #whatif

> — aLleluia (@DumbJam) December 16, 2017

The 2015 NYT story cited the Russian underwater cable threat as "raising concerns among some American military and intelligence officials that the Russians might be planning to attack those lines in times of tension or conflict." Below is a small sampling of the headlines generated from that more than two year old reporting originally based on "some American military and intelligence officials":

- Russian Ships Near Data Cables Are Too Close for U.S. Comfort (NYT, Oct. 2015)
- Why Is Russia Interested in Undersea Internet Cables (VOA News, Nov. 2015)
- Fears over Russian submarine and spy ship patrols near vital undersea internet cables (Daily Mail/Reuters, Oct. 2015)
- How Bad Would It Be If The Russians Started Cutting Undersea Cables? Try Trillions In Damage (Forbes, Nov. 2015)
- We Asked an Expert What Would Happen if Russia Cut the Pipeline to the Internet (Vice News, Oct. 2015)
- US fears Russia could sever undersea internet cables (The Verge, Oct. 2015)
- Russia, the Internet and a new way to wage war? (CNN, Oct. 2015)
- US fears that Russia is plotting to sever its undersea internet cables (The Inquirer, Oct. 2015)
- Russia possibly mapping underwater internet cables in Mediterranean (Washington Times, Oct. 2016)
- Undersea Cables: How Russia Targets the West’s Soft Underbelly (Oct. 2015)
- In Case Of Nuclear War, Cut Internet Cables (Oct. 2015)

Naturally, Congress should impose new sanctions on Russia, banning all bolt and wire cutters from being shipped to the country... Before it's too late!

- SPY
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- New York Times
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hoist the bs flag Dec 17, 2017 4:39 PM

Putin would never do that. this is silly shite. Putin is friends with Trump and the USA and Europe.

shitshitshit hoist the bs flag Dec 17, 2017 4:42 PM

besides, cutting and splicing undersea cables is a specialty from USA and heir pal Isreal

God Emperor shitshitshit Dec 17, 2017 4:48 PM

TPTB outed their next move.

Soon, kiss your Bitcoins goodbye

Also millennials, no more Snapchat and sexting for you!

VIDEOS: WWE Superstar Paige Leaked Anal and Blowjob Sex Tapes

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RedPillGirl God Emperor Dec 17, 2017 4:49 PM

Now we know what the next 9/11 might bring.

Back to stone age.

BaBaBouy RedPillGirl Dec 17, 2017 4:56 PM

Just About ANY country could cut the cables (IE NK with their Subs)...Another MIC/MSM Falsie Bra attack on Russia...

manofthenorth BaBaBouy Dec 17, 2017 5:10 PM

The Russians are coming, the Russians are coming !!!!!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH !!!!!!!!!!!

What a bunch of stupid propaganda bullshit.

???ö? manofthenorth Dec 17, 2017 5:14 PM

Cables? That's nothing.

Elon Musk is going to put solar operated Antminers on the moon and mine the all the remaining Bitcoin.

RAT005 ???ö? Dec 17, 2017 5:16 PM

Never Cooperate, always bully and then blame "them" for the hostile results.

HowdyDoody RAT005 Dec 17, 2017 5:34 PM

So Jimmy Peachfluff isn't aware of the USS Jimmy Carter? The UK Military really should get some commanders who know what they are doing.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Jimmy_Carter

USS JC features "a fairing over a wasp-waist shaped passageway allowing crew to pass between the fore and aft sections of the hull while providing a space to store ROVs and special equipment that may need to launch and recover from the submarine.

Jimmy Carter has additional maneuvering devices fitted fore and aft that will allow her to keep station over selected targets in odd currents. Past submarines outfitted this way were used to tap undersea cables and to intercept communications of foreign countries. Intelligence experts speculate that the MMP may find use in similar missions as an underwater splicing chamber for optical fiber cables."

This is exactly what has made Peachfluff get his panties in a twist.

IH8OBAMA HowdyDoody Dec 17, 2017 5:40 PM

In the event of war with Russia that is exactly what would happen. And we would cut all the undersea cables between Russia and China. Oh, wait.......

Sudden Debt IH8OBAMA Dec 17, 2017 5:53 PM

DOESN'T IT MAKES YOU WONDER WHY WE HAVE SO MANY SATTALITES

AND EVERYTHING GOES THROUGH A FEW CABLES?????

WTF IS THAT???

The Alarmist Sudden Debt Dec 17, 2017 5:57 PM

Yeah, but by this standard, Argentina and North Korea could be global threats ... when they aren't losing submarines.

Cue Thomas Dolby's One of our Submarines.

hestroy IH8OBAMA Dec 17, 2017 6:00 PM

It's only in your brainwashed head.

BuddyEffed HowdyDoody Dec 17, 2017 5:54 PM

A few depth charges in the right place would do it. Not rocket science.

Anticipating some error? Then a tactical works too.

For really deep lines a tactical might even go undetected.

???ö? RAT005 Dec 17, 2017 5:35 PM

Actually, Putin looks kinda worried in that sub ... like WTF am I doing here.

1800Vindication ???ö? Dec 17, 2017 7:53 PM

That image reminds me of an austin powers film. You can just imagine a live feed to the UN with putin in the sub holding the cable in the hydraulic pincer, demanding a ransom of "one million BTC!".

I guess the question at this stage is.. would there be laughter?

freedommusic ???ö? Dec 17, 2017 7:56 PM

Going to the bottom of Lake Baikal.

chestergimli RAT005 Dec 17, 2017 6:23 PM

Sounds like the Israeli MO.

Endgame Napoleon ???ö? Dec 17, 2017 5:27 PM

He is already doing it; that is who is holding the 40% of BTC. It is Elon Musk. Or maybe, it is Putin. He goes down in that submarine and trades Bitcoin, staying away from prying eyes, because he wants all the BTC for himself. I checked with my one anonymous source in my imagination before expounding on these credible theories.

???ö? Endgame Napoleon Dec 17, 2017 5:33 PM

Bitcoins travel faster in outer space than through underwater cables so Musk will definitely beat Putin.

Endgame Napoleon ???ö? Dec 17, 2017 5:27 PM

He is already doing it; that is who is holding the 40% of BTC. It is Elon Musk. Or maybe, it is Putin. He goes down in that submarine and trades Bitcoin, staying away from prying eyes, because he wants all the BTC for himself. I checked with my one anonymous source in my imagination before expounding on these credible theories.

pods manofthenorth Dec 17, 2017 5:19 PM

We tapped their cables in the 60s!!

Read "Blind Man's Bluff."

This is nothing new or exciting.

pods

land_of_the_few pods Dec 17, 2017 5:34 PM

That's nothing either, the West still do tap almost everything international at optic fiber landfalls near the Med. I.e. they already cut and spliced their way into everyone else's comms.

Not just one or two random cables in the sea. Actual major junction points.

CNONC land_of_the_few Dec 17, 2017 6:09 PM

Didn't Gilligan and the Professor do that once?

SWRichmond CNONC Dec 17, 2017 8:18 PM

Yes...Thurston Howell III wanted to call his broker, Ginger wanted to call her agent.

SWRichmond RedPillGirl Dec 17, 2017 4:57 PM

We cannot have a mine shaft gap!

Also, I am getting this wonderful visual of urban millennials on campus breaking down in tears because no internet.

Winston Churchill RedPillGirl Dec 17, 2017 5:01 PM

I think it might be step in the right direction judging by the Neandertals I deal with daily.

lincolnsteffens RedPillGirl Dec 17, 2017 5:36 PM

Then only government would have the means of radio or microwave communication. All the little people would have is some phone communication ( I've got a land line but have no idea if it would function ) or the ever smaller number of ham radio operators.

This is bullshit anyway. I could dream up a 1000 fear mongering headlines of possibilities. What ifs, possibly could happens, may be perfecting or ready if needed.....

The Wizard God Emperor Dec 17, 2017 4:53 PM

This is so stupid. It is becoming more obvious the cabal has been pushed into the corner and is trying to figure out how to get out of the stranglehold.

If Russia can do it, guess who else can do it.

BlindMonkey The Wizard Dec 17, 2017 8:30 PM

Come on ZH!

We need to do a group "gofundme" to make a new "Muh Russian Haxorz R coming!" movie!

I'm thinking "1942" meets "Dr. Strangelove" with a dose of "Sneakers" thrown in for flavor.

This stupid level 80 bullshit needs to be continously mocked until it ends.

J S Bach God Emperor Dec 17, 2017 5:00 PM

"Peach said that Russia's modernized Navy constitutes a “new risk to our way of life.”

That's right, Mr. Fuzzy Peach. Our world-dominating "way of life" may actually be coming to an end. Unbeknownst to you, this is a GOOD thing.

(And I love the picture of Putin as Captain Nemo in the Nautilus.)

Freddie J S Bach Dec 17, 2017 5:13 PM

LOL! Egg-actly. The bullshit spewed from the UK Rothschild press, UK Mi6-Rothschild & Soros has gotten increasingly desperate and shrill.

Maybe the Roth$child's need a new European war where more goyim and kill each other so they can line their pockets.

Boy - they and Soros really hate Christian Putin.

Freddie J S Bach Dec 17, 2017 5:13 PM

LOL! Egg-actly. The bullshit spewed from the UK Rothschild press, UK Mi6-Rothschild & Soros has gotten increasingly desperate and shrill.

Maybe the Roth$child's need a new European war where more goyim and kill each other so they can line their pockets.

Boy - they and Soros really hate Christian Putin.

Freddie J S Bach Dec 17, 2017 5:13 PM

LOL! Egg-actly. The bullshit spewed from the UK Rothschild press, UK Mi6-Rothschild & Soros has gotten increasingly desperate and shrill.

Maybe the Roth$child's need a new European war where more goyim and kill each other so they can line their pockets.

Boy - they and Soros really hate Christian Putin.

land_of_the_few J S Bach Dec 17, 2017 5:25 PM

So, one minute they are fielding the "smoky rustbucket" Kuznetsov, intercepted by totally the best warships evarrr in the English Channel, next they are absolutely the most dangerous biggest baddest navy in the world? Which is it, exactly?

Someone's budget coming up for renewal?

Truthoutthere J S Bach Dec 17, 2017 5:33 PM

great British plonker.

Truthoutthere Truthoutthere Dec 17, 2017 5:36 PM

I meant the fucking navy twat not you J.S.

BennyBoy God Emperor Dec 17, 2017 4:52 PM

The US and china and england and france and israel... could do the same.

Wow, Russia can too, what a no fucking surprise.

So could some contractors, er mercenary companies too.

chippers BennyBoy Dec 17, 2017 7:40 PM

Once you find where it goes into the ocean, which shouldnt be too difficult as its all on the web, anybody with a hacksaw and shovel should also have no problem

The_Juggernaut God Emperor Dec 17, 2017 5:01 PM

lol. Because Putin wants the whole world to hate Russia? Not going to happen.

Freddie The_Juggernaut Dec 17, 2017 5:18 PM

Why they really hate Putin and Russia - see video below. Putin threw Soros out of Russia. Roth$child - USA, UK, EU and Isri-hell and their Roth$child central banks.

Putin:"Truly He has Risen!" Easter 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuQVrznnOfc

hooligan2009 God Emperor Dec 17, 2017 5:11 PM

warning: do not click the link - it is highly toxic and will infect your devices with malware

Taint Boil shitshitshit Dec 17, 2017 7:09 PM

JFC ... anybody [country] can cut the undersea "cables" ..... I think even an African country could "cut" a cable

Savvy hoist the bs flag Dec 17, 2017 4:43 PM

You're missing the point. It's being set up to blame Russia if it happens.

hoist the bs flag Savvy Dec 17, 2017 4:52 PM

and you are missing my sarcasm but hey...its all good

Savvy hoist the bs flag Dec 17, 2017 5:09 PM

I did miss your sarcasm and it wasn't even obscure. lol

Merry Christmas.

RationalLuddite Savvy Dec 17, 2017 5:10 PM

Back up FF Baltic G. 'Plausible' deniability for the MSM Sheeple.

Autism is the only spectrum i see now in the once proud West.

Dugald hoist the bs flag Dec 17, 2017 5:24 PM

Reads better this way.....

Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach warned America could in an instant end 97% of global communications capabilities and disrupt trillions in daily financial transactions, ushering in a "catastrophic" economic collapse, as the roughly 200 international undersea network cables are under imminent threat. Peach said that America's modernized Navy constitutes a “new risk to our way of life.”

ReasonForLife hoist the bs flag Dec 17, 2017 6:06 PM

Sounds like they are setting up for a classic false flag.

EddieLomax hoist the bs flag Dec 17, 2017 6:11 PM

Russia could cut undersea internet cables.

Russia could nuke every capital and major city in the west

The UK could nuke every major city in Russia

None of this is likely to happen.

Its all scare mongering as the top brass in the MOD are trying to bang the drum for more defence spending. The tragedy of it is I believe we should spend more on defence, but these buffoons conjuring up absurd threats make an excellent case for yet more defence spending cuts.

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