German Gref, the Sberbank CEO, said some 9,000 pages of contract had been drawn up over nine months of talks with GM, adding the U.S. automaker (GM) backed out on the deal two days before its planned signing. (Link)

Should we, as Americans be happy about this kind of dealings by an American company?

Germany issued permission on Monday for the construction of Russia’s Nord Stream gas pipeline in Germany’s exclusive economic zone.

That is an important statement and it looks like Nord Stream is solidly on it way to fullfillment in 2011.

For those of you who do not know about Nord Stream:

Nord Stream is a gas pipeline to link Russia and the European Union via the Baltic Sea. It will carry natural gas to supply both businesses and households. The new pipeline will be an important factor of energy security in Europe.

Nord Stream will transport up to 55 billion cubic metres of gas each year. This is enough to supply more than 26 million households.

Nord Stream is more than just a pipeline. It is a new channel for Russian natural gas exports, and a major infrastructure project which sets a new benchmark in EU-Russia cooperation. (Link to the Home site of Nord Stream!)

To a good video about the pipeline.

Some facts: Nord Stream will be 1,220 kilometers (758 miles) long and will consist of two parallel lines. The first line, with a carrying capacity of around 27.5 billion cubic meters a year is due for completion in 2011. The second line is due to be completed in 2012, doubling annual capacity to around 55 billion cubic meters.

Well – it has been three years since former Russian security officer Aleksandr Litvinenko died of polonium poisoning in London and that seems to be the end of the story. The simple fact that he died of polonium is about the only true statement that can be upheld in anyone’s book. The rest of the so called facts and statements have all been falling to the wayside.

This very month – Scotland Yard’s case against Lugovoy sustained a huge blow. A German court dropped its legal action against another Russian, Dmitry Kovtun, who was suspected of transporting the polonium-210 that Britain believed was used to kill Litvinenko. (They are saying dropped because of lack of evidence.) Kovtun has now been given access to the evidence that was to be against him.

“Already now we can see a lot of inconsistencies. If we study carefully all the documents and discrepancies in this case, it will help us to prove the guilt and to show to the world that the Russian party had nothing to do with that,” Kovtun said.

This issue now brings into focus – How strong is the British evidence? MP Mike Hancock, chairman of Britain’s All-Party Parliamentary Group on Russia says:

“I sometimes wonder if the evidence is as strong as what we suggest it is. I’d like to think it was because the whole country is being led to believe that the evidence is so overwhelmingly patently easy to prove. Then we should try it and see if we can convince the Russian judicial system of the merits of the case. If we can’t, then let’s be honest enough to say we can’t!”

I remember well the hate emails and comments of death and destruction over these articles that I recieved. People at the time had no doubts that Lugovoy killed him and if you questioned the facts you where attacked from all viewpoints…

Links below are the articles that I did since the beginning of this case. I will stand by my thoughts: I think that Britain has been barking up the wrong tree all this time. But they were led to that tree by the ones who really did the killing! (Time to chase other cats up other trees.)

http://www.windowstorussia.com/2008/01/no-one-knows-who-killed-
http://www.windowstorussia.com/2008/03/could-litvinenko-have-pois
http://www.windowstorussia.com/2008/05/russia-says-lets-work-tog
http://www.windowstorussia.com/2008/06/russia-was-polonium-210-
http://www.windowstorussia.com/2008/07/russia-moscow-has-reques
http://www.windowstorussia.com/2008/07/london-rejects-bbc-litvinen
http://www.windowstorussia.com/2008/07/russia-more-on-litvinenko-
http://www.windowstorussia.com/2008/07/russia-german-prosecutor-

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

“Initially, GM had serious reservations about Magna’s offer and seemed to favor a rival bid by the Belgian-based investor, RHJ International. One GM official said RHJ’s offer was “simple and elegant.” In particular, GM was uncomfortable with a Russian company getting its hands on Opel’s technical expertise and patents!“

I have followed this story from the beginning and have posted these articles on the subject:

http://kylekeeton.com/2009/05/opel-is-officially-sold-to-russia-and.html
http://kylekeeton.com/2009/08/is-gm-dragging-feet-because-russia-is.html

I waited to print this article even though it was splashed all over the Eastern Press. I am learning that many people can not accept any press but the Western press. (Sad but true!)

So finally the end is in sight for this transaction between GM and Magna – Sberbank! Germany had to push way too hard for this deal to happen and it just proved to Germany that the American Government could care less what is best for Germany! This had nothing to do with what is best for America or GM it was a anti-Russian situation plain and simple. 

GM retains a 35% holding in the Opel company and hopefully that will become 0% in a few years…

On Thursday, GM said the Magna-Sberbank group would acquire 55% of Opel. Employees will hold 10% of the German automaker, leaving GM with a 35% stake. (Link)

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

Looks pretty obvious at this point. If it is not clear to you and the rest of the world, then think about it for a minute…

General Motors’ failure last week to decide on the sale of its unit Opel has met with strong criticism from Berlin. German media commentators say the Opel saga poses risks for Chancellor Angela Merkel ahead of the Sept. 27 election and could hurt relations between the US and Germany. They also warn that Opel could fall victim to political election tactics.

Germany is backing the deal as GM is starting to look like a company that has been given so much government money that they are backing out of the deal. A deal that not long ago they had to do or die and now after being blessed with lots and lots of government help and government backing, have turned their nose up at the best deal for the Opel company. GM says it wants the rights to get Opel back, (after someone else turns it around and makes a solid company out of it.) GM does not deserve that right…

The old General Motors will dissolve in bankruptcy court while a brand new company, owned largely by the United States and Canadian governments, will emerge under the same GM name.

The Magna – Sberbank deal is the best for Germany and Germany is what counts. Not the fact that a American company is being controlled now by governmental influence. Russia has an opportunity to come out a head in this deal along with Canada. Germany likes the presence of Canada and Russia as the most viable partners that will make Opel a great car company again after being driven toward its grave by GM.

This act of GM’s with the US government backing gives strength to the statement that GM was and is a failed company. (Once again our tax money put to a good use?)

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,644654,00.html

http://www.cargurus.com/blog/2009/07/07/general-motors-selling-cadillac-and-chevy-to/

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

Update: http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/0,1518,644808,00.html

General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson is considering alternatives to a sale of German automaker Opel, several newspapers reported on Tuesday, in what would be a dramatic turnaround in the Opel saga. The government in Berlin and Opel’s workforce are angry about the decision and may protest. (Oops bad move on Americas part!)