The obvious irony here, is the degree to which it stresses Western and US weak points. Eventually a point is reached where the blowback becomes overwhelming.

Think of the stress it's applying to Nato. Now they can't even bring themselves to keep blaming Russia for blowing up their own pipeline, just that it's too secret to reveal. How is that going to play over the winter?

Then the election coming up, with the Republicans starting to use it as an anchor around Biden.

All the propaganda in the world isn't going to cover over the EU and Nato going up like the Hindenburg.