In a recent speech in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the West of sabotaging the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines in the Baltic Sea to rupture.
During the ceremony formalizing the annexation of the Russian-controlled territories in eastern and southern Ukraine, Putin blamed the United States and its NATO allies for blowing up the pipelines.
A short time later, while speaking at the White House on the recovery efforts in Florida following Hurricane Ian, President Biden took a few minutes at the end of his teleprompter remarks to address Putin’s accusation.
The president described the incident with the pipelines as a “deliberate act of sabotage” by Russia and accused Putin and the Russians of “pumping out disinformation and lies.”
He urged reporters not to listen to Putin’s accusations, adding “we know it’s not true.” And he vowed that the US would send divers down to find out what happened to the pipelines.
Biden on the Nord Stream pipeline being blown up:
"It was a deliberate act of sabotage. Now the Russians are pumping out disinformation. We will work with our allies to get to the bottom of what happened… But don't listen to Putin. What he's saying we know is not true." pic.twitter.com/r51f0C02a7
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) September 30, 2022
Despite the president’s vehement denials, some wonder if the sabotage of the pipelines may have been the work of the United States, including Fox News host Tucker Carlson who suggested on his show last Tuesday that the White House could have been behind the explosion.
Fueling the conspiracy are remarks Biden made during a press conference before Russia invaded Ukraine.
In a press event at the White House just weeks before the invasion, Biden warned that if Russia invaded Ukraine, there will no longer be a Nord Stream 2, adding “we will bring an end to it.”
When asked how the US could end Nord Stream 2 since the pipeline was controlled by Germany, the boastful Biden said, “I promise you. We will be able to do that.”
Pres. Biden: "If Russia invades…then there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it."
Reporter: "But how will you do that, exactly, since…the project is in Germany's control?"
Biden: "I promise you, we will be able to do that." https://t.co/uruQ4F4zM9 pic.twitter.com/4ksDaaU0YC
— ABC News (@ABC) February 7, 2022
At this point, there is no evidence that the United States or NATO was behind the incident. On its face, it makes no sense for either to risk escalating tensions with Russia, especially at a time when Putin is threatening to use nuclear weapons.
But you can understand why the questions have arisen.
This is the problem with destroying the credibility of the US government and its institutions while tossing around the word “disinformation” like confetti. Doubt inevitably creep
