Tuesday 4 October 2022 03:09 AM Columbia professor says it's widely believed the US was behind the Nord Stream ... trends now
A Columbia University economist has claimed that the United States may be behind the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipeline, declaring that multiple journalists have said they believe it was an attack directed by Washington, but are unable to report it.
Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, appeared on Bloomberg TV on Monday and was asked about the Ukraine conflict.
Seismologists in Denmark and Sweden a week ago said they had registered two powerful blasts on Monday in the vicinity of the leaks from the Nord Stream pipeline, and the explosions were in the water, not under the seabed.
Most analysts in the West have blamed Russia, accusing them of trying to escalate the conflict and pressure Europe to rescind its support for Kiev.
Sachs, an advisor to top UN leaders and friend of Bono's, who was an advisor to the Yeltsin government in Russia from 1991 to 1994, said he suspected the reverse.
Influential economist and UN advisor Jeffrey Sachs on Monday said he 'would bet' that the U.S. was behind the sabotage of Nord Stream
Tom Keene, the Bloomberg host, interrupted when Sachs said he believed the U.S. was responsible for the pipeline explosion
The pipeline leak is seen on September 27, viewed from a Danish F-16
'I would bet (the explosion) was a U.S. action, perhaps U.S. and Poland,' he said.
'That is speculation.'
'Jeff, we've got to stop there,' said Tom Keene, the Bloomberg host. 'Why do you feel that was a U.S. action? What evidence do you have of that?'
Sachs said he saw several reasons.
'Well, first, there is direct radar evidence that U.S. military helicopters that are normally based in Gdansk were circling over this area,' Sachs said.
'We also had the threat from the US [President Biden] earlier this year that "one way or another we are going to end Nord Stream."
'We also had a remarkable statement from [US] Secretary [of State Antony] Blinken last Friday in a press conference where he said "this is also a tremendous opportunity."
'That's a strange way to talk if you're worried about piracy on international infrastructure of vital significance.'
Biden on February 7, standing next to the new chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz, stated at a White House news conference that the U.S. would 'bring an end' to the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline if Russia invades Ukraine.
The pipeline is not yet operational, but was due to come online later this year.
'If Russia invades - that means tanks or troops crossing the border of Ukraine - then there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it,' said Biden.
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Joe Biden, seen on Monday, said in February that if Russia invades Ukraine, the world 'will bring an end' to Nord Stream 2
When pressed for details on how he would keep that promise given that the pipeline is not under U.S. control, Biden did not elaborate.
'I promise you, we will be able to do it,' he told reporters.
Sachs seized upon Biden's words.
'I know it runs counter to our narrative, you're not allowed to say these things in the West, but the fact of the matter is all over the world when I talk
