The Nord Stream pipeline running from Russia to Germany was sabotaged Wednesday, resulting in three leaks. Former Chief of Staff to the National Security Council Fred Fleitz believes Russia was the culprit.
"Concerning the pipeline, this would have had to be done by a nation state," Fleitz said on the "John Solomon Reports" podcast. "These pipelines are 200 to 300 feet below water. Frogmen can only operate at about 20 feet. They're in heavy steel surrounded by concrete. So a submersible would have to be used to do this. A number of nations are capable of doing that."
Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson said on his show that he believes the United States was behind it, but Fleitz believes that's not the case.
"Frankly, I don't think he (Biden) has the backbone to order a covert action to do that," Fleitz stated. "I think it was probably Putin. But if it was United States and Biden did order this, that was a covert action that has to be reported to Congress. I think that action would be extremely difficult to justify. So, I also think that evidence of it would leak. My guess is that Putin did it. But I am hoping Congress will be asking questions."
Fleitz said Biden's relationship with Putin is poor, and that he worried Biden was overestimating his influence on the Russian leader.
"What worries me now is that Biden is miscalculating how far he can push Putin," Fleitz explained. "I worry when a megalomaniac with the largest nuclear arsenal on Earth, threatens to use nuclear weapons. And I worry that there's a certain amount of support that could push them over the edge."
Last week, Putin threatened to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine and said that this threat was not a bluff. According to Fleitz, the Biden Administration is toying with the idea of giving Ukraine tanks and F16s, which could result in further escalation.
"When will Putin say, 'Well, I'm at war with NATO', or 'this is a proxy war'?" Fleitz asked. "I worry that we are approaching that point. This administration has no concept of that. They have to find a way to de-escalate, not keep turning the rhetoric up on Putin and assume the only outcome is Putin will be defeated or will be overthrown."
