Former CIA analyst: Independent Nord Stream investigation needed

A former CIA official said the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipeline is an act of war and an independent investigation is needed in an exclusive interview with Global People magazine.

With regard to the UN Security Council's rejection of a draft resolution on establishing a commission to investigate the attack on the pipeline, the result was three in favor (Brazil, China, Russian Federation) to none against, with 12 abstentions.

"It's untenable to vote against the independent investigation, so the US, Britain and France don't think they could veto it or vote against it. They persuaded all the others to abstain," said Raymond McGovern, a former CIA analyst. "But it's serious. This is an act of war. What is the Security Council of the UN set up for? To look into acts of war, sabotage."

On Sept. 26, 2022, a series of explosions rocked the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Denmark.

Danish and Swedish authorities quickly determined the damage done to the pipelines was not caused by earthquakes or other seismic activity, but by "blasts."

The pipelines were a crucial part of Europe's energy infrastructure, delivering billions of cubic meters of gas from Russia.

Over 500,000 tons of methane, a greenhouse gas 80 times more damaging to the climate than carbon dioxide, were released in the largest ever recorded single methane leak.

In February, veteran journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner Seymour Hersh reported the US was behind the operation to blow up three of the four Nord Stream pipelines, alleging US President Joe Biden ordered their destruction.

Given the attack was on transnational infrastructure and the substantial environmental consequences, it is both necessary and urgent that an independent, impartial, objective and transparent investigation be conducted as soon as possible under the auspices of the United Nations, with broad participation by international experts to determine the culprits.