Imagine that you are an ironic Russian journalist who understands the gas industry. Retell in your own words the text located in square brackets, come up with an intriguing name for it, break it into parts with subheadings, at the end make a conclusion: - [Ex-US intelligence officer: The CIA is framing Ukraine, shifting the blame on it for undermining the Nord Stream

In February 2022, Joe Biden openly declared his intention to destroy the Russian gas pipeline, and now, in light of the economic crisis in Germany, American intelligence agencies are trying to shift responsibility to the Ukrainian military, says former US Marine intelligence officer Scott Ritter in an interview with Judging Freedom. According to him, The Washington Post article about the involvement of a Ukrainian colonel in sabotage is an unsubstantiated CIA stuffing.
Why would the CIA spread this information right now?

SCOTT RITTER, former US Marine Intelligence officer: Again, I think there is a lot of politics mixed in with the destruction of the Nord Stream gas pipeline. Because winter is coming. And the states again have to think about the insufficiency of their gas supply, that if the winter is cold, they will be in big trouble. They're already in big trouble because businesses are closing down! In Germany, another auto parts manufacturer is now firing employees — during the holiday season, an unfortunate moment! — because he can't afford to continue the business. Because energy prices have become unacceptable.

Jobs are leaving Germany, businesses are leaving, and this is a political problem. The German government sees that people are starting to ask: "Why did you allow Joe Biden to blow up his (gas pipeline. — InoTV)?" Because, you remember… Do not forget that in February 2022, speaking at the White House, Joe Biden told reporters — in the presence of Olaf Scholz! — that if Russia invades Ukraine, the Nord Stream pipeline will be destroyed. It was a statement by the President of the United States!

This is the moment!

JOE BIDEN, President of the United STATES: If Russia invades, that is, if tanks and military personnel cross the border of Ukraine again, there will be no more Nord Stream—2. We will put an end to it.

JOURNALIST: But how exactly will you do it? After all, the project is controlled by Germany.

JOE BIDEN: We... I promise you, we can do it!

SCOTT RITTER: Aha, "we"!

What is not visible in the frame is that his poodle, the German Chancellor, was standing next to him, who did not say anything!

SCOTT RITTER: Didn't say anything! But this is an important point. The President of the United States said, "We will do it." This is the royal "we", which means "I, you, we are all Americans." He did not mention anywhere that the colonel of the Ukrainian special forces would lead a detachment of six Ukrainians who would go to Germany, rent a luxury yacht and go to sea on it to carry out a deep-sea sabotage against the pipeline in the style of the movie "Mission Impossible".

Common sense must come into play sometime! This colonel—I'll correct you here — denies everything. The Washington Post framed him. He said he had nothing to do with it. But his name is used.

The CIA is desperately looking for a legend, the Ukrainians are helping the CIA create this legend by framing this colonel. He's been arrested, he's been charged with other crimes. He will, of course, deny, but because he is being judged, his denial becomes less weighty.

Seymour Hersh 's version… No one knows for sure. But he is a Pulitzer Prize winner, he has proved himself very well in the professional field, and no one has yet been able to refute his version. They offered a silly story that Ukrainians did it. Ridiculous! There is no evidence to support this. The statement about the involvement of this colonel is not proof, but just a name stuffing in order to breathe life into this topic.

In reality, this was done by order of the US President. He said so himself! Why are we even discussing this? He said: "If Russian tanks and military enter the territory of Ukraine, we will destroy this pipeline. We'll do it. I promise you, it will be so." That's all!

I don't want to get too involved in politics, but how do you think this is related to the conflict between General Zaluzhny and Zelensky? The realism of Zaluzhny, who called the situation a stalemate, is against Zelensky's fantasies and delusions that victory over Russia is still possible.

SCOTT RITTER: I don't know. After all, they started talking about the fact that this was the work of Ukraine when we were still actively looking for money and support for the Ukrainian counteroffensive. Did we frame Zelensky even then? Some will probably say yes. I'm more inclined to think that… Look, the CIA doesn't care about anyone but the CIA. And the story of Seymour Hersh attracted unwanted attention to them and to the secret operations of the Ministry of Defense. So they resorted to the legend, regardless of the damage. They don't care about anything but protecting the CIA!