• As if Russia blew up their own pipeline!? What benefits would they get. Jeezus, it's all about the Petro-dollar 

Der Spiegel has reported that U.S. intelligence provided warnings during the summer of potential attacks against Nord Stream. That wouldn't have happened if the U.S. was preparing an act of sabotage. 

Putin is definitely desperate enough to damage its own pipeline if he believes it would further his own ends. He's dug himself a very deep hole and knows his days are numbered if he can't find some sort of leverage to get the war in Ukraine settled to his satisfaction -- primarily by putting more pressure on Europe, which is already facing a very cold winter with insufficient energy supplies. 

https://www.reuters.com/world/cia-warned-berlin-about-possible-attacks-gas-pipelines-summer-spiegel-2022-09-27/