Topic: Litvinenko Has Died... Skripal and Daughter Critical

[Ray K]

BuzzFeed had a very long and detailed investigation last year about the number of deaths attributed to Russian agents in Britain. Seems like the government's attitude is 'So long as they're inflating the property market, they can bump off whoever they want'.

From Russia With Blood

That intelligence – based on human sources, intercepted communications, and public material gathered by US spy agencies – has been shared with Britain in relation to all 14 deaths. Yet British police have ruled out foul play in every last case.

Russian assassins have been able to kill in Britain with impunity over the past decade, 17 current and former British and American intelligence officials told BuzzFeed News. The reasons for Britain’s reticence, they said, include fear of retaliation, police incompetence, and a desire to preserve the billions of pounds of Russian money that pour into British banks and properties each year. As a result, Russia is making what one source called increasingly “bold moves” in the UK without fear of reprisals.

[Libertine]

Boris threatening to pull out of the World Cup. Well that'll show them.... 



https://twitter.com/paulwaugh/status/971016257184108545

[Ray K]

Well if they wanted England (Boris, there is no UK team) out of the Russian WC as soon as possible, they could always reappoint the Hodge.

[Ray K]

Boris threatening to pull out of the World Cup. Well that'll show them.... 

https://twitter.com/paulwaugh/status/971016257184108545

Actually, as Private Eye would say, reverse-ferret...

@SamCoatesTimes
Team Boris urgently make it clear they do not mean the England squad won’t go to the Russia World Cup - they mean “dignitaries and officials who bless the event” may not get sent. Ha!

Not sure the Russkies will cope with not seeing Prince William, to be honest.

[Babel Time]

Actually, as Private Eye would say, reverse-ferret...

@SamCoatesTimes
Team Boris urgently make it clear they do not mean the England squad won’t go to the Russia World Cup - they mean “dignitaries and officials who bless the event” may not get sent. Ha!

Not sure the Russkies will cope with not seeing Prince William, to be honest.

Yeah, that'll show em

[Qston]

Yeah, that'll show em

That's cold war shit right there.....

Is that the best response we can come up with ? Couldn`t Boris offer Putin out ?

[classycarra]

We don't know for sure who 'they' are but that's pretty chilling.

Be serious

[classycarra]

That's cold war shit right there.....

Is that the best response we can come up with ? Couldn`t Boris offer Putin out ?

Johnson has actually criticised Russia (relatively) directly in the past. Presumably that's why he's trying to save himself a trip over there

[Robinred]

Johnson’s foot-in-mouth disease is at the level of Trump’s these days.

Trump has the excuse that he didn’t have a classical education.

[thejbs]

I fully expect England to protest with a carefully orchestrated exit from the competition in the early knockout stage.

[Djozer]

That's cold war shit right there.....

Is that the best response we can come up with ? Couldn`t Boris offer Putin out ?

Not a fan of Putin in any way shape or form, but I'd pay good money to watch him kick Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson's head in.

In all seriousness, this is pretty scary stuff. The Russians really like to make a point, it would seem.

[Red-Soldier]

It's never over, until it's over.

I assume he knew of the risks when agreeing to be our spy.

[RedBootsTommySmith]

Give Chelsea back to Ken Bates

[RedSince86]

The latest statement from the Russian Embassy in London is laughable.

[[new username under construction]]

I wonder if we do the same

[Red-Soldier]

I wonder if we do the same

Don't know.  It's not something the government is likely to broadcast.

[Jiminy Cricket]

It almost certainly happens all the time, all over the world. We only get to hear about it when the assassinations are sloppy, like in the case of Litvinenko, or bizarre like in the case of the Skripals'.

Putin bumps off 'traitors'. The problem of traitors is relatively small in the UK because, well, it ain't Russia! The UK has no reason/need reason to kill those who betray the UK. You will note that Putin does not kill foreign nationals, as that is the kind of thing which would necessarily cause other nations to react and react strongly. I am not defending the UK's inaction, but I think that's the reasoning operating here.

Putin has made comments to the effect that traitors are fair game - and that he has respect for adversaries (foreign agents/operatives, I presume). I think it is just pragmatism though - re: my above comments. He knows how far he can go and get away with it. I also think that it is all just one huge game to him. He's probably a true sociopath.

[Peabee]

It almost certainly happens all the time, all over the world. We only get to hear about it when the assassinations are sloppy, like in the case of Litvinenko, or bizarre like in the case of the Skripals'.

MI6 use [redacted].

[hide5seek]

We need to send them a strongly worded letter.

[Peabee]

We need to send them a strongly worded letter.

Theresa May will state how clear she is clearly not happy, clearly.

[killer-heels]

As if we have the ability to stand up to Russia.

[OOS]

As if we have the ability to stand up to Russia.

We do, but this government won't.

Imagine the EU, united against Trump and Putin. Britain leading the change within the EU, to improve standards around the world. Instead we have Davies, Fox and Johnson chatting shite and May petrified to do anything.

This government has turned this country into a laughing stock.

[killer-heels]

We do, but this government won't.

Imagine the EU, united against Trump and Putin. Britain leading the change within the EU, to improve standards around the world. Instead we have Davies, Fox and Johnson chatting shite and May petrified to do anything.

This government has turned this country into a laughing stock.

What makes you think countries like Germany would currently stand up to Russia. Johnson pushed for sanctions last year against Russia and the Germans said no.

[Peabee]

Russia probably doing it to make sure that Boris does indeed refuse to go to Russia.

One theory is that it’s due to fears of a low turnout on the 18th, so Putin will use the accusations to increase voter turnout.

[classycarra]

One theory is that it’s due to fears of a low turnout on the 18th, so Putin will use the accusations to increase voter turnout.

Find it hard to imagine Putin is arsed about turnout. Or 'turnout' (do you think it'll be accurately counted?)

[WhereAngelsPlay]

What makes you think countries like Germany would currently stand up to Russia. Johnson pushed for sanctions last year against Russia and the Germans said no.

Would they be the same sanctions that caused the Ruble to lose half of its value ?  Because they were the ones that counted and Germany certainly back those.

[hide5seek]

Theresa May will state how clear she is clearly not happy, clearly.

She could also clearly tell them how strong and stable she is.

[killer-heels]

Would they be the same sanctions that caused the Ruble to lose half of its value ?  Because they were the ones that counted and Germany certainly back those.

Yes, like many in the world, including Britain. But its not just Britain that lack teeth against Russia, other countries look after their national interests. Not that the Brits are capable of reacting anyway, the Russians seem far more sophisticated than us in all areas.

[Fiasco]

Is there a particular reason why whoever orchestrated this attack (and the one of Litvinenko) would use Polonium and whatever it is that has been used this time around? Is it just a case of whatever is used being so lethal that no chances are taken?

It does read like a Bond script. I mean forget a bullet to the head or a simple disappearing act, we'll just poison you with some lethal shit.

[SP]

Is there a particular reason why whoever orchestrated this attack (and the one of Litvinenko) would use Polonium and whatever it is that has been used this time around? Is it just a case of whatever is used being so lethal that no chances are taken?

It does read like a Bond script. I mean forget a bullet to the head or a simple disappearing act, we'll just poison you with some lethal shit.

It sends a message. Using stuff that causes a horrible death that only states have access to, sends a very clear message.

[Fiasco]

It sends a message. Using stuff that causes a horrible death that only states have access to, sends a very clear message.

Yeah, I was thinking that was the case mate. I remember watching the news around the time Litvinenko died and seeing that picture of him in the hospital bed. That must have been one horrible, painful death and I'd imagine that's what they've gone for this time around. I'd be shocked if Skripal and his daughter survived.

The balls on them though. Not only to take someone out like that but to use such powerful chemicals. In another country no less.

[Peabee]

Yeah, I was thinking that was the case mate. I remember watching the news around the time Litvinenko died and seeing that picture of him in the hospital bed. That must have been one horrible, painful death and I'd imagine that's what they've gone for this time around. I'd be shocked if Skripal and his daughter survived.

The balls on them though. Not only to take someone out like that but to use such powerful chemicals. In another country no less.

Wars have started over less. They know we’re not going to retaliate though. Litvinenko was a British Citizen and we did nothing.

[kavah]

from the other thread, I didn't realize we had a special one for the KGB polonium assassinations

Yeah, I was thinking that was the case mate. I remember watching the news around the time Litvinenko died and seeing that picture of him in the hospital bed. That must have been one horrible, painful death and I'd imagine that's what they've gone for this time around. I'd be shocked if Skripal and his daughter survived.

The balls on them though. Not only to take someone out like that but to use such powerful chemicals. In another country no less.

reading the last paragraph of this, such an evil substance used so shamelessly 

A fascinating and chilling account of Alexander Litvinenko's last days - today's Guardian

This week, the inquiry into the death of Alexander Litvinenko will deliver its findings. The former Russian spy was poisoned with a cup of tea in a London hotel. Working with Scotland Yard detectives, as he lay dying, he traced the lethal substance to a former comrade in the Russian secret

[DI Brent Hyatt and DS Chris Hoar, from the Met’s specialist crime unit. Edwin Carter is  Litvinenko's MI6 pseudonym]


Hoar: Can you think of anybody else who may wish to do this sort of harm to you?

Carter: I have no doubt who wanted it, and I often receive threats from these people. This was done … I have no doubt whatsoever that this was done by the Russian Secret Services. Having knowledge of the system I know that the order about such a killing of a citizen of another country on its territory, especially if it is something to do with Great Britain, could have been given by only one person.

Hyatt: Would you like to tell us who that person is, sir? Edwin?

Carter: That person is the president of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin. And if ... you of course know, while he’s still president, you won’t be able to prosecute him as the main person who gave that order, because he is the president of a huge country crammed with nuclear, chemical and bacteriological weapons. But I have no doubt whatsoever that as soon as the power changes in Russia or when the first officer of Russian Special Services defects to the west he will say the same. He will say that I have been poisoned by the Russian Special Services on Putin’s order.

...Polonium was a miasma, a creeping fog. It was found inside the dishwasher, on the floor, till, a coffee strainer handle. There were traces on bottles of Martini and Tia Maria behind the bar, the ice-cream scoop, a chopping board. It turned up on chairs – with large alpha radiation readings from where the three Russians sat – and the piano stool. Whoever sent Lugovoi and Kovtun to London must have known of the risks to others. Apparently they didn’t care.


http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/19/alexander-litvinenko-the-man-who-solved-his-own-murder

[RedSince86]

Merkal won't do nothing or rock the boat towards Moscow.

Germany is dependent on Russian gas supplies.

And both countries are in the process of building a new gas pipeline.

[Peabee]

At least we know, following Vlad’s ‘PowerPoint’ presentation, that if they launch nukes, they’ll be using a Spectrum 48k.

[killer-heels]

Wars have started over less. They know we’re not going to retaliate though. Litvinenko was a British Citizen and we did nothing.

Boris agreed that it could be considered an act of war. Thats when the sane people told him to shut the fuck up before he gets us all killed.

[Peabee]

Find it hard to imagine Putin is arsed about turnout. Or 'turnout' (do you think it'll be accurately counted?)

I’m not sure. I can see the thought processes behind the theory, and I think he wants to push for a ‘presidency for life’.

[Caligula?]

Ha, the whole of Europe is either too dependent on the Russians or either too scared to do absolutely anything. But then again when you also have an American President elected as more or less a puppet of the Kremlin due to their meddling, it doesn't bode well for the future of anybody. 

[classycarra]

Ha, the whole of Europe is either too dependent on the Russians or either too scared to do absolutely anything. But then again when you also have an American President elected as more or less a puppet of the Kremlin due to their meddling, it doesn't bode well for the future of anybody. 

Russia(n kleptocrats in power) wishes the west was dependent on it. It's not.

The west is likely scared of retaliating violently (in this and other cases), mostly because it has a great deal more to lose

[Peabee]

Russia(n kleptocrats in power) wishes the west was dependent on it. It's not.

The west is likely scared of retaliating violently (in this and other cases), mostly because it has a great deal more to lose

Yes, this is probably Putin’s greatest weapon. Hence the aggressive fly-bys etc as a show of force to Russians. We’re never going to react with force.

Certain U.K. institutions have also benefitted from Russian money-laundering.