Why would anyone use radioactive poisoning to kill a spy?

[jman19]

Originally posted by: miketheidiot
we need to be dealing with russia right now and not dealing with small timers like NK and Iran.

:roll:

 

[AnitaPeterson]

I see some of you young people have no idea what the secret services of the East were/are capable of doing.

The usage of radioactive materials and toxins in undercover assassinations is a long-standing tradition for the KGB and a couple of other satellite services. The list of victims is long, and may include country leaders like Romania's Gheorghiu Dej (who died at the peak of his anti-Soviet policy, in 1965), Radio Free Europe's Noel Bernard (killed in 1981) and others... It is reported Ceausescu used the "Radu" codename when he ordered the killing of dissidents who were to be injected with radioactive substances.

The Bulgarian secret services, who were probably the most subservient to Moscow, used various gizmos, the most notorious one being the "Bulgarian Umbrella", mentioned above... wile Markov was the most prominent known victim, anyone could guess there were other targets...

 

[Vonkhan]

Putin wanted to send a clear & simple message :thumbsup:

 

[Craig234]

Originally posted by: Vonkhan
Putin wanted to send a clear & simple message :thumbsup:

That he is a thug and muderer. Mission Accomplished. I want to see him brought to justice.

 

[Passions]

Putin cannot be trusted.

He even looks like a commie.

 

[f95toli]

Originally posted by: Vonkhan
Putin wanted to send a clear & simple message :thumbsup:

Possibly, but it could also be someone within the FSB acting without the knowledge of the Kremlin. It is legal for the FSB to assasinate "extremists" even if the the targets live outside Russia (the law was passed a few months ago). It could also be an oligark, they certainly have the connections and the means to pull something like this off.
There are all sorts of unlikely conspiracy theories flying around and for once one of them is probably right: There doesn't seem to be a reasonable explanation for all of this and that only leaves the unreasonable ones.

Whoever it is they seemed to have messed up. Today the police announced that they have found traces of radiation in 2 out the 3 BA B747 they have checked (the third one is grounded waiting to be examined). These three aircraft were used on the route Moscow and London and back before and after the poissoning on the 1st of November.
BA is now contacing the 30 000+ passangers that have travelled onboard these aircraft since then.
The interesting thing is of course that the police specifically tested these 3 aircraft, meaning they knew what they were looking for. Thsi means they must have an idea of who they are looking for.
It seems whoever has been handling the polonium 210 has left traces all over the place (traces have also been found in a few locations here in London).

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: Passions
Putin cannot be trusted.

He even looks like a commie.

Yes, it's true, although mostly in the eyes and forehead area. His nose definitely looks totalitarian and those ears are classic Marxist in structure. His chin seems more federalist, and it is true that his cheeks tend toward representative democracy, but that's probably just an old KGB trick.

 

[WHAMPOM]

Originally posted by: Caveman
You'd think that the purpose of killing a spy is to keep whatever he/she knows safe...

So why use radiation?

-------------------

Follow up on headline regarding radioactive traces in London

As mentioned at 10:08, DJ reported that radioactive traces were found in 2 London locations. A Reuters.com story reports that traces of radiation have been found at several more sites in London during investigations into the death of a former KGB spy last week, British Home Secretary John Reid said on Monday. The Reuters.com story says Reid told parliament the traces had been found at "several other premises" in addition to Alexander Litvinenko's home and a hotel and restaurant he visited on November 1, the day he fell ill. Significant amounts of Polonium 210 were found in his body. Reid did not name the contaminated locations. Media reports cited a central London office block and an address in the capital's exclusive Mayfair district. Police declined comment.

As a terror weapon of course. And a message that no one is safe to live their lives free of fear.

 

[marvdmartian]

Originally posted by: feralkid

Originally posted by: Passions
Putin cannot be trusted.

He even looks like a commie.

Yes, it's true, although mostly in the eyes and forehead area. His nose definitely looks totalitarian and those ears are classic Marxist in structure. His chin seems more federalist, and it is true that his cheeks tend toward representative democracy, but that's probably just an old KGB trick.

:laugh: :thumbsup:

 

[Gibsons]

Originally posted by: feralkid

Originally posted by: Passions
Putin cannot be trusted.

He even looks like a commie.

Yes, it's true, although mostly in the eyes and forehead area. His nose definitely looks totalitarian and those ears are classic Marxist in structure. His chin seems more federalist, and it is true that his cheeks tend toward representative democracy, but that's probably just an old KGB trick.

9.9/10

 

[gevorg]

Originally posted by: Craig234
I don't consider their view the relevant one. I think he was ex, he thought he was ex, just because the bad guys say he's still one doesn't make it true.
...
It's not every person who has the morals to refuse an assignment like that and fight the bad guys. Very few, sadly.

Well, if you think the FSB are "bad guys" then I guess it explains why you and others might consider that spy an "ex". If that spy had connections/business with thieves like Berezovsky that stole billions and ran away, then he got what he deserved.

You probably know this, but all intelligence agencies have an option to use unconventional methods, including CIA and Mossad.

Originally posted by: f95toli

Originally posted by: Vonkhan
Putin wanted to send a clear & simple message :thumbsup:

Possibly, but it could also be someone within the FSB acting without the knowledge of the Kremlin. It is legal for the FSB to assasinate "extremists" even if the the targets live outside Russia (the law was passed a few months ago). It could also be an oligark, they certainly have the connections and the means to pull something like this off.
There are all sorts of unlikely conspiracy theories flying around and for once one of them is probably right: There doesn't seem to be a reasonable explanation for all of this and that only leaves the unreasonable ones.

Its true, Kremlin does not have an "absolute" control over FSB and other parts of the national security. They all connected of course, but not to the point that Putin knows about everything.

Mafia and oligarchs have a tremendous power in Russia, they can buy or create laws, and its impossible to fight them by "Trial and Order". Whoever masterminded the assasination of that spy wanted the whole world to know. This is why its quite possible that it was done by enemies of Putin, to bring negative reactions. What really happened? We'll never know.