In today’s WaPo Krauthammer writes this
The other reason for making it obvious and brazen is to send a message. This is a warning to all the future Litvinenkos of what awaits them if they continue to go after the Russian government. They’ll get you even in London, where there is the rule of law. And they’ll get you even if it makes negative headlines for a month.

While I have great respect for Charles Krauthammer, this is somewhat naive.
The intelligence community is made up of people who pick up on a subtle message very well.
Who then is a loud, bold message aimed at? Chechens or Syrians maybe? Unlikely.

If indeed Litvinenko converted to Islam on his deathbed, why? Why not some other religion?
Did he think Allah would forgive him better for his past deeds?
Perhaps he would be exonerated or exalted because he put so many enemies of Allah down like sick puppies?
Or maybe he just likes the idea of 72 virgins.

I kinda hope it is Russia and not some other group in posession of this stuff. MAD was a deterrent with them. MAD would be the ends for a jihadist.

If the ‘assassination’ were executed perfectly, everyone would say, “Only the Russian KGB (or Karl Rove) could pull of something that sinister.”

Because the ‘assassination’ was botched and there is evidence all over the place, he wants us to say, “It was obviously Putin telling the KGB to make it so messy that no one will think it was the KGB.”

I’d rather wait till at least some of the facts are in before I convict Putin.

Besides, Bush looked into his eyes. /sarcasm

Just some food for thought.

Ah, a plot so simple and obvious, yet so cunning in its layers upon layers of complexity–there’s only one person capable of such a plan: Karl Rove himself. I KNEW Bush was behind this!

Nah, but seriously, Krauthammer has a very good point, as usual. Either way, though, this assassination is not a good sign.

“The death of Alexander Litvinenko by radiological poisoning points to the possibility that the former Soviet spy may have been involved with Islamic terrorists in the preparation of tactical nuclear weapons for use in the jihad against the United Sta…

Why kill somebody with something so obvious and traceable, when there are so many better ways of whacking somebody?

In today’s WaPo Krauthammer writes this:

Some say that the Litvinenko murder was so obvious, so bold, so messy — five airplanes contaminated, 30,000 people alerted, dozens of places in London radioactive — that it could not possibly have been the KGB.

But that’s the beauty of it. Do it obvious, do it brazen, and count on those too-clever-by-half Westerners to find that exonerating. As the president of the Central Anarchist Council (in G.K. Chesterton’s “The Man Who Was Thursday”) advised: “You want a safe disguise, do you? . . . A dress in which no one would ever look for a bomb? Why, then, dress up as an anarchist, you fool!”

The other reason for making it obvious and brazen is to send a message. This is a warning to all the future Litvinenkos of what awaits them if they continue to go after the Russian government. They’ll get you even in London, where there is the rule of law. And they’ll get you even if it makes negative headlines for a month.

Just some food for thought.

Why kill somebody with something so obvious and traceable, when there are so many better ways of whacking somebody?

But Polonium is so much more exotic. And in itself a calling card. Dirty bombs, folks. They want us to know that all that nuclear material that had “disappeared” is now in some very powerful hands. The method was no accident—probably very well just a showcase of opportunity.

It looks like the case is all but solved — at least as far as the immediate assassin. Who was pulling his strings is still unresolved. Although Putin is still the obvious candidate. This is strong evidence he was poisoned……

It’s soluble in weak acids – Bloody Marys, Mimosas, Screwdrivers – another good reason not to drink before lunch.

RedWinged Blackbird on December 8, 2006 at 6:36 AM

Well, being a “racist pig”, wouldn’t he be drinking vodka?

Important to note: Polonium, being a heavy metal, does not dissolve readily in water

It’s soluble in weak acids – Bloody Marys, Mimosas, Screwdrivers – another good reason not to drink before lunch.

Who has tons of nuclear material and experience, a history of dirty dealings, a need for money, and no great concern over the fate of the West?

Ding!

That’s not to say that’s what happened, but since we’re being all spooky and paranoid…

Finding contacts who Litvinenko and Kovtun have in common and also would be on the very short list of who has the availablity of Polonium-210 with the specific signature of this isotope on their person, I’m guessing is on the Scotland Yard Christmas wish list.

Could be interesting to find out.

Important to note: Polonium, being a heavy metal, does not dissolve readily in water…it sinks.

Unless you convert it into a salt, and dissolve it in some type of solvent before you add it to the food or drink.

Spymania: Everything you think you know is might be wrongAllahpunditIf I try to excerpt or summarize this one I’ll risk making you think you don’t need to read the whole thing, which you do….

Google American Hiroshima returns 2.6 million hits.
Stir up the fire, and pass me the marshmallos wouldya?

Just why Russians are dying of radiation poisoning is another story.

Usually I would fit that description, but I haven’t had more than 1 cup of coffee today, worked all day and have almost no energy left in me.

That is just too good. Who could make that up?

First rule in espionage – counter espionage:
NOTHING is what it first appears to be.

Best case scenario; itsa ‘sittn round the camp fire telling
scary stories’ thing.