Spy death linked to nuclear thefts

The Guardian ^ | Nov. 26, 2006 | Mark Townsend, Antony Barnett and Tom Parfitt

[Schnucki]

An investigation was under way last night into Russia's black market trade in radioactive materials amid concern that significant quantities of polonium 210, the substance that killed former spy Alexander Litvinenko, are being stolen from poorly protected Russian nuclear sites.

As British police drew up a list of witnesses for questioning over the death, experts warned that thefts from nuclear facilities in the former Soviet Union were a major problem.

A senior source at the United Nations nuclear inspectorate, the International Atomic Energy Agency, told The Observer he had no doubt that the killing of Litvinenko was an 'organised operation' which bore all the hallmarks of a foreign intelligence agency. The expert in radioactive materials said the ability to obtain polonium 210 and the knowledge needed to use it to kill Litvinenko meant that the attack could not have been carried out by a 'lone assassin'.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Shades of Karen Silkwood.

[cripplecreek]

I'm kinda wishing they had kept this one quiet. I suspect that a lot of islamderthal mouths are watering over the possibilities.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

"A senior British security source said they were providing the police with material in 'hostile intelligence agencies' operating in the UK, including those from Russia. He said: 'Russia has never really decreased its activity in the UK from the end of the Cold War.'"

When I talk to Liberals about the totalitarian goals of Marxists and Communists, they laugh ironically, as though I'd mentioned the archaic notion of spirits that leave or enter the body when we sneeze.

Silly Liberals. Silly, silly liberals. They are the first to be enslaved under totalitarian regimes, being good little useful idiots. The rest of us continue to fight for freedom.

[cripplecreek]

Gotta figure, liberals who promote communism often do so in the name of human rights and environment. (the first victims of communism each and every time)

[GodGunsGuts]

As far as I'm concerned, this article lends credibility to the idea that Litvinenko may have been involved in a nuclear smuggling operation. Of course, he could have been murdered by Putin et al. But I still hold out the possibility that he was involved in a smuggling operation gone bad. And no matter which way you slice it, it is very likely that (phony defector) Gordievsky is involved. If I were involved, he would definately find himself on the hot seat sooner or later.

[GSlob]

Well, the defec/a/tors , especially the more important ones, normally have handlers. That pertains to Litvinenko, Gordievsky and the rest of that bunch. Want to bet a can of diet Coke that right now a few sphincters are being cleaned with a wire brush?

[GodGunsGuts]

Ouch! Sometimes you crack me up so much, I have to wait a minute of two before I can even respond! Thanks, I needed that. (The laugh, not the wire brush treatment!!!)

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

From the Rawstory website:

Mystery over Livinenko death deepens with new allegations

***********************************************************

dpa German Press Agency
Published: Wednesday November 29, 2006

London/Rome- The mystery of the death from radioactive poisoning of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko deepened further amid reports Wednesday that the ex-agent had himself been involved in smuggling nuclear material prior to his defection to Britain in 2000. The Independent newspaper reported Wednesday that Mario Scaramella, an Italian contact who met Litivineko in London on the day he fell ill, told them of the alleged smuggling operations.

According to the report, Scaramella said that Litvinenko himself informed him at the meeting on November 1 that he masterminded the smuggling of nuclear material to Zurich in 2000.

It was believed to have been "one of the last" missions carried out by Litvinenko in his role as a former agent of Russia's FSB security service, the successor of the Soviet KGB, the paper added.

Scaramealla, who is in London to be interviewed by police in connection with the case, said Wednesday that precautionary tests carried out by the British health authorities had cleared him of exposure to radiation.

"I am fine. I am not contaminated and have not contaminated anybody else," he said.

Meanwhile, reports in Italy said Wednesday that Scaramella was himself being investigated in Rome on charges of illegal arms trafficking.

The newspaper La Repubblica said Scaramella had been under investigation by magistrates in Italy since the beginning of the year.

The probe relates to claims made by Scaramella that Ukrainian mobsters, acting with the complicity of al-Qaeda terrorists, had made an attempt on his life and that of a high-profile Italian politician by using Russian-made rocket-propelled grenade launchers.

The police, acting on information provided by Scaramella, eventually found two such grenades in a Ukrainian van in central Italy. But magistrates now suspect he may have planted the weapons himself.

La Repubblica describes Scaramella as a braggart who took part in a number of shady deals involving, among others, the former head of Italy's military intelligence agency, Niccolo Pollari.

Pollari was recently sacked by the Romano Prodi government over his alleged involvement in the illegal abduction by CIA agents of a suspect Islamic terrorist in Milan three years ago.

The Italian government Wednesday officially denied that Scaramealla worked for Italy's secret services.

Litvinenko died in a London hospital last Thursday after being poisoned with a large quantity of radioactive polonium-210, the British authorities have said.

British Foreign Office Minister Kim Howells, stressing that he could not speculate on the death of the former agent, sounded a warning Wednesday that Britain would not tolerate "murder on its streets."

Speaking in parliament, he said: "I would reiterate that this government takes a very dim view of anyone murdering citizens on the streets of Britain, regardless of where they come from or indeed where their murderers might come from."

© 2006 dpa German Press Agency

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Just posted this:

Lawmaker claims as many as 60 Russian agents spying inside Britain

[GodGunsGuts]

Great find Ernest! I have maintained that this was a distinct possibility, and while it is not yet proven, I am glad that the authorities are investigating this angle as well!

Things that need to be investigated:

1) If Litvinenko was involved with a smuggling ring, was he doing so on behalf of Moscow, or some other state/organization.
2) Was the Litvinenko poisoning an accident or an assassination (in other words, was he simply involved in a smuggling accident).
2) Gordievsky's role in all of this (whether he was working with Litvinenko re: smuggling, etc., or whether he had a hand in his assassination on behalf of Moscow or other interests).

3) In the larger context, both Gordievsky and Litvinenko need to be investigated in terms of whether or not they are genuine or phony defectors.

4) Litvinenko's Italian connection needs to be closely examined (namely, Mario Scaramella). Scaramella is at the heart of the KGB mole hunt in the Italian government. It could be that he himself is a phony, or it could be that it was he who was set up by those who (potentially) committed the Litninenko assassination in order to stop the exposure of Italian KGB agents by the Mitrokhin commission (which, as I have been reading, leads to the very highest levels of the Italian government).

[GSlob]

Just ask yourself, qui bono? Who is interested in, and needs to muddle the water and discredit litvinenko, berezovsky, gordievsky and everyone else around this sordid story? Who would need to bring the chechens into it, like they tried to do another day?

[GodGunsGuts]

Either way, I think this thing will ultimately trace back to Putin's Russia. The question revolves around the larger implications of the case. If it was a political murder, then it would suggest that Litvinenko was a genuine defector and was eliminated by Putin and co (or, as some have suggested, his enemies...such as people who want to make sure he steps down when his term ends). If he died by accident in a smuggling operation, then it will most likely still trace back to Putin (and implicate a whole lot of other people, such as Gordievsky). But he also could have been murdered to set up Scaramella and thus discredit the investigation into KGB penetration of the Italian government...which would also trace back to Putin. In other words, I think this will trace back to Putin no matter which way you slice it. But it is very important to flesh out the details because this could be a lot bigger than just silencing a Putin critic. In short, I don't trust anybody involved in this case. And it will be a while before we can seriously start putting the puzzle together. My only purpose here is to hopefully convince my fellow anti-Communists to reserve judgment until more facts come out. Declaring Litvinenko a martyr at this point would be a big mistake IMO.

PS As I do not believe Gordievsky is a genuine defector, I doubt this whole affair was designed in any way to discredit him. I am fairly convinced that he is still working on behalf of the KGB/FSB....which, again, would trace back to Putin et al. If Gordievsky is ever implicated in this whole affair, I would not be surprised if he re-defects to Russia and gets a hero's welcome (it's happened before).

[GSlob]

Defectors who are deemed to be worth it, are given pretty good screening, handlers etc. It is on the same philosophical underpinnings as the protected witness program, but could be more sophisticated in proportion to the defector's worth. If the guy was very valuable [as litvinenko is claimed to be] - would he be allowed to run loose, to get involved in smuggling etc [unless as an undercover agent of his handlers - but then there would have been their back-up team]? Does not stand to reason.

[spanalot]

No doubt now as to the Kremlin connection.
....................
British Airways said they had been advised the risk to public health is low.

Passengers from the following flights are being asked to come forward:
• BA875 Moscow-Heathrow on October 25 - aircraft number GBNWX
• BA872 Heathrow-Moscow on October 28 - aircraft number GBNWX
• BA873 Moscow-Heathrow on October 31 - aircraft number GBNWB
• BA874 Heathrow-Moscow on November 3 - aircraft number GBZHA

[GodGunsGuts]

I never doubted the Russian/Putin connection. I just think this thing is bigger than the simple murder of a Putin critic.

[GodGunsGuts]

I never doubted the Russian/Putin connection. I just think this thing is bigger than the simple murder of a Putin critic.

[jgorris]

A senior source at the United Nations nuclear inspectorate, the International Atomic Energy Agency, told The Observer he had no doubt that the killing of Litvinenko was an 'organised operation' which bore all the hallmarks of a foreign intelligence agency.

Spilling radioactive material all over the the airways doesn't sound like an organized operation to me-- but then, I aint no UN expert. More likely, it was a disorganized operation designed to cover up the IAEA's disorganized and corrupt nuclear monitoring program which was apparently about to be exposed [again].

In any case, seems to rule out another Karl Rove operation. :-)