From Russia, minus love

The Age ^ | November 25, 2006 | Vanora Bennett

[GSlob]

Polonium-210 [the most recent diagnosis as per poison used] is available in the corner mom and pop stores, one presumes. Barbari sunt, barbarice egit. Not paricularly smart barbari, either.

[kinoxi]

Nukes or not. Russia should start being viewed as a 'rogue state'. The Euros wont go along with it as long as Gazprom has them by the balls though.

[A. Pole]

It is quite obvious that smart assasins would not use such stupid method and would pick more valuable target.

For the conspiracy theorists: read the Possessed (or Devils) by Dostoevsky, you have such a clumsy murder (of Shatov) explained there.

[A. Pole]

Russia should start being viewed as a 'rogue state'.

This might be the real objective of this death. Do you think that Putin is really so stupid as to order something bizarre like that at the time of EU/Russia meeting?

[Billthedrill]

If you wanted to make the death look natural, or just to keep things simple, you would presumably avoid the restaurant scenario.

If you wanted the death to be obviously contrived and horrible so as to act as a warning to others, you'd opt for the restaurant scenario. Possibly the author does not remember the "Cold" War. It was always this nasty.

[RedStateRocker]

I would presume that one who signs on with the KGB/FSB in the first place knows the way they play. Only in America are 'leakers' feted on the media and given book deals; in the rest of the world, well, Polonium happens.

[claptrap]

Werent we led to believe Russia had gone through this amazing transformation to a gentler kinder totalitarinism?

[kinoxi]

Do you think Putin is innocent here?

[A. Pole]

Do you think Putin is innocent here?

I think that he is way too smart to do such thing.

[kinoxi]

That's interesting. I disagree, but find it interesting. The consolidation of power has been clear for years. These deaths (plural) are perfectly in line with the tyrannical actions displayed previously (and continuously) by this regime.

[Oberon]

I think that he is way too smart to do such thing.

Eh...a public assassination can be a tool of diplomacy if you're of a certain mindset. Per Machiavelli it's best to be loved, but if you can't be loved, then being feared also works.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Exactly. The author obviously doesn't understand the way Russian operatives operate. They'd slit your throat right in front of your Momma, and make polite conversation with her while doing it too.

[GarySpFc]

And yet, if many Russia-watchers are to be believed, the country's Federal Security Service (FSB) has carried out just such an assassination.

True Russia watchers would be well aware the FSB does not operate outside of Russia. That is the function of the SVR.

[A. Pole]

Per Machiavelli it's best to be loved, but if you can't be loved, then being feared also works.

Machiavelli would not recommend cowardly and idiotic methods. He warned that the worst for the ruler is to be despised.

Do you think that Kennedy gained much by trying to poison Castro?

[A. Pole]

True Russia watchers would be well aware the FSB does not operate outside of Russia. That is the function of the SVR.

You cannot argue with paranoiacs.

[GarySpFc]

How about this article?

US Department of State seriously interested in Russian oligarch in disgrace, Boris Berezovsky (Assassination of Paul Klebnikov, Forbes Russia Editor)

The former Russian oligarch, who currently resides in England, is suspected to be involved in the assassination of Forbes Russia editor

Russian oligarch in disgrace, Boris Berezovsky, may soon face severe problems. The US State Department is interested in Mr. Berezovsky's activities: the oligarch found himself involved in the case of Paul Klebnikov, a journalist of the US origin, editor of Forbes Russia. Mr. Berezovsky did not even expect that events would take such a turn for him.

Boris Berezovsky and Paul Klebnikov used to have something in common. Paul Klebnikov wrote an article about Berezovsky in the original English version of the magazine, in which he accused the erstwhile Kremlin favorite of many sins, including the implication in the murder of a well-known Russian journalist, Vlad Listyev. Boris Berezovsky sued Forbes in response – he decided to take a legal action against the world-known magazine in England. The magazine eventually had to publish apologies.

This is an excerpt. Please read the rest of the article.

[Billthedrill]

LOL - I can see that you remember. And after all, what's to stop them? Unless they're caught in the act it's a perfect crime. It is, of course, possible for a somebody to defect and confess publicly, but that's precisely what this sort of action deters. These guys have been playing this game for a very long time and they were always good at it.

[Oberon]

Machiavelli would not recommend cowardly and idiotic methods.

Well, no. But if it had looked like an accident, then...well...it would have looked like an accident, if you know what I mean.

You could be right. The Russians could always play chess.

[Oberon]

You cannot argue with paranoiacs.

Hey! Who are you calling a paranoiac? Who have you be talking to?

Did my wife talk to you?!?