[News] Russia at it again ? Litvenenko #2 ?

[Half Time Pies]

I'm no conspiracy theorist, but it isn't a massive leap that another agency could stage this so the blame lies solely with Russia.

Not really, you can't manufacture this stuff easily, its a advanced nerve agent developed by Russia as part of a secret programme.

This has all the marks of a Russian sponsored attack to be honest, they have previous with Litvanenko and they are following the same pre-prepared response of denial that they trot out after every thing they do. There is no concern or willingness to work with the UK to solve the issue just a 'prove it' type attitude that you get when someone is guilty as hell.

Its also difficult to see who would benefit from pinning this on them or in fact who would take the risk!

I believe its a test of the isolation of Britain and the willingness of western allies and NATO to come together to respond. Putin is effectively prodding at the cracks and seeing how much he can get away with.

 

[beorhthelm]

I believe its a test of the isolation of Britain and the willingness of western allies and NATO to come together to respond. Putin is effectively prodding at the cracks and seeing how much he can get away with.

yep, and the West will be found wanting because many in Europe have dependency on Russian gas and afraid to respond (cf Crimea, Ukraine), while USA have a President in in favour of Russia. we're going to look like mugs and people here will blame it on our government without seeing the context in longer term West/Russian relations. the funny thing is Russia isnt really all that powerful any more, with a military a shadow of its former self and an economy heavily dependent itself on oil/gas exports to the West (and China). for some reason we have allowed them to win the soft power league so they appear in a stronger position. i recall reading a semi-conspiracy/serious point article many years ago that Russia funds green lobbies against fracking, the rationale being that with Europe would be independent of them with exploitation of our own local resources.

 

[nicko31]

Apart from sanctions and diplomat expulsions what else can England realistically do, Russia doesn't gave a damn what England thinks and never has done.
In fact, they don't care what anyone thinks about them.

Yes agree, we are still Britain though. Not just England, at least not yet!!!

 

[LamieRobertson]

Slightly off topic but this evenings Panorama looks interesting

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-43389032/how-russia-uses-propaganda-to-discredit-opponents

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Slightly off topic but this evenings Panorama looks interesting

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-43389032/how-russia-uses-propaganda-to-discredit-opponents

Yes, I watched John Sweeney being interviewed this morning. Lies, propaganda, scare tactics, and more.

 

[ManOfSussex]

If you haven't already seen it, this is well worth watching too - https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b09vb7m3/putin-the-new-tsar

 

[Triggaaar]

Just been watching RT (Russia Today) news. They talk a really good game, as might be expected. They just stonewall everything. Deny any wrongdoing in Syria, deny any wrongdoing in Salisbury, deny any collusion in Trump election. Call in 'expert witnesses' who you might expect to not back up Russia's case but in fact do

Why wouldn't you expect the experts to back up their case? Or was that a joke?

 

[nicko31]

Just been watching RT (Russia Today) news. They talk a really good game, as might be expected. They just stonewall everything. Deny any wrongdoing in Syria, deny any wrongdoing in Salisbury, deny any collusion in Trump election. Call in 'expert witnesses' who you might expect to not back up Russia's case but in fact do (their Salisbury segment had a former CIA guy talking to camera casting doubt on Russian involvement, their collusion piece had a report from the Republican Party clearing Russia of any involvement). It's all smoke and mirrors and pretty fascinating. Equally fascinating is the list of RT advertisers in the commercial break: Now TV, Toolstation, Snickers...

Russia have been walking a fine line with Ofcom for a while. Think they could go the same way as Iran's Press TV soon

 

[Ernest]

Bet Putin is quaking with fear at the prospect of May's speech later

 

[Napper]

fly a few jets over there , wind them up a bit like they've done in our air space.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Bet Putin is quaking with fear at the prospect of May's speech later

Seeing as how Harry Kane seems to be looking a wee bit doubtful for the World Cup, it would be a bit of a propaganda COUP for England to withdraw from the competition as part of a package of Russian reprisals, rather than suffer an ignominious first round exit

 

[OzMike]

Seeing as how Harry Kane seems to be looking a wee bit doubtful for the World Cup, it would be a bit of a propaganda COUP for England to withdraw from the competition as part of a package of Russian reprisals, rather than suffer an ignominious first round exit

They couldn't care less.

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

He's testing the waters, seeing how isolated the UK is internationally.

Much worse than that. I have long held the opinion that his tanks will roll into somewhere after the World Cup ( see invasion of Crimea 2 weeks after his winter Olympics ).

He's coming for the rest of Ukraine ( and don't rule out the Baltics as well and even as far as Poland ).

He is testing his apprentice in the white house.


Interesting thoughts :

https://twitter.com/Phillip_Blond/status/973892995752841216?s=19

https://twitter.com/simonpwillis/status/973900266054606848?s=19


https://twitter.com/Phillip_Blond/status/973893918541729793?s=19

 

[JC Footy Genius]

Bet Putin is quaking with fear at the prospect of May's speech later

Bet Putin was applauding Corbyn's response ..

#teamputin

 

[banjo]

Seeing as how Harry Kane seems to be looking a wee bit doubtful for the World Cup, it would be a bit of a propaganda COUP for England to withdraw from the competition as part of a package of Russian reprisals, rather than suffer an ignominious first round exit

They wouldn’t even notice we weren’t there, we haven’t turned up for a World Cup since 1966.

 

[RexCathedra]

while USA have a President in in favour of Russia...

And a party -- the GOP -- who supports that president. They see Putin's kleptocracy -- Putin is by some accounts the world's wealthiest man -- and say 'we'd like some of that action, please. Oh, and a side order of joke elections with that.'

 

[nicko31]

Its happy days for Putin successfully sowing dissent and division in the West. His first victory was Brexit and then he got Trump as a bonus

He must be smiling because there is a band of people that have had all the benefits of a liberal democracy and have been happily doing his bidding for them

 

[RexCathedra]

He must be smiling because there is a band of people that have had all the benefits of a liberal democracy and have been happily doing his bidding for them

Putin's appeal in the West is anchored in the same impulse that gave the US Trump, to wit "He hates the same people I hate -- hand me the ballot".

Putin hates: foreigners generally and the EU above all, non-orthodox Christians, and non-Christians, , liberals, democrats, bitches, gays...

That, plus a few deluded tankies who still don't know the Soviet Union is gone, and some fellow travelers who don't care who their allies are so long as they're all jolly fellows together in smashing the Western capitalist hegemony

The GOP would probably nominate Putin in 2020 if they could.
The Green Party here would probably cross-endorse.

 

[larus]

Man and woman with Russian " connections " hospitalised ...... have they not learned that we take a dim view of this sort of thing ?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43295134

Yes, lots of strange, " tragic ", deaths involving Russian emigrees.

I think this is the Russian security services saying " we don't forgive or forget and, if we decide to come for you we will come and get you and we really don't care if there is a bloody great arrow pointing at Moscow. "

The VIPS and hangers on won't go to the World Cup , that will teach the Russians

[tweet]970975403694272512[/tweet]

After your outrage at this attack, please can you explain your thoughts now that Red Corbyn has decided to say that he isn’t convinced by the intelligence. Oh, I guess it’s suddenly all BS and Commie Corbyn is right!.

He’s a complete cvnt and should be nowhere near office. He’s clearly proved he is not to be trusted with the security of this country.

 

[larus]

Its happy days for Putin successfully sowing dissent and division in the West. His first victory was Brexit and then he got Trump as a bonus

He must be smiling because there is a band of people that have had all the benefits of a liberal democracy and have been happily doing his bidding for them

At least Comrade Corbyn will stand up for the UK and express his outrage.

Oh, he’s too busy sucking Putin off is he. Maybe next time when he kills some more people then.