Alexander Litvinenko Part II anybody?

[Jimbuna]

The attempted murder of ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, using a nerve agent was a "brazen and reckless attack", Amber Rudd has said.

Both Col Skripal and his daughter are still critically ill after being found collapsed on a bench in Salisbury city centre on Sunday.

Counter-terrorism officers are working to find the origin of the nerve agent.

The fact the nerve agent is "very rare" will help the investigation narrow its focus.

Making nerve agents and delivering them requires considerable infrastructure and the more unusual the agent the easier it will be to locate which country, even which laboratory, might be involved.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43326734

Hopefully all of those affected will make a recovery and the guilty party brought to justice...only a matter of time.

[Commander Wallace]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43326734

Hopefully all of those affected will make a recovery and the guilty party brought to justice...only a matter of time.

^ Agreed

[Catfish]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43326734
[...] and the guilty party brought to justice...only a matter of time.

Cynical mode? We all know who did it.
Chances they are brought to justice? Non-existent.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Catfish

Cynical mode? We all know who did it.
Chances they are brought to justice? Non-existent.

I fear you are correct but....

But if suspicions about Russia are confirmed, then some kind of action seems inevitable.

The legacy of the 2006 Litvinenko case shows that expelling diplomats alone may not be regarded as much of a deterrent to future acts.

Economic sanctions on the Russian elite may have more bite, but would require greater political will.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

the guilty party brought to justice...only a matter of time.

The Russian secret service brought to a court? Don't bet money on that.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

I fear you are correct but....

Those sanctions do not work well. And bite Western companies with greater effect than the Russian power elites need to fear them.

They play their games tough, becasue it is games that are meant to be played tough. And thats why they get successfully away with it.

[Mr Quatro]

Like a BIC lighter this act started with hate in someones heart to revenge a wrong ... that hate must be addressed properly or it will strike again.

The fear this act generates is also a premeditated one

[Skybird]

Hate has most likely nothing to do with it, but cool calculation. Its a message to anybody considering to spy on Russia as a double agent: "You can run, but you will pay."

Its the attempt of spionage deterrance.

[August]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Hate has most likely nothing to do with it, but cool calculation. Its a message to anybody considering to spy on Russia as a double agent: "You can run, but you will pay."

Its the attempt of spionage deterrance.

Maybe the western intelligence agencies ought to respond in kind. A few Russian big shots end up dead it might give them a reason to reconsider that deterrent.

[mapuc]

If it is Russia who is behind this

The question is what the government in London will do.

The hardest response would be to kick out some Russians diplomats and/or recall the English Ambassador in Russia.

Or as some of you have mentioned.

I don't think the government will use the eye for an eye -thing.

Markus

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by August

Maybe the western intelligence agencies ought to respond in kind. A few Russian big shots end up dead it might give them a reason to reconsider that deterrent.

Maybe, it then comes down to who is the stronger bully - and what society finds it easier to adapt to the idea that there are own losses. There is a certain shyness spreading in the wEst that will put the West at a disadvantage here. Western outrage at the brutal fighting method in Syria or the "underhandedness" in the Eastern Ukraine operation, illustrate this, and imply that Wetsenr people would find it disgustign to act like that themselves. whicvh might be the reason why the West currently falls back at all burning fronts in the world: war, intel, cyberwar.

Tough games like these simply are not be meant to be played gently and concerned for the opponent's wellbeing.

[Catfish]

"Vladimir Putin as warned Russia's enemies they will 'be served with poison' as police revealed a Russian spy and his daughter were 'targeted specifically' with nerve agent."

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ow-poison.html

http://news.trust.org//item/20180309112040-yjhx8/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...nked-uk-deaths

[Jimbuna]

Should it be proven that Russia is behind this attack I should imagine the worst that can be expected would be travel bans and the freezing of assets of anyone suspected of being involved. Furthermore, trade sanctions could be imposed which if hard enough would or could reflect badly against Putin as they began to take an economic effect.

The above is purely speculation of course.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

Furthermore, trade sanctions could be imposed which if hard enough would or could reflect badly against Putin as they began to take an economic effect.

Isnt the same said about the sanctions already in place since years? It was predicted that Russia already should have financially collapsed, instead their state fiances have improved. It was said their food imports would make them vulnerable, now their food prpductions has grown and solidified. It was said their oil imports are nice prey for sanctions, they meanwhile have signed new deals.

Its Russia we talk of, not some small banana republic in Latin America. There's still some life in that old dog.

[Jimbuna]

So what would you suggest as an alternative?