If there is anyone out there who still does not believe that Putin is a murderous thug, contemptuous of democracy and human life, and a massive danger to world peace, they should
read this and be in no further doubt.
The best we can hope for is that Luguvoi will himself eventually die a slow and horrible death from his own crime, as he seems to have been a walking dose of Polonium 210.
At the same time I am in awe of Marina Litvinenko, a woman whose love for her husband even after his death compels her to fight for justice, taking on this entire murderous regime in the process. A woman to have by your side through the very worst of times. She, rather than Putin, is the very embodiment of the Russian soul.
Comments
The world is a slightly better place without him.
On the nail with the above.
I thought it was Roland or Thatcher.
Luke's death is obviously a tragedy. But there's a difference between his death and radioactive material being thrown about London hotel rooms and streets potentially putting millions in danger.
Problem is at the moment, 'the west' is loath to make more sanctions against Putin and his cadre. At present, Russia is the only power with the political will and strategic goals necessary to meddle wholeheartedly in the Middle East, especially Syria. We wait to see what the result of that will be, probably a split Syria with a Russian puppet in Assad controlling the arable coastal strip and ISIS still doing their thing in the desert
Met him, did you? Does it not cross your mind that he crossed over because he was disgusted at what Putin is doing to his country.? And what about the other 6-7 cases the inquiry mentions. They all shafts of vomit too? And you think its alright for Russian agents to go swanning around London ( including a football stadium) with Polonium 210?
I'm sure the inquiry has been some form of hatchet job. You've only got to look at the summation that it was 'probably' ordered by Putin to see just how much guesswork has been applied.
I assume, maybe incorrectly, that you're also against our special forces carrying out operations on foreign soil?
Agree that the use of radioactive material was way beyond acceptable but I doubt our own security agencies are squeaky clean and sure they get up to some seriously dodgy stuff when our own national security is being compromised.
The question must be, how this hideous crime was ever allowed to happen and how vulnerable our borders still are.
Don't forget Georgi Markov, either - the poisoned umbrella tip at the London bus stop.
Don't tar the Russian people in general with the same brush as they are mainly decent people getting on with their lives just as we are.
People falling over themselves in this thread to fit some kind of personal agenda against the british government.
As for having a personal agenda against the government.....well, sorry to disappoint but there are things more important to me in my life than worrying about what a bunch of toffs do to help themselves and their mates out. They rarely cross my mind for more than a split second
He was not an agent, he was a handler - i.e an Intelligence Officer. He had placed "agents" in Chechnya and conducted investigations in Moscow. Whether Russian conduct in Chechnya is correct is irrelevant, Russia has their view of Chechnya and naturally intelligence has a key role in defeating terrorism in Chechnya. His first mistake was seemingly taking on a private role for a businessman who was nearly assassinated; Litvinenko was investigating that attempt as part of his official role.
Talk and actions are cheap in the circles he moved in, a very interesting book is "Adventures in Modern Russia" - it's very readable and perfect for a commute. However it goes to demonstrate in various places that the police and intelligence agencies out there are liable to change internal allegiances on a whim, and are often fighting eachother like gangs. This type of attitude, in my opinion, was Litvinenko's true downfall. To claim he was a double agent who was selling his soul is simply untrue.
He essentially took asylum in the UK, and was well aware that there was a credible threat to his life. In his shoes, with his skills and knowledge, I too would side with MI6/MI5 and take their money - and the protection you would assume would come with it. His previous employment would provide valuable in fighting organised crime originating from Eastern Europe.
Not to mention, that even if killing him was defensible - the methods of carrying that killing out most certainly were not. If you're going to kill someone, then do it properly - do it cleanly and do it with some level of humanity. Their choice of poison was absolutely horrific, and was amateur at worst and a brutal warning to others at best. He could've been poisoned in much better ways or, just shot. Both could've been forensically more difficult to piece together too.
If the blackmail allegations are true, which they most likely are, he was playing a risky game - and he lost. In the course of losing, Russia made it a display of strength and ensured it would put anybody else off from following his footsteps. Let's not forget, he was blackmailing corrupt officials that were responsible for his exile from his own country. Understandable, if also naive and quite greedy too.
Ultimately, the real take away from this situation is - in case there was any doubt - the KGB has gone only by name.
I'm not a UKIP supporter, but to be a bit cheeky and turn your politics around for a second though, I think such a defence also requires a credible nuclear deterrent - in which case "Corbyn and his type jump up and down in false apoplexy".
As to your question about our special forces, I have rather more faith in them than in these Russian thugs. For a start, none of them choose the limelight. Have you seen what has happened to Lugovoi since? No, on reflection you probably have no idea what Im on about.
You dont cross Putin and we all know that, mental they were walking around in London glowing like the Simpsons,
The fella must've always known he would meet a nasty mucky end or atleast there was a very good chance of coming unstuck big time
There is nothing anyone can do and tbh I reckon this public announced condemnation has put numerous British spys in danger and should have been washed under the carpet
How can you have more faith in a like for like organisation? You know as little about our special forces as you do theirs, other than what is drip fed through various channels (and a lot of that is put out as smoke and mirrors to appease the masses that think they have a right to know sensitive information). I know we all like to think that our sh*t doesn't stink but the truth is more than likely that they're all as bad as each other.
Thanks for completely dismissing my, and assuming I don't have any, thoughts on Lugovoi before you'd heard them. That sort of dismissive attitude neither serves you well, shows you in a good light or wins a reasoned debate.
Good day to you, sir.