Haven't read back through the thread, but definitely recommend the book Mafia State: How One Reporter Became an Enemy of the Brutal New Russia
It's about the experiences of a Guardian correspondent stationed in Russia, the information he uncovers and his brushes with the FSB - pretty frightening.
I'll have to give that one a go next, it's the same author who wrote A Very Expensive Poison. He seems to be a quality author, with quite a gift for conveying things.
I definitely must get The New Tsar, it has already been translated in to Czech and advertised on the metro. Mind you so is a book by Boris Johnson. I keep thinking about a bit of graffiti on it.
I think Luke Harding goes over the top sometimes, but then he might have good personal reasons to do so.
No denial of staying in the Presidential Suite though. Michael Cohen, Trump's lawyer, was also implicated via allegations of meetings with Kremlin officials in Prague. He's denied this and peculiarly posted a photo of his passport; presumably it doesn't contain valid exit/entry stamps and that's what he's actually trying to get across.
@LuckyReds , I just made a separate thread for this probably as you were posting things. Would you mind putting your post over there because you bring up some excellent points and insight. Also, if you haven't already I highly recommend reading the CNN article that started this all:
@LuckyReds , I just made a separate thread for this probably as you were posting things. Would you mind putting your post over there because you bring up some excellent points and insight. Also, if you haven't already I highly recommend reading the CNN article that started this all:
Great minds think alike though, I was pretty torn about if/where to post it myself - and happened to remember we had a Litvinenko thread which was vaguely related.
Buzzfeed News work, published last summer, on the 14 other suspicious cases. Heidi Blake was on the Today programme on R4 discussing this, together with a Russian apologist speaking from Moscow. He made the Freudian slip of referring to Skripal as having been "killed" which caused the R4 anchor to icily interject with the words "He's not dead".
I posted this on the Russians at it again thread but better off here.
Not thuggish football violence this time but a what would seem to be a clear assassination of a former spy and his daughter in that espionage hotbed of Salisbury of all places.
Are the Russian secret services so thick as to think that the Brits won’t know exactly its their handiwork or are they now so arrogant in their foreign policy as not to give a stuff.
How anyone doesn’t think that Putin is not a serious threat to European stability going forward is beyond me. He does of course have to win his election first of course (insert your own joke here)
I posted this on the Russians at it again thread but better off here.
Not thuggish football violence this time but a what would seem to be a clear assassination of a former spy and his daughter in that espionage hotbed of Salisbury of all places.
Are the Russian secret services so thick as to think that the Brits won’t know exactly its their handiwork or are they now so arrogant in their foreign policy as not to give a stuff.
How anyone doesn’t think that Putin is not a serious threat to European stability going forward is beyond me. He does of course have to win his election first of course (insert your own joke here)
I just think they don't give a shit as they know there's nothing anyone can do to them, much like the American election.
I posted this on the Russians at it again thread but better off here.
Not thuggish football violence this time but a what would seem to be a clear assassination of a former spy and his daughter in that espionage hotbed of Salisbury of all places.
Are the Russian secret services so thick as to think that the Brits won’t know exactly its their handiwork or are they now so arrogant in their foreign policy as not to give a stuff.
How anyone doesn’t think that Putin is not a serious threat to European stability going forward is beyond me. He does of course have to win his election first of course (insert your own joke here)
I just think they don't give a shit as they know there's nothing anyone can do to them, much like the American election.
They certainly like to give that impression. But people I know with long experience of Russia say that you have to stand up to them, and then they often back down, quickly. For Russians, respect is everything.
I posted this on the Russians at it again thread but better off here.
Not thuggish football violence this time but a what would seem to be a clear assassination of a former spy and his daughter in that espionage hotbed of Salisbury of all places.
Are the Russian secret services so thick as to think that the Brits won’t know exactly its their handiwork or are they now so arrogant in their foreign policy as not to give a stuff.
How anyone doesn’t think that Putin is not a serious threat to European stability going forward is beyond me. He does of course have to win his election first of course (insert your own joke here)
I just think they don't give a shit as they know there's nothing anyone can do to them, much like the American election.
They certainly like to give that impression. But people I know with long experience of Russia say that you have to stand up to them, and then they often back down, quickly. For Russians, respect is everything.
That might work with individuals, I imagine the state is quite different.
I posted this on the Russians at it again thread but better off here.
Not thuggish football violence this time but a what would seem to be a clear assassination of a former spy and his daughter in that espionage hotbed of Salisbury of all places.
Are the Russian secret services so thick as to think that the Brits won’t know exactly its their handiwork or are they now so arrogant in their foreign policy as not to give a stuff.
How anyone doesn’t think that Putin is not a serious threat to European stability going forward is beyond me. He does of course have to win his election first of course (insert your own joke here)
I just think they don't give a shit as they know there's nothing anyone can do to them, much like the American election.
They certainly like to give that impression. But people I know with long experience of Russia say that you have to stand up to them, and then they often back down, quickly. For Russians, respect is everything.
That might work with individuals, I imagine the state is quite different.
It might seem daunting, but I have heard many experienced international journalists say that respect for their Great Power status, but then a strong resolute response, is what works. Putin showing off new toys last week to accompanying willy-waving seemed like a typical cry for respect. Of course it's not easy to say exactly what policies might be indicated, but it seems generally to be about drawing lines in the sand and then making sure you hold those lines. In the other thread, I wrote this as an example:
There are thousands of very rich Russians either living in the UK or using London for "byznys" purposes. These are the people that can and should be targetted via HMRC, Customs and Border Police, as well as the UK finance houses and estate agents that may not be sufficiently complying with 'know your customer' regulations. That's what hurts them.
Of course they don’t give a shit. They marched into the Crimea and did what they liked in Syria while Europe and Obama sat back and watched, so I doubt they’re that bothered about Salisbury plod on their tails.
This is from the New Yorker profile on Christopher Steele of dossier fame, he was apparently in charge of the MI6 investigation into the Litvinenko murder.
Steele’s already dim view of the Kremlin darkened in November, 2006, when Alexander Litvinenko, a former Russian K.G.B. officer and a Putin critic who had been recruited by M.I.6, suffered an agonizing death in a London hospital, after drinking a cup of tea poisoned with radioactive polonium-210. Moscow had evidently sanctioned a brazen murder in his own country. Steele was put in charge of M.I.6’s investigation. Authorities initially planned to indict one suspect in the murder, but Steele’s investigative work persuaded them to indict a second suspect as well. Nine years later, the U.K.’s official inquiry report was finally released, and it confirmed Steele’s view: the murder was an operation by the F.S.B., and it was “probably approved” by Vladimir Putin
On the subject of what to do, the 2014 sanctions really hurt Russia and the oligarchs and really fucked them off. I think there are things that can be done, namely isolating their wealth to Russia. But for European countries it doesn't seem to be that high of a priority. And in the US, who very much have the strongest gripe (outside of the former Soviet Bloc), there is exactly zero appetite. Even the new round of sanctions passed by congresses after the elections have not been enacted by Trump and Tillerson.
Of course they don’t give a shit. They marched into the Crimea and did what they liked in Syria while Europe and Obama sat back and watched, so I doubt they’re that bothered about Salisbury plod on their tails.
I posted this on the Russians at it again thread but better off here.
Not thuggish football violence this time but a what would seem to be a clear assassination of a former spy and his daughter in that espionage hotbed of Salisbury of all places.
Are the Russian secret services so thick as to think that the Brits won’t know exactly its their handiwork or are they now so arrogant in their foreign policy as not to give a stuff.
How anyone doesn’t think that Putin is not a serious threat to European stability going forward is beyond me. He does of course have to win his election first of course (insert your own joke here)
Of course they don’t give a shit. They marched into the Crimea and did what they liked in Syria while Europe and Obama sat back and watched, so I doubt they’re that bothered about Salisbury plod on their tails.
This with bells on.
Yeah but I’m looking forward to Donald sorting it all out.......
Of course they don’t give a shit. They marched into the Crimea and did what they liked in Syria while Europe and Obama sat back and watched, so I doubt they’re that bothered about Salisbury plod on their tails.
This with bells on.
Yeah but I’m looking forward to Donald sorting it all out.......
If Donald had been the White House incumbent when the 2 examples I have had happened, this forum would have gone berserk. As it was Messiah Barack, nothing was mentioned.
I posted this on the Russians at it again thread but better off here.
Not thuggish football violence this time but a what would seem to be a clear assassination of a former spy and his daughter in that espionage hotbed of Salisbury of all places.
Are the Russian secret services so thick as to think that the Brits won’t know exactly its their handiwork or are they now so arrogant in their foreign policy as not to give a stuff.
How anyone doesn’t think that Putin is not a serious threat to European stability going forward is beyond me. He does of course have to win his election first of course (insert your own joke here)
I just think they don't give a shit as they know there's nothing anyone can do to them, much like the American election.
They certainly like to give that impression. But people I know with long experience of Russia say that you have to stand up to them, and then they often back down, quickly. For Russians, respect is everything.
That might work with individuals, I imagine the state is quite different.
It might seem daunting, but I have heard many experienced international journalists say that respect for their Great Power status, but then a strong resolute response, is what works. Putin showing off new toys last week to accompanying willy-waving seemed like a typical cry for respect. Of course it's not easy to say exactly what policies might be indicated, but it seems generally to be about drawing lines in the sand and then making sure you hold those lines. In the other thread, I wrote this as an example:
There are thousands of very rich Russians either living in the UK or using London for "byznys" purposes. These are the people that can and should be targetted via HMRC, Customs and Border Police, as well as the UK finance houses and estate agents that may not be sufficiently complying with 'know your customer' regulations. That's what hurts them.
Too many fingers in the pie. Think of the effect this would have on luxury property prices and erm the city. No interest in rocking the boat, I’m afraid.
I posted this on the Russians at it again thread but better off here.
Not thuggish football violence this time but a what would seem to be a clear assassination of a former spy and his daughter in that espionage hotbed of Salisbury of all places.
Are the Russian secret services so thick as to think that the Brits won’t know exactly its their handiwork or are they now so arrogant in their foreign policy as not to give a stuff.
How anyone doesn’t think that Putin is not a serious threat to European stability going forward is beyond me. He does of course have to win his election first of course (insert your own joke here)
I just think they don't give a shit as they know there's nothing anyone can do to them, much like the American election.
They certainly like to give that impression. But people I know with long experience of Russia say that you have to stand up to them, and then they often back down, quickly. For Russians, respect is everything.
That might work with individuals, I imagine the state is quite different.
It might seem daunting, but I have heard many experienced international journalists say that respect for their Great Power status, but then a strong resolute response, is what works. Putin showing off new toys last week to accompanying willy-waving seemed like a typical cry for respect. Of course it's not easy to say exactly what policies might be indicated, but it seems generally to be about drawing lines in the sand and then making sure you hold those lines. In the other thread, I wrote this as an example:
There are thousands of very rich Russians either living in the UK or using London for "byznys" purposes. These are the people that can and should be targetted via HMRC, Customs and Border Police, as well as the UK finance houses and estate agents that may not be sufficiently complying with 'know your customer' regulations. That's what hurts them.
Too many fingers in the pie. Think of the effect this would have on luxury property prices and erm the city. No interest in rocking the boat, I’m afraid.
Of course they don’t give a shit. They marched into the Crimea and did what they liked in Syria while Europe and Obama sat back and watched, so I doubt they’re that bothered about Salisbury plod on their tails.
This with bells on.
Yeah but I’m looking forward to Donald sorting it all out.......
If Donald had been the White House incumbent when the 2 examples I have had happened, this forum would have gone berserk. As it was Messiah Barack, nothing was mentioned.
What would you have proposed he do?
Keep in mind there is no appetite in this country for a proxy war with Russia over the sovereignty of a part of the Ukraine.
I posted this on the Russians at it again thread but better off here.
Not thuggish football violence this time but a what would seem to be a clear assassination of a former spy and his daughter in that espionage hotbed of Salisbury of all places.
Are the Russian secret services so thick as to think that the Brits won’t know exactly its their handiwork or are they now so arrogant in their foreign policy as not to give a stuff.
How anyone doesn’t think that Putin is not a serious threat to European stability going forward is beyond me. He does of course have to win his election first of course (insert your own joke here)
I just think they don't give a shit as they know there's nothing anyone can do to them, much like the American election.
They certainly like to give that impression. But people I know with long experience of Russia say that you have to stand up to them, and then they often back down, quickly. For Russians, respect is everything.
That might work with individuals, I imagine the state is quite different.
It might seem daunting, but I have heard many experienced international journalists say that respect for their Great Power status, but then a strong resolute response, is what works. Putin showing off new toys last week to accompanying willy-waving seemed like a typical cry for respect. Of course it's not easy to say exactly what policies might be indicated, but it seems generally to be about drawing lines in the sand and then making sure you hold those lines. In the other thread, I wrote this as an example:
There are thousands of very rich Russians either living in the UK or using London for "byznys" purposes. These are the people that can and should be targetted via HMRC, Customs and Border Police, as well as the UK finance houses and estate agents that may not be sufficiently complying with 'know your customer' regulations. That's what hurts them.
Too many fingers in the pie. Think of the effect this would have on luxury property prices and erm the city. No interest in rocking the boat, I’m afraid.
Yeah. This is the nicest way of saying "they're pumping too much money into our economy for us to do anything." But it's true.
Sorry and let me add it's the same with the US when it comes to China. It's not like we're saints. Economic punishments, and tariffs, are hard because of the interconnectivity globalization has brought.
Comments
I think Luke Harding goes over the top sometimes, but then he might have good personal reasons to do so.
No denial of staying in the Presidential Suite though. Michael Cohen, Trump's lawyer, was also implicated via allegations of meetings with Kremlin officials in Prague. He's denied this and peculiarly posted a photo of his passport; presumably it doesn't contain valid exit/entry stamps and that's what he's actually trying to get across.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/10/politics/donald-trump-intelligence-report-russia/index.html
Great minds think alike though, I was pretty torn about if/where to post it myself - and happened to remember we had a Litvinenko thread which was vaguely related.
I'll move my posts across.
Not thuggish football violence this time but a what would seem to be a clear assassination of a former spy and his daughter in that espionage hotbed of Salisbury of all places.
Are the Russian secret services so thick as to think that the Brits won’t know exactly its their handiwork or are they now so arrogant in their foreign policy as not to give a stuff.
How anyone doesn’t think that Putin is not a serious threat to European stability going forward is beyond me. He does of course have to win his election first of course (insert your own joke here)
There are thousands of very rich Russians either living in the UK or using London for "byznys" purposes. These are the people that can and should be targetted via HMRC, Customs and Border Police, as well as the UK finance houses and estate agents that may not be sufficiently complying with 'know your customer' regulations. That's what hurts them.
Steele’s already dim view of the Kremlin darkened in November, 2006, when Alexander Litvinenko, a former Russian K.G.B. officer and a Putin critic who had been recruited by M.I.6, suffered an agonizing death in a London hospital, after drinking a cup of tea poisoned with radioactive polonium-210. Moscow had evidently sanctioned a brazen murder in his own country. Steele was put in charge of M.I.6’s investigation. Authorities initially planned to indict one suspect in the murder, but Steele’s investigative work persuaded them to indict a second suspect as well. Nine years later, the U.K.’s official inquiry report was finally released, and it confirmed Steele’s view: the murder was an operation by the F.S.B., and it was “probably approved” by Vladimir Putin
On the subject of what to do, the 2014 sanctions really hurt Russia and the oligarchs and really fucked them off. I think there are things that can be done, namely isolating their wealth to Russia. But for European countries it doesn't seem to be that high of a priority. And in the US, who very much have the strongest gripe (outside of the former Soviet Bloc), there is exactly zero appetite. Even the new round of sanctions passed by congresses after the elections have not been enacted by Trump and Tillerson.
Keep in mind there is no appetite in this country for a proxy war with Russia over the sovereignty of a part of the Ukraine.
Sorry and let me add it's the same with the US when it comes to China. It's not like we're saints. Economic punishments, and tariffs, are hard because of the interconnectivity globalization has brought.