Re: The Strange Case of the Russian Spy.
Hi
An alternative view.
If you wanted to send a very clear message, Nerve Agent is a very good way of doing it.
The man was working for us, human intelligence is vital.
He was captured and imprisoned by the Russians.
He was released as part of a spy swap, 10 Russian Spies for 4 Western Spies.
He was obviously important to us.
It also sends a clear message to any potential spy that we will look after them, a very good recruitment tool.
It also reassures those working for us.
Yes, he could have been bumped off much more easily, but it would not have had the same effect, which is terror.
The Russians could have quitely bumped off the last one they killed, they didn't.
Instead the chose another scary method , Polonium 210,a very rare radioactive isotope.
Only around 100 grams a year is produced,most of it in Russia.
In other words, the Russians wanted it to be known that it was them, a scare tactic.
Novichok was developed and produced in the former USSR.
It is not a common or garden nerve agent like Sarin, which can be produced relatively easily, as seen in the Japanese attack which used it.
In both instances, Polonium 210 and Novichok it is a State Player who has produced it.
Do we have some here in the UK?
I have no idea.
I would find it strange if we didn't,we have samples of most of these things, we need to study them to develop effective counter measures.
As for smuggling it into the UK, well that is easy.
Novichok was designed to be undetectable by standard NATO methods.
It only needs a tiny amount to be lethal.
Smuggled in a biro or a tube of tooth paste for example.
Your Enforcement Agencies have played thts with a straight bat.
The head of the Military side of Porton Down has stated that although it is Novichok, he cannot say for certain that it was produced in Russia.
He has said that it would need a State to produce it.
Russians are very nationalistic, they do not like Traitors and Putin is ruthless, the action has been well received by the Russian Public.
The science is exactly that, the science.
The decision to apportion blame is taken by the CPS in normal cases, in cases such as this, by the Government.
As regards the questions some have asked about whoever did it putting themselves at risk of poisoning themselves.
Novichok, this particular type at least, is a very fine powder.
Easily and safely applied in a gel,which then evaporates, leaving the powder.
The only protective clothing you need is surgical gloves.
Think of it as asbestos.
We all know asbestos is dangerous.
It is only dangerous when the asbestos fibres are very small and dry and get inhaled deep into the lungs.
You can cover asbestos with milk and eat it like a bowl of cornflakes for breakfast and it will do you no harm at all.