[lbo-talk] Now, this is getting absurd

[Sean Andrews]

> Why does it make a lot of sense for somebody (who?) in
> Russia to kill Litvinenko? What would they get out of it?

I don't know that much about the situation, but this seems like the
same question I've asked myself over and over about what the US gets
out of having secret prisons and using torture to get information that
is likely faulty and outdated at best--and making it public.  On this,
I think this assessment by Naomi Klien assessment is pretty close:

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20050530/klein

In this case, it would seem that it is a draw whether it matters more
for Putin/Russia to have a pristine image abroad or a reputation for
being a hardass at home.  The latter seems to be a more regular
concern but that is not close to being enough evidence: it just casts
some doubt on the cost/benefit argument offered here.