[lbo-talk] Now, this is getting absurd

[Chris Doss]

Sean Andrews:
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.

---

Practically no one in Russia had ever heard of
Litvinenko until this happened. My roommate had no
idea who he was.

If the FSB wanted to create a domestic reputation that
Putin is a hardass, they could have gone after
Berezovsky or Zakayev, who are people that (sort-of)
matter, and that people in Russia have heard of.

This whole thing gives the impression of being
stage-managed for maximum effect. Using a substance
that creates panic and takes a long time to kill, for
one.

The only real surface flaw I see in the BAB theory
(BAB had every motive and he had the means and
opportunity) is the likely possibility that L would
figure it out and go public, which would be bad for
BAB. But then L has a family...

This is speculation of course, but it has the
advantage of actually making some sense.

Practically everyone in Russia thinks it was either
BAB or some faction in the elite trying to use the
event somehow to manipulate the situation after Putin
leaves in 2008. That's interesting in itself: the
Westerners (at least the Americans and Brits)
automatically blamed Putin and the Russians
automatically blamed BAB.

Then it could have been somebody else. L was involved
in a very dirty business. But then why use such a
weird substance?

 
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