What is left of the government’s definitive identification of Russia as the culprit in the Salisbury attack? It is a simple truth that Russia is not the only state that could have made the nerve agent: dozens of them could. It could also have been made by many non-state actors.
Motorola sales agent Gary Aitkenhead – inexplicably since January, Chief Executive of Porton Down chemical weapons establishment – said in his Sky interview that “probably” only a state actor could create the nerve agent. That is to admit the possibility that a non state actor could. David Collum, Professor of Organo-Chemistry at Cornell University, infinitely more qualified than a Motorola salesman, has stated that his senior students could do it. Professor Collum tweeted me this morning.
The key point in his tweet is, of course “if asked”. The state and corporate media has not asked Prof. Collum nor any of the Professors of Organic Chemistry in the UK. There simply is no basic investigative journalism happening around this case.
So given that the weapon itself is not firm evidence it was Russia that did it, what is Boris Johnson’s evidence? It turns out that the British government’s evidence is no more than the technique of smearing nerve agent on the door handle. All of the UK media have been briefed by “security sources” that the UK has a copy of a secret Russian assassin training manual detailing how to put nerve agent on door handles, and that given the nerve agent was found on the Skripals door handle, this is the clinching evidence which convinced NATO allies of Russia’s guilt.
As the Daily Mirror reported in direct quotes of the “security source”
“It amounts to Russia’s tradecraft manual on applying poison to door handles. It’s the smoking gun. It is strong proof that in the last ten years Russia has researched methods to apply poisons, including by using door handles. The significant detail is that these were the facts that helped persuade allies it could only be Russia that did this.”
Precisely the same government briefing is published by the Daily Mail in a bigger splash here, and reflected in numerous other mainstream propaganda outlets.
Two questions arise. How credible is the British government’s possession of a Russian secret training manual for using novichok agents, and how credible is it that the Skripals were poisoned by their doorknob.
To take the second question first, I see major problems with the notion that the Skripals were poisoned by their doorknob.
The first is this. After what Dame Sally Davis, Chief Medical officer for England, called “rigorous scientific analysis” of the substance used on the Skripals, the government advised those who may have been in contact to wash their clothes and wipe surfaces with warm water and wet wipes. Suspect locations were hosed down by the fire brigade.
But if the substance was in a form that could be washed away, why was it placed on an external door knob? It was in point of fact raining heavily in Salisbury that day, and indeed had been for some time.
Can somebody explain to me the scenario in which two people both touch the exterior door handle in exiting and closing the door? And if it transferred from one to the other, why did it not also transfer to the doctor who gave extensive aid that brought her in close bodily contact, including with fluids?
The second problem is that the Novichok family of nerve agents are instant acting. There is no such thing as a delayed reaction nerve agent. Remember we have been specifically told by Theresa May that this nerve agent is up to ten times more powerful than VX, the Porton Down developed nerve agent that killed Kim’s brother in 15 minutes.
But if it was on the doorknob, the last contact they could possibly have had with the nerve agent was a full three hours before it took effect. Not only that, they were well enough to drive, to walk around a shopping centre, visit a pub, and then – and this is the truly unbelievable bit – their central nervous systems felt in such good fettle, and their digestive systems so in balance, they were able to sit down and eat a full restaurant meal. Only after all that were they – both at precisely the same time despite their substantially different weights – suddenly struck down by the nerve agent, which went from no effects at all, to deadly, on an alarm clock basis.
This narrative simply is not remotely credible. Nerve agents – above all “military grade nerve agents” – were designed as battlefield weapons. They do not leave opponents fighting fit for hours. There is no description in the scientific literature of a nerve agent having this extraordinary time bomb effect. Here another genuine Professor describes their fast action in Scientific American:
Unlike traditional poisons, nerve agents don’t need to be added to food and drink to be effective. They are quite volatile, colourless liquids (except VX, said to resemble engine oil). The concentration in the vapour at room temperature is lethal. The symptoms of poisoning come on quickly, and include chest tightening, difficulty in breathing, and very likely asphyxiation. Associated symptoms include vomiting and massive incontinence. Victims of the Tokyo subway attack were reported to be bringing up blood. Kim Jong-nam died in less than 20 minutes. Eventually, you die either through asphyxiation or cardiac arrest.
If the nerve agent was on the door handle and they touched it, the onset of these symptoms would have occurred before they reached the car. They would certainly have not felt like sitting down to a good lunch two hours later. And they would have been dead three weeks ago. We all pray that Sergei also recovers.
The second part of the extraordinarily happy coincidence of the nerve agent being on the door handle, and the British government having a Russian manual on applying nerve agent to door handles, is whether the manual is real. It strikes me this is improbable – it rings far too much of the kind of intel they had on Iraqi WMD. It also allegedly dates from the last ten years, so Putin’s Russia, not the period of chaos, and the FSB is a pretty tight organisation in this period. MI6 penetration is just not that good.
A key question is of course how long the UK has had this manual, and what was its provenance. Another key question is why Britain failed to produce it to the OPCW – and indeed why it does not publish it now, with any identifying marks of the particular copy excluded, given it has widely publicised its existence and possession of it. If Boris Johnson wants to be believed by us, publish the Russian manual.
We also have to consider whether the FSB really publishes its secret assassination techniques in a manual. I attended, as other senior FCO staff, a number of MI6 training courses. One on explosives handling was at Fort Monckton, not too far from Salisbury. One in a very nondescript London office block was on bugging techniques. I recall seeing rigs set up to drill minute holes in walls, turning very slowly indeed. Many hours to get through the wall but almost no noise or vibration. It was where I learnt the government can listen to you through activating the microphone in your mobile phone, even when your phone is switched off. I recall javelin like directional microphones suspended from ceilings to point at distant targets, and a listening device that worked through a beam of infra-red light, but the target could foil by closing the curtains.
The point is that there were of course no manuals for this stuff, no manuals for any other secret MI6 techniques, and these things are not lightly written down.
I would add to this explanation that I lost all faith in the police investigation when it was taken out of the hands of the local police force and given to the highly politicised Metropolitan Police anti-terror squad. I suspect the explanation of the remarkably convenient (but physically impossible) evidence of the door handle method that precisely fits the “Russian manual” may lie there.
These are some of the problems I have with the official account of events. Boris lied about the certainty of the provenance of the nerve agent, and his fall back evidence is at present highly unconvincing. None of which proves it was not the Russian state that was responsible. But there is no convincing proof that it was, and there are several other possibilities. Eventually the glaring problems with the official narrative might be resolved, but what is plain is that Johnson and May have been premature and grossly irresponsible.
I shall post this evening on Johnson’s final claim, that only the Russians had motive.
Update: I have just listened to the released alleged phone conversation between Yulia Skripal in Salisbury Hospital and her cousin Viktoria, which deepens the mystery further. I should say that in Russian the conversation sounds perfectly natural to me. My concern is after the 30 seconds mark where Viktoria tells Yulia she is applying for a British visa to come and see Yulia.
Yulia replies “nobody will give you a visa”. Viktoria then tells Yulia that if she is asked if she wants Viktoria to visit, she should say yes. Yulia’s reply to this is along the lines of “that will not happen in this situation”, meaning she would not be allowed by the British to see Viktoria. I apologise my Russian is very rusty for a Kremlinbot, and someone might give a better translation, but this key response from Yulia is missing from all the transcripts I have seen.
What is there about Yulia’s situation that makes her feel a meeting between her and her cousin will be prevented by the British government? And why would Yulia believe the British government will not give her cousin a visa in the circumstance of these extreme family illnesses?
Aaaah, Craig, but can you prove categorically, 100%, no shit Sherlock style that The Rooskies didn’t do it in the manner so described?
No?
Thought not!
So, that’s game , set, match and knock-out to Colonel Blimp in the drawing room with the smearie door handle.
Delayed action to boot. Amen.
.
You really do have to wonder what the House-Masters at Eton use on their pupils to get such a level of stupidity.
Vaseline?
“Vaseline?”
.
Of course, the BBC will report that ‘other brands of Vaseline, or similar, agent are not available outside Russia.
W e are really getting in to the LSD reality now. Yulia has been on the phone to her cousin and they are both on the mend and will fully recover.
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/nerve-agent-attack-relative-says-skripals-getting-better-114000334.html
Recover from feared military grade nerve-agent that can kill in minutes with only a microbead of exposure? Surely not?
Obviously they don’t make these feared military grade nerve-agents the way they used to.
Lada-chok! Bah!
Just on Global News via ClassicFM radio 1.00pm, Yulia Skripal’s cousin says she has spoken to her niece, she is now recovered, well enough to leave hospital and intends to discharge herself shortly while her father has also nearly recovered and is currently ‘just sleeping’.
It looks more and more, especially when considering the time line in this article and from http://www.theblogmire.com/the-three-most-important-aspects-of-the-skripal-case-so-far/ that there was never any nerve agent involved at all, at least until after the fact. Whether there was some other poison or simply food poisoning, who knows? Well the doctors do but they aren’t saying anything, other than the first Times letter from their A&E guy which also said, surprise, surprise, ‘no nerve agent’. Why the government went completely over the top immediately is the real question that needs to be answered, but of course never will be. Anyone want to bet against any relevant Cabinet or other Meeting minutes being sealed for 70 years?
The May Government is going down. Hard.
I hope you are right!!!
Discharge herself ??? Hmmmmmm, the Hotel California comes to mind 🙂
Lying is the new truth.
Even the smaller political lies , like the Alistair Carmichael
Lie, attack, on our Nicola, the greater relevance of this lie,
Coming out of the last English outpost in Scotland
More than Carmichael knew about this.
Yet, there he is, still in the cess pit after a crowdfunding court case, even the judge ruled he had lied.
It shows up the farce, that these cretins are easy to
Oust by a vote.
Even when sacked they are still on the back benches
These jackals do not represent anyone but the state and their party.
Hence their arrogance.
??
I came to the conclusion during Cameron’s coalition years that our politicians had become so enured to lying that they now lie by default, lying even when the truth would suit them better. Presumably from a need to control everything. Not surprisingly I suppose, the trend started with Blair and Co. after all.
My Missus just made me laugh when she said she thinks she remembers reading about similar Killer Manual Techniques in an old Beano Annual, possibly sometime around Xmas 1970.
Guardian headline:
“Russia seeks to discredit UK with special meeting of UN security council”
Russia does no seek to discredit the UK, but the UK government.. they even spin the headlines, and they don’t seek to discredit, simply gain access to the truth. The Guardian is as biased as the rest of the MSM.
the guardian dislike Corbyn more than they do the Tories
Fugu fish. Saw that, Agent Green.
By rights, this should bring down the Maybot government.
But medals at the Commonwealth games are far more important.
Thank you for your continued commenting on this story.
We are in a propaganda war to unclear ends with the FCO deleting inconvenient posts and attempting to re-write the history of Johnson’s comments.
We live in different times today so what would have been a resigning issue as a matter of honour in the past has now become a war of perception. With Rifkind out today also defending Johnson’s remarks I think we can see the deep state reach into our Govt. as a result so for that we should be grateful…
Where is the em policeman, the daughter and father.
I take it the world media will be camped out down in Salisbury
Ready for a glimpse of the daughter.
Any nurses doctors giving an update.
Thought not.
It leads me to assume this is a made up story.
The father and daughter are in a safe house somewhere.
Ready for the second act.
??
“It leads me to assume this is a made up story”
From beginning to end. No nerve agent, no poison, nothing. A pure psy-op in which we were the real targets.
Am coming to the same conclusion.
The media won’t be camped outside Salisbury hospital waiting for Yulia’s discharge, they’ll be too busy outside that private hospital in London waiting to get a glimpse of Phil the Greek after his hip operation.
‘It never happened. Nothing ever happened. Even while it was happening, it wasn’t happening. It didn’t matter. It was of no interest.” ‘
Harold Pinter where are you? We need you.
I vaguely remember reading somewhere that gloves were involved, but I don’t remember if this was part of the official story. In any case, this detail would seem to make the story more believable.
In any case, if it’s not a British-made crime (something that unfortunately wouldn’t surprise me), then it seems quite likely to me that it was committed by Russians. Just not necessarily for the Russian state. But of course the most likely people to want to kill a Russian traitor are Russians.
Even supposing it was Russians (i.e. mafia or some other criminal gang), the Russian Government would be keen to catch and prosecute them as well!
And this year’s annual George Orwell Prize goes to the UK Government for slyly rewording the transcript of Ambassador Dr Laurie Bristow’s address to diplomats in Moscow on March 22.
This is what he said:
…There is also no doubt that THE Novichok was produced in Russia by the Russian state.
This is how the UK Govt website now transcribes it:
…There is also no doubt that Novichok was produced in Russia by the Russian state.
Amazing how much difference the omission of ‘the’ makes. I’ve never seen anything quite like this before.
https://off-guardian.org/2018/04/05/uk-govt-rewords-ambassadors-speech-makes-it-appear-he-didnt-say-novichok-came-from-russia/
Amazing how much difference the omission of ‘the’ makes.
The The – Violence of Truth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-b89Kr-ov4
Since you raise the issue of Kim Jong Nam being killed with VX, I understand that the two attackers smeared it on his face. How did they survive? Even if they had worn gloves, you would have expected them to have breathed it in?
If memory serves me well, I think the North Koreans hired two women who each had a substance that would be harmless until mixed with the other.
They claimed they were told they were being hired as actors to take part in a televised practical joke and that they should both splat Kim Jong Nam in the face with a thing that looked like a custard pie.
so none of them had a deadly substance, as it would only become so when mixed together.
True? No Idea!
Sadly, I’m not sure true really matters anymore! ;0
I am inclined to think it actually was a practical joke and the fellow, who was in pretty poor health from the look of him, had a heart attack. Once “they” realized who he was they came up with the rant/rave that it was Murrrrderrrr. And here we are.
I think that correct, these “binary” chemical weapons were designed so that in it’s parts it was harmless and could be easily moved ( and would not be banned by OPCW rules) but became weaponised when mixed together..
David Collum, Professor of Organo-Chemistry at Cornell University, infinitely more qualified than a Motorola salesman, has stated that his senior students could do it.
The difficult bit wouldn’t be the synthesis it would be surviving working up the product. Chemists in university labs are forbidden from producing compounds – like benzo[a]pyrene – that are much less toxic than these ones. Ordinary organic chemists simply aren’t trained or equipped to handle things that are this poisonous. I would expect a half decent synthetic chemist in a standard lab to make this stuff but then die. Fume hoods and nitrile gloves just wouldn’t cut it.
He or she could buy a Hazmat suit. They are only £1,624 a pop
‘Drager CPS 5900, Chemical Protective Suit, size M
Drager offer the CPS 5900 chemical suit as a means of protecting yourself from a wide range of industrial chemicals. This fully-encapsulating suit comes in a size medium.
It’s also suitable for the transfer of hazardous substances or the measurement of these substances in non-explosive atmospheres. It’s easy to don and doff and is designed to be used with personal protection equipment. This may include breathing apparatus, helmets, closed circuit breathing apparatus and even the use of twin cylinders.
You can be assured that this Drager chemical suit is gas-tight. The 5900 features a double-flap zipper and hot-air taped seams (both internal and external). The suit includes fixed gloves, (with laminate inner lining), integrated gas-tight socks with boot flaps, integrated adjustable waist belt and Kevlar over-gloves for additional cut protection.
Key Features
•May fulfil the demanding international standards of fire fighters, industrial users with limited use and also risks of mechanical stress and flash fire
•Available in five sizes, ranging from a height of 1.5 to 2.1m
•May be used to protect yourself against some warfare agents
•Flexible and foldable two-layer visor offers a natural field of vision”
LOL
And where would they get changed out of this now-contaminated hazmat suit? And how would they manipulate chemical glassware wearing one?
It really would be difficult not to die making this stuff outside of a dedicated weapons laboratory.
I’d do the mixing with servos or stepper motors controlled by an Arduino, or the like, controlled by a simple phone app while watching the cctv feed. Wouldn’t need to be in the same county.
Or outsource it to disposable “others”, as “some” already have, The PTM signed and paid for the contracts, just to keep the books clean and tidy.
Brilliant as always. Good man. Keep on keeping on. Please.
Haha!! Frank Gardner said on the 10pm news he couldn’t find the VT of Boris’ claiming the Russians did it !
It’s all over Twitter, Frankie boy ! Does he have any idea how stupid that makes him look?
And they say RT is an arm of the state. Welcome to the club, Auntie.
You’re the state’s bitch now.
Frank Gardner was a BBC foreign correspondent/Ml6 spy when he got himself shot whilst fishing in the back streets of Saudi Arabia.
“Welcome to the club, Auntie.
“You’re the state’s bitch now”.
Ever since the Dodgy Dossier affair, when the Today Programme got it in the neck from 10 Downing Street and the DG was forced to resign.
The whole affair stinks:
Why are the two still alive? Nerve agent of the kind we’re told to have been used would have them dead within an hour.
Why hasn’t a single picture of either published?
Why haven’t medical staff said anything about where the two are, there has been a water tight embargo on them. Are they in a hospital? Reports circulated in Russia say Yulia logged in into her account with Vkontakte on March 7, three days after she was supposedly in coma.
If the MI6 had the Russian manual about putting nerve agent on door handles, would it not have used it in order to point the finger at the Russian? (if they wanted to frame Russia).
It does sound as though they are both recovering and that Yulia may check herself out tomorrow. So probably not poisoned by a nerve agent as Stephen Davies said originally.
This DSTL produced film about exercise toxic dagger is on the GOV.UK site.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=41&v=s4BY74rfObY
From this Guardian article just published: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/apr/05/yulia-skripal-says-everyone-is-getting-better-russian-tv-reports
“A high court judgement related to the case and published following a hearing across 20, 21 and 22 March revealed that both Skripals were heavily sedated.
“The precise effect of their exposure on their long-term health remains unclear, albeit medical tests indicate that their mental capacity might be compromised to an unknown and so far unascertained degree,” the judgment said.”
Just what I have been thinking these past few days. The Skripals will likely have ‘memory loss’ when it comes to being questioned over this — a (convenient) side-effect of the poisoning.
Very good point. I guess we better keep an eye out for a mass disinformation campaign from the likes of GCHQ. Considering this site has been near it not the center of the resistance it is likely to be attacked with a lot false stories to discredit Craig and his excellent work. The moderators job is only just beginning.
Yulia Skripal says ‘everyone is getting better’ Russian TV reports
This has just appeared in the Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/apr/05/yulia-skripal-says-everyone-is-getting-better-russian-tv-reports
Statement issued on behalf of Yulia Skripal, aged 33 years:
“I woke up over a week ago now and am glad to say my strength is growing daily. I am grateful for the interest in me and for the many messages of goodwill that I have received.
“I have many people to thank for my recovery and would especially like to mention the people of Salisbury that came to my aid when my father and I were incapacitated. Further than that, I would like to thank the staff at Salisbury District Hospital for their care and professionalism.
“I am sure you appreciate that the entire episode is somewhat disorientating, and I hope that you’ll respect my privacy and that of my family during the period of my convalescence.”
http://news.met.police.uk/news/statement-issued-on-behalf-of-yulia-skripal-301372
They don’t allow any access, do they? Not even to the plod, who is now said to be recovered. Only statements filtered through and approved by, Downing St.
“They don’t allow any access, do they? Not even to the plod, who is now said to be recovered”.
When you think about it, even that is an open confession of guilt. Why on earth would he be kept off-limits from the media? Normally they just lap up stories like his. And what’s so secret about it?
Huh?
I wish the Skripals the best of recoveries. This story reminds me of Grigori Rasputin, who was allegedly fed enough cyanide to kill three horses and consumed it with gusto and no ill effects. Any relation? J
The film The Jackel from 1997 starring Bruce Willis there is a scene where he sprays a nerve agent on the door handle of his car. A bad guy touches the door handle and dies within 30 seconds. The question is, “is this Russian or Hollywood trade craft?” The official line seems to be the latter!
Julia phoned home. She says dad’s fine. Fort-russ have the story.
I guess now the shit has hit the fan, the easiest thing to do was to bring them out of sedation. My Dad was sedated (comatose) for several weeks following a severe Sepsis infection. Memory & mental faculties took perhaps a year to return to normal.
There was a report somewhere stating that Sergei had an advanced case of Diabetes. Perhaps this charade is the way to provide a nest egg for his daughter along with asylum form the big bad bear.
TRANSCRIPT OF THE PHONE CONVERSATION BETWEEN YULIA AND VIKTORI ASKRIPAL
“The hosts of the 60 Minute show on state-owned Rossiya 1 – Yevgeny Popov and Olga Skabeyeva – said they were unable to confirm the authenticity of the phone call.
Viktoria: Hello?
Alleged Yulia: Hello. Do you hear me?
Viktoria: Yes, I hear you.
Alleged Yulia: It is Yulia Skripal.
Viktoria: Oh, Yulka [diminutive of Yulia] it is you! I recognise from your voice that it is you but cannot understand. So, they gave you a telephone, didn’t they?
Alleged Yulia: Yes, yes.
Viktoria: Thanks God! Yulyash [diminutive of Yulia], is everything okay with you?
Alleged Yulia: Everything is ok, everything is fine.
Viktoria: Look, if tomorrow I get a (British) visa, I will come to you on Monday.
Alleged Yulia: Vika, no-one will give you the visa.
Viktoria: Well I thought so too. Oh well.
Alleged Yulia: Most likely.
Viktoria: If they give it, I need you to tell me whether I can visit you or not, tell me that I can.
Alleged Yulia: I think no, there is such a situation now, we’ll sort it out later.
Viktoria: I know it, I know it all.
Alleged Yulia: Later, we will get it sorted later, everything’s fine, we’ll see later.
Viktoria: Is it your phone?
Alleged Yulia: It is a temporary phone. Everything is fine, but we’ll see how it goes, we’ll decide later. You know what the situation is here. Everything is fine, everything is solvable, everyone (he and her father) is recovering and is alive.
Viktoria: Clear! Is everything ok with your father?
Alleged Yulia: Everything is ok. He is resting now, having a sleep. Everyone’s health is fine, there are no irreparable things. I will be discharged soon. Everything is ok.
Viktoria: Kisses, my bunny.
Alleged Yulia: Bye.
The recording was reportedly made on the morning of 5 April”
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43652574
Notable things:
1. Yulia has recovered and is in full mental capacity
2. Sergei Skripal is also recovering
3. There is no irreparable damage to their health
4. Yulia is certain that UK will not give Viktoria a visa
5. Yulia is certain that even if Victoria comes to UK, they would not meet. It is unclear, but seems not because of Yulia’s wishes
Conclusions:
1,2,3 represent strong evidence against use of Novichok, or any “military-grade nerve agent”, with intent to kill. Otherwise the Skripal’s quick recovery – without any antidote, as confirmed by Porton Down – is inexplicable.
4,5 represent strong evidence that the Skripals are being held in isolation by British authorities not due to any health considerations, at least not in Yulia’s part.
It is also highly notable that Yulia didn’t make any statements regarding culpability. This might be simply because she is still being prepared by British handlers for a big briefing; or it might indicate that the UK is indeed backtracking and aims to slowly bury the story.
Don’t take anything from that phonecall. It was monitored at both ends.
So what if it was monitored? All of my points stand regardless.
The repeated “everything is fine” statements reads like this is what she was told to say.
“What is there about Yulia’s situation that makes her feel a meeting between her and her cousin will be prevented by the British government?”
They’d claim it’s because they fear Viktoria would bring more novichok in her suitcase to finish Yulia off, novichok prepared by Putin himself..
The release of the public statement from Yulia would appear to add credibility to the alleged phone call she made earlier today to her cousin in Moscow. The transcript of this conversation, as reported by the BBC, is quite interesting with what appear to be unspoken meanings:
Viktoria: Hello?
Alleged Yulia: Hello. Do you hear me?
Viktoria: Yes, I hear you.
Alleged Yulia: It is Yulia Skripal.
Viktoria: Oh, Yulka [diminutive of Yulia] it is you! I recognise from your voice that it is you but cannot understand. So, they gave you a telephone, didn’t they?
Alleged Yulia: Yes, yes.
Viktoria: Thanks God! Yulyash [diminutive of Yulia], is everything okay with you?
Alleged Yulia: Everything is ok, everything is fine.
Viktoria: Look, if tomorrow I get a (British) visa, I will come to you on Monday.
Alleged Yulia: Vika, no-one will give you the visa.
Viktoria: Well I thought so too. Oh well.
Alleged Yulia: Most likely.
Viktoria: If they give it, I need you to tell me whether I can visit you or not, tell me that I can.
Alleged Yulia: I think no, there is such a situation now, we’ll sort it out later.
Viktoria: I know it, I know it all.
Alleged Yulia: Later, we will get it sorted later, everything’s fine, we’ll see later.
Viktoria: Is it your phone?
Alleged Yulia: It is a temporary phone. Everything is fine, but we’ll see how it goes, we’ll decide later. You know what the situation is here. Everything is fine, everything is solvable, everyone (he and her father) is recovering and is alive.
Viktoria: Clear! Is everything ok with your father?
Alleged Yulia: Everything is ok. He is resting now, having a sleep. Everyone’s health is fine, there are no irreparable things. I will be discharged soon. Everything is ok.
Viktoria: Kisses, my bunny.
Alleged Yulia: Bye.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43652574
Yulia replies “nobody will give you a visa”
Heavy handed damage limitation from HMG.
I doubt this story won’t get any coverage now. Syria finds huge stash of NATO/Israeli weapons in an ISIS stronghold.
https://sputniknews.com/military/201804051063241037-syrian-army-finds-weapons-stockpile-in-deir-ez-zor/
The Russian Ambassador has been answering questions consistently and clearly for 90 minutes.
By contrast the journalists present are struggling to phrase their own questions accurately and don’t seem to be comprehending his statements.
It’s possible a lot of Fake News may just be down to poor comprehension skills by members of the press.
I’ve listened to some of that broadcast live. The Ambassador certainly carried himself well, and on more than one occasion deftly thwarted the press’ blatantly biased onslaught. I especially appreciated his humorous mood, which seems quite appropriate when dealing with MSM disintegrity.
However, I also couldn’t help noting the instances when the Ambassador missed the chance to cut down journos with the evidence of UK Gov’t falsehoods that was so extensively discussed in this blog and elsewhere. In my opinion the Russians would benefit from a more argumentative stance, and try to address issues at their core as often as possible, considering there is such a plethora of evidence against UK’s claims. It’s a bit frustrating when they miss such opportunities, as it emboldens MSM and allows more leeway to the spin doctors.
The falsehoods haven’t actually been officially stated by the UK Government though and the Ambassador pointed this out and stated he would only talk about what has been put out on the record by the Government.
The UK press routinely colludes with the Government, security services and police by promoting anonymous off the record statements which are released solely for propaganda purposes. The most egregious example is the claim that Jean Charles De Menzes jumped the barrier and ran onto the train which was completely false widely reported after an off the record briefing.
The Russian Ambassador was correct not to debase himself by addressing this nonsense which will later be dismissed by the UK.
“It’s possible a lot of Fake News may just be down to poor comprehension skills by members of the press.”
.
I should coco.
(Always wanted to write that somewhere. Thanx, Boris, for the opportunity.).
the poison on the door handle technique is in the Bruce Willis 1997 film The Jackal (sort of remake of the Day of the Jackal) but he was playing a Russian Assassin?…… oooh, maybe there is something in it?
So how does this playout ?
Without meaning to sound crass. Anyone for a Sweepstake on the day they blame the Putin.
Haven’t they already done that?