Yeah, VERY early. Where’s all the concern over sources and methods now? The guy was probably offed but why announce it unless you want to sow discord? Maybe the IC knows nothing right now and this is just propaganda.
“Maybe the IC knows nothing right now and this is just propaganda.”
Almost certainly true - my guess at the scenario:
1. Prigozhin plan goes down.
2. Top-level US meeting - objective: to come up with the scenario that most damages the Russian government (meaning blame it on Putin).
3. Send words to Washington Post and NY Times to publish that and claim it’s based on ‘intelligence’.
Much more likely:
1. Not Putin - too messy, too many innocents killed, would be a career-ender if traced to him (due to the innocents being killed). Much cleaner to ‘Epstein’ him or use one of the many other options.
2. Someone who teamed up with Prigozhin and was afraid he might talk. Makes a line-worker at the airport an offer he can’t refuse, like getting his family back alive.
(and no, for you Karens out there, I don’t have sources or links)