Grenade at Bush Speech Brings Speculation

NYT ^ | May 11, 4:57 PM EDT | MISHA DZHINDHIKHASHVILI

[the anti-liberal]

Grenade at Bush Speech Brings Speculation

By MISHA DZHINDHIKHASHVILI Associated Press Writer

TBILISI, Georgia (AP) -- Was it a bid to undermine a visit by President Bush - or evidence of a real assassination plot? A grenade found near a stage where Bush addressed crowds of Georgians on Tuesday has set off a flurry of speculation.

The array of potential culprits - from disgruntled Georgians to local minorities and even Russian saboteurs - reflects the instability of a volatile country struggling through transition.

The address to tens of thousands of people in Tbilisi's Freedom Square was the centerpiece of a Bush visit choreographed to cement relations between the United States and the ex-Soviet republic's new pro-Western leadership.

National Security Council chief Gela Bezhuashvili said Wednesday he suspected the grenade, which he described as inactive, was planted in a deliberate bid to undermine the rosy scenario.

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"The goal is clear - to frighten or to scare people and to attract the attention of the mass media," he said. "The goal has been reached, and that is why I'm talking to you now."

Bezhuashvili said neither Bush nor Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili - who were both behind bulletproof glass - were in any danger. The Soviet-era grenade was found about 100 feet from the stage, he added.

He also denied reports the grenade was thrown - contradicting a statement from U.S. Secret Service spokesman Jonathan Cherry, who said it hit somebody in the crowd and dropped to the ground. ...

[embedded_rebel]

Vladimir sending his regards.

[Loyal Buckeye]

The DU'ers claim Karl Rove did it.

[spanalot]

The Holy Hand Grenade?

They must have countest to five without having first countest to 4, the number of counting being 5.

[Jaysun]

Vladimir sending his regards.

I'd go with Vlad and the gang too. The Soviets never have been bashful about assassinations. Hell, they just pickled Yushchenko's head a few months ago (I believe).

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

I am stil a bit confused on this, did it really happen, and was it really a grenade?

[the anti-liberal]

Hell, they just pickled Yushchenko's head a few months ago

Was that ever cleared up? Do we know who pickled him? Anyone...

[the anti-liberal]

I am stil a bit confused on this, did it really happen, and was it really a grenade?

Given that reports constantly claim that the 'SS haven't examined the device' yet, and I haven't heard that they have, I suspect there never was any device.

But it's still all speculation..

[Ecthelion]

The number of counting was 3. 5 is right out.

[Wombat101]

Yep, the KGB was at it...Blow up Bush, or at least scare him, blame it on the Chechens or Arabs and, voila!, all of sudden we have a new "Ally" and George stops yacking about democracy and a free press....

[Jaysun]

One popular theory is that Yushchenko was poisoned during a dinner with the head of Ukraine's security services. But some toxicologist say that because his symptoms manifested the next day, he was most likely poisoned about two weeks before the dinner (the dinner was on September 5).

I favor the idea that the Soviets tried to kill him because they were involved in every other aspect of the campaign, and they just assassinated a former president of Chechnya in February by blowing up his car.

Of this I'm certain: Never, never, never trust the Russians. Never.

[the anti-liberal]

One popular theory is that Yushchenko was poisoned during a dinner with the head of Ukraine's security services. But some toxicologist say that because his symptoms manifested the next day, he was most likely poisoned about two weeks before the dinner (the dinner was on September 5).

Yes, I remember all that, but what's disturbing is that all we have are theories, even now many months later.

Do you know if there's still an investigation, or are they going to just say, 'oh well'?

[Juan Medén]

My guess is that it was someone from the press corps. Those are the only real enemies Bush has.

[the anti-liberal]

it was someone from the press corps

LOL- Perhaps that's why we haven't heard any real reporting about it.

You'd think the press would be all over something like this.

[spanalot]

"One popular theory is that Yushchenko was poisoned during a dinner with the head of Ukraine's security services. But some toxicologist say that because his symptoms manifested the next day, he was most likely poisoned about two weeks before the dinner (the dinner was on September 5).

I favor the idea that the Soviets tried to kill him because they were involved in every other aspect of the campaign, and they just assassinated a former president of Chechnya in February by blowing up his car.

Of this I'm certain: Never, never, never trust the Russians. Never"

You got that right. Actually there were reliable reports that at least two toxins were found in his blood stream and that there were 6 attempts on Yushchenko and several on his family. Dioxin will cause most of the symptoms that we have seen but it did not explain the incapacitating pain that required an epidural.

The man is one tough fellow - especially admirable after the car "accident" that left his son in a coma.

[Jaysun]

Do you know if there's still an investigation, or are they going to just say, 'oh well'?

He doesn't trust the police so it's pretty much dead.

[citizencon]

Soros Connection.

[Jaysun]

You got that right. Actually there were reliable reports that at least two toxins were found in his blood stream and that there were 6 attempts on Yushchenko and several on his family. Dioxin will cause most of the symptoms that we have seen but it did not explain the incapacitating pain that required an epidural.

The man is one tough fellow - especially admirable after the car "accident" that left his son in a coma.

There's no telling what kind of hooch the Russians have cooked up over the years. They really love to jack around with poisons and substances that alter one's behavior.

[Jaysun]

Yep, the KGB was at it...Blow up Bush, or at least scare him, blame it on the Chechens or Arabs and, voila!, all of sudden we have a new "Ally" and George stops yacking about democracy and a free press....

You know, Vlad is turning out to be a real a**hole isn't he? I wonder how many millions that little freak and his shenanigans has cost us thus far? Why not take $5 million and pay Boris the bodyguard to leave Valddy's back door open one night. Then send some jacked-up ex-CIA cyberninja over there with one of those tape on the handle Michael Corleone pistols and tell him to make sure that the last words pooty-poot ever hears are "consolidate control of this, b*tch."

[Wombat101]

Because you don't know who or what comes after him. If you belive Putin is his own man, you've got another thing coming --- he has the KGB (or whatever they call it nowadays) behind him, and I wouldn't doubt, considerable moneyed interests.

Vlad is just one of them speedbumps on the road to real democracy. The best way to handle him is to ignore him, but occasionally give him a nudge in the ribs to let him know that we still care.