Posted on 12/02/2006 7:36:44 PM PST by jdm
Russian president Vladimir Putin has expressed his anger at Britain's failure to gag Alexander Litvinenko in the final hours of his life, the cabinet has been told.
Margaret Beckett, the foreign secretary, told ministers that the Russian government had “taken exception” to the poisoned former spy’s deathbed letter accusing the Putin regime of murdering him.
This weekend a potential suspect — Andrei Lugovoi — admitted he had been contaminated with the radioactive poison polonium-210 but insisted: “I’ve been framed.”
Beckett, who spoke to her Russian counterpart before Thursday’s cabinet meeting, said the Russians had “seemingly failed to understand” that Litvinenko was under police supervision rather than in custody.
Amid signs that his death could cause a diplomatic row, Tony Blair concluded the cabinet meeting by saying “the most important issue” was likely to be Britain’s long-term relationship with Moscow.
Another minister present said: “It caused some alarm that this case is obviously causing tension with the Russians. They are too important for us to fall out with them over this.”
Putin’s aides see Litvinenko’s letter, in which he described the Russian president as “barbaric and ruthless”, as a carefully orchestrated public relations stunt, timed to coincide with the leader’s appearance at the Russia-European Union summit in Helsinki.
Foreign Office officials yesterday confirmed the Russians had raised the issue of Litvinenko’s letter with Beckett and British diplomats. Until now, the government has admitted only that the Russians had agreed to assist Scotland Yard with its inquiries.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Vlad the Inhaler?
Yep that disturbed me too. The Brits declared this little murder wouldn't get in the way of their important relationship with murdering Putin
I wonder how this is goiing over in Russia.
LOL
that may be classified......LOL
Yep, KGB is forever. He is cold. The odd thing is why use Polonium? That is strange. Why not a gun or a knife or a disappearance. Why the red flag,,did Putin want others to know the murder was a KGB style hit?
Next time Putie use a poison that works faster. Dead men tell no tales.
Poison has been the weapon of choice for political murder since at least the first written history.
Poison is silent, anonymous (can be) and invisible.
Coward-us has nothing to do with it. It is the desire to eliminate an inconvenient person with out the political fallout of doing it publicly.
It wasn't as much what Blair said as "the other minister"...that said "They are too important for us to fall out with them over this"....meaning the Russians.
I am sure that Tony Blair and the Brits don't want to be seen pointing the finger at Putin...but, it is Putin's problem that he is angry with the Brits for releasing Lit's statement.
Maybe if he lived in a country with freedom to speak..and print....he would understand.
I just don't like the thought that the Brits would make excuses or "apologize" for this...they already have a problem with the Muslims.
So the Russians (Putin) can have people potentially assisinated on British (or our) soil and everyone is to look the other way because we can't have Putin angry at us????
~LOL~ I just posted a similar sentiment. That was the most chilling comment in the entire article (IMO).
Most ruskies are either too drunk or too apathetic, plus the msm there is very careful about what they say, for obvious reasons.
The still-civilized nations of the West are made to worry way too much about "long-term relationships" with countries like Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, etc. etc.
If we were smart we would divest everything of ours in those countries, and insist they do the same here. We don't need them. Why do we insist on fatally complicating our lives with ANY relationship with them? Let them start drinking their own oil, or finding out what else they can do with it. Leave them to their own devices politically, economically and militarily: in a space of 3-5 years they will find their way back to us, begging to be allowed to take up a new position somewhere near the bottom of the totem pole.
Well getting Putin mad does have a downside! I mean you could end up hairless and glowing, writing mean letters on your deathbed.
Maybe the polonium was used for that reason. What a red flag,,it screams "crazy Russian ex KGB"
I meant M.B.A.
Never trust a Russian.
Yeah, it took 3 weeks or so.
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