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Putin Angry With Britain for Not Quieting Ex-Russian Spy on Deathbed
FOX News ^ | Dec 2, 2006

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 ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: litvinenko; murdererputinangry; putin; putinwillskate; russia; spy
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To: Txsleuth

They just said on Fox that Putin has determined Russia has to return to being a major player on the world stage and in doing so has determined it's better to be a "bad body" because the USA and Britain capitualte to the bad leaders of the world... That the Russian economy is being reordered in a way that doesn't even allow it to participate in the WGO... sounds like Putty is returning us to the days of the Cold War (or worse).


41 posted on 12/02/2006 8:25:52 PM PST by Arizona Carolyn
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To: cajungirl; All
Have you read this article yet?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1747654/posts

42 posted on 12/02/2006 8:27:30 PM PST by Arizona Carolyn
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To: Txsleuth
I realize that there are theories that someone is trying to frame Putin...by getting Livinenko to think it was him...

I know Pat Buchanan has a column out to that effect -- Looks like BushDerangementSyndrome has really infected Pat!!

43 posted on 12/02/2006 8:29:06 PM PST by Lucius Cornelius Sulla (I went down in 1964 for Barry Goldwater with all flags flying! This is just a blip!)
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To: jdm
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.

Yup - Litvinenko arranged the timing of his slow painful murder quite skillfully - that devious little bugger. Get his corpse a job in public relations! </sarcasm>

44 posted on 12/02/2006 8:31:32 PM PST by Yossarian (Everyday, somewhere on the globe, somebody is pushing the frontier of stupidity.)
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To: cajungirl
Maybe the polonium was used for that reason. What a red flag,,it screams "crazy Russian ex KGB"

I think that's it exactly. There is deniability, but everybody thinks Putin reached out and nailed a guy who may have thought he was safe running his mouth in the UK. Putin is a thug who knows all about threats. He knows how to make them and how to use them for political advantage.

45 posted on 12/02/2006 8:37:41 PM PST by SBprone
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To: Arizona Carolyn

I heard that....the old "bad attention, is better than no attention at all" creed that Kim Jong-Il and Ahmanutjob live by.

Well...hopefully, President Bush will start dealing with Putin the way he deals with those two...he DOESN'T.

We should not reward bad behaviour.


46 posted on 12/02/2006 8:39:25 PM PST by Txsleuth (Bolton/Cheney (that would be Lynne) 08)
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To: Lucius Cornelius Sulla

I sometimes wonder if Pat didn't come down with BDS FIRST..and infected all of the others in the world that have it.


47 posted on 12/02/2006 8:40:32 PM PST by Txsleuth (Bolton/Cheney (that would be Lynne) 08)
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To: jdm

Putin really has some nerve. If I were him, I'd be keeping my pie hold shut, or at least doing what I could to help find the killer. Sort of like O.J. did.

What possible purpose could he have to express such a thing? Sounds like he needs to take Public Relations 101.


48 posted on 12/02/2006 8:42:13 PM PST by Silly (Still being... Silly)
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To: jdm

I looked into Putin's shoe and saw his sole.


49 posted on 12/02/2006 8:49:00 PM PST by Sender ("Always tell the truth; then you don't have to remember anything." -Mark Twain)
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To: cajungirl

Charles Krauthammer suggested it the polonium hit was a message to others who were bad-mouthing Pootie.


50 posted on 12/02/2006 8:49:57 PM PST by OrioleFan (Republicans believe every day is July 4th, but DemocRATs believe every day is April 15th. - Reagan)
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To: Txsleuth
I agree with you.

BTW, did you ever read the long Newsweak article on the trip the President made to Russia last year? If not, I highly recommend reading it. MSNBC had it online at the time.

51 posted on 12/02/2006 8:50:59 PM PST by Arizona Carolyn
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To: Arizona Carolyn

I am thinking I didn't read it...but I might have.

I will check tomorrow and see if I can get it from their archives..thanks for telling me about it.


52 posted on 12/02/2006 8:57:50 PM PST by Txsleuth (Bolton/Cheney (that would be Lynne) 08)
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To: Pontiac
If I was Putin’s assassin I would be looking for a good hiding place about now.

If I were Putin's assassin assassin, I would be more inclined to make a break for the West than carry out an assassination. How could Putin ever be sure I would keep silent?

53 posted on 12/02/2006 8:57:52 PM PST by LoneRangerMassachusetts (The only good Mullah is a dead Mullah. The only good Mosque is the one that used to be there.)
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To: OrioleFan

Remember that Russia has been behind the Iranian nuclear project for years. As we turn up the heat on Iran, Russia will balk.


54 posted on 12/02/2006 9:10:31 PM PST by ClaireSolt (Have you have gotten mixed up in a mish-masher?)
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To: Pontiac

Oh, I know, but based on how the article is written I think my take is more fun ;)


55 posted on 12/02/2006 9:17:36 PM PST by ECM (Government is a make-work program for lawyers.)
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To: LoneRangerMassachusetts
If I were Putin's assassin assassin, I would be more inclined to make a break for the West than carry out an assassination. How could Putin ever be sure I would keep silent?

First an officer would never be sent on such a mission if his loyalty was even remotely questionable. Such a man’s loyalty to Russia and Putin would be unquestioned.

However once the poison was identified and fingers were pointing towards Putin the assassin’s life was in jeopardy because he had failed in his mission to remove Litvinenko and cover his tracks.

56 posted on 12/02/2006 9:25:11 PM PST by Pontiac (All are worthy of freedom, none are incapable.)
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To: jdm
Vlad.....old habits die hard, eh, COMRADE? It was oh soooooooooo much easier to keep those pesky problem children quiet in the days of gulags and forced exile, eh COMRADE?

Be careful, Vlad.....your mommy and daddy's hero, for whom you were named, crossed ole Uncle Joe and ended up poisoned himself.

57 posted on 12/02/2006 9:26:01 PM PST by Thumper1960 (Unleash the Dogs of War as a Minority, or perish as a party.)
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To: jdm

Putin's name fits him to a tee. Goes around puttin stuff in people's food and/or drinks.


58 posted on 12/02/2006 9:40:41 PM PST by taxesareforever (Never forget Matt Maupin)
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To: jdm


This episode is starting
to resemble a Fellini movie...
59 posted on 12/02/2006 10:36:13 PM PST by Liberty Valance (Keep a simple manner for a happy life)
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To: jdm

Unlike Communist Russia, Britain has freedom of speech.


60 posted on 12/02/2006 10:39:28 PM PST by Dustbunny (The BIBLE - Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth)
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