The death of the unfortunate ex-KGB agent in London is now known to be from the ingestion of the radioactive element polonium. Why would such an exotic poison be used? The radioactivity is detectable, and the guy took several days to die-why not use something that kills quickly-like ricin or an injection of insulin? Anyway, has the CIA ever used polonium?
I heard it opined by some radio or TV analyst that the use of polonium suggests government insiders, as terrorists, rogue profiteers, etc., are unlikely to be able to get hold of something so arcane.
My take is they wanted the guy to know they were KGB, and they wanted him to suffer as much as possible. Ie: they were seriously pissed.
It could also be to create a ‘chilling effect’ against other ex-spies and dissidents. Death by radiation meant that the guy had days to lie in a hospital bed dying as the media swarmed around, making sure that everyone understood the penalty for stepping out of line.
I figured they used polonium because rosencrantzium is so rare and hard to find, and it’s just about impossible to discretely administer guildensternium.
The previous assassination was ricin on the tip of an umbrella (back in the 70’s, I think?). Worked faster and just as effective.
Speculation now is that he killed himself. Sorry, but I don’t buy into that. Too much of a trail would be left getting a hold of that shit, and the guy strikes me as being smarter than that.
It will make a hell of a movie, once all the research is done.
Sorry if I sound a bit cynical, but I think this guy had to know this was coming.
Quasi
Sorry if *I[/i sound a bit cynical, but I’m sure that whatever the ‘previous assasination’ was, it was a lot more recent than the 1970’s.
Personally, I think this was Russia’s way of making sure everyone knows they killed him, yet no one can prove it.
Litvinenko was killed by polonium 210, by the way, not just regular polonium - it’s an isotope.
Has anybody ever used polonium? The answer is “no,” as far as I’m aware, and I know that one British expert on this case said he’d never seen anything like it.
A Russian journalist named Yuri Shchekochikhin died in 2003 of thallium poisoning. That’s a great deal more recent than the Markov case. And then there’s the poisoning of Viktor Yushchenko, although nobody knows who did that.
Sorry for the confusing (mis) information.
This is the reference to what I posted:
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/01/07/terror.poison.bulgarian/
Q
To put a clear signature on the deed, deniable only by moonbats but not explicitly proveable, thus enhancing the chilling effect on others.
The use of Polonium also baffled the doctors, who might have had a chance against a more conventional poison.
Nobody Expects the Irradiatition
Another vote for a chilling threat from Spooksburg for any that’d consider crossing over.
Why that’s as purty as a baby pig…ya know…a Hamlet…
Moonbats like these? (Video with audio loads immediately)
You can order palonium on the internet. However, I’ve read on blogs (so its true) that the amount you can buy is far below the lethal dose.
I do not know how much it takes for a lethal dose but “arcane” almost puts it mildly. This stuff seems very rare:
… and ophelium is not even poisonous.
And Yushchenko was done with dioxin. I think the new and improved KGB’s calling card is never the same poison twice. 
It’s actually really good. Melon flavored.
It does cause madness, however.
Absolutely. Whether or not this came from anywhere near the top, it’s made every meaningful critic of the current top brass take a long hard look.