Disturbing thought just occured to me

[Chip]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061130/ap_on_re_eu/britain_poisoned_spy

With traces being found on multiple aircraft, not confirmed same type of radiation, and different areas all around London... what if the source is not the same? That may mean there is unacounted for nuclear material somewhere in GB and maybe part of a collection for a bomb. :eek:

[Wingnut]

Poloium is not used in bomb making, has a very short half life and more rare than bomb materials. It is also releases mostly alpha radiation which is easily blocked by clothes instead of the more deadly gamma radiation.

There are certiainly measure in place to track large gamma emitting sources, the stuff you will really need to make a bomb.

As usual, the media is going off half cocked and spreading the fear of "EVIL RADIATION". You will likley get more irradiated by working in your back yard than you would by standing next to a few pounds of this.

[Johannes]

Unless of course you ingest so much as a microgram, in which case you're dead. It's a relatively rare element and not well suited for use in even a dirty bomb (it could be used that way, but there are better and easier materials to use). So as usual, no need to panic.

[Chip]

Should have been more clear. What I meant was that what they are picking up are source residue other than Poloium.

[Wingnut]

It was not immediately clear whether the traces found onboard could have come from passengers who may have come into contact with Litvinenko, or whether a radioactive substance could have been smuggled on board

You mean that part? I'm not a total expert, but I think it is hard determining exactly what the source of radition was. Sort of like asking which light bulb powered a glow in the dark sticker (light is EM radiation as well you know).

And Johannes is rights, it is not the radiation that will kill you, but the poisonous qualties of the element. Without reading, I would guess it is simply a nasty type of heavy metal poison.

Personally Chip, I would not sweat it. Its sort of like worrying about the AID needles in the coin return slots on a pay phone. This stuff was targetted for one guy for whatever reason and not the populace at large.

[Chip]

Like I said, it was just a thought.

[Angus McFeargus]

Well, Chip, let's not have anymore of those, ok?

[bweisshaar]

Polonium makes a great stocking stuffer.

[Wingnut]

Polonium makes a great stocking stuffer.

Ralph Lauren is always has the classy gifts.

http://i.walmart.com/i/p/00/60/53/88/99/0060538899913_150X150.jpg

[Wyrmlord]

I believe that Putin is responsible. The man is a very authoritarian leader and it is well known that he uses strong-arm tactics against his critics and his potential political enemies. As do all the corrupt representatives of constituencies in Russia.

[Virus002]

I believe that Putin is responsible. The man is a very authoritarian leader and it is well known that he uses strong-arm tactics against his critics and his potential political enemies. As do all the corrupt representatives of constituencies in Russia.

In mother Russia, Politics plays you.

[Johannes]

I believe that Putin is responsible. The man is a very authoritarian leader and it is well known that he uses strong-arm tactics against his critics and his potential political enemies. As do all the corrupt representatives of constituencies in Russia.

Because it somehow makes perfect sense that a man as intelligent as Putin would use such an unusual and tracable means to kill someone? If Putin wanted him dead there are plenty of other ways that are much easier and quieter. Frankly silencing a loud critic only calls more attention to you and Putin certainly know that.

[Wyrmlord]

Russia sure loves poisoning, though.

[Johannes]

Russia sure loves poisoning, though.

Then all the more reason why this would not be a Russian op. Poison would be used to kill someone quickly and quietly so it owuld not look like it was a hit. If a message wanted to be sent he would have been found dead with a pair of soft nosed bullets in the back of his head. This method of killing simply doesn't make sense. It's slow and allows for plenty of time for the person to talk.

This is a case where the conspiracy theory ideas are somewhat more likely, that is is a plot to discredit Putin to benefit Chechen terrorists.

[Chip]

Either way I do believe the Klemlin is behind it and Putin is the Kremlin. Same as I believe he was behind the poisoning from about a year ago. I forget the name. I do believe I can figure why radiation instead of a simple poisoning, fear. Fear of terrorist and also it sends a very strong message. Screw with me and not only will I kill you but your friends and family and most painfully.

[Johannes]

Except that there wasn't much danger to anyone around him. If the message was fear then killing him in his home would have been far more effective. This just seems to be the Rube Goldberg way to do it, and that has never been the way the KGB/RVS operates.

[stingray]

Except that there wasn't much danger to anyone around him. If the message was fear then killing him in his home would have been far more effective. This just seems to be the Rube Goldberg way to do it, and that has never been the way the KGB/RVS operates.

And how would you know how the KGB/RVS operates?

Why, I didn't know Tom Clancy was a member here at the Avault. :D

[Johannes]

And how would you know how the KGB/RVS operates?

If I told you I would have to feed you some Polonium-210.

We know a lot of their sources and methods just as they know a lot of ours. We also have the benefit of having taken in a larger number of useful defectors. This killing wasn't their style.

[Johannes]

And the British seem surprised that they don't have full access to question people in Russia.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/12/05/uk.spywrap/index.html

Some British officials are convinced that Russia did kill him:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3336273,00.html

There is a flaw in that article that says that only Russia could have done such a thing. Except that Polonium-210 is easily commercially available and at fairly low prices as well.