digg

Join DiggAbout

Digg Townhall Tonight!
Tune into the live Digg townhall tonight at 5:00pm PST/8:00pm EST.

Expert in Litvinenko's death SHOT in his driveway

washingtonpost.com — Paul Joyal, 53, was shot Thursday, four days after he alleged in NBC "Dateline" interview that the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin was involved in the fatal poisoning of a former KGB agent in London.

show profanity settings
expand all
  • chicagobiker, on 10/12/2007, -25/+140Why aren't we at Terror level RED right now?
    Why aren't all the networks breaking in with their talking heads and message crawls?

    Or do Russians get a free pass at hunting Americans on American soil and only Arabs can be terrorists?
    • fuzzmeister, on 10/12/2007, -60/+85This happened in England, I believe.
    • gldfshnpcklejar, on 10/12/2007, -13/+25Blimey!
    • spyd3rweb, on 10/12/2007, -5/+53arent we constantly at terror level red anyways?
    • krached, on 10/12/2007, -2/+120"This happened in England, I believe."

      No, I believe Prince George's County is in Maryland and that is why the FBI is looking into it.
    • SickFinga, on 10/12/2007, -29/+44To be honest, it seems like someone is trying to setup Russian government.
      Just think about it. Politkovskaya was killed because she supposedly had information about Russian's torturing people in Chechnya. Her report wouldn't do much hard to the Kremlin. Look at USA government, they legalized torture and what happened? Pretty much nothing. But killing a Politkovsaya would do much bigger damage to Kremlin then her report.

      Now Litvinenko murder. He was poisoned with polonium? Why would government use such a way to kill a person? There are easier and less exotic ways to kill a person.

      Now this guy. I honestly dont believe he would have a concrete proof that Kremlin murdered the guy. If Russian government really did kill Litvinenko why would they continue to kill when everyone is already suspecting them?

      In my opinion Boris Berezovsky is behind all this.
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Berezovsky

    • SickFinga, on 10/12/2007, -25/+9@chicagobiker.
      Killing one person is not a terrorist act.
    • Urusai, on 10/12/2007, -4/+28Doing anything to instill fear for the purpose of altering policy is a terrorist act. This, if not a random mugging, is a terrorist act. As for setting up the Russian government, they are pretty well set up already.
    • superal1394, on 10/12/2007, -5/+12but the continuing shooting and killing of individuals IS terror. It strikes fear through the hearts of anyone who believes they could be targeted for one reason or another.
    • SickFinga, on 10/12/2007, -13/+7"Doing anything to instill fear for the purpose of altering policy is a terrorist act. This, if not a random mugging, is a terrorist act."

      Government contract killing is nothing new, and is never considered a terrorist act.


    • sfpfc, on 10/12/2007, -3/+48Putin will one day release a book titled "If I did it"
    • asauterChicago, on 10/12/2007, -12/+2@SickFinga

      Well, it was either kill him with plutonium, or sharks with lasers beams attached to their heads. Yes, SHARKS WITH FRICKIN' LASER BEAMS ATTACHED TO THEIR HEADS. Or an easily escapable room with deadly, but very slowly, poison gas seeping in.

      After much debate they chose the radiation pill of doom. Rather than say, just shoot him and bury him in the million of square miles of empty country side in Russia. But where's the evil flare in that?
    • j_bellone, on 10/12/2007, -11/+4In modern Russia it does you.
    • profJohn, on 10/12/2007, -0/+18Prince George County is most definitely in the US--it's a Maryland suburb of Washington, DC. If this actually is a Russian reprisal, it's remarkable and worrisome to see such an overt assassination on DC's doorstep. As someone who lives less than 20 minutes away (in Bethesda, MD), it's a bit unnerving.
    • illegalcortex, on 10/12/2007, -10/+7@urusai

      I think it's a stretch to call it a "terrorist" act. By that definition, the mob killing a witness is a "terrorist" act. If you start applying it that broadly, it stops having any useful meaning. In both the mob case and the case of this murder, it does not inspire terror in the general populace. On the other hand, crashing an airplane into some buildings or exploding a bomb in a random supermarket DOES. That's what the term "terrorist" is really there for.
    • capiCrimm, on 10/12/2007, -11/+2Does anyone ever think the conspiracy nuts are behind these killings? I mean wouldn't it be awfully convenient for them so then have something to write about?
    • foolfromhell, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9"To be honest, it seems like someone is trying to setup Russian government."
      Somebody set us up this accusation!
    • Arainach, on 10/12/2007, -0/+17asauterChicago - you're aware that Polonium and Plutonium are two completely separate elements, correct?
    • zeromancer, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7@illegalcortex

      "If you start applying it that broadly, it stops having any useful meaning"

      Instead of the word terrorism, let's use the word 'terrorist'. In order to catch these terrorists, we set up random searches at airports and any entry/exit point of the country. Anyone seen statistics on these searches. Something tells me that Arabs get searched a lot more. So the word terrorist already has lost its useful meaning. in the world we live in today, any time i hear terrorist, i don't worry. I just think of an Arab they arrested on 'suspicions of terrorist activity' which doesn't really have any credibility anymore, does it?
    • Imus, on 10/12/2007, -2/+22"arent we constantly at terror level red anyways?"

      Technically the terror level has been stuck on "Elevated" for quite a while. This is creepy Orwellian doublespeak.

      Consider the phrase: "The terror level is elevated."

      Has it been elevated? Or is it "Elevated"?

      Goebbels would be proud.
    • illegalcortex, on 10/12/2007, -5/+2@zeromancer

      You went off on a really weird tangent there. Just because certain people misuse the word or apply racial profiling doesn't mean the word has lost meaning. Of course, you say "credibility", but I'm not sure how a *word* has an attribute of "credibility". There really are such things as terrorists and terrorism, even if some people try to use it as a buzzword (especially in the cases of things like "electronic terrorism" or "legislative terrorism").

      So while you may have no reaction to hearing a news report that they arrested a "suspected terrorist", I believe you certainly will have a reaction if they blow up a bomb in a major city in the US. And I believe that reaction will be something definable as "terror."
    • KibibyteBrain, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1It seems to me like Putin has been reading a bit too many mainstream cold war novels lately. I hope he snaps out of it soon.
    • jcm267, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2@footballdude:

      RTFA. It happened in Prince George's County --- Maryland
    • trovoltex, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1Putin just signed all necessary documents for the normal work with international court of UN. What a Machiavelli?
      Maybe some of diggers stop whinning and wait for a police investigation.
    • Junkyarddawg, on 10/12/2007, -4/+13Hahahah... Two thoughts:

      1) @sickfinga: so your argument is that it's so obvious that the russian government is behind these murders that it can't possibly be the russian government who's behind these murders? Are you serious, or just spinning for the russian government?

      2) Russia is run by and for the mafia. Putin is the worlds most powerful Godfather, the leader of the most powerful crime family in a country run by crime families. Why are people surprised that the mafia uses mafia methods?
    • tomcpp, on 10/12/2007, -11/+2Litvinenko WAS A MUSLIM. So your question is stupid.

      So the question is this. Why was a russian muslim caught in the UK with an atomic detonator.

      http://the-daily-pundit.blogspot.com/2006/11/litvinenko-islam-and-chechnya.html (for example)
      http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Polonium&oldid=111639900

      So why was a russian muslim who no longer had official access to anything caught in the UK with a nuclear detonator ...
    • jcm267, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9sickfinga:

      Agree or not with the tactic, Americans torture suspected terrorists and other assorted perpetrators of major crimes. Russia kills political opponents and is not afraid to do what Hitler did, which is fake a terrorist attack so they have more political capital to fight a war (Chechnya).

      Russia is run by a bunch of "evildoers".
    • mapkinase, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2@SickFinga

      Сколько тебе платит ФСБ?
    • mapkinase, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2@arainach

      Give him a break, dude, he is not in THAT grade of high school yet.
    • yonoz, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2@SickFinga: sockpuppet much?
    • drmobutu, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1In America, Russian Mafia murders You!
    • Turkwoyz, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2@ krached & jcm267:
      the poisoning was done in London UK
    • bitcloud, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1It makes me think of this kind of scenario going on (comic)
      http://www.richgentlemenhide.com/comic/spy-vs-spy/
    • jcm267, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1turkwoyz:

      The shooting was done in Maryland
  • AsylumAleikum, on 10/12/2007, -3/+55[b]In an odd twist, another person who appeared on the "Dateline" broadcast died of a heart attack last month. Reporter Daniel McGrory of the Times of London, who has written about the Litvinenko case, died Feb. 20, before the "Dateline" segment was broadcast. He was 54.

    His family said he "died suddenly at home." He was a veteran British foreign correspondent who had reported from several war zones. Just before his death, he had been reporting in Pakistan.[/b]

    The Evil Empire is back, with a vengeance.

    • KoKoFuFU, on 10/12/2007, -0/+20That's possible Russian involvement, but this is definite. Read the article they shot him ONCE in the GROIN.

      That's no random mugging. It's a warning.
    • tomcpp, on 10/12/2007, -14/+3Fun fact : Litvinenko was a muslim, and a rebel. So he was not part of russia's government.

      So why don't you answer this simple question : What was a muslim militant rebel doing with a nuclear detonator in the center of London ?
    • yonoz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12Don't let the fact that Litvinenko converted to Islam on his deathbed throw you off there.
    • rabidstrikes, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1убейте его
  • NeoRicen, on 10/12/2007, -1/+54Is the Russian government TRYING to look guilty?

    Now I'm not claiming the Russian government did it but this is REALLY suspicious.
    • albinoMithos, on 10/12/2007, -1/+28Dude the Russian government is gonna t*ck you up if you keep talking like that...
    • greenlight2001, on 10/12/2007, -0/+18Plausible Deniability. Serving military superpowers since 1896!

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plausible_deniability
    • 4UIDigg, on 10/12/2007, -2/+19What do you expect from a government ran by KGB agents?
    • albinoMithos, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5crap it should be f*ck not t*ck, d'oh!
    • jcm267, on 10/12/2007, -3/+23"REALLY suspicious???"

      You're kidding right. This is plainly obvious. They don't try to hide it, they're basically giving a big "***** you. we're old school." message to the rest of the world.. and the common citizens are sleeping.

      If any country in the world today resembles 1930s Germany this is it.
    • orientis, on 10/12/2007, -7/+2*****
    • Junkyarddawg, on 10/12/2007, -1/+17The thing is that the russian government doesn't give a ***** what you think.
      Western opinion is totally irrelevant to Russia - it's not like Germany *could* stop buying russian gas when someone gets murdered; hell, they couldn't even do that when it turned out their chancellor Schroeder had been bribed by the russians into OK'ing another gas pipeline.

      Jcm367 is completely right. This is old-skool.

      What matters to russia, though, is russian opinion, and Putin's got that under control, since he by purchases and intimidation controls all russian media. In RUSSIAN media, these murders are blamed on Berezovsky, another crime family leader whom Putin destroyed a couple of years ago when he got uppity. You can sortof tell who's a russian here, from this simple fact.
  • stealth45, on 10/12/2007, -13/+8Prepare for the flood of "In Soviet Russia, _______ _______'s you!" jokes.
    • mc7winkie, on 10/12/2007, -7/+58In Soviet Russia you get shot/poisoned. Period.
    • SlvrEagle23, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11In Soviet Russia, spy poisons yo...oh, well I guess that one works either way.
    • changyang1230, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6In Soviet Russia, nobody is free enough to think of Russian reversal jokes.
    • AM6278, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1In Soviet Russia, government terrorizes you!
  • elbxmatatan, on 10/12/2007, -23/+6Russian girls are hot.
    • Renton, on 10/12/2007, -9/+20Russian girls are hit or miss.
    • NightLynx, on 10/12/2007, -7/+0They really are. A ***** load of random girls on the street look like supermodels
    • Kypt, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7The people on russian porn sites on the internet aren't really "random girls on the street"....
  • VaporBro, on 10/26/2007, -17/+6EVERYBODY PANIC!
    • VaporBro, on 10/26/2007, -2/+23I'm serious!
    • mc7winkie, on 10/12/2007, -3/+12I thought you were joking with your high and mighty caps lock ways.
    • jcm267, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4I wouldn't panic ... yet.

      I don't think Putin/Russia is stupid enough to get into a real war with us. But, they are sending a very loud message to the rest of the world that their clandestine community (now the FSB) is just as bad as the old KGB. Russia wants to be a global power, they don't want to start World War 3, or so I think.
    • SlvrEagle23, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Until Coldplay comes out with a song telling me to panic, I'll stick to their original advice of not doing so. Then again, that song *did* suspiciously lack the actual words "don't panic"...oh god!

      Duck and cover!
    • Junkyarddawg, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8FFS, Russia is in no shape to get into a war with the US.

      What it is in a shape and position to do, though, is deliver pinpricks and continuously make the US life difficult, by leveraging its oil and and gas to get countries like France and Germany to support it in the UN; by selling weapons to whomever opposes the US (e.g. hezbollah, venezuela, and, dare I say it? Iraqi resistance), all the while using its new-found oil & gas wealth to rebuild its army and increase its influence throughout the world.

      War no. Endless annoyance yes.
    • trovoltex, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Russians_are_coming
  • supermanred, on 10/12/2007, -12/+6The moral of the story is dont ***** with a world power and expect to get away with it. Moving to England will not help you.

    And yes, its okay for Russians to go around the UK and USA shooting people, they arent terrorists. Only countries that have large ammounts of oil or other valuables deep in their soil can breed terrorists and therefore warrant invasions.
    • selectodude, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11I think Russia fits that criteria.
    • thefirstenemy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Well, the difference is despite what a lot of people think, Russia could probably still completely ***** the U.S. over in a war, even if we "won" the war it'd be a hollow victory.

      Otherwise, I wouldn't put it past the current administration..
    • fugazi, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Not really. Im pretty sure that Russia's old equipment would not be that much against the US. Sure it would be a bit longer of a fight then say Iraq but it still wouldnt take that much. Unless they sent out their nukes. Then we are all screwed.
    • jcm267, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Russia is swimming in oil wealth. They export 7 billion barrels per day. Not far behind Saudi Arabia's 8.

      Imagine if Russia controlled all those ex Soviet states that are also oil rich...
    • zeromancer, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6@selectodude

      "I think Russia fits that criteria."

      Yeah, but we can't invade Russia and take over. Now a country like Iraq in the middle of civil war we have no prob.... oh wait. apparently we can't handle that either. My mistake.
  • ThetaDot, on 10/12/2007, -5/+1*cues up that irish yelling song from The Departed*
  • rvroman, on 10/12/2007, -3/+14Putin used to be head of KGB. of course hes a murderer
    • MasterSmatty, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4@macktwo

      Stalin rose up against his Jewish masters? This is a new one...from what I remember the propagandists were saying that he was Jewish. Also, if you look harder you'll see that Capitalism is a Jewish/Zionist conspiracy and socialism btw and ice cream and static cling and that dizzy feeling you get when you stand up too fast!! It all makes sense now - all a vast conspiracy!! Go get some fresh air and realize that about 95% of the Jewish conspiracy makes about as much sense as blacks secretly running the KKK.(why do you think they wear clothing with hoods? - To hide their skin color I tell you! Conspiracy!!) It's easy to make connections when you want to and btw Russia is where most of this crap go it's start.


      "currently being manipulated through the paper thin veil of pseudo democracy"

      Are you talking about Russia... or America?

      Honestly, how can you even make a comparison? Journalists and any form of political opposition being murdered in broad daylight in front of the public, people too powerful to kill being sent into exile and having their possesions seized and the Kremlin wielding the police like a club to silence public opposition to their current system. Did you seriously just infer that America is less free the Russia? Seriously?
    • jcm267, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Just as scary as this is that he has been consolidating power by re-nationalizing industries, suspending the elections of local officials, and even bombing his own city. Yes... Putin is suspected by International newspapers such as the Economist to have overseen a terrorist plot that was blamed on Chechen rebels, just so he could escalate the conflict.
    • Drivas, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Troll. I think that's the appropriate response, guys. Just ignore him, and he'll go away.
  • djshinodalp, on 10/12/2007, -13/+0Moral of the story: Don't ***** with anyone who has the power to permanently shut you up.
    • anodos, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8I'm certainly glad people don't live by this "moral". The "founding fathers" of America defied the British Empire, who had the power to shut them up, and sent their power overseas to do that very thing. Lucky for us the founders refused to roll over. Yes, many of the men who fought died and were shut up, but enough survived to finish what they started. The worst thing that could happen at this point is if everyone decided to give up and let the bully control them. Hopefully, people will begin to rise up more and more, so that in the end we will discover the true moral of the story. This story is not finished.
    • spyd3rweb, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6moral of the comment: is djshinodalp is a useless coward, not willing to stand up for what's right. Blood is what the Tree of Liberty feeds on.
    • djshinodalp, on 10/12/2007, -6/+0The founding fathers of this country also used slaves for about a hundred years. So?
    • anodos, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1@djshinodalp, uhh... ok... I fail to see the flow of your logic here.
    • sooperdooper, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6He's not even dead. RTFA before commenting, you moralizing coward.
      What's worse, your comment implies that you *would* "***** with" someone who *couldn't* "silence you permanently," making you... a bully, by definition.
  • HappyScrappy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9What an astonishing coincidence.
  • dennisbier, on 10/12/2007, -3/+12Sadly, it doesn't surprise me one bit. It's almost as if "maffianism" is in the Russian blood. In the new Russia, if you speak out or are perceived to be a threat or nuisance by the ruling elite, you could get the bullet for a measly US$10.000! How can it be otherwise, when the biggest gangsters are sitting comfortably in the Kremlin. You learn from the best.

    Check out http://weekendeconomist.blogspot.com/2007/02/28-oil-tsars-part-1.html for a good look at maffianism in Russia
    • JonnyTrombone, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9@macktwo: As a Jew, I may be a little biased... But that is an anti-semitic paranoia site, and your bat ***** insane.

      But I might be a little biased.
    • JonnyTrombone, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8@macktwo: I'm sorry. Next time I'll avoid split infinitives, too! The purpose of language is to communicate an idea- if you got the idea, then there really isn't a problem.

      Also, us Isrealio-trolling Judaio-fascists hate spelling and grammar.
    • BGFeltenink, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3macktwo is a dumb troll and has been on my block list for some time. I suggest others follow.
    • yonoz, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1You mean this guy is still at it? I would've thought he'd get a life by now.
    • caketank, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@Jonnytrombone:

      "*WE* Isrealo-trolling Judeo-fascists hate spelling and grammar."

      [ brought to you by No Israelo-trolling Judeo-fascist Left Behind ]
  • peacebyanymeans, on 10/12/2007, -7/+0HOW DO I SHOT MAN?
  • pr0teus, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Reminds me of Daniel Pearl being killed by OSS for uncovering connections and ties:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_Omar_Saeed_Sheikh

    Who Killed John ONeil?
    http://www.WKJO.com - http://WhoKilledJohnOneil.com
    The rabbit whole, connections, ties and coincidences run deep....
  • peregrine, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4Well I look up and read all the comments...and I worry that tommarrow I will see ' Diggers found dead of heart attack after speaking out against russia'.

    I don't know why anyone is scared or worried about this I mean heck Russia is RUN by the mob, the Red Mafia(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Mafia ) is single handedly the strongest mob in the world. If you read the wiki article you will find that smart people who are direct enemies of the Russian Mob buy the best protection and always look over their shoulder. I mean comeon they run 70-80% of the russia's private business.

    And lets see if the corporations run the United States(which they do don't deny it) then it would only make sense that the mob(practically the same thing as a corp if you think about it) runs the Ruskies.
    • anodos, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7@macktwo, that does it, I'm blocking you. The first time it was almost entertaining to see your crazy crap, in a I-can't-believe-people-really-believe-these-lies sort of way, but now I'm sick of it, and, well, angry.
    • MasterSmatty, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1@peregrine

      There is little doubt that the Russian mafia is very well organized and very large and I don't think you'll find any argument that it is something that grants them some level of power. However, I don't think that the mafia controls Russia. Putin hates them as they stand against all his principles. Which are his complete and total control over Russia. Communists don't like mafia as they are competition.

      As far as your corporations run America statement I think that this is easily falsifiable as well. If corporations are controlling the legislative powers of America then why are there so many anti-corporate laws passed? Laws which make it so difficult to operate and compete effectively. If they have this control then why is the corporate tax rate around 38% for corporations(much higher in some cases). Laws to confiscate "windfall profits". Why are politicians(like Hilliary R Clinton) proposing confiscating the largest (American)corporate profit in world history and putting it to use funding rainbow-dream fuels?(i.e. confiscating rightfully earned profits and giving it to other companies that have no legitimate right to it)
  • aboris26, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3How is that your answer supermanred? I HOPE you're being sarcastic. Its NEVER ok to have state sponsored killings, no matter who or what the person said. The people should not be afraid of their government, the government should be afraid of its people. Terrorists are those who use fear, mostly with violence, to achieve political ends, which very much applies in this case. The government of the UK should immediately threaten to cease all financial, political and trade relations with the Russian Federation unless the FSB (the new KGB) is investigated by a international task force for any and all connections to the Litvinenko poisoning. We are facing a new Russia, a dictatorship run by a former head of the most powerful intelligence organization in the world. A regime which is turning Russia into something far scarier than any nation on earth, even China. Russia is a country where billionaire's are being created by state run and sponsored conglomerates, while millions are left in the same level of poverty they were during the depths of Communism. Power and money are quickly being accumulated by these elite and a rearming of the intelligence and military is accelerating. We have only seen the start of this new power being pushed on the world. This whole incident is the canary in the coal mine. Russia you are on notice.
  • donboston, on 10/12/2007, -5/+2nice story.........liked it
  • reddevil3, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2Sam Fisher we need you!!
  • evlpanda, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4Wait, wait. Everybody slow down, especially the media.

    Boris Berezovsky, and by association Litvinenko, are/were the mob, not Putin.
    So, it would *appear that if the mob criticises Putin they get wacked, in a very exotic, James Bond type fashion (I mean Polonium, really).

    What's really happening is Putin is getting rid of the mob in Russia and they aren't liking it. He's not removing politicians from power and putting in his own mobsters, he is removing well known mobsters and putting in politicians, albeit his own but it is a step forward for the people.

    Everybody is getting this a little back-to-front. Next thing you know there'll be a connection between Putin and Al Qaeda.
    • sporkmonger, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2How does Paul Joyal fit into this theory exactly?
    • evlpanda, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0How does Paul Joyal fit into any theory? He may have just been robbed. To say PJ was a Kremlin hit is starting with a conclusion first.
    • HappyScrappy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Except Putin worked to get all the oil/gas assets in the country handed over to his own buddies at Gazprom. Then he worked to get Gazprom to get contracts controlling foreign oil/gas fields too.

      I don't buy it. Putin is in league with the mafia. They scratch each other's backs quite well.
    • MasterSmatty, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0@evlpanda

      I agree that Putin and the mob are by no means friends, as I said I think Putin feels that they are competition and communists do not like competition of any kind. But I do not dismiss the fact that it is much more likely that Litvinenko is just another(although flashier) victim in a long line of murders that involve bad press for Russia's Kremlin. Though it proves nothing, the fact that Joyal's death came shortly after his interview makes it seem highly suspicious.

      As far as all these incidents being the fancy work of a sort of secret mafia pr firm - I think that is something people will have to decide for themselves. I personally think it's nonsense though. I don't mean any disrespect to you personally though.
    • evlpanda, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@Smatty

      On the whole the situation is almost comedic, which is why I don't completely buy it. A lone reporter makes claims about Kremlin (that everyone knows anyway), gets wacked. A nutter makes claims about Kremlin killing reporter, gets wacked in a completely over-the-top fashion. An expert on *Soviet Intelligence, as in the agency that disbanded last millenium, links Kremlin to nutter that linked Kremlin to reporter the linked Kremlin to Chechnyan stuff, gets wacked.

      It all reminds me of an episode of "Get Smart".

      It's a fascinating story no matter who dunnit, which is why it understandably receives so much attention in the press... and nearly all those stories insinuate Putin, and "everybody" is linking the Kremlin to the killings. Just look at all the comments on this page! Are they all going to get whacked?


  • jcm267, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5And some on digg will probably insist that this has nothing to do with Putin....

    All those people who think this country is going to hell in a handbasket need to stop and think to theirselves "at least this isn't Russia"
  • ecrater, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Why were these people dumb enough to show their faces on Dateline for the whole world to see. They did not even cover up their face or voice. I bet everyone on that broadcast is now on the Russian hit list. I am sure there will be more deaths.
    • crash999, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1They likely thought that by showing themselves in public it would provide a form of protection as the Russian government wouldn't dare act against them, especially on US soil.

  • bluejet, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I fear that the sh*t is about to hit the fan. And no one is paying any attention. Sad...
  • NightLynx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3FTA "then shot him once in the groin" its a message. Shut up about Russia or we'll come back and put more holes in vital places.
  • theduke07, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2You don't mess with the Russians. If there's one thing I've learned growing up in Moscow, its that they don't take *****. If you mess with them, they mess with you. And they are horribly blatant about it. There is no cost/benefit analysis done. You insult my sister, I rape your mother father sister brother. And maybe then I'm still not done...
    • ScottMaximus1, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1In Soviet Russia, Sister Rapes You!
  • trovoltex, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I tried to figure out, what is happening, and in the last part of the article I discovered that Paul Joyal had strange affairs.
  • Llaunje, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I do not doubt that Putin wanted Litvinenko dead. Did he act on the desire? Well, I rather suspect that if he had, nobody would have been able to link him to it. Polonium, executions and all_ traditional Russian style, all pointing to someone who makes the perfect suspect.
    Why? Because he had motive aplenty and ability in equal measure.
    However, this is much too visible_ if he had truly given the orders, he'd have made sure there was no link to besmirch his international reputation, which is the main reason for which Russia still retains a chunk of world leadership.
    So if it were me, I'd look to someone who'd have an interest in getting Russia discredited for some reason. Not the United States_ more like a country which is almost, but not quite, as powerful as Russia, and which would naturally supplant Russia in world leadership if the latter were seen to "swing to the extreme" of the ideological spectrum.
  • mstump, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Nothing is remarkable about a shooting in P.G. County, MD. It happens all the time.
  • Amorn, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0In soviet russia, we hunt snitches
  • DefenceMinister, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1A lot of people dying, must be that Russia hired a death god.
  • snooly, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1the war on tera is a complete fraud. but i worry about my url being tracked - for placing a comment not favorable to BushCo. no fraud there. we definitely got some high-end crooks operating in the USA. remember the pledge of allegience. "Truth and Justice for All." Where's the Justice? HEY BUSHCO, WHERE's THE JUSTICE? Well, when the gov. is a liar, that should tell you something. hey people, how come directors of the federal reserve are involved in all this stuff profiting from the War on Tera? the privately owned fed. reserve prints the USA money. most Americans do not know this. A privately owned THING prints the currency and loans it to the government at interest.
  • ydns, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Heh! Messed up world we live in...point of fact is Putin need not be involved. Someone in the energy conglomerates will be more then happy to arrange something like this. Red Ruby (he he - as in Jack?)

    Off-topic:
    With Russia looking to work with Middle Eastern countries on nuclear power, they can expect to create more desperate sales of black market materials that have leaked in the last 15 years. This can be viewed as a good thing. Now undercover operatives can take advantage of a more desperate market and pull them out from cover where they can take them down easier. With the undoubtedly improved monitoring of the region as nuclear secrets/materials goes, I wouldn't doubt it for a second.

    Black Market nuclear material sale options:
    Sell it to the US or Russia (ha, and enjoy life in prison at best?)
    Drop it and walk away (what - give up millions?)
    Sell it on the low (find someone, get out and disappear)

    Black market hoods with bags of plutonium burning holes in their pockets (he he) will only be more than interested in getting out. The other options are simply ludicrous. With the US/Russia playing good cop/bad cop, its a feasible strategy to uncover the nuclear gap and recover nuclear control. The more perceived financial threat on the black market (such as free nuclear material leasing) the more likely the exposure.
  • gibbwake, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Nothing to see here, move along sheep. 9/11 wasnt an inside job either. You guys are totally nutty conspiracy theorists.
  • crimsoncircle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Russia have far more power in the world than the US, and I don't mean in terms of military arsenal. Most, if not all of Europe is reliant on oil and gas coming from Russia. We are smart enough to know that if Russia decided to stop supplying us, we'd be crippled.

    They know we know this and that is why they're able to say '***** you, America'. If it came down to picking sides, we'd have no choice but pick Russia, not without seriously screwing ourselves over in the process.
  • moneyjumpshot, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1take this in perspective, there is no proof, also WE should be watching what we do to Russia, as they have had very little expansion and we have been pushing NATO right up to their borders and holding them to a double standard
  • anti-net, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2Myself, I don't think the Russian government are involved. If they were involved, we wouldn't know about any of this, it all would be hidden away in the Kremlin. Or they'd do it on Russian soil, easier to cover up if your in charge.
    • crimsoncircle, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0true but if the man you want dead never goes to Russia, what choice do you have?

      I'm not saying they are involved or not, just putting it out there.
  • ydns, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0@gibbwake

    I hope you didn't bother saying that due to my comments. I certainly don't see why. I'll admit the energy conglomerate is a reach, but certainly desiring to appease Putin. You don't need the CEO passing down an order from on high, just a single decision by someone there. Every faction has their loyalists, willing to do anything for their cause. I believe that someone could do this. No conspiracy there. Actually quite a possible reaction from a loyalist. No need to be asked or related to the government. People have killed for much less. Same with the poisoning.

    Also, I simply pointed out the value in the situation with Russia offering nuclear materials to other countries. Gives nuclear powers the chance to uncover materials. No conspiracy there.
  • jlebrech, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Thats the Unique Secretly Soviet State of Russia for you.
  • Blackbow, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3With all of the evidence that came out in the Litvinenko investigations, I'm pretty convinced the Russian government is wholly responsible. I'd go as far as to say you're extremely naive if you totally discount this incident as just a coincidence.
  • crash999, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Here's a follow-up article: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,256488,00.html

    Even though some will likely think it's a cover-up, seems more likely than not that it was a robbery. Shooting someone in the groin doesn't accomplish much good- the person can identify the perp and it's a serious crime the police can follow.
    • profJohn, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Regarding the robbery angle, the story now is that the reports of his wallet and briefcase being stolen were false. I'm no fan of conspiracy theories, but I'm at least curious to hear the source of the false information.
  • kd1s, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I can almost guarantee that Putin will be dead withing a month or two. It's all connected to him and this one isn't going to just blow away. So he'll have to disappear.
  • jungoh, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0I'm not usually one for conspiracy theories, but this seems like the Russian government is being framed. Killing and injuring all these people who openly oppose Putin, days after a major appearance, in very obvious and spectacular ways. It's too easy to link back to Putin because of what the people are saying, way to easy, which is why Putin wouldn't do it. Even with (and possibly because of) his KGB background, I highly doubt he would bring all this heat down on himself by killing everyone who opposes him no matter where they are.

    Either way this'll make a good movie in a few years :P
  • worldinmyeyes, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Just more good 'ol brazen state-sponsored terrorism. Nothing left to do than execute a phony investigation and proclaim it unsolved, and let the sheep go back to sleep.
    • Osjpr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1And not a peep out of world powers of Democracy either. This goes to show you how much they truly value their citizens liberties and freedoms... all that rhetoric and national security spending isn't worth a dime
  •  

    Login or register to add a comment

    Create a new account or login to join in the conversation on Digg. You'll also be able to Digg stories to help promote things you like.


© Digg Inc. 2008 — Content posted by Digg users is dedicated to the public domain.
DIGG, DIGG IT, DUGG, DIGG THIS, Digg graphics, logos, designs, page headers, button icons, scripts, and other service names are the trademarks of Digg Inc.