UK says ex-spy poisoned with Soviet-developed nerve agent

"Don't make a big deal about this and don't mention it to Russia because we want better relations with them."

-Conservative posters on JT

So our closest ally, the country with whom we have a "special relationship" with, and mutual defense treaties with (NATO) was attacked with what their prime minister called "the use of force" by a hostile power on UK soil. It sickened hundreds of British citizens. Isn't that also terrorism?

Is our president going to even acknowledge that this attack happened or is Putin's hold that strong. Will there finally be the ordered sanctions?

Will the GOP party continue in ignoring attacks on us and our NATO allies?

Is our president going to even acknowledge that this attack happened or is Putin's hold that strong. Will there finally be the ordered sanctions?

How are we supppsed to have better relations with Russia if you guys keep calling out Russian aggression?

Nope this is a UK problem for them to solve. Everyone saw what happened last time the US tried to give advice/made comments about something in the UK. Liberals went bananas over it saying it’s not Trump’s business.

the UK wasn’t attacked, 2 Russians were. If they need help handling that they can ask.

There are many ways to kill a person but it seems the story is always about how the Russians make it so obvious that everyone can pinpoint them out as culprit without any hard evidence like because it was made in Russia therefore they must have done it. I wonder if that is how people solve crimes here. Oh the gun was made by abc or xyz let's go lock those people up. Same deal with the story on M-17 and polonium. I mean seriously.

Nope this is a UK problem for them to solve. Everyone saw what happened last time the US tried to give advice/made comments about something in the UK. Liberals went bananas over it saying it’s not Trump’s business.

The U.K. is our closest ally.

Your bitch about liberals complaining about Trump is misplaced. You are conflating issues TrumP should keep his pie hole shut about with issues that he should comment appropriately on.

Funny how you constantly rush to Russia's defense.

Funny how you only want Trump to take action when you say his lack of action proves your nonsense "Russia collusion". Which by the way was just debunked by the House Intelligence Committee.

So the USA should act when a Russian gets attacked in the UK. Does that mean if an ex-spy gets attacked in the USA, the UK should act rather than let the USA handle it?

Funny how you only want Trump to take action when you say his lack of action proves your nonsense "Russia collusion". Which by the way was just debunked by the House Intelligence Committee.

Nobody has ever said or implied this. This is you projecting some twisted idea you have onto liberals. You do this often.

Yeah, the House Intelligence Comittee chaired by that bi-partisan leaker Nunes just debunked collusion but you decided not to post a link.

So the USA should act when a Russian gets attacked in the UK. Does that mean if an ex-spy gets attacked in the USA, the UK should act rather than let the USA handle it?

This is not an inference, logical or otherwise, from what anyone has said. This is another thing you're fond of doing. Why?

So tell me WHY the USA needs to be involved in an issue in the UK where an ex-Russian spy was poisoned?

Why does the USA care and why cant the UK take action?

So tell me WHY the USA needs to be involved in an issue in the UK where an ex-Russian spy was poisoned? 

I already have: the U.K. Is our closest ally.

Why does the USA care and why cant the UK take action?

The US cares because the U.K. Is our closest ally and a country hostile to us has acted nefariously.

Why do you think the US should abandon our closest ally and cozy up to Russia?

From Superlib, but worth repeating here:

They've gone from, "Mr. Gorbachev - tear down this wall!" to, "Let's not respond to their election meddling because it might upset them and that would be bad for us."

It's pretty crazy when you put his statements together as a narrative:

"Putin said he didn't meddle. He said he didn't meddle. I asked him again. You can only ask so many times. Every time he sees me, he says, 'I didn't do that.' And I believe, I really believe, that when he tells me that, he means it. I think he is very insulted by it.

I mean, you have Brennan, you have Clapper and you have Comey. Comey is proven now to be a liar and he is proven now to be a leaker. So you look at that and you have President Putin very strongly, vehemently says he had nothing to do with them.

I often talk about it, we are prepared to turn the page and go forward to look into the future to solve the problems that are of interest to people of the United States and people of the Russian Federation."

It's just so weird, isn't it? And his fans can't fathom that it's a weakness because he's Trump and he's strong and what you're saying doesn't make any sense and he's better than Obama and Liberals and...

Why do you think the US should abandon our closest ally and cozy up to Russia?

Who would have ever thought people who identify as US conservatives would want to abandon relationships with longstanding allies to cozy up to Putin.

The answer is it could well be some of those whose beliefs are more closely aligned with a man some of them call a 'dangerous thug'. He may well be a dangerous thug, but as long as he claims to be a conservative and a Christian they'll support him.

Many US 'conservatives', at least some claiming to be, seem to have lost all traits previously associated with being a conservative and have opted instead to just follow their political messiah Trump. Even if that means selling out conservative beliefs and ceding great control of the country to the .01% plus those in the owe to Putin and his oligarchs.

Who is "cozying up" to Putin? Simply allowing the UK to handle an incident that happened in their own country.

If any country OTHER than Russia were suspected in this, would you be saying the USA needs to be involved? Nope!

Why would that be?

It wasn't just 2 Russians who were attacked, there was also 21 other people who were affected, including a police officer who is still in intensive care. The only ones who are denying Russian culpability are trolls or staff of the propaganda factory in St Petersburg.

@black labelWho is "cozying up" to Putin?

'Cozying up' could be the wrong term. Instead it might be better to say allowing Putin to meddle unchecked in US elections and political processes in attempts to undermine US democratic systems to weaken the role of the judiciary and congress (i.e. checks on the executive Putin wanted to rule the US), to undermine law enforcement agencies, and to undermine a free, for profit press.

But maybe that would be cozying up.

Whoever the ex-Russian spy 

My understanding is that Skripal wasn't a Russian spy, or a double agent. He was a British spy, and this is where he engaged in espionage against the Russians. He was pardoned by Russia and exchanged for Russian spy(s). Remember that gorgeous red headed Russian spy in the news a few years ago? Maybe her.

Who is "cozying up" to Putin? Simply allowing the UK to handle an incident that happened in their own country. 

It's not just allowing the U.K. to handle this, it's all your other posts about needing to give Russia a pass in order to have better relations with them.

If any country OTHER than Russia were suspected in this, would you be saying the USA needs to be involved? Nope!

Your omniscience is stunning. Why even ask questions if you already know the answers? Unfortunately, your omniscience has failed this time. I have and will say the US should be involved any time one of our close allies is attacked by a hostile government.

@luddite The only ones who are denying Russian culpability are trolls or staff of the propaganda factory in St Petersburg.

I partially agree. There are some Americans (one who's self-identified as a crack-pot) who consistently defend Russia because they somehow believe Putin's Russia isn't part of the globalist, MSM led cabal of hegemons.

And of course there are other Americans who won't say anything negative about Russia because Russia supports Trump. Or maybe owns him.

That is correct. This was not done TO the USA or IN the USA. So has nothing to do with us. You just want to use the lack of action to try to justify the "muh Russian collusion" that was just debunked. I was not aware that Russia is the mortal enemy of the USA and that we need to follow them around the world into other sovereign countries undoing all of their wrongs. And yes, we do need to have a better relationship with Russia (and North Korea and Iran and Syria and....)

It's not just allowing the U.K. to handle this, it's all your other posts about needing to give Russia a pass in order to have better relations with them.

Ultimately, Washington has very little credibility left in this area even if they wanted to help. What precisely could they object to about the nature of this attack if it is proven to be state sponsored? The unauthorised entry into another nation state? The extrajudicial murder of someone on foreign soil? The violation of local homocide laws in that country? These are all actions that America takes on a regular basis with its drone strike program. It's probably the last country that has the moral authority to come to Britain's aid in the event that it is proven to be state sponsored. The only thing they could rightly complain about is the use of a chemical weapon.

@M3 It's probably the last country that has the moral authority to come to Britain's aid in the event that it is proven to be state sponsored

Given that international relations are primarily based on a pagan ethic (unfortunately) and given the longstanding disputes of all sorts between the 'west' and Russia, I think in this case it has to be expected that 'moral authority' would be of a lesser concern. von Rochau's Realpolitik. Again, unfortunately.

Foreign assassins using chemical nerve agents which are produced outside and being smuggled in to be used on individuals within your country is a matter of national security. Sticky problem.

Criticizing Russia for a chemical attack on a NATO ally is a hard call for this administration.

Godspeed, Mr. Mueller.

so when the UK asks for help, they will have it. No need to compare an ex-spy getting poisoned to 9/11 or Afghans translators. Its obvious the only reason people are pushing for action is that they want to claim lack of action somehow involves continued "cozyness" or "collusion" with Russia.

When the radical Islamic terrorists attacked London, was the USA expected to take action? Nope. Why not?

What would happen if May said that Russia may do bad things but we are no angels?

@blacklabel involves continued "cozyness" or "collusion" with Russia.

Given how emotional and defensive Trump supporters get whenever Russia is mentioned, I have to think they believe Trump and the GOP are wrong in cozying up and colluding with Putin, but are afraid if they say something critical about the Russia connections they'd be outed from the herd.

The issues are such:-

Are the U.S intelligence services happy that a potential enemy has developed an undercover hit team armed with a lethal nerve agent and carrying out assassinations in other ally nations? Who do the U.S government believe to be the greatest enemy threat to the U.S - Isis - nope. Muslims - nope. Syria - not really. North Korea - yes. China - yes. Russia - yes. The Russians have increased their spending on armed forces and increased their air force sorties into non-Russian airspace. Russia is bossing the Arctic Sea with new submarines and is boasting about its latest nuclear bomb technology with, wait for it, a simulated video showing an attack on, wait for it, Florida. And the posters above are saying why should the US be concerned??

Yes this was an assassination attempt on an ex-Russian spy. But, this was carried out in a city restaurant where families eat and in a city public park where children play. This nerve agent is lethal and highly contagious so you cannot brush this off as just an attack on an ex-spy. The policeman currently in a serious condition in hospital is proof that this was also an attack on the British public. If the Russsians only wanted to attack the ex-spy they could easily have used other hit team methods to isolate the victims.

No, nothing has been proven to have happened. Even congress says so.

@blacklabel Even congress says so

Did you mean to say House Republicans? They're the majority, but that doesn't mean they speak for 'congress'.

Using facts and being truthful help credibility.

That is correct. This was not done TO the USA or IN the USA. So has nothing to do with us. You just want to use the lack of action to try to justify the "muh Russian collusion" that was just debunked

There's that omniscience again. It happened to our closest ally, so has a lot to do with us. I don't care how it affects the Russian collusion that Nunes and his fellow GOPers have decided to find hadn't happened.

Feel free to put your faith in the GOP conclusions, I'll stick with Mueller. When Mueller has concluded his investigation, those are the results I will accept. Sorry, Champ, I'm not buying anything the GOP is selling.

I was not aware that Russia is the mortal enemy of the USA and that we need to follow them around the world into other sovereign countries undoing all of their wrongs.

Russia is a hostile country that is in direct competition with the US. Nobody said the US should follow Russia around trying to indue its wrongs. (Where do you get these wild ideas?) We have said that the US should help its allies and hold Russia accountable for its wrongs.

They do in fact speak for congress, the “House of Representatives” part at least. The head of the Senate investigation said he has seen nothing to date either and their investigation seems to be wrapping up too.

How convenient that the UK is suddenly our “closest ally” and we MUST help them even prior to their even asking. Who decided these 2 things?

When the radical Islamic terrorists attacked London, was the USA expected to take action? Nope. Why not?

The people who attacked London were British. No need to ask anyone to help as it was inside our own tent.

Exactly. So why is everyone forcing the USA to help with it to prove that we hate Russia as we are somehow required to do? Did we get involved in any way when N Korea nerve agented Kim's bro in Malaysia?

Funny that Russia were our friends during the Hillary reset button time and the time where Obama told them he had more "flexibility" after the election. Romney was told it was ridiculous that Russia is our biggest geopolitical foe. Yet now, liberals act like Russia has been our mortal enemy since after World War 2. Cause "the narrative".

They do in fact speak for congress, the “House of Representatives” part at least. The head of the Senate investigation said he has seen nothing to date either and their investigation seems to be wrapping up too.

Again, let's wait for Mueller to conclude his work.

How convenient that the UK is suddenly our “closest ally” and we MUST help them even prior to their even asking. Who decided these 2 things?

The U.K. Has been our closest ally for quite a long time. History decided that. As for the U.K. Needing our help, nobody said that. You started in with "Why should we help the U.K." angle and I've been responding.

Perhaps you should re-read the posts.

House Intelligence Committee just the latest body to totally exonerate President Trump from the Russia farce.

More winning, yawn.

When the radical Islamic terrorists attacked London, was the USA expected to take action? Nope. Why not?

We've seen over and over since 9/11 that the US is absolutely horrible at dealing with terrorism. We (the world) are still paying for their initial freak out right after the attack. The US is paying for it worse - the current acrimony in the US between team A and team B is a direct result of the attacks. Basically, whatever the US thinks the appropriate response is to a terrorist attack, we'd all be better off doing the opposite.

Exactly. So why is everyone forcing the USA to help with it to prove that we hate Russia as we are somehow required to do?

Literally nobody on this thread is trying to force the US to help.

Funny that Russia were our friends during the Hillary reset button time and the time where Obama told them he had more "flexibility" after the election.

Maybe because Russia hadn't interfered so blatantly with an election at that time.

Love how come find it nefarious that Obama told Medvedev that Obama would have more flexibility in negotiations after Obama won a second term. Every candidate moves towards an extreme during an election. This can cause friction in negotiations because suddenly the incumbent/candidate looks more extreme because s/he is campaigning.

Obama was not talking about being in Russia's pocket, which is the fear with Trump.

Romney was told it was ridiculous that Russia is our biggest geopolitical foe. Yet now, liberals act like Russia has been our mortal enemy since after World War 2. Cause "the narrative".

Yeah, cause the Russians interfered in our election. Of course you don't mind because they helped your guy win.

So why is everyone forcing the USA to help with it to prove that we hate Russia as we are somehow required to do?

Who exactly is forcing the US to help? But as Tommy Jones quite rightly points out, the US and the UK have been allies since 1944 - WWII, Korea, The Cold War, Kuwait, Afghanistan. Good luck to you (the U.S) if you are going to ignore Russia.

Did we get involved in any way when N Korea nerve agented Kim's bro in Malaysia?

Different story altogether. North Korea assassinating a North Korean in a Muslim country in Asia.

House Intelligence Committee just the latest body to totally exonerate President Trump from the Russia farce.

The House Intelligence Committee chaired by hyper-partisan Trump lap-dog leaking Nunes is the first body to totally exonerate Trump.

Funny how the news that the Repubs on the committee leaked messages from Warner to Fox and you guys didn't make a peep.

We've seen over and over since 9/11 that the US is absolutely horrible at dealing with terrorism. 

actually thats false. The United States has successfully thwarted over 30 major terrorist plots since 9-11.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_unsuccessful_terrorist_plots_in_the_United_States_post-9/11

Wikipedia. The go-to source for any serious sleuth.

Is he dead or not? News outlets tell different storires.

actually thats false. The United States has successfully thwarted over 30 major terrorist plots since 9-11.

I didn't say preventing terrorism, I said 'dealing' with it. After 9-11, they threw the biggest hissy fit ever, "how dare you even think to attack us", and went on to destroy civil rights in the US, invade two countries, one of which had nothing whatsoever to do with 9-11, destabilized the region, which led to the creation of ISIS, and running rampant on people's rights all over the world.

The US has no clue whatsoever how to deal with crisis management, look at how they deal with school shootings.

Is he dead or not? News outlets tell different storires.

Any decent news outlet has the story, No deaths yet, but three seriously ill people in intensive care.

SMERSH.  Vlad doesn't take prisoners

So our closest ally, the country with whom we have a "special relationship" with, and mutual defense treaties with (NATO) was attacked with what their prime minister called "the use of force" by a hostile power on UK soil. It sickened hundreds of British citizens. Isn't that also terrorism?

Oh, it's an act of terror alright. I'm sure the British will sort it out (as far as they can without upsetting the applecart).

The US doesn't have to go steaming in all guns a blazing but the reluctance to condemn it speaks volumes. Very quick at blaming others, is the Trump junta, but not the Russian allies.

Just one more thing (Columbo style) I realise that the demographic readership on JT is largely American but not all of "us" are. So Britain is not necessarily "our" closest ally. That's not meant in a negative way.

So tell me WHY the USA needs to be involved in an issue in the UK where an ex-Russian spy was poisoned?

It is only a UK issue?

Is that a reason for staying silent when militarized chemical agents are used against lawful residents of an ally?

If that is the case, I don't want to be an ally. Or, maybe the US is the ally of a country other than the UK... as in Russia.

House Intelligence Committee just the latest body to totally exonerate President Trump from the Russia farce.

Latest body? Where was the first?

No, the first body to exonerate Trump is a statement of suck-upage. The only good situation coming from the conclusion is Nunes' antics should be over.

The Senate is more credible than anything done in the House.

The real investigation is Mueller's.

Seen quite a few docs and websites on how to make chemical/biological weapons on the good old internet. This nerve agent was developed long, long ago. So it is possible a number countries, organizations could of developed it. We should wait and see. The spy world is murky. Destroying international trade and relations is not worth all this fuss, unless there are alternative motives.

 So Britain is not necessarily "our" closest ally. That's not meant in a negative way.

A legitimate question now days.

Who is the US' closest ally? With the recent nationalism, is the US on its own? Or, does the country need to be predominately white and nationalistic, so UK is out for having more lenient immigration policies?

As an American, I would still consider the UK the US' closest ally in the Western world (edging out other notable EU allies solely for historical reasons) and Japan and Australia the US' closest allies in the Eastern World.

No, the US should be supporting the UK against Russian assassinations on UK soil using a WMD.

Trump's soft spot is showing.

After Putin taking over, he never likes dissent be it his own agents, that way he had been removing people on his road of life, he just cheated Yeltsin by being a typical polish appearing to be humble and slavish to achieve his ends, nothing new about this man. He might attack similarly Mr Trump too if Trump don't behave in his expected lines, this danger none can eliminate, give Trump needed protection is my advice to Americans

He might attack similarly Mr Trump too if Trump don't behave in his expected lines, this danger none can eliminate, give Trump needed protection is my advice to Americans

I would say relax, as Trump is a valuable asset to the Putin regime. His muddled and befuddled actions and childish rhetoric can only continue to delight the Kremlin.

It's the outspoken political and journalistic opponents of Putin who are most at risk.

lol, so what if its Russia developed... means absolutely nothing ,in fact it would be quite stupid from Russia to use something that would directly point it out.

in addition, that spy was already in prison in Russia, debfriefed multiple times , and released after serving sentence while free to leave... I dont see what Russia would want with him anymore... the only benefit would be to war mongers trying to screw relationships with Russia.

Novichok nerve poison is only used by the Russian government. The discovery that Novichok was used is a smoking gun that the Russian government conducted a hideous terrorist attack on British soil that has harmed innocent British citizens. Truly a cowardly act. 

As those who organised the hit must have known, the trail goes directly back to Moscow. The incident even took place down the road from Porton Down, the government’s military research base, which swiftly tested and identified the toxin.

All of which means Putin and his FSB spy agency have probably sought to engineer a confrontation with the UK. Why now?

The most obvious answer is Sunday’s presidential election. True, Putin is guaranteed to win. He has scarcely bothered campaigning. But the Kremlin remains worried about turnout, amid widespread voter apathy and calls from Alexei Navalny, Russia’s most prominent opposition politician, to boycott the vote. The authorities want to the poll to look authentic, even if it isn’t.

Over the next few days, state TV channels will pump out this message: Moscow is again the victim of a western conspiracy. Russia under siege is a favourite Kremlin theme. Conflicts with the west can bear some fruit: Putin has maintained the bump in his nominal popularity rating after his annexation of Crimea, despite western condemnation and sanctions. The wave of patriotism that followed also split the Russian opposition.

Here’s what would normally happen after an outrage like the attempted murder of a Russian defector and his daughter with a nerve agent, in an attack that also poisoned a British police officer and exposed as many as 500 people to neurological risk.

The United States would instantly offer Britain any technical assistance it might require: forensic chemical analysis, other kinds of information collection.

Next, the U.S. president would reach out to the British prime minister with some visible demonstration of solidarity: typically, a phone call that would be photographed, with a readout of the call distributed to the media. If the British thought it useful, that phone call would be backed up by a visit by some senior member of the administration: the vice president perhaps, or the secretary of state.

The official statement Prime Minister Theresa May offered in the House of Commons today, saying it was “highly likely” Russia was the perpetrator, would be immediately supported by a carefully coordinated statement by the U.S. government, as well as other important allies in an effort led by the United States.

The U.S. would lead the way to forge some kind of common NATO statement, as well as—given the difficulties of Brexit—working to ensure that the European Union demonstrated solidarity, too.

Except for the very first measure—which happens automatically, and which only affirmative presidential action would prevent—none of those normal actions had occurred as of this writing, more than a week after the poisoning. The United Kingdom has been left to deal with this matter alone by a U.S. administration that will not respond, even to a Russian WMD attack on NATO soil.

Relations between UK and Russia got tense in March , 2018 over     poisoning  of   ex-Russia spy working for  UK intelligence. The details   in  news reports  say that  after remaining behind bars for several years in Russia , the double agent  was living in Salisbury , South England  where he  and his daughter are   in hospital for treatment of poisoning.  The suspicion or allegation   by  UK  Govt  is that ether  the poisoning  has  been brought about    at the behest of Russian Govt or   by loose nerve agents.    The issue appears to be assuming serious tones resulting in  certain diplomatic actions. Major world powers  like US , France  and  Germany are reported to have blamed Russia in a joint statement  with  UK.  While it is difficult to perceive the extent of seriousness the burning issue may assume , still it can be opined that the issue has the potential of bringing  the already tense global powers to major divide, leading to some catastrophe in time to come in 2018.   Astrologically speaking , the issue could  catch up  more heat  between 8  April to 5 May 2018 with particular news between 8 April  to  15 April.  This Vedic astrology writer has already alerted for caution and restraint during July-August , 2018 when chances of   major conflict , could be WW3 , grow strongest. Even if the world is lucky during those months that WW3 does not break out , some major worrisome conditions could crop up. This Vedic astrology writer has brought out these fears  last year   on 11 October , 2017   in the context of  US   in article - “ Astrological probable alerts for the United States in 2018” - published  in monthly Webzine of  Wisdom Magazine  from the US  at  wisdom-magazine.com/Article.aspx/4647/  on 1 December , 2017.