Haley blames Russia for poisoning ex-spy in UK

U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley has told the U.N assembly that the United States believes Russia is responsible for the poisoning Sergei Skripal and his daughter.

United Nations (U.N.) Ambassador Nikki Haley on Wednesday accused Russia of flagrantly and aggressively using a nerve agent to poison a former Russian spy in the U.K., and called on Moscow to "come clean" about its chemical weapons program. "Russia must fully cooperate with the U.K.'s investigation and come clean about its own chemical weapons program," Haley said at the U.N. in New York.
thehill.com...

It remains to be seen what the US will do in response to the incident but the show of support is welcome.

I believe Trump made a comment yesterday basically saying he thought it was Russia and once this has been proven Russia will face consequences (or words to that effect).

Its interesting how just about everyone other than the Russians believe Russia was behind it. I of course do not expect them to even admit to it but if (or when ) it is proven that they done it then there should be some harsh punishment facing Russia.

a reply to: OtherSideOfTheCoin

The problem with this is: how do you want to prove Russia is behind it? No witnesses, all public places, it's basically impossible.

a reply to: Peeple

The problem with this is: how do you want to prove Russia is behind it? No witnesses, all public places, it's basically impossible.

They have a sample of the Nerve Agent which is known to have been created by Russia , they are also likely to have plenty of information to which we don't have access.
We do not want to pick a fight with Russia , it isn't in our interest so these claims are not made lightly.

a reply to: gortex

they are also likely to have plenty of information to which we don't have access

Remember the information we didn't have access to on WMD in Iraq ?

We all know how that one ended.

a reply to: gortex

...known to have been created by the Soviet Union. That's a difference. If they had any solid evidence the response wouldn't have been what we see now. There would be a suspect individual and through that they can get who's behind it.
At this point everybody could have been it with a professional chemistry laboratory.
You can't write off Ukraine f.e. which has a huge interest in finally drawing other nations into their conflict.

Why do you guys always blame the Russians for everything?

a reply to: Peeple

If they had any solid evidence the response wouldn't have been what we see now. There would be a suspect individual and through that they can get who's behind it.

The investigation is continuing , the response today is an initial response I would expect there will be more as more becomes known.

Thank you Nikki for standing up for us while so many are believing the St Petersburg trolls sites followers

Careful, Nikki. We all saw what just happened to Rex.

just joking... maybe... kinda... in all honesty, who knows at this point?

a reply to: gortex

If they haven't put forward some cctv footage, or witness of who, where, and how the poison was applicated, they won't in the future.
What else could they find? Russian fingerprints in a pizzeria? Russian DNA in the park where the victims were found? What would that prove?

It's like MH-17 all over again. All the evidence points towards Russia but there's those "patriots" that do everything in their power to deflect.

a reply to: Peeple

What else could they find?

Time will tell but we will be the last to know.

originally posted by: Peeple
a reply to: OtherSideOfTheCoin

The problem with this is: how do you want to prove Russia is behind it? No witnesses, all public places, it's basically impossible.

So there are two whitenesses, Skripal and his daughter.

Now its been reported that only the Russians know how to make this specific nerve agent, and again, Russia have motive, means and have done this previously it all adds up to waiting a picture that this was most likely the Russians.

As for evidence, in the UK most evidence is kept secret until the case goes to court, the UK government is also very secretive about the activities of the intelligence services so its unlikely they will publicly release any actual hard proof.

Saying that however, I really don't think the UK Gov would make such a serious accusation without being confident that they were correct.

originally posted by: Peeple
a reply to: OtherSideOfTheCoin

The problem with this is: how do you want to prove Russia is behind it? No witnesses, all public places, it's basically impossible.

You look at the chemical and analyze the isotopes of each atom. Carbon-12 vs. Carbon-14, Nitrogen-12 vs 13 vs 14., and so one. Given a large enough sample, you can build up a ratio profile of all of these isotopes of each element. That gives you a nice big bar chart you can compare against past samples of known chemicals that were analyzed previously. So you'll know which chemical plant made what.

Same way they can identify a car that was involved in crash from a few samples of scratched paint, even though the original car is no longer present. Analyze the paint, find out who made the paint, who they sold it to, which car manufacturing plants used that paint and when. That gives a range of serial numbers, trace down the dealers and who bought those cars from them. Then eliminate suspects.

I sure hope the US and the UK have specific intelligence that goes well beyond, 'the Russians used to make the stuff, so they must be guilty'. Frankly, I don't think we could handle another WMD/Iraq moment.

Meanwhile, I posted this info in another thread:

Vil Myrzayanov (the inventor) published the Novichok formulas in a book he wrote before 2009. Even now, you can buy it off Amazon for under $30.

He even talks about his decision to publish the formulas in his book on youtube.



So it seems to me that the potential for other state, or well funded, actors to cook this stuff up is high.

Here is what he said about it a day ago:

Dr Mirzayanov said that novichok, which means "newcomer", can be made from two separate compounds similar to chemicals used in agriculture, and which crucially are not on the chemical weapons convention banned list.

In that way, he said, novichok could be transported to the site of an attack in its constituent parts without detection, and once assembled the tiny micro particles could easily be deployed using an aerosol, spray, liquid or wipe.

He thinks it is likely that the attack was carried out using a spray, which maximises the chances of a victim getting the nerve agent on their skin and also inhaling it.

Dr Mirzayanov described the secret development of the powerful nerve agent as "a plot against the world" designed to maintain chemical weapons capability without having to declare it to the international community.

Link.

a reply to: gortex

Why is the US getting involved with an internal Russia matter? We always complain that they interfere with us and tell them to lay off.

a reply to: Xcalibur254

MH-17 was rebells. All evidence clearly shows it was rebells. They're pro russia but not officially under control of russia.
A spy tends to have more contacts than just the countries they work for or they would be useless.
Besides Skripal endangered and harmed many individuals, this could also be a private person with good contacts seeking revenge.

a reply to: carewemust

The use of chemical weapons is illegal under a multilateral treaty so it is incumbent on all nations to stand against their use.

originally posted by: gortex
a reply to: carewemust

The use of chemical weapons is illegal under a multilateral treaty so it is incumbent on all nations to stand against their use.

Interestingly apparently the Russians created Novichok to try to get around the restrictions and protections of those same laws.