To think surely the CIA etc must have looked at assassinating Putin?

[Sortilege]

That must have been one possibility they’ve explored since he invaded Ukraine, right? Even if it’s been judged impossible.

Now Russia is notching up talk of nuclear war. It must be something they’re scoping out, or have I read and watched too many thrillers?

I just keep wondering what twist will come next,

YANBU = Could happen
YABU = State sponsored assassination is not something any power or agency would resort to.

Just me and my thrillers then. 😁

I suspect they have credible evidence that he’s not long for this world due to whatever illness or an internal coup. And Lavrov
talking about nuclear war is most likely just sabre rattling.

Of course they've considered it. But they couldn't get Castro and they won't get Putin. He's ex-KGB in a bunker with no obvious points of weakness. He's not going anywhere, doing anything or letting anyone near him.

He's Teflon.

Even if they did, there will be someone prepared to step up and take his place. Power (especially if that magnitude) is hard to resist.

Anyone who did step up would. It's likely have similar aims to Putin. Surrending to Ukraine/NATO forces and agreeing to terms would be seen as a sign of weakness and most likely that new leader would be overthrown. A destabilised Russia is probably just as dangerous as a Putin controlled Russia.

Rather than utilise nuclear weapons, I think we will see some attempted assassinations sanctioned by Russia on high profile individuals. Threatening nuclear attacks is "willy waving" on a grand scale ......it cannot end well for any country or leader.

Of course it will be considered but assassinating another country's head of state is an act of war, so it would be an extreme last resort in utterly desperate circumstances, likely after a global war has already started and there is nothing further left to lose.

If you want to avoid a nuclear war, not starting a war usually helps.

Can I ask why the CIA? Why not MI6, Why not the secret military of a dozen other countries?

I always think there must be someone close to the war leaders who can be turned. It must be scary to be in the bunker knowing the worst that could happen.

Recruiting someone and getting it done are probably two different things, though, admittedly.

Official agencies simply can't kill him. It would need to be a citizen gone rogue and they'd have to get to him first.

Although I must admit I'm surprised Zelensky is still alive.

This is why Bond films etc are total fantasy.

Setting aside the moral argument, I would imagine doing something like that would be unacceptably risky in global stability and political terms. Not only in how it is done, but also what comes after. The power vacuum created by something like that would be unpredictable and highly unstable.

I don't think that supposedly civilised countries should be contemplating 'whacking' other heads of state, even if those heads of state are warmongers.

I did put “etc” in to cover everyone but I think of the CIA as the most ruthless, I suppose, maybe because quite a lot has come out about some of their previous activities, such as their repeated attempts on Castro’s life, as PP referenced.

Haven’t MI6 managed to keep their activities darker? I know either 5 or 6 did admit to extra-judicial killing at one point, but no specifics. (I didn’t dream that, did I?)

I was imagining the CIA helping someone close to him to do it, I think. They must always recruit or work with locals for the dark stuff?

I’m obviously far too vague for espionage!

Yes, that’s what’s concerning about it. I keep thinking there might be an attempt - I can’t imagine it hasn’t at least been looked at - and then wondering how seriously any agency would try, and how likely that they’d succeed, and what would come next….

I don’t imagine it’s that likely, but I wondered what everyone else thought.

Unfortunately, it’s looking like rocky times ahead whatever happens.

@Sortilege You watched "Anna" the other night didn't you?

I doubt it even crossed their minds, what do you think would happen if it got back to Russia that the CIA etc killed Putin?

They probably have. Same as Russia has probably looked at assassinating western figureheads. It’s easier said than done though, and the short and long term ramifications have to be considered. Take out Putin, the head of a nuclear state, but who replaces him? What does it mean for international relations? You think China, India etc are going to be particularly happy? What’s the payback likely to be? What of the safety of diplomats and intelligence agents abroad?

It’s never as simple as just killing one man.

Putin himself is ex KGB. He knows precautions for take, and you can be sure he’s got the FSB and SVR looking at even the smallest threat against him.

I feel like he is a robot already. He reminds me Yul Brynner in Westworld, that robot that KEEPS GOING.

No wonder he’s not afraid of nuclear war, underneath his latex skin layer, he is made of scrapped vintage Lada’s (a shit 80’s car for the young un’s)

I expect my laced radioactive burger to arrive any day now for this comments.

Can I ask why the CIA? Why not MI6, Why not the secret military of a dozen other countries?

Because they have very well-documented form for it. And the US has been the most recently successful in buggering around with other people's countries in recent years.

They took it from the UK's example but the student surpassed the teacher decades ago.

And achieve what? Who would replace him? The Russians need to sort this out themselves. He's not going to live forever.

No. I didn’t. What is it? Sounds like I should. 😄

I thought an agreement was made many years ago not to do this to heads of countries h. Arafat was a tempting target and the order was given to leave him be

I think it will be one of his own who will eventually take him out, probably only ones who could close enough

There were attempts on Arafat's life though.

That ridiculously long table he is so fond of is less about Covid and more about keeping potentially disaffected minions far enough away that his bodyguards would get to him before they did, IMO. These (apparently frequently changed, every few days) bodyguards are realistically the only people who could get close enough, I think, at least for the foreseeable.

Pity, as there would be extensive queues of volunteers.

I hadn’t heard about that.

Although since the whole Guantanamo bay and extraordinary rendition business, I’m quite sceptical about international agreements or even international law being adhered to, especially by the Americans.

I’m astonished that Trump survived for four years and he’d have been a lot easier for a rogue CIA agent to take out.