The Skripal Poisoning - A Very Deep British Affair

[Peter Lemkin]

I'm a cynical bugger and due to this I always am inclined to think the worse, more often than not anyway.

In the case of the Skripal poisoning, an early thought was that Theresa McCain was in serious trouble over Brexit with headlines bombarding her relentlessly. Then along came the Skripal's and for three weeks almost wall-to-wall coverage of that story with Brexit relegated to a barely noticed second place.

Following her recent meetings with the EU and the Brexit transitional agreement - and the EU's agreement to adopt her curious language that it is "highly likely" that Russia is to blame for the alleged Novichok attack, the Skripal affair gets barely a passing mention today.

Cynical, as I said. But it's another working hypothesis for this affair. But I have another also, namely deflection, because the Skripal's have certainly been poisoned with something very nasty and blaming Russia might be the easy way out of something far larger and far more murkier. Apparently almost every one of the 14 suspicious deaths of Russians in the UK over past years have been directly or indirectly connected to Boris Berezovsky. I find that astonishing. In the last analysis I can't shake the sense that these deaths are connected to London's Russian emigre community - and since these fine fellows have paid (sorry, "donated to") the Conservative Party the odd few million quid in the last few years, the last thing the government would want to do is highlight that their beholden to a bunch of crooked mafiosi. Better to blame the ever-green nassy ol' Putin.

But that's just me. Cynical as I say.

Below an article from Off Guardian that discusses the blood test and Craig Murray's highlighting of the words "closely related agent". The article carries this para:

"[FONT=&amp]If the words "closely related agent" refer merely to the presence of an organophosphate nerve agent in the Skripals' bodies this is distortion of a truly criminal nature.[/FONT]"

Well not truly criminal perhaps, but I note that "truly lying" in a staggering and guiltless manner is simply standard operating procedure for many of the self-enriching jar specimens who somehow manage to pass as ordinary humans in the Mother of all Parliaments.

Skripal case: "closely related agent" claim closely examined

[FONT=&amp]The "Approved Judgement" issued yesterday by Mr Justice Williams ruling in the case of the Skripals in the High Court contains a disturbing admission of deception on the part of the May government

As Craig Murray has already observed, the wording in the Approved Judgement issued by Mr Justice May on March 22, makes it clear the UK government's claim, first made on March 8, to have conclusively identified the alleged "nerve agent" as being an indicator of Russian state involvement, is a lie. This is what the Judgement says:

[FONT=&amp]i) CC: Porton Down Chemical and Biological Analyst Blood samples from Sergei Skripal and Yulia Skripal were analysed and the findings indicated exposure to a nerve agent or related compound. The samples tested positive for the presence of a Novichok class nerve agent or closely related agent.[/FONT]

Murray correctly points out that the emphasised words (his emphasis) categorically show the UK has, at best, made only a very general identification of the agent involved as being "related" to what it terms "novichok."

[FONT=&amp]This sworn Court evidence direct from Porton Down is utterly incompatible with what Boris Johnson has been saying. The truth is that Porton Down have not even positively identified this as a "Novichok", as opposed to "a closely related agent". Even if it were a "Novichok" that would not prove manufacture in Russia, and a "closely related agent" could be manufactured by literally scores of state and non-state actors.[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]This constitutes irrefutable evidence that the government have been straight out lying to Parliament, to the EU, to NATO, to the United Nations, and above all to the people about their degree of certainty of the origin of the attack….As the government has sought to whip up jingoistic hysteria in advance of forthcoming local elections, the scale of the lie has daily increased.[/FONT]

This is absolutely true, as we'll show below.
WHAT DO THE WORDS "CLOSELY RELATED AGENT" ACTUALLY MEAN?

Organophosphates?
In theory the words "closely related agent" could mean as little as the fact they have identified an organophosphate type of nerve agent, of which the alleged "novichoks" are a heretofore theoretical class.
The two main organophosphate nerve agents in common use, Sarin and VX and their cousins, are what is known as the "G-series"

[FONT=&amp]the G-series of organophosphate nerve agents, developed in Germany[/FONT]

and V-series

[FONT=&amp]The V-series of organophosphate nerve agents developed in the UK[/FONT]

None of these are "novichoks". They were NOT developed in Russia, but in Germany and the UK respectively.
The presence of G-series or V-series organophosphate nerve agents in the Skripals' bodies would have zero implications of Russian involvement. In fact, given that Russia's "declared chemical weapon stockpiles" were certified to have been eliminated by the OPCW in 2017, they should probably be seen as one of the less likely sources for a known nerve agent, behind countries such as the United States, who, unlike Russia, still have officially recognised stocks of organophosphate nerve agents.
If the words "closely related agent" refer merely to the presence of an organophosphate nerve agent in the Skripals' bodies this is distortion of a truly criminal nature.
The only non-dishonest usage of the words "closely related agent" in this context would mean they have isolated some form of hitherto unknown compound that has a chemical structure more similar to "novichoks" than to Sarin, VX or their close relatives. But would even this truly point exclusively to Russia in the way claimed by Boris Johnson?
novichoks?
Novichoks, or the "N-series" are a "new" class of organophosphate nerve agents. Unlike the G-series and V-series, they were developed by the Soviet Union in the middle 20th century. Until they were synthesised by Iran in 2016 (under OPCW observation) these so-called "N-series" poisons were known as only as a theory and widely regarded as unpromising for future research.
Let's assume the highly non-specific wording in the High Court ruling to indicate that "N-series" (novichok) type substances have been detected in the Skripals' bodies.
This still does in no way determine Russian involvement. Since their alleged original development in the Soviet Union last century, the theoretical structure of these "novichoks" has been freely available information, obtainable through Amazon, and it's therefore more than possible they have been synthesised in any number of facilities around the world beside Iran.
Some undeclared "marker"?
Even if we go one step further in the benefit of the doubt and accept there is some undeclared marker that permits scientists at Porton Down, at incredibly short notice, to perfectly identify this agent as being of Russian manufacture, even that unlikely eventuality would fall short of the kind of proof of Russian state involvement that Boris Johnson and others in the UK government have been proclaiming. Before being justified in accusing a sovereign government of direct involvement one would have to rule out the possibility that such an agent had been illegally acquired by non-state agencies. This would be a lengthy process involving the OPCW and other international bodies.
As we all know, the UK made no attempt to do even this basic amount of investigation, and certainly couldn't have conducted and concluded such an investigation in less than four days.
In short, the ruling cited above, even if read in the most improbably forgiving way possible, shows the UK government does not have the information to warrant any of the claims it has so far made about Russian state involvement in the alleged poisoning of the Skripals. It shows the UK government is currently guilty of lying to Parliament, to the British people, and to the world.
And that isn't even taking into consideration the statement of Stephen Davies, the Salisbury Hospital consultant who claimed in a letter to the Times that "no patients have experienced symptoms of nerve agent poisoning in Salisbury." If those words are literally true and not a result of careless writing, the lie is astronomically greater than anyone is yet suggesting[/FONT]

[FONT=&amp]
[/FONT]

Just to be perfectly accurate 'closely related' would include many commercial and home-approved insecticides and related anti-'vermin' agents - they too are organophosphates with very little difference in chemistry from the G series and only one more small step from the V series. There may well be others beyond the V series that are secret, and only known to national chemical warfare organizations and their sister intelligence agencies - about 15 countries have their own labs and many others just buy and store that made/sold by others....despite the UN treaty [which DID likely get rid of LARGE stockpiles - but not small amounts or the chemicals ready to produce any given agent on demand, as needed.

I just realized I have a textbook on Chemical and Biological Warfare Agents [recent] and it covers Novichuk agents too....to much info to cut and paste here...but here are general organophosphate symptoms:

1.7.3 Signs and Symptoms
1.7.3.1 Vapors/Aerosols
Pinpointing of pupils (miosis) and extreme nasal discharge (rhinorrhea) may be the first
indications of exposure. Miosis usually indicates exposure to vapors or aerosols unless the
individual has had liquid agent in or around their eyes. The casualty may also experience
difficulty in breathing with a feeling of shortness of breath or tightness of the chest. In
cases of exposure to high-vapor concentrations, the gastrointestinal tract may be affected
producing vomiting, urination, or defecation. Inhalation of lethal amounts of nerve agent
can cause loss of consciousness and convulsions in as little as 30 seconds, followed by
cessation of breathing and flaccid paralysis after several more minutes.
In contrast to either the G-series orV-series agents, the observable signs and symptoms of
exposure to the GV-series agents are more insidious and tend to be very mild and transient.
Even convulsions occurring just prior to death are usually milder than with G-series or
V-series agents.
1.7.3.2 Liquids/Solids
General signs and symptoms of small to moderate exposure include localized sweating,
nausea, vomiting, involuntary urination/defecation, and a feeling of weakness. The casualty
may also experience difficulty in breathing with a feeling of shortness of breath or
tightness of the chest. Vomiting and uncontrolled urination/defecation generally indicates
an exposure to liquid or solid agent and not just agent vapors. Miosis usually does not occur
unless the individual has had agent in or around their eyes. Exposure to a large amount of
agent causes copious secretions, loss of consciousness, convulsions progressing into flaccid
paralysis, and cessation of breathing.
In contrast to either the G-series or V-series agents, the observable signs and symptoms
of exposure to the GV-series agents are more insidious and tend to be very mild and
transient. Even convulsions occurring just prior to death are usually milder. In addition,
the progression of typical signs and symptoms of exposure to cholinesterase inhibiting
substances may be atypical.

Decontaminate the casualty ensuring that all nerve agents have been removed. If nerve
agents have gotten into the eyes, irrigate the eyes with water or 0.9% saline solution
for at least 15 minutes. Irrigate open wounds with water or 0.9% saline solution for at
least 10 minutes. However, do not delay treatment if thorough decontamination cannot be
undertaken immediately.
Once the casualty has been decontaminated, including the removal of foreign matter
from wounds, medical personnel do not need to wear a chemical-protective mask.
Ventilate the patient. There may be an increase in airway resistance due to constriction
of the airway and the presence of secretions. If breathing is difficult, administer oxygen. As
soon as possible administer of atropine alone or in combination with pralidoxime chloride
(2-PAMCl) or other appropriate oxime. Diazepam may be required to prevent or control
severe convulsions. If diazepam is not administered within 40-minutes postexposure, then
its effectiveness at controlling seizures is minimal.
Over time, the nerve agent enzyme complex undergoes an irreversible biochemical
decomposition known as aging. After aging occurs, the nerve agent molecule can no longer
be removed fromthe enzyme by treatment with an oxime. The rate of aging is dependent on
the chemical structure of the specific nerve agent and ranges fromseveral minutes to several
days. Soman (C01-A003) ages in about 2 minutes, making treatment for exposure to this particular
agent difficult. The former Soviet Union is reported to have developed other agents
that age rapidly, but the specific agents have not been identified in unclassified literature.

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If the UN group will name the exact agent, this text will give pages and pages of details on its properties and action, decontamination, antidotes - if any, etc.