Radiation Traces Found On U.K. Planes

Authorities Searching For Spy-Death Clues Find Radiation, Appeal To Passengers To Come Forward

(CBS/AP)  Media reports in Britain and Russia on Wednesday said that Litvinenko had been engaged in smuggling nuclear substances out of Russia.

The Independent newspaper reported that Litvinenko told Scaramella on the day he fell ill that he had organized the smuggling of nuclear material for his former employers at Russia's Federal Security Service, or FSB. The newspaper reported that Litvinenko said he had smuggled radioactive material to Zurich in 2000.

But Scaramella told the AP that he had been misquoted by the newspaper.

"He (Litvinenko) wanted to see me because he knew about smuggling of nuclear material, but as far as I know he was never involved in nuclear smuggling," he said.

London police say they are investigating the case as a "suspicious death" rather than murder, although they have devoted a large anti-terrorist force to the investigation.

Scaramella said he had been cleared of any involvement in the 43-year-old former spy's death.

"Let me take the opportunity to say that I'm not under investigation by any British authority," he said. "I am cooperating with them (the police)." Police declined to say whom they had spoken to.

Scaramella said he showed Litvinenko e-mails from a confidential source identifying the possible killers of Russian investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya and listing other potential targets for assassination — including himself and Litvinenko.

Following Litvinenko's death, more than 1,100 people called a health hot line over concerns they might be at risk from polonium poisoning, which is deadly in tiny amounts if ingested or inhaled. Sixty-eight have been referred to health authorities, the Health Protection Agency said — including the 49 hospital staffers.

Eight have been referred to a special clinic as a precaution. The tests should take about a week.

Traces of radiation have been found at six sites visited by Litvinenko.

A coroner will perform an autopsy on Litvinenko on Friday, "subject to appropriate precautions," in a bid to pin down the cause and circumstances of the death, said the local authority responsible, Camden Council.

Doctors had sought expert advice on whether Litvinenko's radioactive body posed a threat to the doctors and technicians performing the post-mortem.

A coroner's inquest will be opened Thursday and then adjourned until the police investigation is complete, the council said.

[alphaa10-2009]

Bob_Burd said, "I have no doubt that there are thousands of warheads stashed away somewhere to be used for this purpose, maybe already primed and ready to roll..."
---

The specter of "recycled" warheads was the nightmare of armaments control officials under Clinton and Bush, post-Cold War. Formerly well-paid Soviet technocrats knew how to obtain access to germ warfare labs and weapons-grade nuclear material, and our security dangled by a thread.

One of the wisest actions Clinton ever took was to authorize regular "maintenance" payments to these personnel and create better security for the old installations.

We have few details about how that program of assistance has worked out, but can presume there are leaks in every system. The problem is only one leak is required for a disaster.

The only consolation is, had the Iranians been that eager to acquire a nuclear weapon and had bought some of the Cold War contraband, why have they gone to such risk with their own uranium purification program? The Iranian program indicates the nuclear material has not diffused as widely as some fear-- but I would not want to bet all of it is contained.

[grazinggoat]

A bit of radioactivity, bushducks...
Would I send my wife to this war? You might ask would I send her to WW-II? Or Vietnam? Maybe you would distinguish those conflicts and whether you would send your wife to fight in them. But that question is directed in a very important way: I cannot command my wife, she does me. I have no choice. So the better question would be: would I, BushDucks21, volunteer to fight in Iraq, WW II, Vietnam? Would I volunteer BushDucks21 to fight in any war? Respond if drafted? I don%u2019t know. To a hypothetical question, I can answer, NO. And I have nightmares of battle (from my past life as a Hamburgerbite). So how do I feel toward those who do volunteer? Impressed and maturely knowing that many things go into their decision. But I do strongly believe that a country that can't find those women is doomed. The fact that we can find them is one reason why I say there is a failure in Iraq. Objectively, I also believe it for other reasons. An attempt to establish theocracy in the Middle East is a poor, ailing, dispecable effort, for sure a failure. That's why I greatly disrespect and shame those who have made the attempt--the Walkig-Liar administration. They have been resolute, something I have not seen in my lifetime. They may not succeed, for reasons within their control or fault: traitors on the home front being a big one. Now we traitors have apparently occupied the high ground. Yet... we're still in Iraq. Why?...I'm waiting, and for longtime.
bushducks1

Everyone of us that owns a smoke detector has some kind of radiation in our homes, there is a small radioactive chip inside each one, (take one apart and see for yourself) its not enough to hurt you but enough that it can be detected. they never did say what the level was

[nothappyatall]

Wrongo, this guy was an ex KGB SPY, he built up a repertoir of enemies in his career and one of them decided he had to go bye bye, so he did.

[bob_burd]

It's just a little germ warfare litmus test, ordered by Soviet President Putin to test the waters....the results are in and he is likely very pleased.

Now he'll put his scientists to work researching ways to use these positive results in designing a major attack. Islamic terrorists like Hezbollah, supported by Iran and Syria, will likely be the pawns used to undertake a large-scale attack, likely on Israel.

I have no doubt that there are thousands of warheads stashed away somewhere to be used for this purpose, maybe already primed and ready to roll. They just have to teach the Hezbollah goons to properly aim a rocket first.

Selah