False Flags

Folks this time let me give you a glimpse into the dark deceptions that run amok in the shadowy circles of espionage. Alexei Navalny, the most prominent Russian opposition leader was hospitalised after a possible exposure to a nerve agent just like the Skripal (the assassination attempt on ex-KGB agent who defected that happened in Britain) and the infamous Litvinenko who accidentally ingested radioactive substance that was slipped into his tea by Russian operatives (pun intended). Now from recent discussions with someone knowledgeable (who happens to be my dad,LOL) people opposed to Putin have an uncannily high chance of dying from exotic poisons. The 'preponderance of probability' also suggests that attempt on Navalny's life may have been a move to solidify the power of Putin. But this incident requires a closer inspection due to the current geopolitical situation :-

1. Russia is becoming more assertive, challenging western powers and reemerging as superpower albeit at a much smaller scale than USSR.

2. Ukraine which has been locked in a bitter battle for Crimea also sees Russia as a threat.

3. China which is increasingly becoming isolated from the world requires Russian support and what better way to attain closer relationship with Russia than to push a wedge between Russia and the west, exacerbating already a tense situation.

I explained all this just so that you may understand that by murdering the Russian opposition leader other actors stand to gain far from it than Russia or her president. This would be an ideal false flag operation (an operation done covertly to smear the reputation of a perceived enemy). Now though my dad staunchly opposes my arguments I still stick to them. False flag operations can be considered as the bread and butter of spy and/or criminal organisations as it achieves the dual purpose of claiming victimisation as well as weakening the outlook towards an enemy at global stage.

We ourselves have been victims of false flag operations from Pakistan. ISI is notorious for conducting low intensity blasts in Baluchistan region and is known for shifting the blame on India for it's alleged covert support to separatists and terrorists inside their country. We have been time and again taken to United Nation by them crying wolf that we Indians are not saints (maybe we really are not... who knows!).

Now before I conclude I want you to take a closer look at the image depicted above. The person in the image wears a formal suit that let us assume signifies an intelligence agent and has a lapel pin of United States of America but also has a cuff-link of Soviet Union. Can you for sure say where his/her allegiance lies, because I can't. Now that is the level of murkiness associated with espionage.