Dec 20 2006
Who Is Scaramella?
This article on Scaramella, the man who met with Litvinenko for a 3:00 PM lunch at the Itsu sushi restaurant in Picadilly Circus, London, illustrates what a mystery this man is and how is background has all the signs of a covert agent. If there was an assassin, he would be a candidate. In a plausible scenario Litvinenko is poisoned by the very contraband he is peddling, as a way to send a message and expose the smuggling ring. Now that is a hybrid theory I could work myself up to believing. He also could be an agent for the West who was trying to get close to the smuggling ring and picked the wrong day to get lucky. Either way, the man is an enigma.
AJStrata,
“all the signs of a covert agent”
Yes, almost everyone in this case is a cloak and dagger type of some stripe or level — just figure out who they work for, and why.
Even if (or maybe especially if) you don’t ascribe to the assassination theory, it’s important to figure that out.
I don’t believe Scaramella played that big a role in the Litvinenko case and was sort of a parallel drama.
Apparently Scaramella got hold of a document that had his name (Scaramella’s) and other members of the Mitrokhin Commission members on it. Scaramella had, I believe, consulted with Litvinenko during the course of the commission’s dealings. Litvinenko, according to one report, seemed surprised at a couple of names that appeared on the list.
My guess would be the Scaramella was trying to find out who could have provided those other names to the KGB or whoever originated that hit list since my guess is those others were not members of the commission so their names had to have been provided by someone who knew who commission members were talking to.
What is odd is that I have so far heard two or three versions of what was on those documents. It doesn’t matter now, though, as I believe they are in the possession of Scotland Yard at this point. Whatever was on them is no mystery to the police, only to us.
That’s the problem with a lot of speculation on an investigation like this. One or two pieces of information that the police might already have could make the entire thing seem obvious and make our speculations look rather silly.
I am not hearing any public talk from the British that would lead me to believe they are upset with the Russian government, though, so that is a good sign. Most of the belligerent talk has come from the newspapers who probably “know” less than we do about this case.
I pick Door No 2 and always have.
What was in his e-mail?
It certainly caused Litvenenko to make some steps to billionaire boss Boris.
The “italian connection.” Shows up in Iraq, with Sgrena. (Remember her? The happy hostage? “Saved” by italy’s top #1 spy? Trusted with “da millions?”) And, then “accidently” shot as he and Sgrena are making a race to the airport. To catch a Jet. That had an AMERICAN COLONEL at standby. To brush off anyone following the car, that may have head questions. (Instead, tip-top guy shot on way to airport. Without bullet marks on the car!) Gosh. Those Italians!
And, who could forget the fake documents that showed up for Ambassador Wilson’s use? Gosh. Those Italians!
Of course, the Italians are NOT bungle proof!
And, why is everyone sure the contraband was polonium? If anything this “gang” handled it only a few times. But they were used to “sending stuff.” I’m sure a lot of it less deadly. But very profitable.
Ya know something about wholesale? It’s ALWAYS more than one item on the shelf. By definition “to wholesale,” to to be at the juncture where lots of merchandise rolls on by. Some of it just knockoffs.
Ya know? Rolex watches aren’t the only thing copied and sold as “the real stuff.”
But one bang-up operation exposed a whole slew of people. (Even exploding money from banks, that sticks ink stains on ya; doesn’t get all the way to the top!)
I’d write off the Italians because they might have been a tool used. Or, like you say? Sacaramella had an appointment with destiny on a very bad day.
But what was in his e-mail? Was it once encrypted? And, he came with a copy of something most people never see with their eyes? How’d he get it? What would it have to say to make Litvenenko race to Boris?
While I still think, like JFK’s assassination, those that plotted it ended up leaving no fingerprints. And, those that knew about it? Maybe, even the umbrella man in Dealey Plaza? I bet they met with some very unconventional deaths. Doesn’t prove the “one bullet” theory, though.
His name certainly sounds like one of the ‘baddies’ from a bond movie
I I wonder now that certain quarters are pushing the smuggling by lilitvinenko story, was the meeting contrived to be used as part of the story at a later date. Maybe without his knowledge.
“In a plausible scenario Litvinenko is poisoned by the very contraband he is peddling, as a way to send a message and expose the smuggling ring. Now that is a hybrid theory I could work myself up to believing.”
I put that one forward on Dec. 9, AJ, but you didn’t like it then… 🙂 The thing about frauds, “soap bubbles”, wanna-be’s and know-nothings is that they can be manipulated very easily. They can be fed false information to muddy the waters, but they are often more than eager to get involved in the ‘real thing’, even if they don’t know exactly what they are doing or who has told them to do it – and the fact that they aren’t taken seriously provides a good cover in itself.
Interesting that Scaramella, like Kovtun, was supposed to have been contaminated with deadly amounts of radiation, then it turns out they’re just fine.