Novichok

[Quizmonster]

In a previous response https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question1599825-2.html about Novichok at 16.33 on March 29th, I wrote the following sentence:
“I feel sure that Russia is very far from being the only country capable of producing it, despite apparent support for the Maybot.”
Now, we learn that the scientists at Porton Down, who verified the poison, are saying the same thing!
See https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/apr/03/porton-down-experts-unable-to-verify-precise-source-of-novichok as a link.
And, in that link-material, there is the priceless statement by (quote) ‘a government spokesman’,
“It is our assessment that Russia was responsible for this brazen and reckless act and, as the international community agrees, there is no other plausible explanation.”
I’m sure that was the same basic response as the one used by the leaders of any of history’s lynch-mobs! Or is this just an illustration of Tory logic?

[ludwig]

dannyk //
jno.// Unfortunately, the evidence doesn’t seem to say that.//.
How do you know what the evidence is? None of the evidence presented has been published.
//

Some people want the Russians to have not done it.

I'm not sure what anyone would stand to gain by deliberately picking a fight with Russia by accusing them of something like this without any evidence. I honestly can't think of a single reason.

[ichkeria]

Quite, ludwig

[jno]

Dannyk, I haven’t seen the evidence, so that’s why I said “seems”. Porton Down however can’t find evidence proving that it was made in Russia, and I’m prepared to accept their word unless you know of any reason why I shouldn’t? I am less inclined to take the word of the government about other undisclosed evidence, having been lied to before.

[ichkeria]

You're right of course ellipsis.
The OP is based, I am afraid, on a misunderstanding, in part understandable due to a presentational error by the government.
Actually, if you read the interview by the chap from Porton Down he is not saying that Russia did not carry out this act. As a scientist he is bound to give a scientific assessment, and that assessment is that there is not the geographical fingerprint. He does say that only a state agent could have prepared this, and it seems that the government has known for some time where this stuff is being produced, and even that there have been trial runs of using it as an assassination weapon. It is for the government, not one department of it, to give an overall assessment, but if you asked Mr Akenhead who he thought was responsible I am sure he would give you a ready answer.

[Gromit]

// I don't see that more than 20 countries would take action based on the balance of probabilities, especially when those countries include the likes of Estonia, Ukraine and Hungary. //

You may not have noticed, but Russia and Ukraine are currently at war, and Estonia are on the verge of it. Hungary are very much a western EU partner having left their Soviet allegiances behind them years ago.

[sevenOP]

Good to see that appropriate rehearsals are being taken in this area:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/exercise-toxic-dagger-the-sharp-end-of-chemical-warfare

[ichkeria]

It certainly is.
And we disbanded our specialist brigade. Probably unwisely as it turns out.