Skripal

Of Michael Hudson – Michael Palmieri
The economic background behind Skripal's poisoning.
Source: Comedonchisciotte
Left Out, a podcast produced by Paul Sliker, Michael Palmieri and Dante Dallavalle, hosts in-depth conversations with the most interesting political thinkers and heterodox left-wing economists.
The Hudson Report is a new weekly series, with legendary economist Michael Hudson. In each episode we tackle an economic or political issue that has been ignored – or much debated – in the press that week.
In this episode we discuss the economic and political implications of the attempted assassination of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal. We also mention the long history of collaboration between Russian oligarchs and Western banks, and how this fits into the broader neoliberal project pursued after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Michael Palmieri: Professor Hudson, Welcome back to the third episode of The Hudson Report. It's a pleasure to have you here.
Michael Hudson: Thanks for the invitation.
Michael Palmieri: At that time, In the last week a lot has been read about the case of Sergei Skripal and his daughter. It is said that Russian intelligence attempted to poison him, he who was a double agent of British intelligence. Although much of the media has already condemned Russia, she has a different perspective. So could you explain to us what is happening? Read More

Of Marcello Foa
Putin is indeed guilty? Something just doesn't add up in the Skripal case
Source: Marcello Foa
We are really sure that the Russians were the ones who poisoned the former spy Skripal and his daughter? Allow me to raise more than one doubt by carefully examining the news that has come out so far. The points that don't add up are these:
Primo. What is the motive? What is the interest in Putin? Let me explain: everyone recognizes the Russian president's great sagacity in calibrating his moves. He excels in both strategy and tactics. We have long known that the United States (which drive Europe) they are engaged in an operation to wear down the Kremlin aimed at obtaining a realignment towards pro-American positions, which can only be achieved with certainty through a change of regime or with Putin's exit from the scene. Since a colored revolt is unfeasible, the scenario is to make the weight of sanctions and international isolation unsustainable, causing Russian elites to rebel against the newly re-elected president.
In this context, every pretext is used to unnerve or weaken Putin. Knowing the end goal, you have to ask yourself: but what interest did the Russian president have in trying to eliminate a former spy, however out of the picture, resorting to the most spectacular of assassination attempts, the only one that - after the pollonio affair - the whole world would have attributed to the Kremlin? You will agree: it doesn't make sense. Diplomatically it would have been suicide, because it would have offered the West an opportunity for a further anti-Russian campaign, which in fact occurred promptly. No, Putin is not the leader to make these mistakes. Read More