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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
3 reasons why the CIA will not order Putin's assassination
2022-12-18
[NY Post] As a former Defense Intelligence Agency officer specializing in Russia, I often am asked why the United States doesn’t just take out Vladimir Putin.

Russia’s president is clearly a bad dude. So far, in his barbaric 10-month war against Ukraine, Putin’s forces have bombed maternity wards, tortured civilians and abducted their children, shipping them to Russia by force. His missiles have pounded vital infrastructure, leaving Ukrainians without electricity or drinking water amid freezing winter temperatures.

His illegal invasion has also led to a global energy crisis and exacerbated skyrocketing inflation across the West. US leaders watch the conflict nervously, worried it could spiral into World War III.

For many, getting rid of Putin seems like an easy fix. But while the United States maintains a doctrine — albeit a secret one — that permits, in exceptional cases, targeted killings of foreigners, Washington will almost certainly not order the assassination of Russia’s strongman. Here are three reasons why.
Posted by:Frank G

#18  On the CIA assassination list Putin is probably lower priority than a few domestic targets.
Posted by: Airandee   2022-12-18 21:21  

#17  IMO most of the Oligarch 'accidents' are the various factions preparing for Life After Putin... Shaping the battlefield as it were.
Posted by: magpie   2022-12-18 16:55  

#16  
#7 ^ In a one-story house?
Posted by: Frank G 2022-12-18 08:55


"...That first one's a doozy."

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski   2022-12-18 13:52  

#15  Before assassinating Putin you need to assure that the replacement isn't worse. Their seems to be a deep well of Russian xenophobia that could bubble up a leader far less pragmatic.
Posted by: magpie   2022-12-18 13:51  

#14  The Russian or Putin challenge is one of yes, lack of control. A short primer of the Kennedy-Bush era follows:

The CIA was backing the leaders of eleven Latin American nations -- Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, and Venezuela.Once a friendly government was in power, a CIA station chief had five paths to maintain American influence over foreign leaders. "You become their foreign intelligence service." Polgar said. "They don't know what's going on in the world. So you give them a weekly briefing--doctored to meet their sensibilities. Money, definitely--that's always welcome. Procurement--toys, games, weapons, Training. And you can always take a group of officers to Fort Bragg or Washington--a wonderful holiday.

The MO has changed little, if at all in 60+ years.

Tim Weimer, 'Legacy of Ashes' the history of the CIA, Anchor Books, Copyright 2007, page 323.
Posted by: Besoeker   2022-12-18 13:50  

#13  /\ The line of potential domestically grown Putin assassins reaches twice around the Kremlin. If he could have been terminated, it would have happened long before now.
Posted by: Besoeker   2022-12-18 13:24  

#12  I've got $100 says the CIA couldn't even kill Putin's dog if they wanted to. Just a bunch of partisan hacks looking at your social media pics.
Posted by: Angstrom   2022-12-18 13:11  

#11  Ref #9: Only 1 reason that is relevant, "we" consider Putin to be an asset. All else follows.

"We" may not, but our Military Industrial Complex (MIC) sees him as a business development asset.

Serious international conflicts are getting difficult to come by.
Posted by: Besoeker   2022-12-18 09:50  

#10  U.S. Defense Contractors Sponsor D.C. Party for Ukrainian Forces Amid Ongoing War
Posted by: Skidmark   2022-12-18 09:35  

#9  Only 1 reason that is relevant, "we" consider Putin to be an asset. All else follows.
Posted by: Rex Mundi   2022-12-18 09:23  

#8  Because there's money to be made?

Putin is 'planning for a long war' and the West must continue to send arms to Ukraine until Russia 'cannot win on the battlefield', NATO chief says
Posted by: Skidmark   2022-12-18 09:07  

#7  ^ In a one-story house?
Posted by: Frank G   2022-12-18 08:55  

#6  Another Russian oligarch dies in mysterious circumstances: Tycoon, 50, suffers fatal head injury 'after falling down stairs while visiting friends in France'
Posted by: Skidmark   2022-12-18 08:55  

#5  Tit for Tat - President Harris in short order?
Posted by: Procopius2k   2022-12-18 08:51  

#4  'My country is being occupied by a terrorist gang' Leading Russian actress and poet Vera Polozkova brands Putin the 'main maniac of 21st century' and demands Moscow 'repents' for Ukraine war
Posted by: Skidmark   2022-12-18 08:39  

#3  Professional courtesy ?
Posted by: Besoeker   2022-12-18 08:19  

#2  Because it could start WW III, perhaps? Not that the deep state is averse to that, but they want it to happen on their terms.
Posted by: M. Murcek   2022-12-18 08:17  

#1  Russian mafia?
Posted by: Skidmark   2022-12-18 08:15  

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