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Early last week the Skripal Affair emerged the Memory Hole just long enough to pique viewer curiosity, and reiterate the anti-Russia meme, naturally.
On October 4th, seven months to the day of the now infamous Salisbury poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal, Dutch Defence Minister, Ank Bijleveld held a press conference to announce the April 13th arrest of four Russian agents in the Hague, near the offices of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the body investigating the case.
As for why her ministry would make the “highly unusual” announcement, and do so nearly six months after the fact, the minister says it was necessary to:
“[S]end a clear message to the Russian military intelligence service that it must put a stop to its undermining cyber operations.”
John Helmer is a long-time, Moscow-based journalist, author, and essayist whose website, Dances with Bears is the only Russian-based news bureau “independent of single national or commercial ties.” He’s also a former political science professor who’s served as advisor to governments on three continents, and regularly lectures on Russian topics. His book titles include: ‘Uncovering Russia,’ ‘Urbanman: The Psychology of Urban Survival,’ ‘Bringing the War Home: The American Soldier in Vietnam and After,’ and ‘Drugs and Minority Oppression’, among others.
His latest article, ‘Tail Wags Dog – Did the Swiss Spiez Laboratory Report Uncovered by Russian Espionage Expose the OPCW, British Government in Faking Skripal Evidence?‘ questions both the motive and timing of the Dutch announcement.
John Helmer in the first half.
And; the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales are now reduced to only 74 members.
Gregg McElroy is with the Canadian Orca Rescue Society, and the long-time environmental frontline activist says something must be done, and done now to save the Southern Resident Orca and their habitat. With that in mind, he and the Society launched a 17 Day Vigil last week to emphasize the urgency of the situation and marshal support.
Gregg McElroy and standing for the Orca in the second half.
And; Victoria-based activist and CFUV Radio broadcaster at-large, Janine Bandcroft will be here at the bottom of the hour with this week’s Left Coast Events Bulletin of some of the good things to be gotten up to in and around our town in the coming week. But first, John Helmer and spinning the Skripal tale in the Netherlands.
Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing live every Thursday between 11-Noon Pacific Time. In Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: http://cfuv.uvic.ca. He also serves as a contributing editor to the web news site, http://www.pacificfreepress.com. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.ca/
