3 ms·
The changes in technology since then have been dramatic. I can't imagine anyone suggesting a falling-block rifle as a suitable assassin's tool today, and poison
by presidentender 13y ago
The changes in technology since then have been dramatic. I can't imagine anyone suggesting a falling-block rifle as a suitable assassin's tool today, and poisoning an alcoholic with morphine seems like it would alert any coroner immediately.
- dfc 13y agoAlexander Litvinenko was poisoned in 2006. I'm not sure why you are focused on "alerting the coroner." The dead body is also a easy way to alert the coroner that somebody's life was taken. The same can be said for a slit throat, giant hole in skull, ligature marks, etc. I imagine that in most situations the goal is a covert assassination not a clandestine assassination.
- presidentender 13y agoLitvinenko's assassin used Polonium, which is an obvious and disfiguring poison. The article mentions using morphine to poison a drunkard in order that his death might be mistaken for the effects of habitual alcohol abuse. Aside from causing the death of the target, those two methods have almost entirely opposite goals.
- wavefunction 13y agoLitvinenko had supposedly gone to work for the UK. The fact that he "got got" in London was intended to be a big middle finger from the FSB to the UK, from what I've read.
- sliverstorm 13y agoThe suggestion of falling-block was most likely not about what is technologically advanced, but about accuracy and power. It is still true today that a falling-block has good characteristics in this regard, even though they are no longer used much. You could use this advice perfectly well today- "Gee, it seems like this gun store has no falling-block action, only bolt. Well, it said bolt-action was acceptable too!"