Yeah. On the other hand obvious is much more intimidating. It wouldn't be the first time intimidation trumps subtlety for the Kremlin. It's been the MO of many of their governments and Putins as well for example polonium tea.
On the flipside, it must be noted that Boris Nemtsov was also a governor during the disastrous Yeltsin years. Appointed by Yeltsin. He's not popular in Russia. He was a has-been, trying to keep his profile up by being more and more anti-Putin.
And his death is already being used for political purposes.
One has to ask the question, is Putin the worst chess player of all time? Or is there more to this story?
Yushchenko - 'poisoned', leads to a revolution in which western interests take over.
Maidan protesters shot - leads to a revolution in which western interests take over.
Nemtsov shot - leads to an anti-Putin media barrage, and more interest in a march that is a regular, albeit not particularly significant event. Suddenly more significant today.
It's not that Putin is a bad chess player, just that western interests are better. Maiden shootings were started by someone manipulating protesters, the police were dying and felt forced to react. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/05/ukraine-bugged-...
I suspect similar actions may be true in the other cases. I mean do you think Putin, a very shrewd politician who have risen into the halls of power through cunning, is stupid?
Murder is always tragic, no matter who is behind it. I think this murder is extra tragic because the death of Nemtsov is being used for political causes. Disrespectful.
Oh, come on. He was a politician, and whatever the murky details that will come to light are, his assassination is almost certainly a deeply political act.
It's as idiotic as saying "criticism of Bush for invading Iraq is clearly political" or "Republicans are opposing Obama for political reasons."
And his death is already being used for political purposes.
One has to ask the question, is Putin the worst chess player of all time? Or is there more to this story?
Yushchenko - 'poisoned', leads to a revolution in which western interests take over.
Maidan protesters shot - leads to a revolution in which western interests take over.
Nemtsov shot - leads to an anti-Putin media barrage, and more interest in a march that is a regular, albeit not particularly significant event. Suddenly more significant today.
I suspect similar actions may be true in the other cases. I mean do you think Putin, a very shrewd politician who have risen into the halls of power through cunning, is stupid?
"If they'd cover it on TV news, it's probably off-topic."
https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
It's as idiotic as saying "criticism of Bush for invading Iraq is clearly political" or "Republicans are opposing Obama for political reasons."