Comment: So it has been a running joke gone public. 'A wink-winkle in time.'

Comment: What absurd declarations coming from Theresa May. There's nothing Russia can say to speak to the irrationality or the planned provocation of a blatant disinformation campaign against Russia. First of all, the same army base that is analyzing the nerve agent used on Skripal also makes the notoriously deadly nerve agent VK, and is just miles away from where the attack occurred. Second, it's plain ridiculous to think that a poison developed in the Soviet Union almost 30 years ago, couldn't have been obtained or manufactured by covert Western operations in the time since. Third, if Russia really were to take out a double agent, they wouldn't be leaving obvious fingerprints that trace back to them. Fourth, Skripal is a has-been spy. The UK already has all the intelligence they could have obtained from him. Fifth, the burden of proof is on Britain since it is making the accusation. The attempt on Skripal's life obviously does more for Western intelligence operations than for Russia.

See the Joe Quinn's Sott Focus for more information: MI5 Poisons Another Russian Asset to Smear Putin in Ongoing Propaganda War

Update: The Russian Foreign Ministry has rightly called the British parliament hearing a "circus show".

"The conclusion is obvious: this is another information and political campaign, based on provocation," said Maria Zakharova, commenting on the words of Theresa May.
...
"Before creating new fairy tales, let somebody in the kingdom tell us what was the result of the previous investigations into the Litvinenko, Berezovsky and Perepilichny cases," Zakharova suggested.

Zakharova's comments referenced three high-profile deaths which occurred in the UK and were blamed on Russia - despite zero evidence to this day.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov specifically addressed the case of Litvinenko on Friday, noting that the UK's finger-pointing at Moscow runs parallel to what happened in that case.

"I want to remind people that Litvinenko's death was also attributed to Russia, but hasn't been investigated, because court proceedings, which were called 'public,' were, in fact, closed. They were carried out in a very strange way, and numerous facts, which emerged throughout the investigation, haven't come into the public domain," the minister said.

Russian senator Igor Morozov warns that this could dramatically affect Russia-UK diplomatic relations:

"There are few precedents of such political pressure and blackmail, and all of them ended in one fashion - severance of diplomatic ties or their downgrade in the form of a recall of ambassadors," Russian Senator and intelligence veteran Igor Morozov said.

The accusations represent the "utmost disrespect" towards international law, since not even a trace of evidence, proof or fact was presented to link Skripal's case to Russia, Morozov said. Russia will wait to see the actions of London and will respond accordingly, the official warned.

"The British must realize that they will face a very stiff response from Russia, and our position will be restrained and adequate, but bold. We will see what the London move will be and respond to this challenge," Morozov added.

The head of the Federal Council committee tasked with protecting Russia's sovereignty, Senator Andrey Klimov, said that the whole situation around Skripal's case looks like a premeditated anti-Russia provocation. While the former double agent was of "no interest" to Russia, the incident is very convenient for foreign intelligence services, he stated.

"If the UK decides to expel Russian diplomats in connection with the Skripal case, Moscow's response will be adequate and swift, this situation as a whole looks like a well thought-out anti-Russian move," he said.

Comment: See Also:

• Iran Protests Through the Prism of Geopolitics
• Iranian media says Boris Johnson's gaffe was proof of 'cover-up' over jailed British woman

Comment: See also:

• Russian envoy to UN says Al-Nusra terrorists used chlorine chemicals in Eastern Ghouta while US ambassador to UN threatens that US will attack Syrian army
• Macron foolishly threatens to strike Syria if chemical weapons were used against civilians by Assad regime (they weren't)

Comment:

• Putin Delivers Landmark 'State of The Union' Speech: Puts The Smack Down on US, Shows Off Latest Russian Nuclear Weapons
• The Saker: Political implications of Russia's new weapons
• The implications of Russia's new weapon systems are still sinking in

Comment: McCain, Waters, Pelosi and a host of others well past their due date should just retire gracefully, while they can still (almost) put together a coherent sentence, and in Killary's case, possibly dodge jail time. They've inflicted themselves on the American electorate for long enough

• Crazy Maxine Waters short circuits on live TV
• Losing the plot: Nut case Maxine Waters says Putin, er, Pence needs to be impeached after Trump
• Pelosi melts down again - suffers 16 brain freezes in 15 minute presser
• Pelosi health questions? Appears dazed at NYC event - stops speaking, stares at audience
• Senator McFake: John McCain busted wearing medical walking boot on wrong (uninjured) leg for wedding photo
• Time to retire: McCain returns from Mayo Clinic to attack Trump in delusional 15 minute speech
• Lunatic McCain blames 'late night baseball game' for bizarre Comey questioning
• Bizarre behavior, seizure allegations: Questions multiply about Killary's health
• Clinton's story is unravelling, FBI reveals Hillary's inability to recall briefings due to "blood clot" and health problems

Comment: US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley just threatened that the US will strike Syrian government forces if they don't stop their operation against terrorists in the area.

"We also warn any nation that is determined to impose its will through chemical attacks and inhuman suffering, most especially the outlaw Syrian regime, the United States remains prepared to act if we must," Haley said.

The comment was made after the US diplomat said that the previous UN ceasefire resolution on Syria had "failed" accusing the Syrian government, Russia and Iran of this.

Haley also proposed a new UN ceasefure resolution:

"We have drafted a new ceasefire resolution that provides no room for evasion," Haley said. "It is simple, straightforward and binding. It will take effect immediately upon adoption by this Council. It contains no counterterrorism loopholes for Assad, Iran and the Russians to hide behind."

According to Haley, the previous resolution "failed" because it had allowed the Syrian Army and its allies to conduct operation in Eastern Ghouta against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda), which was excluded from the ceasefire.

Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzia said that the Syrian army's counter-terrorism operation in Ghouta doesn't oppose UN Security Council Resolution No. 2401.

Nebenzia, during a session of the UN Security Council on the situation in Syria held Monday, said that the Syrian government has the full right to defend the security of its citizens, to confront terrorist organizations and to confront threats to citizens, noting that "the suburbs of Damascus cannot remain under the terrorists' control."

Comment: See also:

• US Army Military Review admits Russia won in Syria
• Syrian army advances in East Ghouta; Turkish army advances in Afrin - political end game in Syria continues to develop

Comment: MI5 Poisons Another Russian Asset to Smear Putin in Ongoing Propaganda War

Comment: If they don't sort themselves out we could see the Times going the way of Newsweek, CNN and all the other fake news outlets people are tiring of:

• "Layoffs imminent": Newsweek couldn't pay its rent on time and faced eviction
• Fake news doesn't pay: Newsweek exec confesses revenue has collapsed
• Fake news flops: CNN's February ratings down 19 percent