Conspiracy?
In the era of Donald Trump, it’s easy to get sucked into conspiracy theories. There are so many alternative facts, denials of fact and outright bald faced lies that it’s hard to trust anything you read or hear.
The web of confusion surrounding the administration’s ties to Russia is becoming more tangled than ever.
Who met with which Russian official? Where did they meet, and when? What did those meetings achieve and what did Trump know?
Suspicious Deaths
Sometimes, though, even through the web of misdirection, the conspiracy jumps right out at you. Sometimes, like right now, it’s almost impossible to pretend that events are not linked.
Take the sudden lack of good health among Russian diplomats, for example. Since the election, at least seven prominent Russians have died under mysterious circumstances.
One diplomat died in New York City of what the NYPD first called “head trauma” after a fall, but which was later classified as a heart attack. Two died of shots to the head. The only official word from the Russians has been that none of the deaths were suspicious, which of course makes them all seem suspect.
Ambassador Churkin
One of the most prominent Russians on the death list was Vitaly Churkin, the Russian Ambassador to the United Nations. Said by many to be an accomplished and intelligent diplomat, Churkin’s unexpected death was publicly mourned by many in the diplomatic community, including Susan Powers, who represented the U.S. during the Obama years. The two had been outspoken opponents many times, but shared a deep mutual respect.
Devastated by passing of Russian UN Amb Vitaly Churkin.Diplomatic maestro &deeply caring man who did all he cld to bridge US-RUS differences
— Samantha Power (@SamanthaJPower) February 20, 2017
We know that Churkin died in New York. We know that he had not been ill. At first the Russian government gave no cause of death, simply stating that he died at his post. Eventually, they listed it as “sudden cardiac arrest.”
The New York City Medical Examiner’s Office carried out an autopsy, as they do with any unexpected death.
Coverup?
The latest twist in the story of dying Russian officials came this week. The U.S. State Department ordered the Medical Examiner’s Office to keep their autopsy results private.
State Dept asked NYC Medical Examiner not to disclose cause of death of Russian UN ambassador who died last month pic.twitter.com/WiolTsryEi
— Michael M. Grynbaum (@grynbaum) March 10, 2017
The strange request has caused an uproar on social media and on progressive websites. It feels increasingly likely that there is a dangerous conspiracy taking place, that Putin is removing evidence of his involvement with the Trump campaign and administration.
This isn’t as far fetched as it might have sounded last summer.
The Russian government has a long and well known history of poisoning those who oppose it. Vladimir Putin himself has been directly implicated in the plutonium poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko, a former KGB member and outspoken critic of the Russian President.
More recently, Vladimir Kara-Murza, another Putin critic, has fallen into a coma after doctors said he had been given an “unknown poison.” He is one of the leaders of the party that opposes Putin’s rule.
Conspiracy
We know that the Trump team was talking to the Russians throughout the campaign and transition period. We know that the Secretary of State, who has been suspiciously missing from public view, has direct business ties to Russia and has a relationship with Putin. We know that Putin kills his political enemies. And we know that President Trump thinks of Putin as a “strong leader.”
It sure sounds like a conspiracy, and not just in theory.
Remember, just because a person is paranoid doesn’t mean that no one is out to get him.
The following video is a bit long, but filled with details about these suspicious deaths.
Featured image via Pixabay, in the Public Domain
