Announcement

**Provost Harrison** · March 4, 2007, 12:52

Something up? (although I can understand you not wanting to talk about it around these parts with all the trolls on the go).

**Sava** · March 4, 2007, 12:56

Just life... although it's not SSDD, I would say DSDD (different **** different day).

If you want to help you can write a ten page paper for me about the cultural and power dynamics between Iran's and Iraq's respective Shi'a communities that is due on Friday.

**Provost Harrison** · March 4, 2007, 13:08

OK, I will. Warning though, it may be filled with utter gibberish

**Sava** · March 4, 2007, 13:14

Be sure to throw in lots of Putin references.

**lord of the mark** · March 5, 2007, 09:56

Happy Putin!!!

Well, its not like no one is ever killed in a mugging in Prince Georges County, outside DC. Actuallty PG county has the highest crime rate of any of DCs suburbs. But that the victim is an expert on Russia, a friend of Litvinenko, someone whod been on US TV blaming Putin for Litvenkos death only a few days earlier- well thats just a coincidence, of course.

Intelligence Specialist's Shooting Stirs Speculation
No Motive Known As Comments on Putin Are Debated

By Candace Rondeaux and Lori Aratani
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, March 4, 2007; Page C01

In some ways, the shooting of Paul Joyal last week in a quiet, middle-class enclave of Prince George's County would seem like nothing more than a random act of violence.

But for those who know the 53-year-old expert on Russian intelligence and former staff member of the U.S. Senate's intelligence committee, the shooting has raised suspicions that his background might be behind the incident.

Law enforcement sources have said it is unclear whether the gunmen were trying to rob Joyal. He was shot in the driveway of his home shortly after returning from a trip to the International Spy Museum in the District with a friend.

Two men shot Joyal about 7:35 p.m. Thursday, sources said. The shooting occurred four days after Joyal alleged in a television broadcast that the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin was involved in the fatal poisoning of a former KGB agent in London.

Prince George's police officers have released few details about the incident, and several calls requesting comment were not returned yesterday. Joyal remained hospitalized yesterday.

But an FBI official confirmed yesterday that the agency is looking into the shooting. Joseph Persichini Jr., the FBI's assistant director in charge of the Washington field office, said his office is assisting Prince George's and the Baltimore office of the FBI in the investigation.

"We're pursuing this as hard as possible. We're not at all sure of the motive," Persichini said.

Joyal, who has long been an outspoken critic of the Putin regime, appeared in a segment on "Dateline NBC" Feb. 25 about the Alexander Litvinenko case. Litvinenko's death in November from radiation poisoning has caused widespread speculation that Putin and the Russian government were involved, because Litvinenko, a former KGB agent, was looking into the killing of a Russian journalist. Putin and Kremlin officials have repeatedly denied involvement.

In the "Dateline" interview, Joyal pointedly accused the Putin regime of silencing its critics and poisoning Litvinenko with polonium-210, a rare radioactive substance.

"It's clear-cut. It has to be a state-run or a state-managed operation," Joyal said in the interview.

The circumstances of Joyal's shooting seem worthy of a spy novel.

"I would not rule out anything, but it's hard to believe that a few days [after the broadcast] that some guys would shoot him. It could be just a regular criminal assault," said longtime family friend and former business associate Oleg Kalugin.

Kalugin, a former KGB general and Putin's former boss in the agency, met with Joyal for drinks at a restaurant at the Spy Museum a few hours before the shooting. Kalugin, a member of the museum's board, said in a phone interview yesterday that Joyal seemed in good spirits before leaving for home.

Kalugin said he was shocked when he received a panicked phone call from Joyal's wife about an hour after the men had parted, saying that Joyal had been shot in front of his Adelphi area home.

"I could not believe my ears when she said he was shot. She said Paul drove up to the house, and as he opened the door and left [the car], there were two guys, and they shot him," Kalugin said.

A source close to Joyal, who requested anonymity because the investigation is ongoing, said the unidentified assailants shot Joyal in the groin and escaped.

Joyal's wife, who is a nurse, was at home at the time and ran to assist her husband as he lay bleeding in the driveway, the sources said.

Joyal was taken to a hospital, where he was initially in critical condition. A source said yesterday that Joyal had improved and that doctors were "cautiously optimistic" that he will recover.

Yesterday, four cars were parked in the driveway at Joyal's brick ranch on Lackawanna Road. A boy who answered the door declined to speak to a reporter.

Neighbors and friends said Joyal, who is a member of the Prince George's law enforcement task force, is the father of three and coaches youth basketball.

Prince George's State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey, who befriended Joyal through his work in local law enforcement, said he did not know details about the investigation.

"He's a wonderful man with a strong commitment to the community," Ivey said.

**KrazyHorse** · March 5, 2007, 09:57

Yeah, I've been trying to decide what to think about that one myself...

**Kuciwalker** · March 5, 2007, 10:01

At some point we ought to start shooting back.

**KrazyHorse** · March 5, 2007, 10:04

****ing Russians are really acting up lately. Maybe we ought to sic the Chinese on them again.

**Kuciwalker** · March 5, 2007, 10:05

I wonder how hard it would be to get a sniper in range of Putin, or perhaps the head of the FSB.

**lord of the mark** · March 5, 2007, 10:08

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
Yeah, I've been trying to decide what to think about that one myself...

Turns out today the guys wallet and brief case were taken.

Which shows either
A. It really was a mugging - apparently no place in PG county is safe from the scourge of street crime - you dont have to venture to Capital Heights, say, to be a victim of such a brutal crime. Blame drugs, rap music, GTA, failed Bush social policies, or incompetent PG police, as you prefer.

or

B. The folks what killed him were at least not so dumb as to rule out a mugging by leaving his wallet. And maybe they wanted a peak into his briefcase.

A case, for CSI-Bowie.

**Sava** · March 5, 2007, 10:20

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
I wonder how hard it would be to get a sniper in range of Putin, or perhaps the head of the FSB.

Why?

Putin keeps Russia relatively stable.

Let him run his mouth all he wants. It's just posturing. The last thing we need is the world's second largest nuclear power having more issues with instability. They're corrupt enough with Putin in power, don't you think? Imagine what would happen if he were killed and everyone was left fighting amongst themselves for power. Meanwhile, some rogue Russian general sells a nuke to someone... or nuclear material (which is even less secure and more widely available)... and this is a likely possibility even with him in power.

Put it on a ship and sail it into one of America's ports... BLAOUW... goodbye American economy. It would take decades to recover from that kind of attack.

Yeah... but I sure wish someone would just assassinate Putin.

GOOD IDEA

**KrazyHorse** · March 5, 2007, 10:24

Originally posted by lord of the mark
B. The folks what killed him

Joyal was taken to a hospital, where he was initially in critical condition. A source said yesterday that Joyal had improved and that doctors were "cautiously optimistic" that he will recover.

**lord of the mark** · March 5, 2007, 10:27

Originally posted by KrazyHorse

Joyal was taken to a hospital, where he was initially in critical condition. A source said yesterday that Joyal had improved and that doctors were "cautiously optimistic" that he will recover.

sorry, I should said "What shot him".

Be interesting to see what he says when hes up and about.

**Asmodean** · March 5, 2007, 11:23

Originally posted by VJ

Yes.

Actually, all I want to hear is a promise that when Putin stops being President after ruling the country for 8 years and winning both of his elections fair and square exactly as the constitution says, all you idiots who have been sheepishly (dronishly, to make an SMAC reference) repeating what your media commentators and "experts" with their cold war mentality have said to you will admit that you were wrong, you were idiots, and you know nothing about Russia.

Can you promise that, Asmodean? Surely that must be an easy promise to make, for the entire definition of a dictator rests on the presupposition that Putin won't step down after ruling the country for two terms under the rules of a democratic constitution.

And you, sir, are an arsehole.

Can you promise me that you will continue being one?

Asmodean

**lord of the mark** · March 5, 2007, 11:23

not only should one be wary of muggings near College Park, Md, and of eating sushi in London, but one should not stand close to railings in Moscow mid rise apartments.

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http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/03/russian_journal.html