The aftermath of something sinister

While it bears the trappings of a 007 or Mission Impossible film, the nerve agent poisoning of double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia has implications beyond that of an attempt on someone's life. As the two get treatment in seclusion, there are worries, albeit played down that the substance alleged to have been used may, unintentionally have affected others. Precautionary measures have been suggested for the small population of Wiltshire city in Salisbury, UK that went to the pub where Skripal and Yulia ate shortly before being found in a nearby park, unconscious.

It was serious enough to trigger a meeting of Cobra, the UK's top committee that oversees activity against terrorist or other threats. As this piece is penned, Theresa May is having a briefing on the situation. [She later made a statement to parliament, apprising its members of the updated developments relating to it.] Nerve agents are banned substances and the US had no compunction in sending aircraft to destroy an alleged Syrian chemical weapon depository a few months ago. Britain must now ponder how to react once they find out how the latest attack happened. Nerve agents are diabolical and questions will be raised as to how there have now been two instances, the first involving Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko being poisoned. Given that 'I spy, you spy' incidents make headlines and are then carefully allowed to disappear, it is unlikely that the general public will ever come to know what really happened. Intelligence agencies are no strangers to casualties in encounters that operate worse than the laws of the jungle. The actors know what they're getting in to.

Of concern is the reality that it was possible for nerve agents to either be procured or brought into the UK and used with such impunity. It's also an embarrassment for the UK with its high standards and position on human rights and 'fairness'. This isn't everyone's famous punching boy, Bashar Al Assad but Her Majesty's customs and border security that has come under the scanner. It's also a significant thumbs-down not only for anyone contemplating turning double and be safe in the UK as well as all the Russian agents that were encouraged by Skripal to meet MI6 officials. Somehow, one doubts whether the news-flow will continue as was the case for North Korean leader Kim Jung-un, whose half-brother was killed allegedly also through exposure to nerve agents. For now, the main concern is whether there's more of the lethal chemical still out there in the open and indeed, how did it get out of the impeccable security and safety standards that are employed for such hazards.

The most sobering thought is that there is now an admission that such chemicals have been developed, are in the possession of governments and that they pooh-pooh nuclear weaponry and render conventional weaponry antique. How that will impact those seeking the honour of defending one's country is open for debate.

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