Thanks USAma for your links. I note that neither the CIA or M15 have any role or expertise in negotiating peaceful settlement of conflict. I also note that the CIA also have a division for “educating” children about their role.
It is interesting that the principal role of the CIA is not mentioned. That is the propogation of American business abroad. The M15 link does have business expertise as a required skill for recruits.

Stop the world: “someone is wrong on the internet”.
As I understand it, though I’ve stopped following this event all that closely weeks ago, as appropriately enough the whole affair is a wilderness of mirrors, it’s believed to be an old photo, not taken on the day of their ‘trip’, so not a ghost, I’ve no evidence to support or verify that other than that a random unknown unremembered commenter on the internet (as I am), probably on Craig Murray’s site two or three weeks ago, asserted it.

If the handle of the door in the house of Skripals was covered by the warfare agent A-234, and even in the amount of 50-100 ml, as stated by the head of the OPCW, then mentioned by you a female police officer, and the entire population of Salisbury and its environs have long would be buried.

I’m surprised the Russian authorities aren’t making a lot more fuss about Yulia Skripal’s mysterious disappearance, unless they know more than what is being said publicly. If Yulia really does want to be left alone, she should say so herself, in person, to a Russian embassy representative and the Russians be given the opportunity to either confirm or deny the April 5 written statement.
And how’s her dad getting on? I think we should be told.
PS – The whole novichok story has turned out to be a real dud, hasn’t it?
Dud poison – Up to half a cup and no one even dead! Whoever invented this stuff should be fired.
Dud police – Couldn’t get their multiple stories straight, dud ‘investigation’, weird people in beekeeper suits running around among baffled, normally-clothed Salisbury citizens, one dud plod in hospital, since disappeared along with Yulia Skripal – maybe they’ve run away together? Etc. Real slapstick: the Monty Python crowd should make a film.
Dud press – No comment necessary – what do they learn in journalism school these days? Hysterical song and dance going on for weeks led only to dud public reaction.
Dud politicians (May, Bumbling Boris, Macron, Trump, the usual head duds, but even Corbyn ended up duddifying himself, alas).
Dud diplomatic sanctions (only the usual poodles expelled any Russians).
Dud Porton Down – Couldn’t get their story straight, so had to change it (or were ‘helped’ to change it).
Dud OPCW – Couldn’t get their story straight, either. Give back that Nobel Prize, morons.
Dud Czechs – President contradicts Prime Minister. Dare I say the Czechs bounced? (Dud joke.)

Pre-cisely.