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Russia’s Extensive Security Services Failed in Preventing Deadly Attack

Amidst the aftermath of a deadly attack at Crocus City Hall outside Moscow that claimed the lives of at least 143 people in one of the deadliest terror incidents in Russia in recent memory, questions are being raised about why Russia’s extensive security services failed to prevent such a catastrophic event. Just days before the attack, warnings from both American intelligence agencies and Russia’s own security establishment pointed to a potential threat from ISIS-K, an offshoot of the Islamic State known to be active in Afghanistan.

The warnings were serious enough to prompt the U.S. embassy in Moscow to issue a public alert, which is a highly unusual move, indicating the credibility of the threat. However, Russian President Vladimir V. Putin dismissed the warnings as attempts to destabilize Russian society, casting doubt on the validity of the intelligence.

Internal Russian intelligence reports hinted at an increased risk of an attack orchestrated by ethnic Tajiks radicalized by ISIS-K, a detail that would later prove to be true as the suspects in the attack were identified as Tajik nationals. Despite these warnings, the attack could not be prevented, raising concerns about the efficacy of Russia’s intelligence and law enforcement apparatus.

Experts point to a combination of factors that may have contributed to the security lapse, including a lack of trust within the Russian security establishment and strained relations with global intelligence agencies. The politicization of Russia’s security services under Putin’s regime, focusing on crackdowns against political dissent and external threats like Ukraine, may have diverted attention and resources away from real terrorist threats.

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Furthermore, the expanding definition of extremism in Russia, targeting a wide range of groups beyond Islamist extremists, has strained the resources and focus of security agencies. The Russian security services have traditionally been equipped to handle domestic threats but may lack the expertise in dealing with international terror groups like ISIS-K and penetrating extremist cells in Central Asia.

The adversarial relationship between the U.S. and Russia also played a role in the failure to prevent the attack, as both countries were reluctant to share sensitive intelligence out of fear of compromising their sources and methods. The aftermath of the attack has only added to the tensions between the two nations, with Russia pointing fingers at the U.S. for allegedly being complicit in the incident.

In the wake of this tragic event, questions remain about how Russia, with its vast security apparatus, fell short in preventing a catastrophic attack despite having prior warnings. The need for better coordination, trust, and information sharing among intelligence agencies to combat terrorism effectively has been underscored by this incident. As the investigation continues and more details emerge, the focus will be on addressing the shortcomings that led to this security failure and preventing similar tragedies in the future.

Intellectuals Insider

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Is now the right time to invest in gold as prices have cooled?

Now may be the time to buy gold following a recent lull in its price.

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The price of gold has climbed to record highs recently and has remained strong through much of April. And, that growth continued until the precious metal traded at around $2,390 per ounce on April 19, 2024. But since, growth in the price of the precious metal has cooled, with gold’s price now hovering around $2,300 per ounce.

This lull in gold’s price may represent an investment opportunity.

In general, investing is centered around buying assets when prices are low and selling them when prices are high – generating a profit on the difference between the two. So, considering the declines in gold’s price over the past few days, now may be the time to make your investment. But is buying gold during this lull in prices really a good idea?

Compare your gold investment options among leading brokers now.

Gold prices have cooled. Should you buy in now?

With gold’s price down from recent highs, you may be wondering if now is the right time to buy in. There are several reasons the dip in gold’s price may represent an opportunity to buy. Here are some of the biggest:

Prices may rise again

If looking at a gold price chart shows anything for certain, it shows that changes in the overall growth of the medal come in fits and spurts. Periods of price growth are typically followed by periods of declines and vice versa.

But with inflation rising in recent months – and with gold’s reputation as a safe-haven asset that can hedge against inflation – it only makes sense that the price of the precious metal will eventually start to head up again in the future. While attempting to time that directional change may be tricky, buying the precious metal while the price is down gives you the opportunity to take advantage of any upward movement that may be ahead.

Add gold to your portfolio now before prices have a chance to rise.

You may be able to make a quick profit

Gold isn’t known as an asset in which you can earn a quick return, but in today’s market, that may be the case. Don’t forget that in January, gold was trading at just $2,000 per ounce. And, by mid-April, the commodity’s price had climbed to around $2,400 per ounce. That’s about 20% growth in a matter of months, much of which happened since March 1 – an impressive climb for any investment asset.

Perhaps more importantly, gold’s price growth through the beginning of 2024 shows that the commodity doesn’t have to be a buy and hold style investment that you keep in a safety deposit box or precious metal depository for years to come. There’s also the possibility that the commodity’s price could climb further ahead, making it a compelling way to potentially generate a quick profit.

There are other benefits of investing in gold

There are other benefits of investing in gold that have little to do with the price growth seen thus far in 2024 – or the lull in prices seen over the past couple of days. Those benefits include:

Inflation protection: Gold has long been considered an inflation hedge, and for good reason. When inflation drives the prices of consumer goods and services up – and the value of the dollar down – gold’s price tends to rise. So, it could be used to maintain the value of your portfolio during inflationary economic conditions. That’s important in today’s economic environment as stubborn inflation continues to weigh on the value of the dollar.
Portfolio diversification: Gold’s price doesn’t always move in the same pattern that bonds or stocks do. So, mixing a reasonable amount of gold into your portfolio (up to 10% of your portfolio assets) as a diversifier could protect you from losses should one or more of your traditional portfolio assets fall in value. “If you have less than 5% – 10% of your net worth in commodities & FX (forex), you should absolutely consider adding exposure to gold and other precious metals,” says Vijay Marolia, money manager and managing partner at the wealth management firm, Regal Point Capital.

The bottom line

Gold’s price has fallen from recent highs – which may represent an opportunity to tap into growth ahead. However, gold isn’t simply a “buy while it’s low and sell while it’s a high” kind of investment opportunity. The commodity can also protect your portfolio from the stubborn inflation we’ve seen thus far in 2024 while acting as a diversification tool that could increase your risk-adjusted portfolio returns. So, consider adding gold to your portfolio today while it has the potential to grow in value.

Joshua Rodriguez

Joshua Rodriguez is a personal finance and investing writer with a passion for his craft. When he’s not working, he enjoys time with his wife, two kids, two dogs and two ducks.