[acchow]

> The Israelis like magnetic mines, the Russians polonium

I don't understand how either of those work, but they don't sound discreet. The ability for a state to assassinate people at will and make it look like an accident is entirely different from "yeah, but the government could also shoot you with a drone at any moment".

[s_q_b]

The magnetic mines are exactly what they sound like. Someone drives by on a motorcycle, slaps an explosive on the side of a vehicle, and drives away. Not very subtle, but apparently very successful in taking out Iranian nuclear scientists.

Polonium is actually fairly clever. It's a radioactive material that acts as a slow-moving poison.

It took a while for Western physicians to diagnose, so many domestic leaders, political dissidents and even foreign heads of state (Arafat may have been killed in this manner) fell victim to it.