Malaysia 17 Shootdown: Why Putin Is Screwed, Glued, And Tattooed
Ukrainian signal intercepts appear to have captured pro-Russian separatists claiming responsibility for shooting down a Malaysian airliner over rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine.
Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crashed en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, killing all 289 people on board, including at least 27 Australians.
Ukraine’s Kyiv Post newspaper has posted what it says is a conversation between a separatist commander and Russian intelligence officer Vasili Geranin.
In the transcript, released by Ukraine’s security service, the separatist, identified as Igor Bezler, says: “We have just shot down a plane. It fell down beyond Yenakievo (Donetsk Oblast).”
The paper also has a transcript of what it says is a conversation between two separatists identified as “Major” and “Greek”.
“The plane fell apart in the air. In the area of Petropavlovskaya mine. The first 200. We have found the first 200 – a civilian,” Major says, referring to the codeword for a dead person.
“In short, it was 100 per cent a passenger aircraft.
“These are Chernukhin folks who shot down the plane. From the Chernukhin check point. Those Cossacks who are based in Chernukhino.”
And if this proves to be the case, look for an already assertive President Obamato step up pressure on Russia to disengage from Ukraine — this time, with strong backing from European countries:
The downing of a commercial Boeing 777 in the Ukrainian war zone on Thursday inflamed an already volatile international crisis and may bolster President Obama’s efforts to isolate Russia if evidence points to complicity by Moscow’s separatist allies.
Mr. Obama was careful not to offer any judgments in his only public comments on the crash. But Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. said bluntly that the aircraft with 298 people on board was “blown out of the sky,” and the White House late Thursday issued a statement linking the crash to a crisis “fueled by Russian support for the separatists.”
If investigators are able to confirm suspicions that the Malaysia Airlines jet was brought down by a surface-to-air missile fired by pro-Russian rebels who mistook it for a military aircraft, American officials expressed hope that the tragedy will underscore their case that Moscow has been violating Ukrainian sovereignty. While Mr. Obama imposed new sanctions on Russia just a day before, Europeans refused to adopt measures as stringent out of fear of jeopardizing their own economic ties.
At an event in Delaware, President Obama discussed the crash of a Malaysia Airlines jet, calling it a “terrible tragedy.”
The Obama administration already has additional sanctions prepared that could be put into effect quickly if Mr. Obama so chooses. “The question is does this finally move the Europeans across that threshold,” said a senior administration official, who insisted on anonymity to speak more candidly. “I don’t know, but how could it not?”
European officials were cautious in their initial reactions, seeking time and information before jumping to possible consequences, and were reluctant to assign blame. But most of the passengers were Europeans. The majority of them, 154 in all, were from the Netherlands, where the flight originated, which could increase pressure on European governments to respond.
In short, Putin may not be able to extract himself from the brown sauce for his breathtaking stupidity. Josh Marshall puts the blunder much more trenchantly than I would:
Click here for reuse options!Find extremists and hot-heads of the lowest common denominator variety, seed them with weaponry only a few militaries in the world possess – and, well, just see what happens.
What could go wrong?
The audio tapes posted by The New York Times might as well be from some future Russia-based version of Waiting for Guffman or Best in Show, a comical rendering of rustics and morons stumbling into an event of vast carnage and international consequence mainly because they’re hotheads and idiots – the kind of people no one in their right minds would give world class weaponry to. It’s like finding some white supremacist/militia types on their little compound in the inter-Mountain west and giving them world class missile launchers and heavy armaments.
Europe and even America never cared that much about Crimea. It is difficult to dislodge an annexation when a majority of the population likely really did support it. And the Europeans, as long as the big red lines weren’t being crossed, are too tied to Russian fuels and their myriad other concerns to care that much about mischief on Ukraine’s eastern border.
But having a passenger plane, filled with EU citizens, shot out of the sky above what is presumed to be the bubble of first world safety that is “Europe” is a game changing event not only in the Ukraine crisis but much more broadly about Putin’s role in Europe generally.
In a paradoxical way, I think the future ramifications of this are almost greater because it is about Russia’s recklessness and bumbling than it would be if it were more clearly a matter of intent. This is a f’-up on Putin’s part of almost mind-boggling proportions.
Copyright 2014 Liberaland
By: dave-dr-gonzo
David Hirsch, a.k.a. Dave "Doctor" Gonzo*, is a renegade record producer, video producer, writer, reformed corporate shill, and still-registered lobbyist for non-one-percenter performing artists and musicians. He lives in a heavily fortified compound in one of Manhattan's less trendy neighborhoods.
* Hirsch is the third person to use the pseudonym, a not-so-veiled tribute to journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson, with the permission of his predecessors Gene Gaudette of American Politics Journal (currently webmaster and chief bottlewasher at Liberaland) and Stephen Meese at Smashmouth Politics.
Anomaly 100 July 18th, 2014 at 07:32
Republicans need to choose their heroes wisely. Their infatuation with Putin has just ventured into the creepy zone. OTOH, they liked Cheney and he had blood on his hands, too .
M D Reese July 18th, 2014 at 11:16
They still like Cheney. Now he’s one of their wise elders. (gag, choke…)
Anomaly 100 July 18th, 2014 at 11:19
They listen to him for foreign policy advice. Unreal.
M D Reese July 18th, 2014 at 12:21
It’s kinda like having a mechanic totally screw up your car, and then taking it back to him to fix it…
Anomaly 100 July 18th, 2014 at 12:42
It’s not kinda like that, it *is* that:-)
Suzanne McFly July 18th, 2014 at 12:31
Good, listening to those windbags will only lead to their demise, keep listening I say.
Anomaly 100 July 18th, 2014 at 07:32
Republicans need to choose their heroes wisely. Their infatuation with Putin has just ventured into the creepy zone. OTOH, they liked Cheney and he had blood on his hands, too .
M D Reese July 18th, 2014 at 11:16
They still like Cheney. Now he’s one of their wise elders. (gag, choke…)
Anomaly 100 July 18th, 2014 at 11:19
They listen to him for foreign policy advice. Unreal.
M D Reese July 18th, 2014 at 12:21
It’s kinda like having a mechanic totally screw up your car, and then taking it back to him to fix it…
Anomaly 100 July 18th, 2014 at 12:42
It’s not kinda like that, it *is* that:-)
Suzanne McFly July 18th, 2014 at 12:31
Good, listening to those windbags will only lead to their demise, keep listening I say.
Jake July 18th, 2014 at 08:22
Another frightening aspect of this is, now that these guys have these weapons, how would Putin get them back – even if he wanted to?
mea_mark July 18th, 2014 at 10:13
NATO forces will probably eventually destroy them all.
Shades July 18th, 2014 at 08:42
But Putin wrestles bears. Sarah told me so!
M D Reese July 18th, 2014 at 11:14
She watches him work out from her porch…
Suzanne McFly July 18th, 2014 at 12:30
Lucky woman :P lol
Shades July 18th, 2014 at 08:42
But Putin wrestles bears. Sarah told me so!
M D Reese July 18th, 2014 at 11:14
She watches him work out from her porch…
Suzanne McFly July 18th, 2014 at 12:30
Lucky woman :P lol
William July 18th, 2014 at 09:17
Isn’t it about time for Snowbank Snookie to weigh in on this?
M D Reese July 18th, 2014 at 11:13
Well done. My only question is where on earth did you find a picture of Palin looking almost sane and on the verge of understanding something?
William July 18th, 2014 at 12:24
It’s an old photoshopped Streisand pic.
Suzanne McFly July 18th, 2014 at 12:28
Barbara would be PISSED that you said that lol
Suzanne McFly July 18th, 2014 at 12:29
I thought she had front row seats for Russia, how can she not see a plane going down in Ukraine?
William July 18th, 2014 at 09:17
Isn’t it about time for Snowbank Snookie to weigh in on this?
M D Reese July 18th, 2014 at 11:13
Well done. My only question is where on earth did you find a picture of Palin looking almost sane and on the verge of understanding something?
William July 18th, 2014 at 12:24
It’s an old photoshopped Streisand pic.
Suzanne McFly July 18th, 2014 at 12:28
Barbara would be PISSED that you said that lol
Suzanne McFly July 18th, 2014 at 12:29
I thought she had front row seats for Russia, how can she not see a plane going down in Ukraine?
mea_mark July 18th, 2014 at 10:13
NATO forces will probably eventually destroy them all.
Anomaly 100 July 18th, 2014 at 10:15
I demand to know why Dave Dr. Gonzo hates on tattoos.
Sincerely,
Tatted up old lady
Anomaly 100 July 18th, 2014 at 10:15
I demand to know why Dave Dr. Gonzo hates on tattoos.
Sincerely,
Tatted up old lady
Denise July 18th, 2014 at 10:36
the europeans were not wanting to put more sanctions on putin. now they will. it is a shame that citizens of their country had to murdered by Putin’s rebel forces before they were willing to go along with the sanctions.
Pilotshark July 18th, 2014 at 10:54
well better with around 205 of them are European, there will be some stiffer sanction coming, more then likely they will jump on board with ours sanctions.
189 from the Netherlands
9 from the United Kingdom
4 Germans
4 Belgians
guess there is 4 left to ID, hear somewhere forget where now that France mention it might have had 4 on the flight.
Pilotshark July 18th, 2014 at 12:24
guessing now we have 1 American confirmed, so that leaves 3 more to ID
Robert Merrill Taylor July 18th, 2014 at 19:00
There is one Canadian confirmed.
Suzanne McFly July 18th, 2014 at 12:27
Exactly, my first thoughts too.
Denise July 18th, 2014 at 10:36
the europeans were not wanting to put more sanctions on putin. now they will. it is a shame that citizens of their country had to murdered by Putin’s rebel forces before they were willing to go along with the sanctions.
Pilotshark July 18th, 2014 at 10:54
well better with around 205 of them are European, there will be some stiffer sanction coming, more then likely they will jump on board with ours sanctions.
189 from the Netherlands
9 from the United Kingdom
4 Germans
4 Belgians
guess there is 4 left to ID, hear somewhere forget where now that France mention it might have had 4 on the flight.
Pilotshark July 18th, 2014 at 12:24
guessing now we have 1 American confirmed, so that leaves 3 more to ID
Robert Merrill Taylor July 18th, 2014 at 19:00
There is one Canadian confirmed.
Suzanne McFly July 18th, 2014 at 12:27
Exactly, my first thoughts too.
Ron Luce July 18th, 2014 at 10:46
I wonder if the honeymoon is over between Putin and the American Religious Right?
arc99 July 18th, 2014 at 10:54
just watch them. if they can pretend they never demanded Bowe Bergdahl be brought home, pretending they never once had a man-crush on Putin will be a piece of cake.
M D Reese July 18th, 2014 at 11:11
I’ve been thinking the same thing. Remember how they were all gushing over pictures of him riding horses without a shirt on and saying how manly he was and what a better president he was compared to Obama because he just ACTED without all that thinking beforehand…Heady times, heady times…
I’m guessing we’ll hear nothing but crickets from them, or claims that he had nothing to do with it.
Suzanne McFly July 18th, 2014 at 12:26
deny, deny, deny…..that’s what they always do
Bunya July 18th, 2014 at 14:17
Say it isn’t so! Just a few weeks ago, the religious nutjobs were threatening to leave the U.S., move to gay-free Russia, and live in eternal man-bliss with their man-crush. Putin. I hope this incident doesn’t spoil their plans.
Ron Luce July 18th, 2014 at 10:46
I wonder if the honeymoon is over between Putin and the American Religious Right?
arc99 July 18th, 2014 at 10:54
just watch them. if they can pretend they never demanded Bowe Bergdahl be brought home, pretending they never once had a man-crush on Putin will be a piece of cake.
M D Reese July 18th, 2014 at 11:11
I’ve been thinking the same thing. Remember how they were all gushing over pictures of him riding horses without a shirt on and saying how manly he was and what a better president he was compared to Obama because he just ACTED without all that thinking beforehand…Heady times, heady times…
I’m guessing we’ll hear nothing but crickets from them, or claims that he had nothing to do with it.
Suzanne McFly July 18th, 2014 at 12:26
deny, deny, deny…..that’s what they always do
Bunya July 18th, 2014 at 14:17
Say it isn’t so! Just a few weeks ago, the religious nutjobs were threatening to leave the U.S., move to gay-free Russia, and live in eternal man-bliss with their man-crush. Putin. I hope this incident doesn’t spoil their plans.
Khary A July 18th, 2014 at 12:00
with so much Putin talk I couldn’t help but think of this.
http://youtu.be/UbBaSfgNJnE
The last of the Thousad Sons July 18th, 2014 at 12:00
with so much Putin talk I couldn’t help but think of this.
http://youtu.be/UbBaSfgNJnE
Suzanne McFly July 18th, 2014 at 12:26
Obama doesn’t look so stupid now for putting more sanctions on Russia. How is the right gonna spin this now?
Jack E Raynbeau July 18th, 2014 at 14:17
This is how. Just read the comments.
http://www.prisonplanet.com/who-shot-down-the-malaysian-airliner.html
Jack E Raynbeau July 18th, 2014 at 14:17
This is how. Just read the comments.
http://www.prisonplanet.com/who-shot-down-the-malaysian-airliner.html
Suzanne McFly July 18th, 2014 at 16:34
Ugh, they are NUTS, I guess I should watch what I ask for lol
Jack E Raynbeau July 18th, 2014 at 20:23
Total lunatics. I go there for entertainment. It’s tempting, but I don’t post.
Suzanne McFly July 18th, 2014 at 20:53
I wasn’t even tempted, their is too much crazy for me to deal with lol
Suzanne McFly July 18th, 2014 at 12:26
Obama doesn’t look so stupid now for putting more sanctions on Russia. How is the right gonna spin this now?
Jack E Raynbeau July 18th, 2014 at 14:17
This is how. Just read the comments.
http://www.prisonplanet.com/who-shot-down-the-malaysian-airliner.html
Suzanne McFly July 18th, 2014 at 16:34
Ugh, they are NUTS, I guess I should watch what I ask for lol
Jack E Raynbeau July 18th, 2014 at 20:23
Total lunatics. I go there for entertainment. It’s tempting, but I don’t post.
Suzanne McFly July 18th, 2014 at 20:53
I wasn’t even tempted, their is too much crazy for me to deal with lol
chair jackson July 18th, 2014 at 15:31
when will the russian people end their love affair with putin?
chair jackson July 18th, 2014 at 15:31
when will the russian people end their love affair with putin?