White House, State Dept See Russian Link To MH17 Downing
The United States government has concluded that the passenger jet felled over Ukraine was shot down by a Russian-made surface-to-air missile launched from rebel-held territory and most likely provided by Russia to pro-Moscow separatists, officials said on Friday.
While American officials are still investigating the chain of events leading to the destruction of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 on Thursday, they pointed to a series of indicators of Russian involvement. Among other things, military and intelligence officials said there was mounting evidence that a Ukrainian military plane shot down three days earlier had been fired upon from inside Russian territory by the same sort of missile battery used to bring down the civilian jet.
The intelligence persuaded President Obama to publicly lay responsibility at least indirectly at the door of the Kremlin. Speaking at the White House, he tried to channel international indignation toward Russia for what he called an “outrage of unspeakable proportions.” Mr. Obama said the episode should be “a wake-up call for Europe” and “should snap everybody’s heads to attention” about what is going on in Ukraine, where a pro-Russia insurgency has become an international crisis.
The story comes as no surprise following a strongly worded statement by the US ambassador to the Uniter Nations earlier Friday:
Samantha Power has directly pointed the finger at Russia for the disaster of the Malaysian passenger plane, which was shot down by a missile while traveling at an altitude of 33,000 feet.
Her remarks were the first US public statement linking the Putin government to the downed plane.
In a dramatic statement at an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting Power stated that “We assess Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 carrying these 298 people from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was likely downed by a surface-to-air missile, an SA-11, operated from a separatist-held location in eastern Ukraine,” Power said.
She also stated the United States could not “rule out technical assistance by Russian personnel” in operating the system.
“Russia must stop destabilizing Ukraine,”. Power said. “Russia can end this war. Russia must end this war.”
Over at Business Week, Romesh Ratnasar opines:
Click here for reuse options![Russian President Vladimir] Putin has far more to lose from a prolonged confrontation than does the West. His finance ministry has already warned that additional sanctions would crush economic growth. And as more Russian businesses get squeezed and living standards deteriorate, Putin’s base of political support will crumble.
It may take months, even years, but Putin’s recklessness is bound to catch up to him. When it does, the downing of MH 17 may be seen as the beginning of his undoing.
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.
34 responses to White House, State Dept See Russian Link To MH17 Downing
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Kevin July 19th, 2014 at 01:13
“Russia must stop destabilizing Ukraine,”. Power said.” Let’s not forget that it was the US and some EU allies that destablized Ukraine in the first instance through its support of the Madan demonstrators which led to the overthrow of a democratically elected government and the rise of the insurgency.
But perhaps that’s old, and inconvenient, news.
fahvel July 19th, 2014 at 03:28
no, it’s something well understood here in europe – it seems mostly than in the usa things that might prove inconvenient tend to be forgotten.
greenfloyd July 19th, 2014 at 22:57
no, it’s something well understood here in [insert ANY continent/country] – it seems mostly than in the [insert ANY continent/country] things that might prove inconvenient tend to be forgotten.
William July 19th, 2014 at 11:12
Yeah…YEAH, How DARE Russia stick it’s nose in the business of another….countr…um nevermind.
Kevin July 19th, 2014 at 01:13
“Russia must stop destabilizing Ukraine,”. Power said.” Let’s not forget that it was the US and some EU allies that destablized Ukraine in the first instance through its support of the Madan demonstrators which led to the overthrow of a democratically elected government and the rise of the insurgency.
But perhaps that’s old, and inconvenient, news.
fahvel July 19th, 2014 at 03:28
no, it’s something well understood here in europe – it seems mostly than in the usa things that might prove inconvenient tend to be forgotten.
floyd[@]greenfloyd.org July 19th, 2014 at 22:57
no, it’s something well understood here in [insert ANY continent/country] – it seems mostly than in the [insert ANY continent/country] things that might prove inconvenient tend to be forgotten.
William July 19th, 2014 at 11:12
Yeah…YEAH, How DARE Russia stick it’s nose in the business of another….countr…um nevermind.
greenfloyd July 19th, 2014 at 02:59
On the ground, at the crash site, investigators from EU are being detetered by rebels from establishing a safe area of operation. Allegations of evidence tampering and removal, by the rebels, to Russia. Apparently this first team is being treated roughly with drunken rebles firing in the air if any of them wander too far into the wreakage which is spread over about 10 square miles of mostly farm land. A video has emerged showing a truck with a missle laucher traveling down a road, it’s alleged to be headed out of the country toward the Russian border.
If these rebels do not stand-down, soon, and allow a full recovery and fact-finding operation to proceed, the stage will be set for an expanded military engagement between Ukraine and these para-military goons who, for now, call the shots. This could draw in regular Russian and even NATO/US forces to backup KIev.
floyd[@]greenfloyd.org July 19th, 2014 at 02:59
On the ground, at the crash site, investigators from EU are being detetered by rebels from establishing a safe area of operation. Allegations of evidence tampering and removal, by the rebels, to Russia. Apparently this first team is being treated roughly with drunken rebles firing in the air if any of them wander too far into the wreakage which is spread over about 10 square miles of mostly farm land. A video has emerged showing a truck with a missle laucher traveling down a road, it’s alleged to be headed out of the country toward the Russian border.
If these rebels do not stand-down, soon, and allow a full recovery and fact-finding operation to proceed, the stage will be set for an expanded military engagement between Ukraine and these para-military goons who, for now, call the shots. This could draw in regular Russian and even NATO/US forces to backup KIev.
fahvel July 19th, 2014 at 03:27
other than the drama of an airplane crash – what’s the difference between the 1000’s+ killed by weapons provided to others by the usa or what the weapons are used for when provided by the russians?
Bob Waas July 19th, 2014 at 07:14
You’re right, the USA should let brutal dictators trample over innocent people. Why should we sacrifice our resources helping others when it is not appreciated.
The world would be a much better place without evil nations like America and Israel in it.
William July 19th, 2014 at 08:20
You’re right, the USA should let brutal dictators trample over innocent people.
Let Brutal dictators trample over innocent people?
Um no…
We do that sh*t all by ourselves.
http://thinkprogress.org/report/iraq-timeline/
Roctuna July 19th, 2014 at 09:21
Nice try Will but those events didn’t happen in Bob’s universe
Bob Waas July 19th, 2014 at 17:31
Think Progress? No wonder you think the way you do.
It’s a shame you hate America. Which country do you hold up as a shining example of freedom and prosperity?
fancypants July 19th, 2014 at 20:21
“The world would be a much better place without evil nations like America and Israel in it”
—————————
POT meet kettle
Bob Waas July 19th, 2014 at 23:41
You failed to read the sarcasm which was in my response to Fahvel’s put down of the USA.
fahvel July 19th, 2014 at 03:27
other than the drama of an airplane crash – what’s the difference between the 1000’s+ killed by weapons provided to others by the usa or what the weapons are used for when provided by the russians?
Bob Waas July 19th, 2014 at 07:14
You’re right, the USA should let brutal dictators trample over innocent people. Why should we sacrifice our resources helping others when it is not appreciated.
The world would be a much better place without evil nations like America and Israel in it.
William July 19th, 2014 at 08:20
You’re right, the USA should let brutal dictators trample over innocent people.
Let Brutal dictators trample over innocent people?
Um no…
We do that sh*t all by ourselves.
http://thinkprogress.org/report/iraq-timeline/
Roctuna July 19th, 2014 at 09:21
Nice try Will but those events didn’t happen in Bob’s universe
Bob Waas July 19th, 2014 at 17:31
Think Progress? No wonder you think the way you do.
It’s a shame you hate America. Which country do you hold up as a shining example of freedom and prosperity?
fancypants July 19th, 2014 at 20:21
“The world would be a much better place without evil nations like America and Israel in it”
—————————
POT meet kettle
Bob Waas July 19th, 2014 at 23:41
You failed to read the sarcasm which was in my response to Fahvel’s put down of the USA.
greenfloyd July 19th, 2014 at 07:07
Rachel Maddow is up to her usual excellant standard of reporting, her she provides a lot of background and relates it to recent events. http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/watch/plane-crash-followed-nato-alert-on-rebels-308253251733
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http://greenfloyd.org/images/bm_images/116986.jpg
An image of what is believed to be a Buk missile battery in Torez, Ukraine.
Suzanne McFly July 19th, 2014 at 14:06
I love her in depth reporting, she clearly explains the entire situation, no bias, simply facts.
greenfloyd July 19th, 2014 at 22:59
Me too. Been following her since the Air America days…
floyd[@]greenfloyd.org July 19th, 2014 at 07:07
Rachel Maddow is up to her usual excellant standard of reporting, her she provides a lot of background and relates it to recent events. http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/watch/plane-crash-followed-nato-alert-on-rebels-308253251733
===
http://greenfloyd.org/images/bm_images/116986.jpg
An image of what is believed to be a Buk missile battery in Torez, Ukraine.
Suzanne McFly July 19th, 2014 at 14:06
I love her in depth reporting, she clearly explains the entire situation, no bias, simply facts.
floyd[@]greenfloyd.org July 19th, 2014 at 22:59
Me too. Been following her since the Air America days…
Obewon July 19th, 2014 at 07:38
The Putin loving GOP and their delusional entertainers went down hard on Russia’s missile battery minus one missile after the civilian terrorist attack. Or as jihadi Jones calls it ‘a false flag operation to distract from’ all the other petered out faux conspiracy Limbaughtomies.
Obewon July 19th, 2014 at 07:38
The Putin loving GOP and their delusional entertainers went down hard on Russia’s missile battery minus one missile, after their civilian terrorist airplane attack. Or as jihadi Jones calls it ‘a false flag operation to distract’ from all the other petered out faux conspiracies parroted by the Limbaughtomized gullible’s.
fancypants July 19th, 2014 at 18:51
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fancypants July 19th, 2014 at 18:51
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