Breaking news: Malaysian Airliner shot down over Ukraine

[telemann.livejournal.com]

A Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 with 295 people aboard crashed on Thursday in eastern Ukraine near the Russian border, an area roiled by fighting between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces. Ukrainian officials said the plane might have been shot down, possibly by a Russian-made antiaircraft system. Eastern Ukraine has been roiled for months by a violent pro-Russian separatist uprising in which a number of military aircraft have been downed. But this would be the first commercial airline disaster to result from the hostilities. Despite the turmoil in eastern Ukraine, the commercial airspace over that part of the country is a heavily trafficked route and has remained open.



New York Times with more information, video and analysis.


The incident touched off immediate finger-pointing between Russian separatists and the Ukrainian government. Eastern Ukraine separatist leader Alexander Borodai told Reuters that Ukrainian military forces shot the jet down, but Kiev denied involvement and labeled the incident a "terrorist act." The President of Ukraine on behalf of the State expresses its deepest and most sincere condolences to the families and relatives of those killed in this terrible tragedy," said a statement released by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's office. "Every possible search and rescue effort is being made." Separatist groups reportedly blocked Ukrainian officials from the scene, and later said the "black box," or flight data recorder, had been sent to Moscow. KT McFarland, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense under President Ronald Reagan, and a Fox News national security analyst said the attack was most likely the work of Russian separatists, not the Russian or Ukrainian armies.

Source.

Comments

[mudryikot.livejournal.com]

That was not a mistake. Korean plane violated our borders, relevant air defense authorities ordered it shot down and it was shot down. At the moment of decision it was understood that it could be a civilian plane. Nevertheless it has strayed into restricted airspace, being 300 km off its planned and approved course, it was warned but did not respond. Thus the situation is different.

[telemann.livejournal.com]

And your sentiments here is precisely why Russia faces so much isolation around the world now.

[mudryikot.livejournal.com]

Sorry, but I don't see your point. My argument in response to your screenshot of Newsweek was that shooting down of a Korean jet was not a mistake, so Russia does not have a record of shooting down civilian planes by mistake.
Unlike US, actually.

[telemann.livejournal.com]

Your distinctions are worthless.

[mudryikot.livejournal.com]

Why not use some logic? I have stated that Russia did not shoot down any planes by mistake. You cited an example of Korean airliner as an argument against my statement. I have thereafter pointed out that your example/argument is invalid as a proof of wrongness of my initial statement, because shooting down of that Korean plane was not a mistake, and thus it does not show that Russia has ever shot down any planes by mistake.

[telemann.livejournal.com]

As I said earlier, your distinctions are meaningless.

[yes-justice.livejournal.com]

Murder then. Got it.

[mudryikot.livejournal.com]

Legal defense of borders against illegal trespass by potentially hostile and dangerous intruder.
Whatever you choose to call it - it was not a mistake. So - no history of accidental shooting of civilian airplanes on our side.

[telemann.livejournal.com]

Murder. Yep.