[Flintlock]

The Buk radar system would tell the operators that the plane was over SIX MILES UP.
They knew what it was when they fired.
NOT an accident.

[libertylover]

I'll remind you that the U.S. ACCIDENTALY shot down an Iranian airliner a few years back with a sophisticated antiaircraft system. When you think you're under attack, things can get confusing.

I doubt that any of the three parties shot it down deliberately because I can't see any motive.

[Alas Babylon!]

I have no doubt they meant to fire and take the plane down. But my objection is that they knew it was civilian. They were just stupid enough to believe it was Ukrainian. The fact that it was civilian didn’t even enter their minds at the time.

There is an article on the Daily Mail, UK, that mentions how over 300 commercial flights cross the Ukraine on a daily basis, so it’s not like the Russian air defense screw ups didn’t see radar images all the time.

“coulda/woulda/shoulda” is always a hindsight reaction. They F’d up, big time. They should be made to pay—somehow. Losing the war would be one way. Time for Russia to de-escalate things and call off their dogs, and let the Ukrainians settle this peacefully.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-2697098/THREE-HUNDRED-planes-scheduled-fly-Ukraine-day-MH17-tragedy.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490