[Mat_Helm]

As someone posted earlier if the Russian military was operating the SA-17 they would have seen the MH17 squawking its transponder flight codes. They would also have had other IFF equipment and contact with other ATC radar flight data. I doubt it was under Russian Military control and because it was under trigger happy rebel control we have a tragedy. Just enough brains to use the weapon and stupid enough to shoot down Russian planes or their own aircraft as well. Will wait to see more information come out including any NATO intelligence that is released.

[caww]

Parts and pieces will be telling as well...

[edpc]

The Vincennes personnel had the same IFF info. Mistakes were made. There are reports the recent shoot down of the AN-26 in Ukraine was from a missile inside Russia. Who knows.

Many of these separatists have been previously identified as Spetznas personnel. It's my feeling a great deal of them are Russian regulars operating with more than just tacit approval.

[Alas Babylon!]

Being retired Air Force, I used to cringe at the unofficial Army Antiaircraft motto “If it flies, it dies”. Usually followed up with, “Kill ‘em all, let God sort ‘em out.”

I never wanted to be flying over these guys in a war, that’s for sure!