you're right.
the iranian civilian plane, for example.
if the u.s. navy shot 800 down, the nyt and wawa post would have been all over it.
in addition, many of the people on the plane were french nationals and they'd want compensation.
we paid iran big bucks.
I'm not sure about that. As I recall (and if anyone has better information, please correct me), the US offered to pay compensation directly to the families of those killed. Iran insisted that the compansation be paid in one sum to the government, claiming that it would distribute the money to the families. The US balked. So the money has been set aside, but not actually disbursed.