If the fighter jets had to shoot the liner down, the Malay government is going to clam up like all get-out about it, and that’s looking to be like what’s going on.
Malaysia would be looking for the black box and concrete proof that a suicide attack was underway before admitting to any shootdown - even if it takes months. If the story somehow comes out before they have proof the shootdown was necessary, the second-guessing is going to be overwhelming.
I can’t wait for the CIA animation proving that ‘the center fuel tank exploded.’