I have no illusions that Putin is some sort of God fearing, democracy loving moral leader... I don’t think that is a fair appraisal of the man.
I also have the same misgivings about the current leader of Ukraine. And I also hold our own president in rather low esteem.
I obviously don’t know all the facts concerning the horrific downing of the Malaysian passenger jet, but I would be shocked if it was downed on purpose. The tragedy serves no one, not Russia, not Ukraine and least of all the eastern separatists involved in civil war.
It seems most probable to me that it was shot down by the separatists using a Russian built missile system. It seems probable that Russians may have been in attendance when the horrific deed was done.
I think they thought it was a Ukrainian military jet and a legitimate target of the civil war.
I can’t imagine why the pilot of the Malaysian jetliner was traveling over a hot war zone!? Was he mad? incompetent? or simply a fool following orders? I wish I knew.
In war, terrible things happen. Terrible things happened in our war of independence and our own bloody civil war.
Many would say that outsiders should refrain from meddling or giving assistance to either side in a civil war or a war for separation and independence. Outsiders are generally involved in such wars however. In the case of the conflict raging in Ukraine both the US and Russia have meddled and supported the parties involved. The results for both have been shameful and ignominious.
I hope and pray that events do not spiral out of control for those who have foolishly involved themselves in the Ukrainian war.... We are directly involved and so is Russia.
Both nations have freely decided to inject themselves into this mess...both have unclean hands.
I hope that I am wrong but I feel we are on the precipice of a world war because of our involvement in Ukraine and Syria. I pray God is merciful and helps us find our way out this mess... a mess we are at least partially responsible for.
Given the questionable leadership we are saddled with here in the US I think it is a good time to start worrying and start praying for guidance.
Horse Puckey!
At worst we are in for another round of the Cold War. Something I am quite used to.
Putin is not going to get involved in a shooting war over the Ukraine. He has what he wants and can get the rest later.
He will now move on to the other places on the map that have Russian populations and things that Russia needs.
As for Syria, it's only a proxy war. Look it up, as we have engaged in them for many decades. neither of these actions will lead to a full out war. What can happen is as things move on, and they always do, will be misreads and mistakes on either side can lead to a catalyst event.
I would not expect that situation to become plausible for several years. However you are correct about one thing, and that is our actions, or better said "lack of action" is what is causing the Russians to press harder on the accelerator.
We need to keep up or that situation I spoke of, can happen a lot more sooner than later. They only respect a willingness to use power as needed, and we are not showing that card now..........not with Obama.
33,000 feet is out of the range of any conventional ground weapons, even a 50 cal, or a anti-tank rocket, or anything but a SAM missile.
There was not supposed to be any SAM's in use. The Russians only recently brought the ting into the country, so they thought that there was no risk.
In addition, every domestic civilian passenger jet has electronics that ID the Jet and the SAM launcher can read that data.
So unless someone is a total idiot, a SAM operator would have never started the launch sequence.
But apparently there was a idiot.