Other than being an overt act of war, why can’t NATO conduct an exercise from Ukrainian territory and secure the crash site? Stupid question, I know, so flame away.
“why can’t NATO conduct an exercise from Ukrainian territory and secure the crash site?”
And do what, exactly??
Standing between two warring forces isn’t really a good idea, especially with a Bear that doesn’t trust you standing at your back.
The Russians are the ones that need to secure the sight, but the west doesn’t trust them, while the Ukrainians would scream bloody murder about the “Russian Invasion”
In a nutshell, no one trusts the US/NATO at this point, and no one trusts Russia. And to think, this is what a majority of Americans voted for...
Over act of war against whom? The Ukraine? It was shot down over their territory. Malaysia? It was their plane. But neither are NATO members.
Send a NATO force in thee and you will have 40,000 Russian troops backed by armor in there before you can spit. NATO would do good to get 6,000 there with some Humvees.
No sort of military action of any sort is useful in this situation. But there is a non-military response that would have immediate and long lasting positive effects.
This incident affects every airline and every country which travels worldwide; Also, obviously, nationals of every country who travel regularly or even occasionally. The threat is universal.
Both the International Airlines Associations, and the International Pilots Union (and all national FAA equivalents,) should issue the following declaration :
a) Civil and Commercial flights will be suspended to and from any country which does not allow immediate access (no minimum time restriction) to an accident scene, by the Airline(s) involved, and one other competent accident investigation team, each, of their choosing.
b) Further, The entire accident scene shall be secured and no disturbance will be allowed of its debris, remains of victims, the victims' property, instruments, all flight recorders.
Further, this sanction shall extend to all flights of all airlines whose previous stop are anywhere within the accident site country, or whose flight will continue to the accident site country.
No interference, physical, political or military will be allowed with accident investigators. The responsible country is the ultimate party responsible for preventing violations of the rules above.
If there are violations of rules a)or b) the sanction to and from the responsible country will be in force until the accident investigation is satisfactorily concluded.
The beauty of this approach, is that no military action whatsoever needs to be contemplated, unless the responsible country requests it.
In areas of ongoing non-conventional warfare, military aid shall not be allowed from any "sponsor" of either side of the ongoing insurrection, civil war, etc.
Food for thought.
I didn't feel it necessary to mention the uselessness of allowing the U.N. to have any role in airline accident investigations.