I feel sorry for Vladimir. He is copping a lot of flak (anti-aircraft defence) over MH17. I might offer him a gift voucher for Possum Valley. I think he could use a little time out.
The last thing Putin wanted was for some ill-trained cowboy, ego-tripping on the new toy he had been given, to shoot down a civilian aircraft. In his sharp, cold, calculating mind, he can see the PR disaster of 100 children and droves of Dutch people whose worst international crime in recent years has been the appallingly bland gouda cheese. I dare say that he has already identified the culprits, I mean how many of these expensive missile toys has he given out? I don’t think the western press will ever be satisfied with the perpetrators being brought to trial. But it wouldn’t surprise me if they are are already totally naked, hanging by the thumbs and being treated to some electro convulsive therapy in a Moscow dungeon. This will sharpen their minds and assist in their education, if they survive.
I think I can detect Putin’s fingerprints on the assertion that there were Ukrainian fighter jets just buzzing round the downed airliner. Typical KGB obfuscation. If it can’t be disproved, muddy the waters. In the US this is called ‘plausible deniability”.
Please forgive this harsh cold analysis. I did shed some tears as you did when shown the pictures of children who would never have the opportunity to live a full life and realise their potential. Now in grandparent mode, I could make an easy decision to trade my limited remaining life for their bright future.
To bring this to a conclusion, Putin did instigate this covert invasion. He doesn’t care about ‘collateral damage’. He does care about foreign perceptions which might cause his allies to back away. He is now in damage control. Expect nothing from the air investigation except it was hit by a missile.
Thank you for elucidating this topic..