MH17!

[ozfan]

This has been an intelligence failure of monumental proportions or something much worse. Veiled threats by rebel commanders to shoot down planes over rebel Russian air space. Failure to acknowledge military intelligence that the "Buk" or NATO designated SA-17 missle system can climb to a height of 25km was being used for the last few weeks in the rebel area. Failure to consider the recklessness in how it was already being used.Failure of the Europeans to issue a no fly zone over the area.

Igor Strelkov the self appointed defense minister for the separatist a Lugansk People Republic already posted on a Russian Social site ""We have warned them -- not to fly in 'our sky.'"

I'm just shocked that commercial airlines were still flying across a country which for all intensive purposes is at war with Russia. Of coarse no one will call it a war as that declaration will put the players in an awkward position.

Another Malaysian airline taken out?

I don't like the way this is taking shape

[yubbywelch]

Gobsmacking.

Don't know what to say.

I have wondered, if it is just a coincidence or is there something behind the scenes going on against this airline.

[MissWinnie]

I'm just shocked that commercial airlines were still flying across a country which for all intensive purposes is at war with Russia. Of coarse no one will call it a war as that declaration will put the players in an awkward position.

Another Malaysian airline taken out?

I don't like the way this is taking shape.

I still need to catch up on the details of this, but my first thoughts were, as Oz says, what on earth was a commercial airliner doing risking flying over there, especially one that I would have expected to have safety in triplicate etched in the forefront of their minds, after only having recently lost another plane full of passengers.

Maybe just a tragic coincidence of course, but, given that there still seems to be no real progress made in locating wreckage of first Malaysian plane, then this latest event certainly seems to be raising more questions than answers ...

[ozfan]

I surely don't know mate. One vanishes and the other blown from the sky. If there was a deliberate targeting of this aircraft then pre-flight info must of been passed. Maybe a favour called in but certainly not the main event at play I feel.

Three hundred families devastated and for what?

Did you know there are 46 armed conflicts currently underway on the planet? Worth billions that sort of business. And like all business you need to grow your market.

[yubbywelch]

So many different cultures.
So many different views.
So many different traditions.
So many different drugs.


As soon as hate, bitterness, anger gets involved the weapons available these days (even in our own back yards) the devastation caused is massive, and it's only going to get worse.

[yubbywelch]

No wonder I talk to God so much.

[bongosdad]

I will join you Yubby. Technology wise were quite advanced but spiritually were not.

[NuclearDevice]

Absolute tragedy.

I've been really worried about the way the Russia/Ukraine situation has been developing over the last 6 months and this act of terror is unfortunately a logical extension. The issue now is, where does this take the World ?.

With 298 people murdered, from all parts of the globe, and with plenty of obstruction taking place by the Russian rebels, with no current clear end in sight for investigators to start to uncover what happened, this has diplomatic nightmare written all over it.

With Putin puffing out his chest like a spoilt arrogant little boy, because the West is still frightened of what the powerful "dictator" can do with his arsenal of weapons, I can see the temperature ratcheting up over this.

Putin needs to be put back in his box. What that may involve I have no idea, but perhaps it's time the European and US pulled out of supporting Russia in any commercial transactions and perhaps even expel all Russian citizens from our countries (and yes, that would in

[Arran007]

For all the bluster of Obama & Cameron does anything think they seriously going to rattle Putin's cage ?

He has a nice arsenal of nuclear weapons that he can unleash if he gets too pi$$ed off

[ozfan]

Putin wouldn't be getting away so lightly if Europe wasn't suckling on Russian energy. Pathetic really.