Cogito Ergo Non Serviam

Investigators Say Pro-Russian Rebels Downed Malaysian Airliner

The Dutch-led Joint Investigation Team [JIT] looking into the shooting down of a Malaysian airliner on July 17, 2014, has reported that a pro-Russian militia fired the missile that destroyed the plane and killed all 298 people on board. Wilbert Paulissen, head of the Dutch Central Crime Investigation Department, stated, "It may be concluded MH17 was shot down by a 9M38 missile launched by a Buk, brought in from the territory of the Russian Federation, and that after launch was subsequently returned to the Russian Federation," adding, "The conclusion is that MH17 was shot down by a Buk missile launched from a site around 6km south of the village of Snizhne." This is no surprise, but the question is what does the world community do about it? One expects the guilty to go unpunished.

The Independent reported, "When questioned by journalists, members of the JIT would not specifically name the militia or faction responsible for firing the missile but said they were investigating numerous individuals as well as the chain of command that led to the downing . . . . More than 100 potential suspects have been identified but no one was named by officials, who said investigations continued, as well as a probe into what happened to the Buk after it crossed back into Russia."

In other words, the JIT has a list of names and somewhere on that list are the people who fired the rocket and those who gave the order to fire. The issue then becomes whether they knew they were firing on a civilian aircraft or whether they had mistaken it for a military transport or reconnaissance craft. Mistakes do happen in war, and when dealing with semi-professional militias (one is not prepared to say these were Russian troops at this stage), one can expect more accidents than otherwise.

The law is clear. If there was no mistake, this is a war crime of utmost seriousness. If it was a mistake, it remains a crime, but of lesser magnitude. The JIT will eventually issue an indictment, and at that stage, the politics will interfere with justice. The Russians continue to argue that the missile was launched by pro-Kyiv forces.

The Indy further reports, "In its own investigation, Russian Buk manufacturer Almaz Antey claimed the deadly missile was fired from Zaroschenskoye and that Ukrainian forces were stationed there at the time." The next paragraph states that this was pure bollocks. Mr. Paulissen is quoted as saying, "We investigated this and have been able to establish that this was not the launch location, and moreover that it was controlled by pro-Russian rebels at the time."

Yet earlier today, the Kremlin reiterated that radar data proves their proxies didn't fire it. Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for the regime, said, "First-hand radar data identified all flying objects which could have been launched or in the air over the territory controlled by rebels at that moment. If there was a rocket it could only have been launched from a different area. You can't argue with it, it can't be discussed." This is one of the more helpful things Russia has said in working with the JIT.

So, it is safe to say that the parties who bear the greatest responsibility, those whose actions rise to the level of criminal behavior, will no face a tribunal. The JIT will issue arrest warrants, and the named individuals will either move to Russia or are already there. Moscow will most assuredly not allow them to be extradited because that would be to admit the impossibility of the launch coming from the other side.

Meanwhile, more than 9,600 people have been killed on the ground, 22,400 injured. The UN reports that the September 1 ceasefire is fraying. "Amid in densely populated areas, civilians have been killed by shelling, mines and bombs, as well as an unknown number dying from a lack of food, water, medicine or healthcare. Monitors have also recorded reports of human rights abuses including torture, ill-treatment and incommunicado detention, committed with 'very limited accountability' and concern over fair trials," says the Independent. Arguing over MH17 suits Mr. Putin just fine. It distracts from the bigger picture.

© Copyright 2016 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Ubuntu Linux.



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