Report Details How MH17 Was Shot Down
Now, we must figure why.
If you were looking for a damning indictment of Russia’s involvement in Ukraine within the Dutch Safety Board’s investigation into the downing of Malaysia Flight 17, you won’t find it. But saying that MH17 was “downed” is like saying the World Trade Center fell down, as the board concluded that a Russian-made Buk Missile exploded a meter from the cockpit of the plane, sending shrapnel slicing through the cockpit. As for the 298 passengers on the plane, the aircraft ripped apart midair and none survived. The report, The New York Times notes, illuminates the disagreement on whose narrative is true: the West’s claim that Russian-backed rebels shot the plane down, or Russia’s claim that Ukraine shoulders the blame. However, the report is one more indication that Russia is not exactly innocent in the incident. “Further forensic research is required to determine the launch location,” the board reported in a video accompanying their findings. “Such work falls outside the mandate of the Dutch Safety Board.” The board, however, did recommend governments be more cautious in instituting no-fly zones over conflicts. As the report notes: There were three other commercial flights close to MH17 when someone pressed a button and sent a Buk Missile shooting through the air. We know what happened. Now, we must figure why.