...you're saying it was "fired by mistake".

That's the part I don't get. From all I know about such systems, you can't fire them "by mistake".

They certainly targeted a civilian plane by mistake. But I think they meant to target the plane they saw on the radar, and I think that because of what they themselves communicated on social media and elsewhere before hurriedly deleting it when it became clear that they'd made a terrible mistake.

I hold no brief for the Ukrainian government; some of them and some of their friends really aren't very nice at all.

But Russia has just nicked part of their country and is agitating to nick some more. The people who fired that missile are part of that. If they're mercenaries, Putin is probably paying the bill. If they're not, Putin is certainly arming and encouraging them. Many countries use special forces under cover as mercenaries, of course.

So I'm afraid I don't agree that it was fired by mistake and neither can I see it in political terms as anyone's fault but Putin's. As I said at the time, I imagine he was beyond furious when it happened - he certainly wouldn't have wanted it to and certainly would have seen the consequences. He personally did not give the fire order nor did anyone close to him. But it's still, ultimately, on him, at least in terms of the geopolitics. As I say, none of which is to shower love on Ukraine's government.

Posted By: Old Man, Jul 23, 17:28:53