MH17: Australian Politican vs Putin

Australian Politician vs Putin https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wR2elGUBLVI Source:  QualityControlCentre - YouTube MH17

MH17 - Malaysian press indicates US and European-backed Ukraine Govt Shot down Flight MH17

Malaysian press charges Ukraine government shot down MH 17 By Alex Lantier 9 August 2014 A Thursday article in the New Straits Times, Malaysia’s flagship English-language newspaper, charged the US- and European-backed Ukrainian regime in Kiev with shooting down Malaysian Airlines flight MH 17 in east Ukraine last month. Given the tightly controlled character of the Malaysian media, it appears that the accusation that Kiev shot down MH17 has the imprimatur of the Malaysian state. The US and European media have buried this remarkable report, which refutes the wave of allegations planted by the CIA in international media claiming that Russian president Vladimir Putin was responsible for the destruction of MH17, without presenting any evidence to back up this charge. The New Straits Times article, titled “US analysts conclude MH17 downed by aircraft,” lays out evidence that Ukrainian fighter aircraft attacked the jetliner with first a missile, then with bursts of 30-millimeter machine gun fire from both sides of MH17. The Russian army has already presented detailed radar and satellite data showing a Ukrainian Sukhoi-25 fighter jet tailing MH17 shortly before the jetliner crashed. The Kiev regime denied that its fighters were airborne in the area, however. [...] - REST @ SOURCE LINK BELOW https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2014/08/09/mala-a09.html

Wow!

This is big news but it's not being reported?

MH17 - Is Tony Abbott gonna be a hero in eastern Ukraine?

Abbott's mission to Ukraine branded 'nuts' Date July 27, 2014 Prime Minister Tony Abbott's announcement of Australia's intention to send 190 armed Australian Federal Police and an unknown number of ADF [Australian Defence Force] personnel  ... [... extract only ...] The senior defence figure, who did not wish to be named, said it was a poor idea for Australia. ''They can't secure the site,'' he said. ''It's kilometres long and wide. They could escort Australian officials and provide close protection, but this is a civil task rather than a military task and it's a terribly volatile area. ''We don't have the language skills or knowledge of the area. ''For any military deployment, you have to look at a status of forces agreement with the government and, given the area the aircraft is in, I don't think there is anyone to make that agreement with. What I've heard is the rebels don't want more than 30 investigators there.'' Mr Abbott confirmed on Saturday that 230 Australian officials would be sent to help with the recovery. This, he said, would include a small number of defence personnel. ''That is our mission, to secure the remains, to assist the investigation and to obtain justice for the victims and their loved ones,'' Mr Abbott said. ''It is, I stress, a humanitarian mission. Others can get involved if they wish in the politics of eastern Europe.'' Mr Abbott said that, despite the dangers, armed personnel are needed to secure the site. ... Source - SMH - here.

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COMMENT

From the headline, I thought: Hey, someone's been reading social media.

SMH gives "Peter Dean, director of studies at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at the Australian National University", the megaphone -- after conveying the contrary views of some faceless, unnamed 'senior defence figure'.  

The academic conveys:

''It really depends on the diplomacy undertaken around this,'' Dr Dean said. ''If our government can make its intentions clear and be accepted on those grounds I think this [Mr Abbott's goal] can be achieved.''

Dr Dean said Australia's status as a non-NATO member would play in its favour and its geographical distance from Europe would also help.

''I think we see it through a different lens than the European commentators,'' he said. [Yeah, through the US lens.] 

 ''We are not sending the army over there to take on the Russians or separatists. It's not a European country interfering in another European country's business. It's a country from the outside that has experienced a significant loss of life of Australian people and permanent residents.

''The Prime Minister is wanting to send people to provide security. I don't think Australia is necessarily mad for wanting to do that.''

So who are you going to listen to: faceless, unnamed source in the military -- or an impressive academic specialist?

Hmmm ... looks to me like the academic is justifying Abbott's decision:

''We are not sending the army ...to take on Russians or separatists."

''The Prime Minister is wanting to send people to provide security. I don't think Australia is necessarily mad for wanting to do that.''

Anyone who has watched their own people being slaughtered around them and anyone who has put their own life on the line to defend their nation, their people; their pulverised town; their land; their national identity; their beliefs; their aims; their future and the future of generations ahead; is -- I'm guessing -- likely to be, at the very least, uneasy with foreign military presence on their blood-soaked soil, whatever the rationale offered.

Noticed Peter Dean happens to be a Fulbright Professional Scholar:

Fulbright Professional Scholar

Fulbright Professional Scholarship in Australian-United States Alliance Studies, sponsored by DFAT.

Peter Dean is currently Fellow and Director of Studies at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, College of Asia and the Pacific at the Australian National University. He will study at Georgetown University, Washington from August to November 2014, focusing on Australia-United States strategic relations, and how that strategic relationship has evolved and changed over time.

He will also visit the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, the leading global think tank for security and strategic issues.

and that this scholarship is sponsored by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade.

THE FULBRIGHT PROGRAM

The Australian-American Fulbright Commission is a non-profit organisation in Australia, established in 1949 to further mutual understanding between the U.S. and Australia through education and exchange.

... It is part of the world-wide Fulbright Program, administered by the U.S. State Department.

Maybe I'm one-eyed, but this looks to be yet another US-NGO linked (however tenuously) to the affairs of a foreign nation -- in this case, an ally, Australia. [See addendum below. Not NGO. Govt. org.]

The name of the game with NGOs [and GOs] appears to be networking, education and undoubtedly influence, whatever the noble, stated organisational aims.

The views of respected academic authorities are always very impressive. 

Nonetheless one is bound to question:   how independent and unbiased are the views of such authorities?

SMH reports:

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told parliament in The Hague on Friday he was too concerned about possible ramifications to send troops to Ukraine.

SMH quotes some American think tank nobody's ever heard of, based in Washington:

Joerg Forbrig, senior program officer for central and eastern Europe at the Berlin bureau of the German Marshall Fund of the US, said of the Australian plan: ''They must be nuts. It's a very dangerous proposal and will be seen as a provocation by the separatists and the Russians.''

 

Unknown think tank says Abbott's plan's nuts.

So why isn't think tank backing Abbott? Come on, what's going on?

Oh, I get it. Readers will see "eastern Europe" and "Berlin bureau" and "German", and they'll dismiss the statement.

The German Marshall Fund is a US NGO promoting 'democracy'.

Like all these NGO 'think tanks' it has tentacles all over:

"GMF has offices in Berlin, Paris, Brussels, Belgrade, Ankara, Bucharest, and Warsaw. GMF also has smaller representations in Bratislava, Turin, and Stockholm"

-- and it puts out surveys.

So it would appear it is a US group with an agenda and a stake in interfering in Europe.  And even this group is saying armed troops could be seen as provocative.

Netherlands is sending:

a separate mission of 40 unarmed military police to the site to help complete the forensic work and gather evidence, Mr Rutte said.

UK plays it smart at the sidelines:

Britain has sent one forensics specialist to Kiev and nine scientists are working in the Netherlands to help identify bodies and secure evidence.

... would ''offer logistical support and is keeping in close contact with the Australians and Dutch over how it can assist, though it won't be putting be sending police or technicians to Ukraine''.

''We believe a UK armed presence in eastern Ukraine would not be appropriate,'' the Foreign Office said in a statement. ''The UK stands ready to provide constructive support to the mission.''

But SMH had stated:

Malaysia, Germany and Britain are the other three nations that are expected to contribute to the security force.

It's unclear how UK is 'expected to contribute to the security force' if the UK Foreign Office believes a 'UK armed presence in eastern Ukraine would not be appropriate."

CONCLUSION

Is this Tony Abbott trying to play the hero in eastern Europe, to ass-kiss his big-boy buddy, USA?

And is this more likely a sly US attempt at getting a foothold in the eastern Ukrainian territory -- via a 'naive' but willing, Australian ally -- than it is about a 'bring them home' mission?

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Addendum - Further info and Comment

Fulbright Program

The Fulbright Program operates in over 155 countries around the world. In each of 50 countries, a bi-national Fulbright Commission administers and oversees the Fulbright Program. In countries without a Fulbright Commission but that have an active program, the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy oversees the Fulbright Program.

The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs sponsors the Fulbright Program from an annual appropriation from the U.S. Congress. Additional direct and in-kind support comes from partner governments, foundations, corporations, and host institutions both in and outside the U.S.

The program is coordinated by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State under policy guidelines established by the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FSB), with the help of 50 bi-national Fulbright commissions, U.S. embassies, and cooperating organizations in the U.S.

The U.S. Department of State is responsible for managing, coordinating and overseeing the Fulbright program. Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is the bureau in the Department of State that has primary responsibility for the administration of the program.

Bi-national Fulbright commissions and foundations, most of which are funded jointly by the U.S. and partner governments, develop priorities for the program, including the numbers and categories of grants. More specifically, they plan and implement educational exchanges, recruit and nominate candidates for fellowships; designate qualified local educational institutions to host Fulbrighters; fundraise; engage alumni; support incoming U.S. Fulbrighters; and, in many countries, operate an information service for the public on educational opportunities in the United States

In a country active in the program without a Fulbright commission, the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy administers the Fulbright Program, including recruiting and nominating candidates for grants to the U.S., overseeing U.S. Fulbrighters on their grant in the country, and engaging alumni.


Related organizations

The Fulbright Association is an organization independent of the Fulbright Program and not associated with the U.S. Department of State. The Fulbright Association was established on Feb. 27, 1977, as a private nonprofit, membership organization with over 9,000 members. The late Arthur Power Dudden was its founding president. He wanted alumni to educate members of the U.S. Congress and the public about the benefits of advancing increased mutual understanding between the people of the United States and those of other countries. In addition to the Fulbright Association in the U.S., independent Fulbright Alumni associations exist in over 75 countries around the world.

The Fulbright Academy is an organization independent of the Fulbright Program and not associated with the U.S. Department of State. A non-partisan, non-profit organization with members worldwide, the Fulbright Academy focuses on the professional advancement ... individual and institutional members, Fulbright alumni associations and other organizations interested in leveraging the unique knowledge and skills of Fulbright alumni.

[Source - wikipedia]

Further Comment

If I have this straight, the Fulbright Program is sponsored by US and Australian government (or other governments, as the case may be) and it is coordinated by US government, its Fulbright Commissions around the world and US embassies, in cooperation 'with organisations in the US'.

Although the Fulbright Program is related to what appear to be NGOs (the Fulbright Association and the Fulbright Academy), the Fulbright Program itself and the Fulbright Commissions -- and therefore Fulbright Scholarships - arise from US (and partner) government funding.

The Fulbright Program (from which scholarships arise) is therefore not an NGO (as initially appraised by the blogger) - it's a full US government (and partner government) org -- although foundations, corporations and host institutions -- both in US and wherever program is hosted -- may also contribute to funding.

And if you look at the picture from a cynic's point of view, the entire thing looks like an indoctrination scheme and pyramid 'selling' scheme (er, educational, cultural, networking initiative) that reaches out around the globe -- selling the US, its perspective and its agenda, creating contact points for the US and surely quietly influencing on behalf of the US, with cooperative governments -- and I'm guessing any sponsoring CORPORATIONS in the US and beyond.

Anyway, that's my opinion.  

But, hey, I could be sitting here wearing tin foil on my head, so make up your own minds.

Daily Mail stoop as low as press can go

'Mascara from Amsterdam, or if to be precise from the field':  Outrage as female 'separatist' posts Instagram selfie wearing 'looted mascara - and boasting about it' The caption read: 'Mascara from Amsterdam, or if to be precise from the field. Well, you understand.'  When she is asked by her own followers if she was joking - and how she got the mascara - she answered: 'An acquaintance of mine, a looter, gave it to me.'  The woman - her age is not known - describes herself as a 'separatist' who 'feels sick and hates everything Ukrainian'.  Bloggers in both Russia and Ukraine have questioned whether the posting was a provocation amid a huge propaganda war from both sides, but a number of well-known web writers believe it to be genuine and have expressed horror. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2705628/Mascara-Amsterdam-precise-field-Outrage-female-separatist-posts-Instagram-selfie-wearing-looted-mascara-boasting-it.html#ixzz38UIvlBQU

News is no longer the news; it's allegations and refusals to substantiate.

It's repeating allegations, minus substantiated facts.

It's lies by omission and plenty of omissions.

And now news is some alleged ghoulish nobody moron on social media -- verified by 'a number of well-known web writers'? 

Is that so, Daily Mail?

*Eyeroll* 

What chick would apply second-hand mascara?  

Let alone mascara from a grave site. 

Whoever cooked this up cooked up that batch of Nuland cookies.

US & friends in no position to lecture

US and allies ‘in no position to lecture anyone on the sanctity of human life’ John Wight is a writer and commentator specializing in geopolitics, UK domestic politics, culture and sport. Published time: July 24, 2014 08:34 The destruction of a Malaysia Airlines passenger aircraft over eastern Ukraine nobody disputes is a terrible tragedy. Almost 300 people have been killed in the most awful circumstances and though it is self-evident that a full and thorough investigation must follow to find out what happened its conclusions will be scant comfort to the families and loved ones of those who perished. That said, the mind boggles that a civilian passenger aircraft should be flying anywhere near a war zone, especially one in which fighter jets, military aircraft, and military transport aircraft are playing such a key role in hostilities. The alacrity with which Washington and its allies have sought to exploit this tragedy to attack Russia has been as unedifying as it has been despicable. If it turns out that the aircraft was downed by a missile, and as yet no one knows for certain how this disaster occurred, it is highly likely to have been an accident and there is something to be said for understanding the conditions in which such a tragic event has taken place. What we do know for certain at this point is that the conflict which has been raging in eastern Ukraine over the past few months, and which has intensified since the election of Petro Poroshenko as President of western Ukraine in May, was sparked by the toppling of the last legitimate democratically elected Ukrainian government of Viktor Yanukovich by an armed mob in Kiev in February, in which avowed neo-Nazis played a key role. Some of those neo-Nazis currently occupy ministerial offices in the regime led by Mr. Poroshenko and are prevalent in the violence that has been visited on the people in the east of the country, who have risen up in resistance to Kiev and its sponsors in the West. [...] The recent signing of the Association Agreement between the EU and the regime in Kiev has brought the EU into disrepute. Just think about this for a moment: the EU has just entered a state into its ranks bathed in the blood of its own citizens. There is another very important aspect to the continuing fallout from the Malaysian airliner disaster that helps us understand the level of anti-Russian vitriol and propaganda it has sparked. Vladimir Putin has just enjoyed a successful trip to South America. There he played a key role in the establishment of a new development bank to rival the dominance of the US and European-led World Bank. With a capital base of $100bn this new institution will provide developing economies with alternative funding without the punishing conditions and exploitative strings attached to funding obtained from the World Bank and its affiliate the International Finance Corporation. This is a massive step forward for the developing world, turning a new page in the continuing struggle to forge a multipolar alternative to the status quo of Washington’s and the West’s unipolarity, which has retarded the development of the Global South since the Second World War. There is also the no small matter, as far as the West is concerned, of the Russian President’s visit to Cuba and the forging of closer relations with its former Cold War ally. Again, this will have undoubtedly resulted in the gnashing of teeth in Washington, further evidence of the challenge that is being mounted to its hegemony in what it considers its own backyard. Furthermore, the stridency when it comes to the tragic deaths of the 298 people on the Malaysian airliner has been significantly absent when it comes to the comparable number of civilians slaughtered in Gaza as a result of Israel’s ongoing brutal military assault. The hypocrisy here is striking, if not surprising. For many years Washington and its European allies have provided political cover for Israel’s war crimes vis-à-vis the Palestinians and its Arab neighbors. They are in no position to lecture anyone on the sanctity of human life. The pressure being brought to bear against Russia, exploiting this tragedy as a pretext, should not blind us to the role of the West in fomenting and prolonging military conflicts around the world for their own geopolitical interests. Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Ukraine, Palestine; their crimes would shame all the devils in hell. Only when Washington and its allies understand that their days of uncontested hegemony and unipolarity are over will there be a chance for a new global framework in which respect for national sovereignty and international law is returned to prominence and upheld as the non-negotiable arbiter of international affairs and foreign policy. The alternative is more conflict and more of the chaos we are witnessing today. Extract only...full @... Source - RT News - here.

Hopefully you cyber travellers like reading as much as I do.

It seems a lot to wade through but it's really worth a read to see the other side's viewpoint.

I think the article speaks a lot of truths about the way Russia is vilified, how MH17 victims are exploited for political point scoring and about hypocrisy.

Anti-Russian Propaganda 101

US accuses Russia of firing across border at Ukraine military Deutsche Welle-16 minutes ago The United States claims Russia is firing artillery from its side of the border targeting Ukrainian military forces. Moscow also plans to give pro-Russian separatists ... Russia Fired On Ukraine, U.S. Says Huffington Post-24 minutes ago (Reuters) - The United States said on Thursday that Russia was firing artillery across the border into Ukraine to target Ukrainian military positions in the conflict ... US says evidence shows Russia fired artillery into Ukraine BBC News-37 minutes ago The US says it has evidence that Russia has fired artillery across the border targeting Ukrainian military positions. Russia also intends "to deliver heavier Russia 'clearly escalating' Ukraine conflict - US 3News NZ-42 minutes ago Moscow is also planning to "deliver heavier and more powerful multiple rocket launchers" to the pro-Russian separatist forces in Ukraine, US deputy State ... Our fighters were shot out of the sky from Russia' Irish Independent-49 minutes ago Ukraine said yesterday that two of its military aircraft had been shot down by missiles fired from Russia, as a senior rebel commander reportedly admit US says Russia firing across border into Ukraine; Ukrainian PM ... The Globe and Mail-1 hour ago The United States said on Thursday that Russia was firing artillery across the border into Ukraine to target Ukrainian military positions in the conflict against Is Putin Responsible For MH17? Five Questions For Investigators ... Forbes-1 hour ago First, separatist forces, hammered by Ukraine's control of the air over ... (Even after the MH17 disaster, Russia continues to send in heavy military equipment.). Russia firing across border on Ukraine troops: US Zee News-1 hour ago Washington: The United States on Thursday said it had evidence Russian forces are firing artillery from inside Russia on Ukrainian troops, in wha US accuses Russia of attacking Ukrainian troops Press TV-1 hour ago "We have new evidence that the Russians intend to deliver heavier and more powerful multiple rocket launchers to separatist forces in Ukraine and have ... U.S. has 'evidence that Russia is firing' into Ukraine NEWS.GNOM.ES-1 hour ago Donetsk, Ukraine (CNN) — The United States said Thursday it has proof that Russia is firing into Ukraine. Also Thursday, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy ..

Putin's plan to defy world WND.com-2 hours ago However, the Ukrainian rebels are maintaining strongholds in two principal cities of Donetsk and Luhansk, which are near the border with Russia. And Russia is ... Peter Hartcher, New York and James Massola Sydney Morning Herald-by James Massola-2 hours ago Foreign Minister Julie Bishop is in Ukraine and at 9.30am Australian EST time, ... that "Russia is responsible for what is happening in Ukraine at the moment". “We must take knowledge of the atrocious behavior of Russia”, says ... GroundReport-2 hours ago So I think it is important to understand, and I refer my colleagues to an article, yes, in The Wall Street Journal, on why Putin is taking major risks in Ukraine. Rebel admits pro-Russians had BUK missile The Asian Age-2 hours ago A powerful Ukrainian rebel leader has confirmed that pro-Russian separatists had an anti-aircraft missile of the type Washington says was used to shoot down . Rebel admits pro-Russians had BUK missile The Asian Age-2 hours ago A powerful Ukrainian rebel leader has confirmed that pro-Russian separatists had an anti-aircraft missile of the type Washington says was used to shoot down . THE VIEW FROM HERE Garden City News-2 hours ago ... down by Ukranian rebels allied with Russia for unknown reasons and nearly ... on President Obama for the difficult situation in the Ukraine and in the Middle ... US: Russia fires artillery at Ukraine military, plans to send ... Greenfield Daily Reporter-2 hours ago WASHINGTON — The Obama administration on Thursday accused Russia of firing artillery from its territory into Ukraine to hit Ukrainian military sites and ... MH17: Existence of Buk Missile System Confirmed by High-ranking ... International Business Times AU-2 hours ago Alexander Khodakovsky, a high-ranking Ukrainian leader of Vostok battalion had confirmed the ... Khodakovsky said that the Buk may have come from Russia. Russian military fires artillery into eastern Ukraine USA TODAY-3 hours ago The Russian military fired artillery rounds into eastern Ukraine on Thursday, a "clear escalation" of hostilities there, Army Col. Steve Warren, a Pentagon .. Merkel can help bring Russia to heel The Star Online-3 hours ago For all those seeking justice in the wake of the MH17 tragedy, Germany's 'mutter' may be the best bet to pry it out of Russia and secure peace for Ukraine.

Above is just a fraction of the bad press Russia is getting.

The theme is 'US says' in one form or another.

Or, cutting out the middleman, simply:  Russia did it!! 

Putin, 'evil mastermind', even has a plan to DEFY THE WORLD!!  LOL.

Don't worry; Germany's 'mutter' is on the job and she'll bring Russia to heel.

Hey, wasn't she Russia's spy just a few days ago?  LOL

Putin to lose Ukraine ... and World Cup

MH17: Vladimir Putin will lose Ukraine through stupidity Date July 24, 2014 The mind-boggling stupidity of the armed masked men at the crash site of the Malaysia Airlines plane, and their blatantly lying superiors, has changed the equation in Ukraine and Europe. The murder of 298 civilians by Russian-backed criminals is creating positives out of a disastrous negative. [No stupidity in Ukraine's government refusal to extend the ceasefire, backed by the US?   So there's positives in the deaths of 298?] Those positives can prove significant. So significant that, after the criminal investigation of the destruction of flight MH17 is completed, Russia can lose its right to host the 2018 football World Cup.  [So The Age pronounced the who-dunnit's solved (ie murder ... by Russian-backed criminals), but the investigation is not complete?   And The World Cup is at stake?] Not all sanctions involve trade. Shunning has its place. During the World Cup final in Rio de Janeiro, Russian President Vladimir Putin sat next to the President of Brazil and the president of FIFA. If Russia is found to have sponsored terrorism, then sought to cover up a mass murder, many nations will not want to see Russia and Putin rewarded with the world’s most-watched sporting event.  [Is this sports thing a joke?] The imperial meddling of Putin will be tainted for years to come by this incident. Ukrainians have been galvanised. They have witnessed the murder of innocents, the appalling conduct of separatists at the crash scene and the implausible denials by Russian puppets, notably Alexander Borodai, the self-styled prime minister of the Donetsk people's republic. Faced with overwhelming evidence of self-incrimination, Borodai said: “It is very simple to disprove it. All of the information that comes through the internet is practically all lies.”  [Big on accusations but low on the evidence.  What of Ukraine puppet state? What of murder of Ukrainians?  What of corporate imperialism?] This tactic of brazen blanket denial actually works in Russia, where the state media has been whitewashing reality and shunting blame onto the Ukrainian government. Putin remains popular as a Russian nationalist standing up to the West. [Western media is whitewashed.  What of that?] The rest of the world has had its eyes opened about the reality of the separatist movement in Ukraine. Many of the armed so-called rebels are actually local criminals. Others are Russians who have been paid to fight in Ukraine. The use of heavy arms inside Ukraine, just months after an orderly presidential election produced a clear winner, has alarmed most residents in the Russian-speaking eastern provinces on whose behalf the manufactured insurrection is taking place. [What of the deposed legitimate Ukraine government?  What of US puppet state?  'Eyes opened'?  I don't think so, whitewashed propaganda-disseminating media.] The fingerprints of Vladimir Putin are all over this.  [Fingerprints of corporate America are all over this, some would argue.] As for the destruction of flight MH17, on Saturday the US embassy in Kiev issued an unusually blunt and detailed account of events that is unlikely to be contradicted by the criminal investigation to come: “We assess that flight MH17 was likely downed by a SA-11 surface-to-air missile from separatist-controlled territory in eastern Ukraine. We base this judgment on several factors.  [And how is The Age so certain of this?  Kiev says so?  That settles it then.  Why bother conducting an investigation?  Let's get back to some sports, shall we?] “Over the past month, we have detected an increasing amount of heavy weaponry to separatist fighters crossing the border from Russia into Ukraine. Last weekend, Russia sent a convoy of military equipment with up to 150 vehicles including tanks, armoured personnel carriers, artillery and multiple rocket launchers to the separatist. We also have information indicating that Russia is providing training to separatist fighters at a facility in south-west Russia, and this effort included training on air defence systems. [No mention of the US troops, US billion pledge to military in Europe, EU pledges in the billions to US-NATO military, ships in the Black Sea, US weapons, US training, US CIA prisons etc on European soil -- or the money that the US and the EU have thrown -- and have pledged -- to Ukraine.]

“Pro-Russian separatist fighters have demonstrated proficiency with surface-to-air missile systems and have downed more than a dozen aircraft over the past few months, including two large transport aircraft.  [If so, the implication is that they shot down the plane?  But who has more to gain from a foreign civilian death drama?] “At the time that flight MH17 dropped out of contact, we detected a surface-to-air missile (SAM) launch from a separatist-controlled area in south-eastern Ukraine. We believe this missile was an SA-11… [As above] “Social media postings on Thursday show an SA-11 system travelling through the separatist-controlled towns of Torez and Snizhne, near the crash site and assessed location of the SAM launch …[As above.  Hey, why conduct an investigation?  Let's rely on social media.  LOL.] “Ukraine also operates SA-11 systems, but we are confident no Ukrainian air defence systems were within range of the crash. Ukrainian forces have also not fired a single surface-to-air missile during the conflict, despite often complaining about violations of their airspace by Russian military aircraft.  [As above] “Shortly after the crash, separatists – including the self-proclaimed “Defence Minister” of the Donetsk people’s republic, Igor Strelkov – claimed responsibility for shooting down a military transport plane on social media … [Anyone who believes this needs to buy my enormous bridge.] “Audio data provided to the press by the Ukrainian security service was evaluated by intelligence community analysts who confirmed these were authentic conversations between known separatist leaders, based on comparing the Ukraine-released internet audio to recordings of known separatists.” [Yes, and we know how independent, straight and reliable intelligence services are.  *Cough*] On Monday I suggested Ukraine should hold a plebiscite on separation, to allow the country to shed Russian influence by allowing any region contiguous with Russia to vote to return to Russia if it wished. A plebiscite would be an aggressive form of democracy. It would call Putin’s bluff. [Is Victoria 'Fuck the EU' Nuland going to hand out cookies?  If so, that's way better than watching the World Cup.] Based on the events of the past week, Russia would be fortunate to harvest a small rump of Ukraine. The rest of the country, most of it, would reject Russia. And Putin would have lost Ukraine.  [Does that mean they don't get the World Cup?  Nooooo!] Source - The Age - here.

There you go, folks.  Eastern Ukrainians aren't just plain stupid; they're mindbogglingly stupid, according to The Age (Australia).  Oh, and they're masked ... and have got some guns.

But at least The Age sees positives in the MH17 civilian deaths.  

One of those positives appears to be:  Russia doesn't get the World Cup. 

No investigation has taken place, but The Age has pronounced eastern Ukrainians guilty as charged by the US puppet government of Ukraine. 

Why even bother with an investigation?

Mind you, there will never be an independent investigation whatever transpires.  

Nobody's independent.  Everyone has a stake in the grab for Ukraine, because they're either aligned with the US or aligned with the EU (which may as well be the US because of NATO, the UN etc), and even those that are supposedly 'neutral' aren't independent.

Western press is well and truly whitewashed and this is another load of anti-Russian propaganda.

Too bad the press don't put their pens to use decrying the 'murder of innocents' in Gaza, where the ongoing real-time toll has now passed 700.

While I've not done studies on the influence of the media, I'm willing to wager that a steady stream of vilification of an 'enemy' and a steady stream of media whitewashing explains why -- throughout wars -- there has never been a shortage of soldiers willing to spill their blood on foreign soil to further foreign imperialist aspirations and agendas.

RUSSIA on NATO BUILD-UP ON RUSSIA'S DOORSTEP

"The cruiser Vella Gulf is participating in a multinational exercise in the Black Sea, where the Russian navy is holding separate large-scale war games. Gunner's Mate Seaman Frank Bassett manned a machine gun in mid-June as the cruiser approached the Bosphorus Strait. (MCSN Edward Guttierrez III / Navy)" - SOURCE - Navy Times - here.

RT News Article 'We will react to NATO build-up!':  Key Putin quotes from defense policy address Published time: July 22, 2014 22:55     NATO forces have been increasing military presence in Eastern European countries bordering Russia and sending warships to the Baltic and Mediterranean due to the escalation of the Ukrainian crisis. NATO has also stated that it will endorse new funding for Ukraine's defense, blaming Russia for destabilizing the situation in Ukraine. “We shall provide an adequate and well-measured response to NATO’s expansion towards Russia’s borders, and we shall take note of [the West] setting up a global missile defense architecture and building up its arsenals of precision-guided weapons,” Putin said on Tuesday. "... NATO is blatantly building up its forces in Eastern Europe, including the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea areas. Its operational and combat training activities are gaining in scale.” Putin stated that NATO’s military build-up near Russia’s border is not just for defense, but is an “offensive weapon” and an “element of the US offensive system deployed outside the mainland.” “With that in mind, we need to promptly and diligently implement all the measures we have planned to strengthen our nation’s defense capabilities, including our plans for Crimea and Sevastopol, where we will practically have to set up our military architecture from scratch.” On sanctions and sovereignty Putin has criticized the rounds of sanctions that the US and EU have imposed on Russia, which began during Crimea's accession to Russia and continued after the MH17 plane crash in Ukraine. “The very concept of the state sovereignty is becoming diluted. Unwanted regimes and countries that are trying to exercise independent policy or simply stand in the way of someone’s interests are getting destabilized,” Putin said. “Attempts aimed at destabilizing the social and political situation, throwing off Russia and striking at its vulnerable and soft spots have been and will be made,” he added. According to Putin, Western states are trying to “make Russia agreeable so that certain matters at the international arena are resolved in favor of other countries.” “The so-called competitive struggle at the international arena will imply the use of tools in both economic and political fields. This will include the potential of security services, modern information and communication technologies, and connections of dependent, puppet NGOs – the so-called soft power,” Putin pointed out. “Apparently, some countries regard it as democracy.” Putin stressed that Russia has an edge over other states, as the country isn’t a member of any alliance. “Any alliance member countries lose part of their sovereignty and it rarely goes in tune with the national interests of the country. But it’s their sovereign decision.” “On our part, we follow all the norms of international law and fulfill our obligations to our partners. We expect other countries and organizations, military and political alliances – Russia is not a part of any alliance, and that underpins our sovereignty – to take our national interests into consideration.” The president also pointed out that any controversial issues in Russia will be “settled through diplomatic means only,” with no other state meddling in the country's internal affairs. Such methods that are used to pressure weak countries will not work on Russia, he said, adding that they are “absolutely unacceptable and counterproductive” and “undermining the current world order.” On Ukraine crisis and MH17 investigation Internal problems are often used to trigger coups that are financed from outside, Putin said. “Of course, there always are some kinds of problems, but it is not clear why one has to use them to completely destabilize and destroy the country – what we often see recently in various regions of the world.” As a result of such coups, radical nationalist – or simply neo-fascist, fundamentalist forces – come to power, which is what happened in Ukraine, Putin said. "Yes, after the coup, elections were held, but for some reason again those who funded or carried out the coup became the heads of state. The current authorities are using force trying to silence the part of the population that disagrees with this development," Putin noted with regret. The international community has been calling on Russia to use its influence on the eastern anti-government militia to cooperate in the resolution of the crisis. “We of course will do everything in our power but that is not nearly enough,” the president said. Putin believes the West must appeal to Kiev to honor its ceasefire pledge. Putin highlighted that Kiev should not fuel the conflict, citing Tuesday’s incident when “the Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked Donetsk with their tanks” as the local militia were handing the black box of the crashed MH17 over to experts. “Tanks broke through to the train station and opened fire at it. The international experts there could not even look out of the windows,” said the Russian head of state. “It’s not like the rebels are shooting at themselves.” SOURCE - RT News - here.

Here's the news that won't appear in the morning paper, on the radio -- or on the evening news -- in the west.

Wonder what the US reaction would be if Russia and her friends were building up forces in Mexico and around US seas?

As for the Ukraine military shooting at the east Ukrainians handing over the MH17 black box, how warped is that?

It's amazing that anything was organised in those conditions, after the downing of MH17.  

Maybe the politicians criticising and pronouncing these men as 'despicable', from the safety of their luxury accommodation etc, should be sent out there to have a crack at doing better than those under fire.

The reference to:

other countries and organizations, military and political alliances

shows just how much bullying and pressure countries outside of these alliances are subjected to, to further the interests of the multiple alliance nations' corporate agendas.

AUSTRALIA ON - MH17 UN COUNCIL RESOLUTION

Tony Abbott hails UN backing for MH17 resolution     July 22, 2014 - 9:23AM The Abbott government's push for a full independent investigation into the downing of MH17 over Ukraine has been backed by a unanimous vote UN Security Council, increasing pressure on Russia to facilitate access to the crash site. In a joint statement with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop released on Tuesday morning, Prime Minister Tony Abbott hailed the result saying that the resolution lent the Security Council's ''full weight'' in condemning the attack. ... Earlier, Ms Bishop, who is at the UN headquarters in New York, said it was ''despicable'' that investigators were not getting access to the crash site. ''Grief is now accompanied by outrage as we witness grotesque violations at the crash site,'' Ms Bishop said. ''This demands a response.'' She also told the Council that its message to those responsible for the MH17 deaths was ''definitive''. ''You will be held to account for your actions. They were all innocent people.'' [Steady on ... Resolution's toothless] Mr Abbott will chair a cabinet and national security committee meetings in Canberra again on Tuesday. He will later sign a condolence book at Parliament House, together with representatives of the diplomatic community. [Get that PR mileage, Abbott] Overnight, Mr Abbott's envoy to Ukraine to respond to the disaster, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, met Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. Labor leader Bill Shorten is also in the United States for meetings. He said he was very pleased that the Security Council had passed the resolution. ''It is now time for the leader of the Russian Federation, Mr Putin, to now show the rest of the world that he'll now act on this resolution,'' Mr Shorten told Sky News. ''I think this has dragged on for too long.'' Source - SMH - here.

Yeah, Abbott, but the Council's 'full weight' is really NO WEIGHT when the UN Council's resolution is unenforceable.

A bunch of politicians looking to gain PR and political advantage by taking advantage of victims.  

That's what you call despicable.

UN Security Council on MH17

21 July 2014 Security Council 7221st Meeting (PM) Security Council Coalesces around Resolution 2166 (2014) on Malaysian Jet Crash Demanding Accountability, Full Access to Site, Halt to Military Activities Deploring the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine on 17 July and voicing concern that armed groups had impeded access to the crash site, the Security Council this afternoon called for an independent international investigation and an immediate halt to military activities in the area. FULL details @ - SOURCE - UN Press Release - here.

Above is the UN particulars of the UN Security Council meeting in relation to MH17.

A New York Times article gives an anti-Russian slant [here].

Julie Bishop's quoted by NYT:

“It is despicable this access is not being provided,” the Australian foreign minister, Julie Bishop, told the Council. Australia drafted the resolution. [here]

The other point of view is that those who have spilled their blood defending east Ukraine have done their best to deal with what has happened -- in the midst of a war reignited by Ukraine's Poroshenko, by way of his US endorsed refusal to extend a ceasefire.

NYT does say that the UN resolution is toothless:

It remains to be seen if the separatists who control the area around the crash site will cooperate with international investigators. The resolution is not under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, and, as a result, not enforceable. [here]

Dutch foreign minister Frans Timmermans:

“This is the political game that is being played with human remains and it’s despicable,” he said.  [here]

But who is doing the political game-playing, Mr Timmermans?

So the great Tony Abbott political war of words, the grandstanding, the media circuit, the demands draft-writing, and foreign reps gathering on this urgent UN Council mission is just ... a PR exercise?

------------------------------
OTHER

Here's some detail about flight Siberia Airlines Flight 1812  (raised by the Russians at UN Security Council):

Siberia Airlines Flight 1812  Commercial flight shot down by the Ukrainian military over the Black Sea - 2001 Tel Aviv, Israel to Novosibirsk, Russia.  Soviet-made Tupolev Tu-154 Estimated 66 passengers and 12 crew members Most Israelis visiting relatives in Russia No survivors. Ukraine eventually admitted: probable errant missile fired by its armed forces. Ukraine ended up paying $15 million to surviving family members of 78 victims. Ukraine is yet to compensate the Russians for their loss of aircraft. [Source - Wikipedia - here]

MH17 - War of words - Threat of extension of anti-Russian sanctions

Financial Times (Source - FT - here) is running with a western ultimatum to Russians and a push for extension of anti-Russian sanctions story.

Putin's the villain because he supposedly has control over the eastern Ukraine 'rebels' (otherwise known as the 'self defence force').

Nobody condemns Ukraine's Petro Poroshenko for calling off the ceasefire in the first place:

Early on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced that the armed forces, national guard, border troops and security service are no longer restrained by the ceasefire regime, thus enforcing his decision against another extension of the ceasefire in east Ukraine. According to Poroshenko, the move to call off the ceasefire was dictated by the fact that protection of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, safety and the lives of civilians require offensive as well as defensive action against independence supporters. The president’s most recent initiative is inconsistent with his previously voiced intention of crisis-resolution, because the peaceful settlement effort was intended to immediately stop the violence. Ukraine’s government promised to stick to the implementation of the peace plan, which envisages disarmament, decentralization, unrestricted use of the Russian language and reconstruction of destroyed housing at the government’s expense. Earlier Tuesday, Russia’s lower house speaker Sergei Naryshkin stated that without a comprehensive ceasefire, peace in Ukraine cannot be restored. [Source - RIA Novosti- 15:05 01/07/2014 - here]

John Kerry reckons 'evidence' points to a Russian SA-11 downing MH17.  But the west is jumping up and down because of lack of access to 'evidence', so wouldn't this make Kerry's 'evidence' speculation at this point in time?  Irrespective of the exact device which may have taken down the MH17, does John Kerry actually know who fired the weapon?  I highly doubt that.  So this is more US-biased anti-Russian speculation floated about in the press.

Much is made of the lack of access to the site; but the site in question is a war-zone.  And it was the west's Poroshenko that reinstated it as a war-zone, on the strength of his US support not to extend the ceasefire:

Tuesday after President Petro Poroshenko announced he would not renew a ceasefire but go on the offensive to rid Ukraine of "parasites". ... The United States said the separatists had not abided by the ceasefire and Poroshenko had "a right to defend his country". Within hours of Poroshenko's early morning announcement, his military went into action against rebel bases and checkpoints, bombarding them from the air and with artillery. [SOURCE - Reuters - here]

'Right to defend' etc ... hmmmm, that rings a bell.  Oh, that's it; it reminds me of the US position on Israel and Gaza!  Look how well that's working out.

Philip Hammond UK Foreign Secretary gets in on the act, as does Frank-Walter Steinmeir, German's Minister for Foreign Affairs.

UK wants an immediate extension of sanctions passed.  Of course, they do.  They're tight with the US and they themselves probably have UK corporate interests to consider when it comes to the grab in Ukraine.

Financial Times provides a link to their story on Obama's 'MH17 Wake Up Call to Europe Over Sanctions'.

The alleged rebel wiretaps get a mention, but all this does is drag unsubstantiated allegations into the impression-creation mix -- like it's supposed to.