| Submit your comments on this article |
| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Obama blames Russia, demands fair investigation for Malaysian Airline incident |
| 2014-07-19 |
[The Nation (Pak)] U.S. President Barack ObamaI inhaled. That was the point... demanded Russia stop supporting separatists in eastern Ukraine after the downing of a Malaysian airline by a surface-to-air missile he said was fired from rebel territory raised the prospect of more sanctions on Moscow. At least one American was among the almost 300 killed, he said, a revelation that raises the stakes in a pivotal incident in deteriorating relations between Russia and the West. Calling it "an outrage of unspeakable proportions", Obama stopped short of directly blaming Russia for the incident but warned that he was prepared to tighten economic sanctions. He echoed international calls for a rapid and credible investigation and ruling out U.S. military intervention. But, noting the global impact of the crash, with victims from 11 countries across four continents, he said the stakes were high for Europe, a clear call for it to follow the more robust sanctions on Russia already imposed by Washington. Russia, whom Obama said was letting the rebels bring in weapons, has expressed anger at implications it was to blame, saying people should not prejudge the outcome of the inquiry. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #14 Does anyone else get the feeling that Obumble is desperately waiting for some domestic thing to happen (in liberal favor) as a distraction from all this activity that shows him to be an effete poseur who is getting his ass handed to him in international power politics? I wonder how long our press can continue carrying water for him. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2014-07-19 20:13 |
| #13 TFSM: That is unsettlingly funny when the mental picture comes into focus. Also unsettlingly too close to the truth, I fear. |
| Posted by: USN, Ret. 2014-07-19 20:10 |
| #12 I wonder how this chicken#### ###### ###### would have handled the holocaust? "I stand against Nazi Germany, and demand a FULL INVESTIGATION into the reports of malfunctioning showers killing people at Bergen-Belsen..." "And also of the unduly harsh PT exercises at Battan! Let Me Be Clear, They Also Deserve A Full Investigation!" |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2014-07-19 16:17 |
| #11 As I said earlier, an American president would be good to have right about now. |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2014-07-19 16:14 |
| #10 While relatives around the world wait for the return of the bodies, the bodies continue to lie at the crash site. The appropriate response would be an immediate NATO military takeover of the crash site. But the free world has no leadership anymore. |
| Posted by: Thineng Angailet7166 2014-07-19 16:02 |
| #9 With all of the ManPads we've scattered all over creation in the ME, if I ever go over there, it will be by boat. Benghazi is essentially a coverup to hide a gun running deal that makes F & F look like a small town gun show. |
| Posted by: Bill Clinton 2014-07-19 14:38 |
| #8 Obviously junior's bluster will be ignored, so it's best to make note to avoid business flights that fly through combat airspace, including most of the ME, eastern Europe and Chicago. |
| Posted by: regular joe 2014-07-19 09:59 |
| #7 Hey, Putie, just tell the one 'the hard drive failed' and has been wiped clean. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2014-07-19 09:47 |
| #6 How about a 'Fair investigation' into IRS, Benghazi, F & F, border control you moron? |
| Posted by: USN, Ret. 2014-07-19 09:38 |
| #5 Wasn't this about the 3rd time Zero has "spoken out" on this incident? Seems that what he's responding to are the comparisons between him and Reagan's response. |
| Posted by: AlanC 2014-07-19 09:17 |
| #4 Russia restores the audio playback on the data recorders: "Look! The illegitimate government in Kiev has fired at a missile at us! We're going to die! I bet they'll also blame this on the heroic patriots in the separatist movement! Those bastards" |
| Posted by: Frank G 2014-07-19 08:52 |
| #3 Calling it "an outrage of unspeakable proportions", Obama stopped short of directly blaming Russia Can't blame the Russians, it could have been radical Fijians fire walkers. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2014-07-19 07:42 |
| #2 O wants a rapid and credible investigation, eh? Well: 1. The crash site was not secured and was compromised. 2. It appears that Russia has the flight data recorders in her possession. 3. There are no assurances that the flight data recorders will not be tampered with, as it is doubtful that outside observers will be present when the recorders are opened. 4. There is little chance that an impartial investigation be made to determine if a missile hit the plane, or a bomb was detonated, or some other catastrophic event happened. 5. I would not put it past Putin to manipulate the findings to blame it on anyone else but him. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2014-07-19 01:25 |
| #1 Saw the Presidential statement on Fox. He looked weak and uncertain. I hope Paraguay doesn't start feeling feisty. Putin is shaking Mr. Obama like a flaming maraca. I hope the U.S. Military has sent messages to all appropriate parties that Mr. Obama runs with only so much string. |
| Posted by: Uncle Phester 2014-07-19 00:16 |