MH17: World See Tragedy, US Sees Game ChangerTony Cartalucci Power asserted that the most likely culprits behind the downing of MH17 were eastern Ukrainian separatists. Because of the high altitude MH17 was traveling at approximately 33,000 feet Power conceded that the weapons separatists have been using to down Ukrainian military aircraft would have been inadequate to down MH17. After claiming separatists had bragged about downing the airliner based on information from social media, she explained that Russia most likely assisted the separatists in operating the sophisticated anti-air missile systems required to reach MH17s altitude. Power gives no explanation as to why after multiple successful downings of Ukrainian military aircraft with man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), Russia and the separatists decided to employ larger, more complex weapon systems that would link any incident directly back to Moscow. Power also failed to explain how in one breath she suggests the separatists shot down MH17, then in the next claimed they did not have the ability to do so, and that Russia instead assisted. Power appears to be suggesting Russia rolled self-propelled anti-air missile systems into Ukrainian territory and assisted separatists in firing at MH17 specifically since all other incidents of separatists shooting down aircraft involved man-portable systems incapable of hitting MH17. Janes Defense Weeklys articles, Two Ukrainian Mi-24s shot down by MANPADS, Ukrainian Mi-8 shot down near Slavyansk, and Polish Grom MANPADS appear in east Ukraine conflict, illustrate the scale of proliferation in both numbers and varieties of man-portable anti-air systems that have ended up in separatist hands. Power and other Western sources have claimed higher flying military transports being shot down by separatists indicate that indeed they have begun deploying with Russias help sophisticated self-propelled missile systems. If separatists did use a Buk (SA-11) self-propelled surface-to-air missile system to down MH17, it would have been the first attempt made with the sophisticated weapon, against the highest flying aircraft targeted thus far in the conflict, and done so at incredible risk when man-portable systems had already proven such a success. In other words it is a scenario that is very unlikely and a scenario Samantha Power and the special interests she represents have failed to underpin with evidence. Strategically, politically, and even tactically, Russia and the separatists gained nothing by employing the larger Buk systems within Ukrainian territory as Power is suggesting. Where the World Sees Tragedy, NATO Sees a Game Changing Opportunity Powers comments and conclusions were echoes from the halls of the Wests corporate-financier funded policy think-tanks. The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in a statement titled, The Downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17: Russia in the Dock, provides a self-incriminating indictment as to the motives Kiev and its NATO backers had in carrying out the attack on MH17 and subsequently framing Russia for it. RUSIs statement claims: RUSI explains in great detail the possible motivation Kiev and NATO had to shoot down MH17 and subsequently frame Russia. An international flight, with passengers from across the globe would invoke unifying outrage against Russia as well as universal support for NATOs so far unsuccessful attempts to isolate Moscow. RUSI itself admits that individual members of the EU have until now, been reluctant to back sanctions and further confrontation with Moscow. NATOs Atlantic Council claimed in a statement titled, In the Ukraine War, Putins Veil of Deniability Has Vanished, claims: NATO needed a game changer, because it was playing a game it was clearly losing. The dubious circumstances surrounding the downing of MH17 occurring just as Kievs forces were deteriorating across the country and additional US sanctions against Russia fell flat is more than a mere coincidence. RUSI and the Atlantic Councils statement represent an increasingly desperate and shrinking corner the West finds itself in. With the ascension of Russia along with other BRICS nations, a game changer was desperately needed to stain Russias relations with the world for years to come, and help arrest what appeared to be the irreversible rise of the global East and South, in tandem with the irreversible decline of the West. If the West was so sure of who was responsible for the downing of MH17, it would patiently allow the facts to reveal themselves, giving them unassailable credibility as they begin an effective campaign to contain, isolate, and dismantle Russias global influence. However, just like in Damascus, Syria in August 2013 when NATO gassed thousands of Syrians in what is now confirmed to be a false flag attack, the West is racing against the clock to do maximum damage before the truth of MH17 emerges. The very expediency the West pursues its smear campaign against Russia with raises suspicion. The world has been at critical junctures like this before, with Western politicians and media personalities making well-scripted, passionate pleas but based on little to no evidence. Weathering the psychological inertia the West is seeking to stampede its political assault on Russia through with, will cause the Wests attempts to reverse its fortunes in Ukraine to fail. Failing in Ukraine will weaken the Wests position in Syria and Iraq, further undermine its pivot in Asia, and diminish its ability to visit upon humanity yet another horrific staged event it may finally realize will only further compromise its place among a new emerging, multipolar global order not help it restore its antiquated unipolar empire. You can visit our MH17 article archive here. 