The basic scenario of what happened is not an open question. There are electronic intercepts of conversations between the pro-Russian forces in Eastern Ukraine and their GRU handlers in Moscow. These intercepts show them discussing the fact that they had just shot down a plane “they thought was a Ukrainian military cargo aircraft but after inspecting the crash site it turned out to be a civilian airliner”. That alone is proof of who shot it down. The GRU officer told the Ukrainian separatists that the first cover story would be that the aircraft was carrying spies. How ironic, that was the same first story the Russians used back in 1983 after they shot down Korean Air Flight 007, amazing how history rhymes and tends to repeat itself. There is also satellite intelligence that is said to have detected the missile launch and tracked it’s heat plume right to MH17. No there is no doubt about which side shot down this aircraft, the only open question is whether Moscow knew about the targeting of a civilian aircraft and/or if Moscow actually ordered the firing of the missile at a civilian target.
No there is no doubt about which side shot down this aircraft, the only open question is whether Moscow knew about the targeting of a civilian aircraft and/or if Moscow actually ordered the firing of the missile at a civilian target.
OK, sounds like it happened in the way you describe, insofar as those who release this information to us wish to describe it. What should the US official reaction be?