I don't know, this piece seems to make the case that a missile could have shot down the plane but doesn't present much evidence one did. Just because something could have happened doesn't translate into that it actually happened. Yes the eyewitness testimony is interesting, but I think the piece is too quick to dismiss the possibility that what they were seeing was the flaming aircraft rather than something coming off the surface of the earth. And the article doesn't mention the strong evidence that shows the plane went down because of faulty wiring in the AC system. The case that this is what brought down the aircraft is a strong one.
The explosive pattern of the aircraft parts just are not consistent with an explosion from a missile, but much more consistent with an internal explosion as I understand it. I'd buy an on-board bomb easier than a missile.
Some questions that need to be answered:
A) Has a terrorist group ever claimed to have shot down this aircraft?
B) Do the batteries for Stingers last as long as 7 years? My understanding is that they have a very short life. Thus the Stingers we supplied to the Afghan resistance up until 1989 would likely not have been usuable by 1996 and we did not supply them with extra batteries. As I understand it, batteries for Stingers are only good for a few months. I'm open to contrary information from anyone who may know.
C) If the batteries could not last that long, then the question needs to be asked as to where they could have gotten other Stingers.
D) Any terrorists who shot down the plane would not have been able to count on a clean get-away and likely would have left the Stinger launchers behind to facilitate their escape. They never could have guessed they'd have such an easy get-away and that there wouldn't be clear evidence of an aircraft shoot down and now close-by witnesses. I think they'd have been prepared for a manhunt and the need to not have any evidence on their persons. Thus I don't think they'd have been eager to carry off their Stinger launchers, especially back across an international border. So why were there no launchers ever found?
Just some questions. I'm not claiming I know the aircraft wasn't shot down, but I just don't see a compelling case yet that it was. Like I say, I could buy a bomb on the aircraft, but I am just not convinced of a missile.
You haven't done much reading on this case, it seems, other than the New York Times.