Posted on 07/19/2014 2:00:58 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has attacked Russia over the tragedy in Ukraine, stopping just short of accusing Moscow of involvement in the shooting down of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17.
In comments which go further than those of other world leaders, an angry Mr Abbott said Russia should not be able to stand in the way of a full, independent investigation.
“I want to stress that Australia takes a very dim view of countries which are facilitating the killing of Australian citizens,’’ he said.
“I want to say to the Australian people that as far as I am concerned, when you have a situation where Russian-backed rebels appear to have killed Australians using — it may well turn out to be — Russian-supplied heavy weaponry, Australia takes a very dim view indeed, and we want the fullest possible investigation.’’
Mr Abbott said any country found to have supplied such sophisticated weaponry to those behind the attacks should “feel a sense of shame.”
Hinting that Russian President Vladimir Putin might not be welcome at the G20 meeting of world leaders in Australia in November, Mr Abbott said it was vital that Russia co-operate completely with any international investigation.
“No provocation, no excuses, no blame-shifting, no protecting of people who may be backed by Russia but who may have been involved in this terrible event,’’ he said, adding that questions about whether Mr Putin was welcome as G20 were “very fair questions.’’
The Government has assigned a team of consular officials to assist the grieving families of the MH17 victims, and the Australian Federal Police and other officials are heading to the Ukrainian capital Kiev.
Flags will fly at half-mast today across Australian Government sites here and overseas, and a church service, attended by the Prime Minister and Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove, will be held tomorrow in Sydney.
A national commemorative service and day of mourning will be held on a date yet to be determined.
The horrific downing of MH17 has focused world attention on the tense situation in Ukraine, parts of which have been taken over by pro-Russian separatists, who have been shooting planes from the sky for several months.
The Government yesterday convened a meeting of the National Security Committee, and Russia’s Ambassador to Australia, Vladimir Morozov, was summoned to a meeting with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.
Mr Abbott later criticising the ambassador for seeking to blame Ukraine for the disaster.
“I have to say that is deeply, deeply unsatisfactory. The idea that Russia can somehow say it’s nothing to do with them because it happened in Ukrainian airspace frankly does not stand up to any serious scrutiny,’’ he said.
The United Nations Security Council had called an urgent meeting overnight to discuss the global response to the tragedy, which Mr Abbott said was a crime and not an accident.
“If so, the perpetrators must be brought to justice,’’ he told Parliament.
“Australia will be working at the United Nations Security Council for a binding resolution calling for a full and impartial investigation with full access to the site, with full access to the debris, with full access to the black box, and with full access to all individuals who might be in a position to shed light on this terrible event.’’
United States President Barack Obama said the “world is watching’’ the situation in Ukraine.
He had imposed broad economic sanctions on Russia just 24 hours before the strike on MH17, and was on the phone to Mr Putin when word of the attack came in.
Mr Putin sought to blame Ukraine for the tragedy, saying the “state over whose territory this occurred bears responsibility for this awful tragedy.’’
He said the MH17 crash was “an absolutely unacceptable thing’’ and pledged the help of the Russian Government and civilian agencies to investigate — an offer deemed unsatisfactory by Mr Abbott.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said those on board the flight had been murdered, and he pledged bipartisan support as the Government worked towards an investigation.
“The missile that brought down MH17 — and the missiles that have claimed numerous other Ukrainian aircraft — could not possibly have been made by the people who possibly fired them,’’ he said.
“These separatist terrorists are obtaining these instruments for murder from elsewhere. This must be investigated and it must be stopped.’’
I wish more countries had leaders like Abbott.
The talk is tough but filled with “possibly” and “if it turns out”. The truth is we can all speculate but we don’t know why or how it happened yet. Talk is just posturing.
Ukrainians dared have a country.
Abbott is keeping his promises, even turning back ships full of refugees (illegal aliens)
“The truth is we can all speculate but we don’t know why or how it happened yet. Talk is just posturing.”
You’ve got to be kidding.
Are you kidding?
No I’m not. If you have the definitive proof please show the world. Or maybe you’re “kidding”.
Oops...sorry, saw his post and just immediately hit “reply”...lol
If it WASN'T shot down, why the cover-up?
Kinda' difficult to live in a bubble on this, isn't it, over?
Go back and look if you don't believe me...
Perhaps accusations hurled close to but not quite at Putin will cause him to open up the investigation. I don’t think he wants Russia blamed.
Yeah like the difference between first degree and third degree murder.
Obviously when one shoots off a Buk missile, your intent is to kill.
Even if one's intent is not to kill civilians, it's still negligent homicide as they didn't take the proper precautions not to kill civilians.
I think you have trouble with context, both mine and your own. We don’t have all the answers, period. If Putin intentionally ordered a civilian plane shot down it is an act of war. So before we beging bombing Russia in 5 minutes let’s find out more, no?
Yes big diffeence between negligent homicide and a willful act of war. We’re not playing Risk here, every detail of how and why this happened must be figured into a response.
And when will it be announced that the black box went missing?
“No I’m not. If you have the definitive proof please show the world. Or maybe you’re “kidding”.”
No I’m not. You’re not very up on the news, are you. Two telephone calls were intercepted between the pro-Russia terrorists in the Ukraine and the mothership in Russia. The pro-Russia bad guy admitted they had shot down the wrong plane. Read up on it.
Satellite intel also showed the missile was fired from Russian controlled territory of Ukraine and probably a lot more.
When you see a puppy sitting next to a fresh pile of poo your attitude must be "I didn't see him squat so I don't have a clue how it go there".
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