Russia Has a History Of Shooting Down Civilian Aircraft

Thursday's downing of a Malaysian Boeing 777, allegedly at the hands of Russian rebels, is a sobering reminder of just how violent the world we live in can be, even for those who don't wear a military uniform.  Vladimir Putin is blaming the Ukranians.  Ukrainian President Poroshenko says his forces not take any action against any airborne craft on Thursday.

If in fact Russia did down this plane, it would not be the first time.  In 1978, the Soviets shot down a civilian aircraft that they had positively identifiedas a civilian aircraft.

On September 5, 1983, the Russians shot down Korean Airlines Flight 007

KAL-007 was en route from Anchorage, Alaska to Seoul, South Korea.  After the Boeing 747 entered Soviet airspace, a Soviet MIG fighter jet shot down the plane near the island of Sakhalin, to the east of the Soviet mainland.  The plane eventually broke apart, falling into  the Sea of Japan, killing all 269 onboard.  Among the victims was U.S. Rep. Lawrence McDonald of Georgia.

The Ukrainians have also taken out a civilian airliner.

On Oct. 4, 2001, the Ukrainian military launched a surface-to-air missile that struck a Siberia Airlines plane traveling from Tel Aviv to Novosibirsk, Russia. All 78 people onboard were killed when the plane disintegrated over the Black Sea.  The Ukrainian’s were carrying out military exercises at the time and insisted it was purely a tragic accident.

Listen to President Reagan's response to the 1983 KAL-007 massacre.  Will we hear a similar response from President Obama on today's incident?  Not likely.