Another Malaysian Plane Down -- 298 On Board -- Shot Down Over The Ukraine; Doesn't Faze President Obama; Israel Launches Ground Invasion -- July 17, 2014

Updates

Later, 2:07 p.m. PDT: anyone wondering how detached President Obama is? This pretty much sums it up. The Daily Mail is reporting:

Barack Obama provoked fury in the U.S. by casually devoting mere moments to the deaths of 295 people (including 23 Americans) aboard a Malaysian airliner on Thursday in Wilmington, Delaware, and then launching into jokes and his prepared remarks on the need to expand America's transportation infrastructure. Twenty-three Americans are feared dead after the jetliner crashed in eastern Ukraine. Obama declared that 'it looks like it may be a terrible tragedy, but not before enthusiastically declaring that 'it is wonderful to be back in Delaware.'

He just doesn't get it. Or his handlers don't.

By the way, this tweet went viral:

Obama, in sum: A plane crashed. It may be tragic. We're trying to see if US citizens were on board. Hey, great to be in Delaware!

The only major newspaper that did not post this story was The Boston Globe. The author of this tweet was a Boston reporter. I can only assume The Boston Globe editor is a "twit."

Original Post 

Link here.

A Ukrainian official said a passenger plane carrying 295 people was shot down Thursday over a town in the east of the country, and Malaysian Airlines tweeted that it lost contact with one of its flights over Ukrainian airspace.

Anton Gerashenko, an adviser to Ukraine's interior minister, said on his Facebook page the plane was flying at an altitude of 10,000 meters (33,000 feet) when it was hit by a missile fired from a Buk launcher. A similar launcher was seen by Associated Press journalists near the eastern Ukrainian town of Snizhne earlier Thursday. The Buk missile system can fire missiles up to an altitude of 22,000 meters (72,000 feet).

Malaysia Airlines said on its Twitter feed that it "has lost contact of MH17 from Amsterdam. The last known position was over Ukrainian airspace. More details to follow."

This changes things.

CNN has a new airplane story to follow. Watch their ratings surge. Fox News also reporting.

One has to wonder to what extent this was predictable with the US stepping off the international stage. It might have happened regardless, but as the US steps off the international stage, the world starts to implode in small unconventional wars everywhere: Ukraine, Israel/Hamas, Iraq, Afghanistan. It's not that these trouble spots weren't going to continue to be trouble spots; rather, it seems it's all happening at one time, just as the US provides the vacuum for others to fill. 

***************************

Israel Launches Ground Invasion

Supporting that thesis -- the mice will play when the cat's away: now that the US is off the international stage, Israel has free rein to do what it needs to do. With all attention focused on 300 passengers on a Malaysian Air plane brought down by a Russian-missile, Israel has pretty much dropped off the international radar scope. The timing of that downed Malaysian Air plane could not have come at a worse time for Hamas: a) the eyes of the world are on the Ukraine; and, b) the president is out golfing. The Jerusalem Post is reporting:

IDF ground forces began to move into the Gaza Strip on Thursday evening, the prime minister's office confirmed.  

The statement said that Operation Protective Edge, now in its 11th day, will continue until its goals are reached: restoring quiet for an extended period of time,and delivering a significant blow to Hamas and the other terrorist organizations in Gaza.

Prior to the commencement of the ground invasion, the IDF launched a massive wave of combined air and artillery strikes on Thursday night.

Speaking of the president out golfing, the White House is in lockdown due to security finding an unattended package. Most likely Amazon delivered the president his new set of golf clubs via a drone.

***************************

Poorest Timing For A Story

Two hours ago Kerry Sheridan posted this story: world is getting warmer, global climate report. Two hours ago:

• a Russian missile downs a Malaysia Air plane over the Ukraine killing 295 passengers
• Israel launches ground invasion into Gaza 

Has anyone noticed? The only international player not in the news today: North Korea.