Stephen Lendman – Downing Russia’s aircraft was an act of war and treachery – Erdogan revealing his rogue credentials for the whole world to see, compounded by his Big Lie about invoking Turkish rules of engagement against the plane entering its territory.

Russia has clear evidence proving otherwise, including exposing his fraudulent claims about issuing “10 warnings.” Lies compounding other lies produce Bigger Lies.

Turkey was caught red-handed. No explanations came from Western media scoundrels, supporting what demands condemnation, especially US imperial wars.

Surviving navigator Konstantin Murakhtin told RT International: “It’s impossible that we violated (Turkish) airspace even for a second. We were flying at an altitude of 6,000 meters in completely clear weather, and I had total control of our flight path throughout.”

“In actual fact, there were no warnings at all. Neither through the radio, nor visually, so we did not at any point adjust our course.”

“You need to understand the difference in speed between a tactical bomber like a Su-24, and that of the F16. If they wanted to warn us, they could have sat on our wing.”

“(T)he missile hit the back of our plane out of nowhere. We didn’t even have time to make an evasive maneuver.”

Both crew members ejected on impact. Pilot Sergey Rumyantsev was killed. A Turkmen terrorist allied with Ankara claimed he was shot while parachuting.

RT said a 12-hour search operation by Russian and Syrian special forces rescued Murakhtin. In Russian military flying competition last year, he won Top Navigator” award honors.

He wants to return to frontline service as soon as he’s declared fit to fly. “I must pay back the debt for my captain,” he said. Russia called what happened a “planned provocation,” stopping short of explaining all it knows. Continue reading →