No longer can we claim Russia bears responsibility for the downing of flight MH17, regardless of any evidence from investigators.

On Tuesday, the Dutch government released its preliminary findings, which were that MH17 was struck by a “large number of high energy objects”.

With pre-knowledge of the findings, our government was emphatic in stating the report drew no conclusions on who was responsible, while simultaneously restating Australia’s allegations that a surface to air missile fired by “Russian-backed separatists” caused the crash.

This goes against commonsense — and what real evidence we have from Russian intelligence that those “high energy objects” were likely bullets fired by a Ukrainian fighter plane directly at MH17’s cockpit.

So what are we to make of this framing of Russia, and our government’s enthusiasm to join in NATO’s campaign against it?

Why do they desire to provoke Russia into a dangerous war by threatening its legitimate interests?

And how else can we explain this fabrication of a narrative that Russia is the threat?

— DAVID MACILWAIN,

Sandy Creek