Analysis: US Blames Russia

The U.S. reacted quickly to the plane crash — very quickly, in fact — with accusations of who is to blame. Vice President Joe Biden was the first to accuse, describing how the plane was “blown out of the sky,” then U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power openly accused Russia in the Security Council, and finally Barack Obama.

Although the man in the White House is acting somewhat enigmatic (“we don’t yet know exactly what happened”), in reality he clearly has Russia in his sights. His line of reasoning on Friday was that the separatists would not have been able to shoot down those jets without help — and this help “is coming from Russia.”

Apparently, the American Secret Service needed only 24 hours to point a finger at Russia and their separatist allies in the Ukraine. With special computers, “mathematical formulas” (reports The New York Times) and other high-tech aids, the experts set to work to determine the exact launch site of the missile that hit the jet carrying nearly 300 people.

However, the strategy of quick information policies and rapid finger-pointing comes with a price: Whether he wants it or not, Obama is putting himself under a great amount of pressure. In recent weeks, it appeared as though the conflict in Ukraine was subsiding. The story was no longer the No.1 headline in the U.S. news; instead, Obama and his team were able to take the luxury to concentrate on the immigration problems at the Mexican border.

Now, hardliners from Congress wish to speak out. For example, Republican Congressman Peter King is openly demanding that Obama bring Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin to account.

“We need more leadership from the president,” said the member of the House Committee on Homeland Security on Friday in an open interview with CNN. “I think it’s really important for the president to come out today and show them that he is the world leader and line up economic sanctions against Russia.”

This comes with a swipe at the Europeans, who would naturally choose to go along with the stricter approach, claims King. He is demanding that the U.S. consider withdrawing the Russian airline Aeroflot’s landing rights in American airports.

If King were in charge, an escalation of the conflict would be imminent. Yet the question is: Does Obama want that also?

The influential senator, John McCain, has also made his views extremely clear. He is demanding “the most severe sanctions” against Russia if pro-Russian separatists or even the Kremlin are shown to be responsible for the attack. If evidence proves this accusation to be true, the Republican hardliner claims “there’s going to be hell to pay and there should be.”

Even Democratic Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Dianne Feinstein called a possible Russian involvement in the plane crash “extremely concerning.”

Only days before, Obama tightened the screw even further by threatening to impose sanctions, not only against individuals, but against Russian businesses and banks.

However, the man in the White House has chosen not to use the “big stick” yet. He has still not imposed any penalties on Russian business sectors that would cause significant harm. However, Obama will now have to seriously consider such actions.