The Iranian government’s alibi—or “explanation”, rather—of how it shot down a passenger jet from Ukraine is entirely believable. Barring some grandiose conspiracy, there would be no imaginable motive for any government—friend or foe, even a terrorist sponsor like Iran—to use government assets to kill civilians.
The Iranian military’s story is believable to any Westerner who has spend more than three years in a first-world or second-world country. Sadly, poorer parts of America have similar cultures, poorer White communities as well as minorities. Any autocratic, bossy, domineering culture can easily make severe miscalculations. They do it in Sunday morning congregations all the time.
According to CNN, according to Iran, their government was on high alert, then misidentified a plane from Ukraine as it turned toward a Revolutionary Guard base. In sum, that led to a snap judgment, what Iran calls “human error”. The Iranian government wants to put systems in place to avoid such miscalculations in the future. In the West, we call that “growing up”—learning how to not make rush judgements.
While Iran’s story is believable to any Western expat with experience in a developing country, most Americans don’t know the degree to which immature people run many governments of the world. Part of being a first-world nation means that people in the government need to be mature.
Iran learning from its mistake could be the most significant turning point where Iran’s government learns the “confident humility” needed to govern with maturity. If that happens, Sec. Mike Pompeo’s goal of Iran behaving “like a normal country” will come true. Iran claimed that their military was on high alert in the first place because of tensions surrounding the strike in Iraq. In short, killing Qassem Soleimani helped Iran.
Now, the task is for Americans to understand other people enough to understand why being immature cost the lives of 176 people. Whether at home, the office, or in government, immaturity is the source of much injustice—a lesson which Americans will learn, eventually.
Russianewsgategate
Feds used FISA, possible stingray to spy on Giuliani-connected businessman, filing says // Fox News
Senate Democrats break with Pelosi over impeachment trial // Politico
Washington as Usual
Dem Rep: Trump May Take Out Putin or Xi Jinping Next // WA Free Beacon
Foreigners & International Relations
New Immigration Fees To Hit Businesses Hard // Forbes
Mid East
Victims of Boeing 737 crash hailed from around the world // CNN
US senators slam WH briefing on Soleimani: All the latest updates // Aljazeera
Iraq says it received warning from Tehran about strikes on airbases – as it happened // Guardian
Iran admits to shooting down Ukrainian passenger plane unintentionally // CNN
Ukraine International Airlines Crash: What We Know So Far // Simple Flying
Ukraine International Airlines rules out crew error in Boeing 737-800 crash // Business Traveller
White House announces additional sanctions on Iran after attack on US troops // YouTube @ Fox News