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Originally posted by EastCoastKid
Considering the lack of contributors on this thread, it's pretty amazing how many people have viewed it. Over 400.
So what do ya'll think? Anyone? Was this an act of terrorism or a coincidence? They say there was bad weather in both areas at the time of the incidents. What would the motive be? Havn't spoken to my guy in Sochi, yet; so, I really don't know. My hunch is that it was terrorism. But who would the "terrorists" be? Having concentrated so much focus on Iraq and the mid-east, I've fallen behind on my Russian/Soviet analysis.
Here are a few articles to chew on:
No cause ruled out in Russian plane crashes: US
Wed Aug 25, 4:29 PM ET Add Politics - AFP to My Yahoo!
WASHINGTON (AFP) - No possible cause has been ruled out in two near-simultaneous plane crashes in Russia that left 89 people dead, the US State Department said.
news.yahoo.com.../afp/20040825/pl_afp/russia_plane_us_040825202935
Russians Caught Between Unacceptable, Unbelievable
By Susan B. Glasser and Peter Finn
Washington Post Foreign Service
Thursday, August 26, 2004; Page A14
MOSCOW, Aug. 25 -- A day after two Russian airliners fell from the sky, confusion over what happened reflected a country torn between skepticism that the government would tell the truth and concern about an airline industry so old and poorly maintained that two planes might go down by accident at the same time.
Both main theories about the crashes were nearly unbelievable.
www.washingtonpost.com...
Air experts doubt accident theory
Aviation experts say the circumstances of Russia's double air disaster look suspicious.
The odds on two airliners crashing almost simultaneously by accident after leaving the same airport are extremely slim, they say.
news.bbc.co.uk...
Aug 27- CBS News Correspondent Richard Roth says investigators believe a woman was likely responsible - wearing an explosive belt that could have passed through security undetected unless she was frisked. Women in Russia rarely are.
Russian officials said they were investigating two female passengers � one on each plane � with Chechen names. The two were the only passengers whose relatives did not contact authorities, officials said.
Female suicide bombers with alleged Chechen connections have carried out attacks in Moscow, including the twin bombing of an outdoor rock concert and another blast outside a hotel adjacent to Red Square.
cbs11tv.com...
Investigators probe Russia crashes
From CNN Correspondent Ryan Chilcote
Wednesday, August 25, 2004 Posted: 11:29 AM EDT (1529 GMT)
MOSCOW, Russia (CNN) -- Russian officials have rushed the flight data recorders from two airliners back to Moscow, where they will be decoded for clues to explain the near-simultaneous crashes of the two passenger jets.
The two planes crashed within minutes of each other Tuesday night after departing Moscow's Domodedovo Airport, killing all aboard.
www.cnn.com...
Originally posted by American Mad Man
Terrorists have taken credit for the two dowed planes.... That doesn't mean they actually did this thugh.
Explosives find in 2nd Russian jet
Moscow orders tougher airline flight security
Saturday, August 28, 2004 Posted: 4:45 PM EDT (2045 GMT)
MOSCOW, Russia (CNN) -- Explosives have been found in the wreckage of the second of two jets which crashed almost simultaneously this week, Russia's FSB security service told CNN.
"Additional examination of the fragments of the Tu-134 aircraft which crashed on Tuesday ... has revealed traces of hexogen," an FSB spokesman said.
www.cnn.com...
Originally posted by Istvan
It is amazing, how the russians keep silence in such situation. I wonder, what is that silence for...
Originally posted by ThunderCloud
I think that, if indeed Osama bin Laden-supported Chechyen rebels are attempting large-scale terrorism against Russia, as it has against the U.S., then things are going to get very ugly for al Quadea (as if it hasn't already!) very soon...
Originally posted by zcheng
It appears that Al-Quaeda and Bin Laden are helping Bush reelection. If Bin Laden is so furious of US invasion of Iraq, why would he attack Russia with Russia strongly opposing US invasion and possibly provide some support to Iraq Resistance. Are Bin Laden or Al-Quaeda nuts, or in fact they are Al-CIAda?
Originally posted by EastCoastKid
Good point, zcheng. From what I'm hearing, and even reading in the news, most folks over there think Putin's goons were behind it. One woman said she was afraid of impending violence and that there was no point in even voting. She said it was rigged in favor of Putin's guy. It seems now she was right. He was elected, if I'm correct.
Russian Plane Crashes Definitely Caused by Explosives; "black Box" Shows No Evidence of Hijacking
By Maria Danilova Associated Press Writer
Published: Aug 30, 2004
MOSCOW (AP) - Russia's transport minister, citing a "black box" recording from one two planes that crashed minutes apart last, said Monday there was no evidence of a hijacking attempt or any other disturbance before explosions aboard the jetliners.
ap.tbo.com...