The loss of MH17 points out the folly of Russia providing "Buk" launchers to the rebels in Eastern Ukraine. Both Putin and Obama were faced with the problem of supporting rebels in east Ukraine and Syria, respectively, that required anti-aircraft systems. In both cases, Putin and Obama erred; Putin failed by providing Buks to the rebels, with disastrous consequences. Obama failed by doing nothing, supplying no anti-aircraft systems to the Syrian rebels, despite the high loss of civilian lives in the conflict from Assad's barrel bombs.
So, if supplying sophisticated systems is an error, but doing nothing is an error, then what are the viable options for anti-aircraft weaponry?
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We all know one anti-aircraft option that is not on the table: export of shoulder-fired missiles ("Stingers" or their Russian equivalent), barred for obvious reasons by Russia and the US.
So, if Buks and Stingers are out, what is the solution, other than doing nothing?
Let me introduce you to your new friend:
ZSU-23-4
http://images.dailykos.com/...
This is a pretty nasty piece of Soviet design, good for shooting down low flying planes at minimal cost.
My take is that giving this system to the rebels gives them protection against low flying attack planes, but no capability of shooting down high flying civilian jets.
More importantly, there is no way for Al Qaida to capture one of these, and position one just outside a civilian airport in the USA, to be used to shoot down a civilian jet either landing or taking off. These are just too big to be moved around with a significant support system. They are flexible enough to be driving in from Turkey and positioned around rebel held cities to protect against Syrian jets dropping barrel bombs. A handful of these could save thousands of lives in Syria, without jeopardizing American lives down the road.
Putin could have given the rebels these systems to protect them against the Ukrainian Air Force, but instead made the choice of giving them Buks. Obama, on the other hand, has chosen to give the Syrian rebels nothing. Giving the Syrian rebels Zsus ("Zeus") may be a viable option.