My must read of the day is "Obama Needs Larger Goal Than Securing Ukraine Crash Site," in the Wall Street Journal:
In showing leadership on Ukraine, however, the president may be focusing on the wrong issue—on getting an honest investigation of the Malaysian Airlines crash rather than on the broader question of Russia’s ongoing attempt to dismember a neighboring state. [...]
It’s becoming clear that the Kremlin intended to give insurgent forces in eastern Ukraine the ability to shoot down high-flying planes. That doesn’t mean Mr. Putin wanted them to shoot down civilian airliners—only that it was his policy to enable them to do so.
In his Monday statement, Mr. Obama was right that allowing a full investigation of the crash is "the least" that Russia can do. It’s what "decency" demands. But it’s not all that the United States should be seeking.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the train carrying the bodies of those killed on the jetliner reached a government-controlled city. Separatists are handing over black boxes and agreeing to allow "Dutch security officials or other armed foreign guards—just not Ukrainian authorities—to accompany international crash investigators." Many would say those are positive developments, and it’s certainly an improvement from where things stood this weekend.
The unnecessary attack and death of 298 civilians is a horrific atrocity, and while we understand and acknowledge that, it’s important to recognize it's not the only problem.
Securing the crash site is an essential immediate action, but it's a paltry goal. I actually feel uncomfortable calling it a goal. A goal is a desired achievement. It's what you hope your efforts end in. In this case, securing the site is a step that needs to be part of a large plan and a much bigger goal.
Right now the United States does not appear to have one beyond it and that's simply insufficient.