Absatively, mainstream media is giving us a very polarised version here, while the internet is giving all the versions.
And even the evidence that would seem like smoking gun evidence, can when seen through the filter of possible western interests and manipulation become suspect.
For example the US has sattelites looking for missile launch events in that region for obvious reasons, Russia is high on the list of targets for the MASINT early warning system apparatus.
They say they saw the missile launch and hit the plane
High-tech spycraft tracked missile's path to Malaysia Airlines jet - Stripes
But of course the US could be lying about this because they have a problem with russias expansion into the disputed area.
The launch site was said to be in an area controled by rebels, but these areas are fluid, they change day to day week to week during a military campaign
The intercepted conversations that again point a smoking gun finger at the rebels were brought to us by Ukraine not the rebels themselves, thats suspect too
Ukraine could have pulled the stunt as a means of polarising global opinion against the rebels and russia, which is exactly whats playing out in the western world right now.
But they would have to have been damn careful about it, if you mess an OP like that up, the backfire is enormous, Russia would claim the moral high ground and use it to justify bringing "order" to the region.
My personal view based on events that happened prior to this one that the rebels did do it, it was a hideous mistake. and the only real question is where did they get the BUK system from.
This link suggests that the unit has been smuggled back to russia where it will be disapeared
Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17: Ukraine Officials Release Video of Buk Missile 'Smuggled Back into Russia'
But this could also be stagecraft on the part of the Ukraine forces.
Im also concerned about Russias reluctance to help investigate, though they now say they will
Even if the western version is correct Russia still has a degree of seperation , these are rebels operating with the assistance of Russia, but not entirely in Russias military chain of command. Russia has some leverage but not complete control of them.
A full and accurate investigation will either prove Ukraine did it, To Russias advantage
That the rebels did it, which Russia can explain is not their direct responsibility
Of course if this SAM unit was actually being operated by "little green men"
BBC News - "Little green men" or "Russian invaders"?
Ie russian special ops
Then Russia is in the poo big time