Inevitably I find myself thinking of previous times this kind of lethal stupidity has happened, mosr especially the time when Iran Air Flight 655, with 290 people on board, including 60 children, was shot down by US Navy cruiser USS vincennes, on July 3 1988.

Trigger happy military stupidity, rather than calculated terrorism, i suppose, as will no doubt turn out to be the case this time also, whoever turns out to have been responsible. The men of the Vincennes all received Combat action Ribbons, and the commander was given a Navy Commendation Medal at the end of the tour. I hope the people who did this will get treated a bit more fittingly. I rather suspect they will, if Putin has any say in it...