The US reaps what it sows.

It set the standard for blowing civilian airliners out of the sky way back in 1988. And it set a precedent for Crimea's secession when it agitated for Kosovo's secession from Serbia.

It is interesting to recall what George Bush Snr said after Iranian Air Flight 655 was shot down with the loss of 290 lives, mainly women and including 60 children: ""I will never apologize for the United States—I don't care what the facts are." Whether he was speaking for all the American People I don't know, but it didn't do his presidential election campaign any harm.

There are times when the US would be well advised to keep quiet.