State Dept. Annoyed at Press Questioning MH17 Narrative

Spokeswoman Angrily Refers Press to Social Media for 'Proof'

The Obama Administration continues to reiterate its narrative on what happened to Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 with more certainty (and often different details) every day, but there is a stark lack of evidence, beyond a handful of “authenticity could not be verified” images floating around on social media.

With Russia denying the allegations, the US must have some really damning evidence to be so certain, right? Just so, insists the State Department, just don’t ask them to show any of it.

Defending the charges at today’s press briefing in an increasingly testy exchange with reporters, State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf referred the press to social media, while reiterating that there was actually much better evidence out there that they just can’t see.

When pressed on the array of theories on social media, and why the US is embracing just the one, Harf insisted that none of the other theories made any sense, because the State Department totally knows it was Russia’s fault.

When pressed further on Russia’s denial, Harf turned visibly hostile toward the press members at the briefing, angrily insisting that it was unfair for the media to even consider Russian statements that contradict the State Department, when everyone is supposed to know the US is more credible. When pressed further on that line of reasoning, Harf angrily barked “I’m not even dignifying that question with a response.”

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.