IT IS not surprising, given the right-wing bias of the news media, that the less astute among us believe the current allegations of Russian involvement in shooting down the Malaysian passenger plane.

Whereas neither Russia nor the separatists have anything to gain from such an act, the Ukrainian government has been trying to provoke Russian intervention since the annexation of the Crimea, desiring that the USA and its lackeys intervene militarily.

If Russia behaved half as aggressively as the USA does, there might just be some justification for the media hysterics.

Russia is not openly intervening in any conflict, while the US is committing open and illegal acts of war wherever it chooses. Its drones regularly murder citizens of many independent nations.

They have thousands of military bases in 160 countries, many without consent from the nation involved (such as their concentration camp at Guantanamo).

They are arming and supporting an apartheid state in the destruction of a tiny besieged prison camp that has no army, airforce or navy. Who in the media dare call for sanctions against this bastion of injustice and aggression?

Roger Westmoreland, The Oval, Pocklington.