Beyond any doubt, the Iranians had zero motive for shooting down the plane on purpose themselves, but new information has come to light that may well indicate that the Iranians were "spoofed" or duped by technical means into firing on and destroying an innocent civilian plane. But if you know the specifications and capabilities of the TOR M-1 system, the "spoofing" story remains extremely unconvincing. As noted in my previous article on this subject, the Tor M-1 has a radar for detecting objects, and TV and infrared cameras for targeting and fire control. The radar has a 25 Km range, the cameras have a 20 Km range, and the missiles, 15 Km. If a target cannot be visually seen by the operator, it cannot be hit. Of course, I do understand that IFF transponders and radar return info can be "spoofed", but I have yet to see a credible explanation of how optical and thermal imaging cameras can be manipulated into making an ascending civilian 737 with all lights illuminated appear to be a cruise missile.
Two of the early "explanations" for "accidentally" firing on the airliner (first that the transponder was either not on or malfunctioned, and second that the plane had veered off course towards Tehran or military bases) have now been dispelled. As in proven to be absolutely false. In fact neither of these events occurred until after the airliner had already been fired on, and hit at least once. This video, published by the New York Times, contains extremely important information. This information, if true, shows the radar transponder on and working up until the first missile impact, and that the plane did not veer off course until after the first missile hit. "If true"... Do I trust the New York Times? Of course not. But the professional liars that write for and edit it, from time to time hoist themselves on their own petard. Their video asserts -
It was the first missile impact that causes the transponder to stop working. So, the transponder was on and working at the time the first missile was aimed and fired, and the plane was on course, along its usual flight path, until the first missile hit.
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