* The missile that took down flight MH17 may have been stolen by pro-Russian insurgents at the end of last month, since they proclaimed to have taken control of BUK systems as then relayed by state-owned Russian media.
* An unnamed American intelligence officer told the Washington Post that Russia had also moved similar missile systems into Eastern Ukraine in the week(s) before the attack.
* FT: evidence mounts on how jet was downed:
“The apparent SBU wire tap evidence indicates that three Buk-M1 systems were brought into eastern Ukraine from Russian territory and handed to the rebels. One allegedly crossed the border into Ukraine at 1am on July 17, near Sukhodolsk. Another was apparently brought in from Russia-controlled Crimea. The third appeared to have been in rebel hands for longer [DID: no mention of systems stolen from Ukraine].”
* Madeleine Moon, a Labour MP in the UK’s House of Commons and a member of its defence committee, on how Europe should react in the wake of the MH17 crash:
“I think we have to act as if we’re entering a new Cold War. […] We have to have more regular live exercises and snap exercises so that we are clear that we are sending a message to Russia that we are not sitting back – we are ready and we are capable – because that’s the only message the Russians understand.”
* Is this the Russian missile launcher that blasted flight MH17 out of the sky?
* Here’s the last time Russia shot down a passenger plane.
Middle East
* ISIS insurgents have reportedly captured at least 52 155mm M198 howitzers from Iraq’s military during the past few weeks. They will need experienced artillerymen to operate them with any degree of accuracy, though that won’t prove necessary if they simply aim to terrorize the whole city of Baghdad.
* The UN calls for a ceasefire as deaths pass 500 in Gaza. Sunday was the deadliest day since the conflict broke out, bit didn’t Hamas refuse a ceasefire brokered by Egypt and accepted by Israel just days ago?
Global Export Focus
* WSJ: Japan Inc. now exporting weapons.
* Defense News: US doubles down on Foreign Military Sales.
Deliveries
* Beechcraft announced the delivery of the 1st of 4 King Air 350ER aircraft to the Mexican navy. It’s unclear whether these are surveillance or pure transport – likely the latter.
* The UK’s landing Platform Helicopter Assault Ship HMS Ocean is back at at sea after a refit and subsequent trials. Royal Navy video.
Dept of Don’t Ask Us to Apply Our Own Laws to Ourselves
* An editor at Ars Technica found that his Passenger Name Records (PNR) created by travel companies and shared with the US Department of Homeland Security include personal information from IP addresses to full credit card numbers transmitted in the clear. DHS (part of US federal government), please meet FTC (ditto).
Coalition of the Unwilling?
* The video below, from the Atlantic Council, discusses whether the threat posed by ISIS will lead states that don’t like each other much to work together: