During the 9/11 attacks, there was that plane that went down not far from the Whitehouse. The official story is that the passengers overwhelmed the terrorists, but back then I was thinking maybe it was shot down and they glossed it over to not cause outrage. Even if that was the case, it was absolutely justified given the context of what was happening that day and I think the public would be able to swallow it.

Same here with Putin, more so with him because he's an iron fist ruler and not subject to democratic pressure.

I just don't see how this convoy was allowed to so publicly advance to Moscow with the whole world watching and Putin negotiates. This is a country where saying "war is bad" on Twitter can get you a jail sentence, where people get folded up in suitcases for badmouthing the leadership.