Think about it this way: the world stability currently depends on Russia and the US having an understanding that if anyone starts nuclear warfare, then Russia and the US will nuke the crap out of them. This is why Isreal, Pakistan, India, etc. have not yet nuked anyone. The direct consequence of this is that the US and Russia can get away with quite a bit: they have the largest nuke stockpiles and the most ability to deliver them.

Now, turn this around:

"Its a strange feeling that the US can do whatever it wants and there are no consequences. They seem a little out of control.

"They invaded Iraq. Nobody did anything. They routinely use drones. No consequences. They set up military bases in Afghanistan. Crickets..

"Then they just get on their media and deny everything.

"Its hard to watch it all fall apart."

This is how the rest of the world see the US. Note, that I am not using this as an excuse for anything the US or Russia is doing. Just pointing out that to people who do not live in Russia or the US, both countries seem "out of control".

It works the same for US : can do whatever it wants and there are no consequences

It's worth bearing this kind of thing in mind the next time there is an NSA thread and the "police state" type posts start up. Western governments do bad things but the rule of law does apply, democratic elections do occur and there are consequences.

Iraq was a serious mistake but it has coloured the USA and UK's involvement with the world, and their internal politics for years - very much unlike Russia and Chechnya.

The US invasion of Iraq was similar in terms of the US really just doing whatever it wants. That set a precedent for quasi superpowers like Russia that you could get away with stuff like that. You see China doing similar things with their various territory disputes.

You could replace "Russia" for "U.S.", "Crimea" for a long list of countries, and your statement would still hold true.

BTW as for the shooting down of the airliner I have not heard of any official source coming to a conclusion as to who is responsible. The U.S. intelligence community, which surely would know something, has remained eerily silent on the issue. Surely if they had information which proved Russia's involvement it would help foster the U.S. propaganda machine.

"can do whatever it wants" look at your own country.

I was more referring to the moral aspect of real-time spectatorship.