Follow up. Ames took the article at face value and came to all the same conclusions that everyone here saw immediately. Between his tone, and the sheer dissonance between his initial take

probably Russia, because the US would never risk it.

…and his current take…

of course it was the US, it’s not in anyone else’s interest and if they got caught red handed it wouldn’t matter because they’d just call the journalist a blogger and the imperial core will go back to work like they’re not starting ww3

…I suspect he’s seen the light all along but is just weary of sticking his neck out to contradict the war machine. Trying to give him the benefit of the doubt I guess.