It is inevitable that national issues and sensitivities among friends and colleagues will surface here, but we must re-focus on the basic question. Why did this crew fly straight towards the hills for what must have been nearly 3 minutes through what must have been pretty 'difficult' visual weather - scud and showers, and remain at the same height at which they probably broke off their initial approach, when they should have stepped out about 2 miles, flown downwind and landed - or gone around.
We really should leave all more complicated questions aside. We need the CVR.