CMP.WERNER@UTEXAS-20.ARPA@sri-unix.UUCP (09/21/83)
From: Werner Uhrig <CMP.WERNER@UTEXAS-20.ARPA> Jack Anderson's column "Jet Downing no Surprise" of Wed, Sept 21, 83 * The Russians routinely try to lure US military and intelligence aircraft into Soviet airspace so they can "legally" shoot them down. This is done by a jamming technique, called "meaconning", which confuses pilots trying to follow radio signals from the ground. Werner's comment: does anyone know more about it. Is he talking about US planes following Russian radio-aids ? The Soviets frequently scramble the navigational signals along their borders, and several planes have been shot at after being "meaconned" into Soviet skies. The technique is so widely used that pilots who fly near Soviet borders are issued navigational maps with special warnings. They are told that they can't trust radio signals along the borders an "would be fired on" if they strayed over Soviet territory. Werner's comment: sounds like the "big boys" cat-and-mouse game with the Russkies playing by tougher rules. I wished this kind of stuff would stop and world peace would overpower us but a realistic alternative might be "avoid the game or don't play it, unless you can agree on the rules". Or "if nothing else, don't treat them any better as they do you". Not without some sound public relations effort, however, and only if all else fails. After all, we claim to be the civilized ones, right ? * Though President Reagan insisted from the beginning that the Soviets knew they were firing at a civilian airliner, the State Department doubted this at first. A highly confidential memo of Sept 2 says that the State Department's special task force was "convinced the Soviets were sure they were firing on an American military plane." Werner's comment: .. and now RR convince them that he had the "right" hunch, or better sources ?????? * State, in a secret cable to Seoul the day after the tragedy, said it didn't believe the presence of fervently anti-communist Rep. Larry McDonald, D-Ga., on the doomed flight had inspired the shoot-down. The CIA reported that the Soviets could easily have intercepted telex communications indicating that other tempting targets might have been on the KAL flight, including Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C. But the cable said "We have no, repeat, NO evidence that the presence of Rep. McDonald aboard KAL 007 (or the planned travel of Sen. Helms and others aboard that flight) was a factor in the Soviet attack on the aircraft." Werner's comment: oh well, I play by the rules "innocent until proven guilty" - and the Pope's shooting still has me shook up. But the brute has the advantage, no matter how distasteful, he gets the free lawyer and off the hook when he "kills all the witnesses" or "leaves no clues". High price to pay, sometimes, but it's either that, or we quit advertising that those are the rules we cherish and abide by. However, punish them hard when guilt is beyond doubt, that's the only "persuasive" argument we have. But I am sick of our side's public relation effort in wishful thinking, that they have "proof". If I am in the jury, I am not convinced yet. If the Russians have not signed any agreements not to shoot down planes, they are in their right - however, we should announce that we WILL shoot down a few RUSSIAN planes, starting with military ones. Hell, I am very peaceful, but I believe in self-defense (and I just might be in one of those planes someday and not get a chance). OK, let's put the terms to the Russians. You have a choice: we all shoot down planes or we don't. we all pay heavy fines and/or get to confiscate the equipment or we don't, etc. We'd prefer we'd agree on something, but if we can't, don't expect us to treat you the "nicer" way, etc ..... Yep, there is something to acting from a position of strenght ... * there were 2 other stories, which I abbreviate: 1) the Russians may have had an agent among the crew of the incident in '78 who may have been involved in the disorientation. 2) an unreported attempt to shoot down an unarmed Japanese P2-V recon plane on April 2, 76, in the same area "reflects the traditional Soviet determination to protect their air-space against intrusions, wether real or perceived" classified SECRET-SPOKE Werner's comment: classified SECRET SPOKE ?? I don't believe that, unless there was more info not mentioned here and which was not provided by Anderson. -------