tommyo@ihuxw.UUCP (10/28/83)
Dear Susan, I`ll tell you why we`re in Grenada. For one reason, we want to protect our American citizens who are in medical school there. Take that for what it`s worth. There also was a coup/assaination/call-it-what-you-want because Grenada`s head man, a member of a Marxist party, was starting to sway towards democracy, a previous government which the island had. Thirdly, and here`s the biggie, the Grenadians, with the help of Cubans and Soviet "advisors" were building a very long, reinforced runway at one of the airports, perfect for Soviet fighters. We`re talking a very scaled down but still threatening version of the Missiles of October. More details should come out from tonight`s speech from President Reagan - happening as I type this in. It is a sad situation. I only hope it can be rectified without the loss of many American lives. We`ve had more than enough already this month, because our peacekeeping force wasn`t allowed to be armed when there`s a war going on around them. Makes absolutely no sense to me. But that`s another news item. Tom O`Connor
rigney@uokvax.UUCP (11/09/83)
#R:ihuxw:-54700:uokvax:5000007:000:904 uokvax!rigney Oct 31 09:51:00 1983 Perhaps the Cubans just hadn't installed the "several important features." It was too narrow for 747s to land on, and too long for any other civilian plane's needs, and far too strong for any non-military load. On the other hand, it is long and strong enough for Backfire bombers with full loads. Fighters should certainly take less landing room than bombers. If by "several important features" you mean Soviet ground control stations (Soviet fighter doctrine requires close communication with ground radars), I would certainly imagine these would be the last things to be installed, since had they been found they would have made the illusion of a civilian airport even more transparent. As well the U.S. would love to get its hands on such a station - the Russians would be insane to build it before the airport was completely finished and the island fully fortified. Carl ..!ctvax!uokvax!rigney