swatt@ittvax.UUCP (Alan S. Watt) (09/02/83)
Re: Soviets shooting down an airliner. The story I heard was that another KAL pilot made visual contact with the plane some time before it was shot down, and tried without success to contact it on radio. There was also some suggestion the plane's navigational gear was not operating because according to the second KAL pilot, the first plane was not where it was supposed to be. Some years ago, the Israelis shot down a passenger plane which had entered their airspace and was heading for a military base. I don't recall anyone suggesting we "NUKE THE S#@T OUT OF THEM" at the time. Certainly if a foreign airliner entered our airspace, didn't respond to radio contact, didn't follow interceptors down to a designated landing site, and continued on in the direction of Cheyanne Mountain, I would consider shooting it down to be justified. In today's world where nations keep armed aircraft to protect their airspace, it pays to keep your navigational and communications gear in working order. Let's at least get some more facts before we jump on the Soviets for "... shooting down an unarmed passenger plane." (Reagan's words). - Alan S. Watt