rjh@ihuxj.UUCP (12/03/83)
This is in context with the discussion of an ABM satellite defense
system.
"... declare our satellite launch an act of war, and fire
their missiles!"
The material that I am quoting below is from the article "Death by the Book"
by Yossef Bodansky in the Air Force magazine dated December 1983. The
article dicusses the Soviet attack on KAL 007 last September 1.
"The Soviets refer to the reconnaissance, especially ELINT,
efforts by techanical means as 'the undeclared war' waged
constantly by the West. They discuss this gathering of data
in terms of winning and losing, 'winning' being their
ability to prevent the enemy's acquiring data on the very
existance, let alone performance, of their strategic
assests. GUSM has delivered, in the Soviet opinion, an
unequivocal victory in 'the undeclared war.'"
The definition of GUSM is interesting: Chief Directorate of
Strategic Maskirovka__________ ('maskirovka' means camouflage, concealment,
and deception).
My point in quoting this material is that if the Soviets consider
reconnaissance to be an act of war, then, I believe, they would
consider an ABM satellite launch as an act of open agression.
Randolph J. Herber, ..!ihnp4!rjh