Newsgroups: sci.space
Path: utzoo!henry
From: henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: NASP Recon. Drones
Message-ID: <1990Jan17.060256.27706@utzoo.uucp>
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology
References: <5430@omepd.UUCP> <480ea6a7.20b6d@apollo.HP.COM> <1990Jan16.105348.15772@jarvis.csri.toronto.edu>
Date: Wed, 17 Jan 90 06:02:56 GMT

In article <1990Jan16.105348.15772@jarvis.csri.toronto.edu> hogg@csri.toronto.edu (John Hogg) writes:
>A good question, however, is, ``What does this drone buy that Open
>Skies doesn't?''  ...

Continued access to reconnaissance data even if the Open Skies close again.

Recent events in Eastern Europe are encouraging, but the political backing
for them in a certain large country is fragile.  Five minutes after an
unfavorable change of leadership, the Open Skies could close with a bang.
Or several bangs, depending on how many aircraft were within range of SAM
batteries at the time.  (The Soviet Union has the densest air defences on
Earth, and is most unlikely to dismantle any of them any time soon.)  Not
everyone in high places in the USSR approves of Gorbachev's policies.  It
is folly to assume that they will automatically prevail.  Hopes should not
be confused with plans; hedging of bets is still in order.
-- 
1972: Saturn V #15 flight-ready|     Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology
1990: birds nesting in engines | uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry henry@zoo.toronto.edu