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From: trb@floyd.UUCP (Andy Tannenbaum)
Newsgroups: net.followup
Subject: Re: What freedom means!
Message-ID: <1951@floyd.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 3-Sep-83 09:52:12 EDT
Article-I.D.: floyd.1951
Posted: Sat Sep  3 09:52:12 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 3-Sep-83 18:34:21 EDT
References: <124@hw3b.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Labs, Whippany, NJ
Lines: 18

Though I in no way advocate anyone gunning passenger planes out of the
sky, I see no evidence that the Korean plane wasn't in the wrong.  I
have heard allegations from non-Soviet sources that the Korean pilots
often infringe on Soviet airspace to save time and fuel (money) against
Soviet wishes and joint agreements.

While the airspace over Kamchatka might be worthless to you, it is the
eastern line of defense for the Soviet Union, and they don't want their
enemies flying over it.  I believe that Korean jets had probably
violated the rules too many times, perhaps the Korean pilot had lost
communication or refused to communicate out of fear/guilt.  The
Russians saw a threat, and snuffed it.

Again, I don't advocate murder.  On the other hand, the evidence is
so sketchy right now, that I can't just call the Russians wrong
either.

	Andy Tannenbaum   Bell Labs  Whippany, NJ   (201) 386-6491