Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site alberta.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!tektronix!uw-beaver!ubc-visi!alberta!stephen
From: stephen@alberta
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Today KAL: Tomorrow...
Message-ID: <457@alberta.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 16-Sep-83 02:46:15 EDT
Article-I.D.: alberta.457
Posted: Fri Sep 16 02:46:15 1983
Date-Received: Mon, 12-Sep-83 14:37:26 EDT
Organization: U. of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Lines: 25

I really doubt that the reasons for the Korean flights thru
Russian airspace is that they want to spy on the soviets. I would
be much more inclined to believe that the pilots simply want to save
fuel and time and don't think too much of the Russians.

  If the Russians are sick of the Koreans flying thru their
airspace then they should force down any plane which violates their
airspace and put it thru a VERY time-consuming search. After a
couple of such incidents, I am SURE that no pilot (Korean or
otherwise) would be willing to use their airspace. 

 If after a fighter pilot had flown within a few meters of a jet
AND tried radio contact (on the International Distress Frequency),
AND tried using visual signals, THEN violent action could be
understood.  As a worst case, a couple of 1/4 inch cannon shells 
would quickly inform a pilot that he was to follow a fighter to the
nearest airport.

  For those who point out that Soviet pilots can't use the distress
frequency: I think that if you can trust a pilot to shoot down an
unarmed, peaceful, civilian jetliner, then you should also be able
to trust him not to defect.

     Stephen Samuel
     (alberta!stephen)