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From: ethan@utastro.UUCP (Ethan Vishniac)
Newsgroups: net.followup
Subject: Re: Il accuse...
Message-ID: <70@utastro.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 14-Nov-85 10:09:23 EST
Article-I.D.: utastro.70
Posted: Thu Nov 14 10:09:23 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 24-Nov-85 07:26:19 EST
References: <487@ittvax.ATC.ITT.UUCP> <34@unc.unc.UUCP>
Organization: U. Texas, Astronomy, Austin, TX
Lines: 32

> 	I would suggest that those people who are shocked by my
> reference to the korean airliner incident read up on articles in
> this years Aviation and Space weekly. Recent facts establish that:
> 	1. The US government (CAA) was aware that the airliner was
> of course less than 1/2 hour after it left Anchorage Alaska.

This is under dispute.  It is my understanding that someone claims to
have heard a voice discussing warning the pilot on a recording at a tracking
station.  Other people have claimed no such statement can be made out on th
tape.  This will probably be resolved by analysis of the tape.  Of course, if
the analysis is inconclusive it follows that an unaided listener would be
mistaken in claiming to hear that statement.

> 	2. Japan Defense Agency radar shows that the pilot of the 747
> took evasive action (including diving several thousand feet) from the MIG-2X
> for more than a quarter of an hour, before being shot down. This is contrary
> to another piece of international law (which dates to before the American
> revolution), stating that civilian vessels must "heave to" to military
> vessels, including military vessels of a foreign, not necessary allied
> country, when requested to do so, even in international waters/air space.
> Obviously this requirement applies only to peactime.

This is probably incorrect.  The Japanese radar was operating at the limits
of its range and the reported change in aircraft position is consistent with
the error of the radar.

-- 
"Superior firepower is an      Ethan Vishniac
 important asset when          {charm,ut-sally,ut-ngp,noao}!utastro!ethan
 entering into                 ethan@astro.UTEXAS.EDU
    negotiations"              Department of Astronomy
                               University of Texas