Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!bellcore!decvax!decwrl!amdcad!lll-crg!topaz!bentley!kwh
From: kwh@bentley.UUCP (KW Heuer)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: Destroy SPOT with an ASAT?  (what!?)
Message-ID: <639@bentley.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 15-Mar-86 17:51:20 EST
Article-I.D.: bentley.639
Posted: Sat Mar 15 17:51:20 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 18-Mar-86 08:37:22 EST
References: <261@uvacs.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Liberty Corner
Lines: 26

In article <261@uvacs.UUCP> uvacs!rwl (Ray Lubinsky) writes:
>> My question for the net: under what circumstances should the US destroy
>> SPOT?
>> 
>> My own opinion: only if Congress has declared war on France.
>Regardless of the reliability of your rumor source, there is no
>reason to believe that our government would infringe on the rights of another
>nation -- particularly an ally.

He did say "only if Congress has declared war on France." (for his own
opinion).  Assuming such a condition, France would no longer be an ally;
and I think there is every reason to believe that the USA would "infringe
on the rights of another nation" that we are at war with at the time.

Aha, I bet you are interpreting the original poster as suggesting that we
declare war on France _because_ of SPOT, whereas I was assuming such a war
already in existence which would _justify_ shooting down SPOT.  I certainly
don't think the existence of SPOT justifies a declaration of war, especially
since (as noted in the original posting) the USSR already has better
resolution, and we are not at war with them.

Personally, I have no grudge against France, and have no objections to
any country launching a high-resolution satellite.  It might keep the
superpowers more honest.

Karl W. Z. Heuer (ihnp4!bentley!kwh), The Walking Lint